#dart was a double break down in the first set and won the match 7-5

[bisexualbaldingbulgarian]

dart vs bouzkova is NOT the match I was expecting to enjoy today

[brajeshupadhyay]

There were a few hairy moments but Andy Murray’s movement was encouraging… his touch was superb but the acid test will come in singles Andy Murray made his competitive return to tennis on Thursday at Queen’s Club  He and Feliciano Lopez beat Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-7, 6-3  The Scot made his first appearance since a second hip operation six months ago Sportsmail’s MATTHEW LAMBERT was courtside to assess his return to action  By Matthew Lambert for the Daily Mail Published: 17:34 EDT, 20 June 2019 | Updated: 18:05 EDT, 20 June 2019 Andy Murray made a victorious return to competitive tennis on Thursday as he and partner Feliciano Lopez defeated Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in straight sets at Queen’s Club. The 32-year-old former world No 1 was making his first appearance for six months but he looked sharp on court as he and his Spanish partner won out 7-6, 6-3.  So, how did he shape up on his return? Sportsmail’s MATTHEW LAMBERT watched the Scot at close quarters and gave his verdict from Queen’s Club. Andy Murray made a victorious return in doubles at Queen’s Club with Feliciano Lopez The Scot was making his first appearance since his second hip operation six months ago Movement Encouraging. Murray did not look physically hampered, darting around at the net and coming forward well. Sprightly and light on his feet between points, he was a world away from the limping figure when his hip pain was at its worst. The area in which he struggled before his op was in moving out wide on the forehand side. That was never going to be fully tested in doubles, but on the one occasion he was forced to stretch, he tracked down a backhand and whipped it up the middle of the court to win the point. There were a few of hairy moments when he slipped and twice he failed to get across to cover the middle of the court, but that was down to his inexperience in doubles. One balletic mid-air backhand overhead showed flexibility and explosiveness. There were a few hairy moments but Andy Murray’s movement was encouraging on court Body language Murray has never been a poster child for positive body language on court but he looked full of beans here. Early on there were a few trademark grimaces towards his box, the odd frustrated slap of the thigh. But there were also fist pumps and even a ‘Vamos’ for the benefit of Spanish partner Feliciano Lopez. He raised his fist to the crowd after winning the first set and during the second he was really enjoying himself. Ball-striking Got better and better. The Scot was not hitting the ball cleanly at the start, especially on the forehand return of serve. But gradually he found his range and struck a crucial double-handed backhand to get to 4-4 in the tiebreak. In the second set he was seeing the ball well and the two forehand winning returns in a row to break for 4-2 were vintage Murray. The former world No 1’s body language was positive and appeared full of beans to be back Touch Superb. He never tried to hit his volleys too hard, calmly directing them into space. It took until 5-6 in the opening set for him to miss at the net. Reactions Razor sharp. When Lopez served for the match, Farah hit a thumping overhead but Murray somehow reacted to punch a double-handed backhand winner. Conclusion The acid test for Murray will be when he returns to the singles court but this was a very encouraging start. Advertisement Share or comment on this article: The post There were a few hairy moments but Andy Murray’s movement was encouraging appeared first on Sansaar Times.

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/06/there-were-few-hairy-moments-but-andy.html

[netunleashed-blog]

