“ Some of my men were on patrol two nights ago and saw the marks in the snow where your sleigh went off the road ,” Mazo explained . “ You must have been thrown clear . They found you at the bottom of the gorge , lying in a snow bank . No doubt that cushioned your fall . I ’ m sorry to say your horse wasn ’ t so fortunate .”
Poor Rora ! Sadness and loss overcame me , and I shook my head , even though it hurt to do so . “ I was very fond of that horse .” “ I know you were , Dowser .” Mazo was Captain of the Purple Hand , the royal constabulary in Valdar . Somewhere in his middle years , he was a veteran of the Wandering Swords , a famous band of mercenaries . I ’ d also served with the Swords , but that was after he ’ d already retired . When he wasn ’ t being a boot in my backside , Mazo was my conscience , my adversary , my ally and , above all , my friend .
“ Good thing my men found you when they did or you ’ d have frozen to death ,” he said . “ There was a girl with me . Miluva Zill , she called herself .” “ We know who she was . We ’ ve already spoken with her cousin . His name ’ s Balu Zill . He ’ s pretty torn up over her death .” “ I can imagine .” “ My men found her , not far from where they found you . She wasn ’ t as lucky as you , Dowser . Someone slit her throat and then dumped her body in the gorge .”
I was still mourning Valuta ’ s death , hating myself for being unable to save her . To lose another woman who had trusted me , no matter that she was a stranger , only added to my feelings of guilt . I closed my eyes as anger and sadness gripped my heart . “ Ludius Khodo killed her , I ’ m sure . He and his brothers are the reason I ended up in that gorge .”
“ That ’ s what I figured ,” said Mazo . “ My lads have been hunting for the Khodos , but they haven ’ t picked up a scent or trail that might lead them to any of their hideouts .” “ Who tipped you to them ?” “ Miluva ’ s cousin . He said they were looking to buy some sort of book she owned .”
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