Black Arrow

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The evening sun slanted through the branches of tall cedars and splashed across abloodred maple on the other side of the clearing. From the valley below came sounds of horses and shouts of men.

A young woman emerged from thetrees, leading a child-a boy, no more than three years old, in bright blue silkand with his hair childishly parted and tied into loops over his ears. Theyoung woman was slender and beautiful, and dressed in a costly white silk gown embroidered about the hem and full sleeves with nodding golden grasses and purple chrysanthemums. Her long hair, which almost reached the hem of herdress, was fastened with a broad white silk ribbon below her shoulders.

In the middle of the clearingthe child pulled free to chase a butterfly. The young woman called outanxiously, then laughed and ran after him.

From the thicket, Death watched the two with hot eyes, clasping the large bow with his left hand, while theright slowly reached over his shoulder to pull the long, black-feathered arrowfrom the quiver slung across his back.

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