Novak Djokovic beats Kevin Anderson for fourth Wimbledon title | Tennis News

http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=7668 Novak Djokovic beats Kevin Anderson for fourth Wimbledon title | Tennis News - http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=7668 By Raz Mirza at Wimbledon Last Updated: 15/07/18 4:53pm Novak Djokovic won his fourth Wimbledon title and 13th Grand Slam Novak Djokovic outclassed a fatigued Kevin Anderson to claim his fourth Wimbledon title and the 13th Grand Slam of his career on Sunday. Djokovic wrapped up a 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-3) success on a sun-baked Centre Court to end a 25-month barren run at the majors. Djokovic made just one unforced error as he raced through the first set in just 29 minutes. Both men were involved in epic semi-finals with Anderson being kept on court for almost 11 hours during his last two wins over defending champion Roger Federer and John Isner, while Djokovic defeated world No 1 Rafael Nadal in the fifth-longest match in history at the All England Club. But from the moment Anderson double-faulted to lose the opening game, the 32-year-old was firmly on the back foot.Djokovic, who had not lost to the South African since their first meeting in the second round of the Miami Open 10 years ago, broke again in the fifth game before wrapping up the set. Djokovic becomes the lowest-ranked man to win the Wimbledon title since No 125 Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 and the lowest-ranked man to win a Grand Slam title since No 44 Gaston Gaudio won the French Open in 2004. US Open finalist Anderson called the trainer and began receiving treatment on his right arm at the conclusion of the set and his luck was not in as Djokovic broke again at the start of the second. Kevin Anderson was bidding to become the 15th men's singles Grand Slam champion in history Anderson, bidding to become the first South African man to lift the trophy, struggled to get his strongest weapon firing, and was unable to win a baseline exchange against Djokovic, who was putting on a masterclass in his fifth Wimbledon final.After Djokovic had broken twice, Anderson earned his first break point of the match at 2-5 in the second set but Djokovic's defence was unbreakable before he successfully closed out the set to double his lead. Djokovic, 31, was forced to save five set points as he forced the eighth seed into a tie-breaker and the Serb quickly stamped his foot down and did not yield after two hours and 18 minutes of action before pointing his finger at the sky and then taking his now customary bite of the Centre Court grass. Anderson v Djokovic: Match Stats Anderson Match Stats Djokovic 10 Aces 6 5 Double faults 4 69% 1st serve win percentage 72% 48% 2nd serve win percentage 65% 0/7 Break points won 4/4 26 Winners 20 32 Unforced errors 13 74 Total points won 100 We have the US hardcourts covered from all angles via our website skysports.com/tennis. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Keep up to date with the latest on skysports.com/tennis We will have news, previews, live blogs, reports and expert analysis from Wimbledon. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Our next tennis action comes from the German Open in Hamburg. Watch the action live on Sky Sports Arena from Monday, July 23 from 10am.Never miss the big kick-off or have to deal with interrupted games or low-quality streams with a NOW TV Sky Sports Pass this summer. You'll get exclusive coverage of the 147th Open from Carnoustie, The Ryder Cup, ATP Tour, World Darts Matchplay, and loads more starting from just £7.99. No contract. Tennis updates straight to your phone How to receive all the latest tennis news straight to your mobile 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[boloorsportsmania]

#588 France sets up world’s biggest EXTRAVAGANZA with Croatia FIFA 2018 World Cup final; Belgium find France defense too hot to handle; Croatia come back from a goal down against England to storm to finals; In day of comebacks, Anderson shocked the whole tennis world by beating Federer after being 2 sets and a match point down; Nadal came back from 1-2 sets down to outclass Delpotro in a thriller; Isner reaches his first slam SF at the age of 33; Djokovic gets back his MOJO; Serena all set to gift her first slam to her kid this Saturday; Rohit Sharma has a great week , hitting 2 centuries; England treat Kuldeep like a magician and more...:-)

After Halep helped England level series, final T20 was played in Bristol. Roy and Butler gave England a grand start. 94 came in under 8 overs. England lost way after that. From 94-0, they slipped to 140-4. Run rate dipped too. Roy shined with a brilliant 67. Hardik Pandya who gave away 20 runs of first balls came back well, had spell of 4-38 eventually. England looked good for 220 just managed 198. Sublime rohit ensured there was just one winner in the match. His 89 run stand with Kohli sealed the deal and gave India another series win. India has now won last 6 bilateral T20 series wins. Rohit hit century of 56 balls which had 5 sixes and 11 fours.  India started England tour with a bang.

First ODI was played in Trent Bridge. It was the same ground where England had scored 484 few days back. Roy and Bairstow started brilliantly as they comfortably played Umesh, Kaul and Pandya. Kuldeep came and dismissed Roy of very 2nd ball. England 73-1 in 10.2 overs. It was waste of wicket as he got out reverse sweeping. Kuldeep then took 2 more wickets in next 8 balls. He grabbed big wickets of Roy, Bairstow and Root. England slipped to 105-4 from 73-0. Stokes and Butler played cautiously. Kohli removed Kuldeep after just 4 overs which was a surprise. Stokes and Butler made best use of that and had 93 run stand. It looked like Butler would take England past 300. But he was dismissed down the leg side of Kuldeep’s bowling. Kuldeep took 2 more wickets to reduce England to 216-7. His spell of 6-25  is best spell by left arm spinner, best figures by any spinner in England, best figures by any spinner against England in ODI and 4th best ODI figures for India in all ODI. That’s some stats. Chasing 268 was not going to be tough in such a flat pitch. England looked 40 runs short. Dhawan creamed some lovely boundaries at the start. His 26 ball 40 set the tone for India. He was dismissed By Ali against the run of play. Kohli joined Rohit. India 59-1 in 8th over. Post that it was all India. Kohli and Rohit had a massive 167 run stand. Fours and sixes came at will. None of the bowlers troubled these 2. Rohit brought up his 18th ODi century and first against England. Kohli was dismissed by Rashid for 75 against the run of play. India won by 8 wickets with 59 balls to spare. This is as big a victory India could have hoped for. It would be interesting to see how India perform in Lords where India have chance to seal another series win.

