he prisoners sir?' one of

n-kind. They were all dressed in tatty, weather-worn clothes that smelt like salt. Some of the men wore excessive and expensive jewellery that was no doubt stolen. Ther

spoke back to his soldier, 'esp

of cries cut short and throats

ked Farrell, joining his s

iled. 'We go home, and we c

l thanks to Farrell, as many would say. Farrell praised the men he led for their part, for none had been lost. Slowly the

he town. Recounting the finer point of the battle of this day and previous days, they spoke of politics, the king, and many things that would bore most women. They ambled beside their tired horses, passing a particular point in the town where w

ts, arms and when they walked, their legs. Their long hair was tied up and they both

neously. Straightening up and strolling over to him,

n cooed. 'What a long and t

man said in a purring voice

d both of the women with interest. He grabbed both of th

udly at this point. 'I supp

th us?' one of the women

?' the other repeated. 'We

Brice repeated.

d' one of the

ell away as he let go the reins of

id loudly as he walked away, taking the reins

mall town, within the

ore the statue of the god Faeroe, the fox-eared man wit

o love, and who would love me in return. Make her loyal. Make her honest. Ma

all I

which she lived, standing before the great gates that led to the outside world beyond her home. The

ng forwards with all her strength; sh

Ramana in light. She regarded the new world at he

or the first time she entered

in his face. He opened his eyes, squinting

in the morning it was. He saw the two women in bed either side of him, and remembered th

at the foot of the bed. The women behind him still half asleep frowned in discomfort at the cool morning air agains

n the bed between the sleeping women; he