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. He had not eaten animal flesh since
he had come to serve the goddess of healing. He was
knowledgeable about berries and herbs, wild vegetables and
fruits, and these kept them alive. Although the strange, hot
wind that blew incessantly day and night was rapidly drying
up the land, he set in a store of food that could feed them for
a long time, if they ate sparingly.
And he firmly put aside the chilling thought that, unless
something happened to shake Nikol out of her dark
melancholia, he would have only himself to worry about.
He prayed to Mishakal to help Nikol, to heal the wound
that had not touched the flesh but had torn apart the
woman's soul. He prayed to Paladine as well, asking the god
of the Solamnic Knights to look with favor upon the
daughter who had fought evil as valiantly as any son.
And it was, or so it seemed at first, Paladine who
answered.
They had no visitors; the countryside around them was
deserted. Michael watched for travelers closely, for he
desperately wanted to send a message to Sir Thomas, to
warn him of the coming destruction and to ask for whatever
aid the knight could give them. No one came. The thirteen
days dwindled to nine, and Michael had given up looking
for help. At twilight, the stillness was broken by the sound
of hooves, clattering on the paved courtyard.
"Hail the castle!" shouted a strong, deep voice, speaking
Solamnic.
The sound roused Nikol from her dread lethargy. She
glanced up with unusual interest. "A guest," she said
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