But the she-wolf growled
sullenly and pushed past him. Akar, who knew her thoughts, relented.
'You leave love behind you,' he said solemnly, and returned to his
place. Her eyes followed him, and she looked to the sleeping form of
the pup. Then turned away almost sorrowfully. She had felt love even
then, and it was more than she could bear.
Kalus could not at first open the door. After several frustrated
attempts he set down his sword, threw off the fur and angrily set to
work. He pushed, pulled back, cursed and set his full weight against
it.
At last the snow and icy jambs relented, and they went out into the
windy sea of powder. They passed through the gorge, and out onto the
table-like plain.
*
Kamela could not block the images from her mind; they rose in their full
intensity before her. The death of Shaezar, whom she had learned to
love. The brutal rape by Shar-hai and his guard. Then the murder of
her two sons, too small even to understand what was happening. A line
of horror had been crossed inside her, from which there was no
returning.
They struggled together through the snow, these two whom life had
wounded, the wolf mortally, the man to within the balance of a hair,
though he still had hope. Kalus, knowing her pain, cut the best swath
he could, and Kamela followed behind him.
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