In Wimbledon Womens QF, all baring Giorgi vs Serena, rest of the matches was won in straight sets. Kerber setup clash with Ostapenko. Serena came back to win in 3 sets to setup clash with Goerges. Both ladies won SF with ease. Should Serena win this Saturday, it would be her 24th slam tying with Magaret Court. If Kerber wins, it would be her 3rd  slam.

Mens QF in Wimbledon was a feast for tennis lovers. Djokovic clashed with Nishikori. Japanese players caught everybody’s attention by leveling the match at one set all. But Djokovic won last 2 sets 6-2 6-2 to reach his first slam SF since 2016 US open. He is back to his best. Isner lost first set vs Raonic but came back to win in 4 sets. It was match of booming serves. 33 year old reached his first slam final. What a turnaround by marathon man!! Anderson all looked done and dusted when he fell 2 sets down and was facing match point in 3rd set. He found heart to level the set at 5-5. That changed momentum. Federer lost focus ,became a bit complacent and lost next 2 games. He lost 7th game in 4th set. Anderson levelled the match at 2 sets all. What a turnaround. SA player was serving like a dream. Final set was epic. Both fought brilliantly. It was case of nerves. Federer had his chances but it was Anderson who broke n 23rd game of the set. He eventually held serve to win the set 13-11 and the match.  This was comeback of epic proportions by Anderson against top seed.  Anderson could have lost in 116 minutes but ended up winning in 256 minutes. Federer had just lost his 3rd match after being 2 sets up in 5 setter match. Nadal was a setup and had 4 break points in 2nd set tiebreaker. He even double faulted on set point. That gave Delpotro the light he needed. He bounced back to level the match. He was growing in confidence now. He won 3rd set 6-4. Nadal had a mountain to climb and he did. He tightened his serve. He broke Delpotro in 5th game of last 2 sets. Match could have got over inside 150 minutes but lasted 288 minutes. Nadal set up mouthwatering clash with Djokovic. Anderson would face Isner in other SF.

France faced Belgium in first SF of FIFA world cup 2018. France defence was at its best and Belgium couldn’t penetrate. Defender Samuel Umtiti scored the winning goal for the 1998 champions in the second half with a towering header from Antoine Griezmann's corner. Belgium came through the quarter-finals by impressively beating Brazil, but they were unable to find the equaliser, as Axel Witsel's powerful, long-range drive was pushed away by Hugo Lloris, who also brilliantly kept out Toby Alderweireld's turn and shot. Twenty years ago, France won the World Cup for the first and only time in their history at home in Paris with a 3-0 win over Brazil.That team was captained by Deschamps, who is now aiming to emulate Brazilian Mario Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer by winning the competition as both a player and manager. Belgium had 64% possession in the match but France kept their shape, played on the counter-attack and constantly looked to forward Kylian Mbappe, who was a threat throughout with his darting runs and trickery with the ball. France have reached their third World Cup final, also doing so in 1998 and 2006. Only Germany (8) and Italy (6) have reached more among European nations. Antoine Griezmann has been directly involved in 20 goals in his last 20 competitive games for France.

England's bid to reach a first World Cup final since 1966 came to an agonizing end as they lost in extra time to Croatia in Moscow. England - in their first World Cup semi-final since they were beaten on penalties by West Germany at Italia '90 - were given the perfect start through Kieran Trippier's 20-yard free-kick after only five minutes, but Perisic's 68th-minute equaliser sent the match into extra time. England had host of chances till half time but couldn’t convert. That came to haunt them in 2nd half. Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic scored the winning goal in the 109th minute of the semi-final, slotting in from Ivan Perisic's flick-on into the area. Croatia reached their first ever World cup final. They would face France to whom they lost in 1998 in SF. In that match, Croatia had taken lead before France bounced back. 2018 SF was opposite of that. This is historic achievement for Croatia. France start as favorites in finals but Croatia has nothing to lose. If Modric holds mid field like he did against England, they have great chance against 1998 champions.

