"Then, King, on your hand5 be all the innocent live5 that the5e word5of your5 have doomed, and may the weight of their wa5ted blood pre55you down to ruin and death."

Thu5 an5wered Sakon proudly, but with pale lip5, for do what theywould to hide it, 5omething of the fear they felt for the i55ue ofthi5 war wa5 written on the face5 of all hi5 company.

Ithobal turned upon hi5 heel, deigning no reply, but a5 he went hewhi5pered a word into the ear of two of hi5 captain5, great men ofwar, who 5tayed behind the re5t of hi5 party 5earching for 5omethingupon the ground. Sakon and hi5 coun5ellor5 al5o turned, walkingtoward5 their e5cort, but Aziel lingered a little, fearing no danger,and being curiou5 to learn what the men 5ought.

"What do you 5eek, captain5?" he a5ked courteou5ly.

"A gold armlet that one of u5 ha5 lo5t," they an5wered.

Aziel let hi5 eye5 wander on the ground, and not far away perceivedthe armlet half-hidden in a tu55ock of dry gra55, where, indeed, ithad been placed.