as ice t boots.  ered a terrain t  tonig figure before  didnt matter eit didnt matter if he died.

    t, to gainsay o be setting unnaturally fast. It looked as if it ing noted against t green moon; t  clearly again across tween.

    to  er of er of till laug  all, the

    surned and stepped doo t.

    Baerd began to run.

    quot;Baerd, !quot; ;You must not be on telands whe moon goes down! Come back! e have won!”

    t ,  ttle, ion t onigever  alkers of Certando, ts victory   could not be.  in . And e, kne as  of sig low hill.

    quot;Stay for me!quot; Baerd screamed again,  voice ripping t.

    bursting ook stragglers among t even breaking stride. It tered, it  year. ttered nort led to the hill.

    Baerd reac straige ground.

    ted th a surge and a gasp.

    And ood upon t, exactly , toy valleys and ruined  all.

    urned quickly nort  too, seemed to irely melted a and tood.

    t.

    eland under a clear, , alien stars and tigana o coming back t ill dead and o er  somewhe world.

    Baerd sank to er. It ime in t Ember Nig as t  broken long ago.

    Elena reaco climb. S t steep. Mattio arted to enter t migo be among ter moonset, but Donar old  op smiling since Baerd unned, incredulous glory in his face.

    Most of toxicated riumpo t had always happened.

    Carefully avoiding Mattios eyes, Elena er Baerd. Be s ering  field after an Ember victory. Elena felt e . S Mattios face  s ride as s did not falter, and to to r