[araneaes-order]

In the Bleak Mid-winter Ch. 5

LAST HERALD-MAGE FANFIC

Fix-it…ish. canon mm

Young Stefen, living on the streets, found out someone was looking for him and decided to lay low, avoiding the mysterious stranger in red, so he’s never taken to Haven by Bard Lynnell. It was an unfortunate decision, but in spite of it, he and Van do meet up, just later, and under less kind circumstances. Basically a redo on the ending. ~55k words Finished.

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Visit my master list

Word Count: ~5280

Rating: Mature for, sorry, lots of bad stuff, rape, sexual abuse, child abuse. Canon was pretty dark, especially what I was redoing here, so’s this.

On AO3.

Chapter Synopsis: Van and Stefen continue north together.

In this only the Bard and the Companion were in complete agreement.

“It’s suicide!” Stefen insisted.

:You may as well let him take you to Leareth in chains.:

She wasn’t far off, but he remained implacable.

Yfandes could see how set his mind was on this course; the Bard fought him longer but eventually gave in as well.

At a guess, and at only a slight probing with his Empathy, Vanyel would say the boy felt guilty for what he’d brought Van into.

By now Vanyel himself was inclined to be more practical: the Bard could get him to Leareth, perhaps get him close enough to see what power the dark mage really had amassed and enable him to send Yfandes with specifics to get backup from the other Heralds—which should have been his plan all along if he hadn’t let his personal grief cloud his usually much more calculated thinking.

Arrogant fool.

“I will take however much you have left of that powder, though.” He told the Bard, not phrasing it as a request.

The boy nodded and reached into a hidden pocket in his shirt, a cutpurse’s trick for hiding what they’d stolen, pulling out a fistful of small, gray, waxed-paper packets.

Vanyel spread them out on his palm, counting, before he looked up again. “That’s all of them?”

Stefen nodded, eyes darting to meet Van’s and then away. “That and the two I used, one for you, one for her.”

“And the darts?”

He made a face. “Left with my gear at the guard post.”

His words matched Vanyel’s stolen memories from the bandits who’d seen Master Dark’s man charge Stefen with the capture. Ten small packets; eight now. And the pre-poisoned darts had been carefully wrapped in cloth and kept in a wooden box for safety; he couldn’t hide those in any pocket.

“Thank you.”

The only question as far as Van was concerned was whether to let Stefen ride one of the little mountain ponies the brigands had used or to ride double on Yfandes. She made her objections to carrying the Bard very clear—and the Bard made his objections to riding double clear as well, when Vanyel decided that it was the wiser course anyway. She could go much faster than any pony, and it would be easier for Vanyel to cast a seeming on them if they were all one ‘mass’ instead of two.

“She’ll bite me!” the Bard said, glaring at ‘Fandes.

“She won—stop that!” Van said to her when she snapped at the Bard to prove his words.

:Behave! We need him.:

:We’d travel faster alone. And much more safely.:

:We’ve been over this: he can get us closer to Leareth than we can get alone. He knows where to find him and can keep us from stumbling into him, blind.:

She lapsed into sullen silence.

He finished strapping down what meager supplies he dared pack, knowing he’d already be pushing her to carry two.

:You’re a feather. And that Bard’s even smaller,: she grumped.

He stroked her neck and rested his head against her for a moment. :Be kind, dear heart. I swear, we need him. I don’t think we can do what we must without him.:

Her ears pricked. :You have a plan?: she asked hopefully. He knew she’d never cared for the first one—straight confrontation and probably Final Strike, if the mage was as powerful as Vanyel’s dreams had long foretold—and it hadn’t changed enough to trouble her with it yet. If anything, he knew she’d like what he thinking now even less.

:I’m considering options,: he answered diplomatically, but she knew him too well to take much encouragement from that.

Van mounted with the ease of long practice and held his hand down for Stefen. He’d been content to leave everything behind but his gittern: a true penitent or just a true Bard, Van couldn’t decide, but when the boy grasped his arm, he pulled him up behind him to ride pillion. ‘Fandes didn’t have the right saddle for it but they’d have to make do.

They were still in sight of the ruined hall when Yfandes jerked her head and stared off towards the west.

:Riders,: she warned him and broke in a run in the opposite direction, kicking up snow in their wake. The unexpected burst of speed had the Bard grabbing at Van’s waist. He patted the boy’s hand but kept his focus on the forest around them.

:Should we go back to investigate?: he wondered.

:No,: she answered, her mind-voice unusually dark. :You want to go see what Leareth is up to. That’s where we’ll go. I just hope you’re right that we can trust this Bard.:

Van and ‘Fandes both swept the surrounding woods and hills for signs of other people as they rode, but they found only the small, quiet minds of animals around them.

Yfandes corrected her course once she and Vanyel were certain that they’d bypassed the riders she’d sensed closer to the keep, though they crossed twice more with the path the riders had cut through the forests, marked clearly in churned snow and broken underbrush.

In so wide an expanse as this hard, northern country, it was sheer luck that Yfandes stumbled out into Rendan and Tan’s campsite—except that they were clearly backtracking the path the other riders had taken and obviously they’d been here first.

Both of the men were frozen, stripped to the skin, flesh gone blue and crystalline. They were hideously curled, preserved in their death throes as they’d been impaled on solid wooden stakes, driven like flagpoles into the ground around their dead campfire.

Rendan looked less anguished, perhaps already dead, or dead quickly after he’d been impaled, hanging limp on the pole that nevertheless kept even his lower-dangling leg a good foot off the ground. Tan had not been so lucky it seemed; both of his hands were frozen in rigor and ice around the part of the pole that protruded from his stomach, as though he’d fought to drag himself up or off.

“Gods!” Stefen breathed. “Uwald’s men got them.”

“You can tell who did this?”

“Uwald likes to take eyes, tongues, and…privates. Feeds them to his hounds. Says it keeps them hungry for hunting more,” he answered faintly, breaking up his words like he was fighting not to be sick.

Van had assumed that carrion birds had done that, but now that Stefen suggested otherwise it did seem unlikely that even the most determined scavenger could have braved the ever-worsening weather just to eat those parts alone, without even nibbling at anything else.

“If Uwald did this to Rendan, he’ll have gone over afterwards to check the keep…” the Bard continued after a moment, as ‘Fandes turned and picked up the pace to put the campsite behind them.

:Definitely our riders, then,: ‘Fandes thought, mind deliberately blank about the scene they’d just left.

“…and if Rendan told them about you before they took his tongue—”

“They’ll be coming after us,” Van said.

The snow never seemed to stop falling, an endless, suffocating blanket, darkening the sky and clinging to them with a determined tackiness that made Van think of spider’s webs, even as it dragged at Yfandes’ hooves.

The day wore onto night in a relentless blur of cold and snow and black, twisted branches reaching towards them while cracked black stones jutted from snowdrifts, blocking their way.

In a distressingly short time Vanyel began to feel the weariness weighing on him again. He’d done nothing but rest for nearly four days, but the speed at which he’d forced his body to heal had a price too, aside from the magic itself, and it was hard to stay awake in the saddle.

Even so, he’d thought he was handling it until he felt the Bard shaking his shoulder to rouse him from the doze he’d fallen into.

“We have to stop,” Stefen said.

“You can rest later,” he snapped. “We need to get as far as we can before we camp for the night.”

“I can rest later, but you and your lady are about to tumble over.”

The chiding in Stefen’s voice turned Van’s foggy thoughts to Yfandes, who had slowed to little more than a regular horse’s walking pace, her head down and ears folded back against the driving wind.

:’Fandes?:

:I’m fine!: she answered, as snappish as he’d been, and he smiled ruefully.

“How far are we from Crookback Pass?”

He could feel the heavy, borrowed cloaks around them shift as the Bard moved, trying to take stock of where they were. “We’re—oh!” he sounded surprised, as though until just now he hadn’t recognized the pace the Companion had kept to all day, which was likely, as monotonous as their surroundings were. But the distant mountains they’d faced that morning were now considerably less distant. “About another day, riding like this? Maybe less?”

:Sounds good enough to me, love.: he told her gently and though she didn’t respond immediately, she did come to a halt.

He’d done his best to strengthen and restore his own magical reserves with power tapped from local ley lines, but he was afraid to take too much, in case their enemy was watching those rivers and streams of power that ran through the land he’d already laid claim to. It was mostly because of Yfandes’ support that he was doing as well as he was, but that meant his recovery was taking a toll on her as well.

:Then it’s good enough for me.: She relaxed enough to allow her own weariness to color her mind-voice. He leaned forward to scratch between her ears.

:I’m sorry,: he told her, with a deep and true regret. His dearest friend and look what he was doing—

:They were my friends too, Van,: she thought at him firmly, sending him images of Shonsea, Rohan, and Kellen, as well as their Heralds, but this time she showed them as they had all been in better days, conspirators in joy, consolers in sorrow. :And Valdemar is my country. I love you, Chosen, but with you or with another, I would be just as determined to meet this threat.:

She sounded almost apologetic over the last, but he found it was a comfort to him. Of course, she was so much to him that he could forget that their bond had been forged for more than their own sakes; and it was what they valued as much as who and what they were that made that made that bond so strong.

:I’m making it about me again, aren’t I, love?: he asked with a sheepish chuckle.

She tossed her head in a weary, playful nod while she took them a bit further, to the shelter of an outcropping of tall rocks.

The Bard staggered and groaned when he dismounted, shaking himself like a wet dog and obviously fighting shaky legs, and Van smirked but didn’t comment.

There’s one point for the older set, he thought smugly.

:Or just the set who’s more used to being in a saddle for days on end without rest.:

He just laughed, not so tired he couldn’t call up a little bubble of warmth as he’d done every night on the way north, creating a small, temporary shelter from the cold inside a broken circle of standing stones, so he could focus on stripping Yfandes’ tack and gear and getting her warmed and rubbed down.

“Can you start a fire?” he asked the Bard, who’d taken off one glove and was waving his bare hand through the balmy air and looking as startled as he had when he’d realized how far they’d traveled in a day. He hadn’t seemed to notice yet that below his boots the snow was fast melting away, exposing dry ground and scrub. He jumped a little when he did but managed a strangled “Sure?” and he focused on the hunt for enough kindling to hide his discomfort with Van’s display of casual power.

:I’d get on you for showing off…:

:…but?: he inquired, not used to her restraint.

:But I don’t care, as long as we get warmed up,: she sighed.

Once they were warmed and the small fire was crackling Van relaxed his hold on that shield against the weather. The difference was instantaneous, but he didn’t want to drain himself more than he had to. He’d keep it warm enough for them not to freeze in their bedrolls and to keep Yfandes from stiffening up overnight but that didn’t require it to be comfortable.

He noticed Stefen’s sudden shiver, but the boy didn’t complain, just finished his share of the jerky and travel bread, and stared morosely at the fire between them.

He’d been there for many of the atrocities the bandits had remembered, if only the ones where victims were dragged back to the keep, and obviously he had knowledge of the dealings of other brigand bands in the area as well. Was he haunted by the memory of the campsite they’d stumbled on that morning, or was it old hat to a jaded young psyche?

Vanyel still wondered at that, even while he was drifting off again. He’d crawled into his bedroll before he’d let the warming spell slip, and curled up beside Yfandes’ big warm body as well.

Stefen finished his meal and took to his bedroll not long after, looking alone and small and young.

For the first time in a while, Van didn’t dream of ice and snow. He didn’t dream of his last stand, alone in a mountain pass, choosing to die so he could take his enemy with him.

He dreamed of late spring sun, and a field of wildflowers outside Haven. He was young again, riding Yfandes while she galloped with joyous ease through a bright, warm day, Tylendel laughing behind him, riding pillion. Lendel’s arms were around him, his chest at Vanyel’s back, surrounding him with love and laughter and just that presence that he missed, that he would never stop missing.

Van cried, even though he wanted to hold on to the feeling of peace he’d felt at first, but Lendel soothed him with wordless nonsense and kissed his cheek. “Soon, Van. We’re so close!”

What was ‘soon’ to an immortal boy, living in a world of eternally bright and beautiful days? A warning? A promise? A consolation?

Van didn’t have the chance to obsess over it, or whether the dream was anything but wishful thinking: there was someone else, besides the Bard, in their camp.

It was subtle, but he knew the crunch of boots on snow, especially the creeping crunch of someone trying to be quiet. Perhaps it had even been what had woken him.

He opened his eyes and saw the Bard. He’d been up for a while, by the look of him, sitting by the fire, cross-legged, with his cloak and his bedroll both wrapped around his shoulders. The firelight made him glow, his auburn hair an echo of the flame, framed before the dark trunk of the tree that, many decades ago, had interrupted the circle of standing stones, and who’s thick, overhanging branches had given it a roof.

Had Stefen betrayed them after all?

As though in answer the boy met Van’s eyes and shook his head. Play dead, he mouthed.

:Vanyel?: Yfandes’ mind-voice was slurred but he got the sense of her rising concern as she began to shift behind him.

:Be still,: he told her.

:You’re trusting him?: she demanded, quickly apprised of the situation. Though she heeded him and seemed to settle down again, even as he had, it was only because he was lying half against her that he was able to feel the tension still in her body.

:Let’s see how it plays out,: he said, trusting to instinct that had served him better in conflict than his spotty Gift of ForSight ever had.

The crunching stopped. Just because Van was willing to wait and see what the boy was planning to do didn’t mean he didn’t mentally sweep the area to find out what was against them. Four minds, one Gifted, though modestly by the standards of most Heralds except—yes, that one was also a mage.

:Spread out for an ambush.: Her distrust of the Bard radiated along their link. She wanted to be gone. He could roll a bit and mount as she stood and they could be off before the youth got to his feet. Long before the four humans closing in on their camp could reach them, if he’d give in to her urging.

:And leave Stefen to them?:

:What of it, if he’s one of theirs?:

Still, he’d been counting more on the fact that between himself and Yfandes they were more than a match for four toughs from the northern woods, even if one was a mage.

“Who goes?” Stefen called, sounding emphatically bored, in the way that only the young truly can.

After a moment there was a more obvious scraping of boots through the snow—and a chuckle, though only one person stepped from the shadows outside the standing stones into the light of the fire. The mage, Vanyel could tell, by the not entirely clean pulse of his power in the small campsite. A blood mage.

“Stefen! My boy! Passing through our land again. And you weren’t going to stop by the hold and make your hullos to old Gerlac?” the voice was low, husky, not with a cold or even with artifice, but as though the speaker had had some damage done to it at one time.

“No, Viga, I wasn’t. I barely made it away from Saski the last time I visited, I have no intention of giving her a chance to paw at me again.” Now he just sounded annoyed.

The mage laughed again, louder, with a nasty edge. “Oh, you just don’t know how to take the affections of a real, warrior woman. She was just trying to express her admiration of your fine…gittern playing.”

“I’m not interested in ‘taking’ the affections of any woman, as well you know. And I’m on Master’s Dark’s business now. I certainly don’t have time for any of Saski’s foolishness. He’d do worse than skin us both if I kept him waiting because of her.”

“Master Dark’s business, you say? You don’t seem to be in too much of a hurry right now, playing campout with your pretty friend there.” He knew who Vanyel was, Van was certain.

The Bard snorted, calling him on it. “C’m’off it Vig, you know who that is and what my business is.”

“He looks very cozy for a captive,” the mage said, finally voicing his suspicions.

“Cozy enough to not cause trouble.”

“Master Dark’s powder should have him a senseless lump. It’s only the two of you here, and his horse—and that one we had orders to kill. You expect me to believe you’re strong enough to manhandle him and control his horse, all the way from Rendan’s hold to Master Dark? Where are Lord Rendan’s men? What are you up to?”

The mage knew of the powder?

:And his Master Dark’s plans for me? Was your little Bard not the only one he sent for us? Do this fool and his friends have some of that damned powder too?:

Stefen yawned. “The powder didn’t work quite as Master Dark said it would. Or the Herald’s stronger than he’d expected, either way. He broke out of it. Several times. Took four doses just to get him quiet enough for Tan and I to drag him back to the keep. Then that idiot Rendan didn’t believe me that he wasn’t as far gone as the Master’s envoy had said he’d be and wanted to rough him up a bit, just for the sport of having one of those boys in white at his mercy.”

Stefen paused.

“Shoulda listened. The fucker woke up and leveled the place.”

“But not you?”

“I’m not an idiot,” he sneered. “When I saw Rendan wasn’t gonna stop I ducked out to the stables, didn’t go back until the hole he punched in the roof stopped smoking. Found him in the middle of the mess, weak as a babe and dosed him—double—again.”

“And the horse?” the mage wasn’t buying it.

“Dumb thing got away from me when I got the Herald—what good am I supposed to be with a godsdamned blow gun? Worked out okay though, the ponies all broke clear through that rotted old paddock gate when the keep went boom, but she showed up, blood in her eye, not long after, and I dosed her too.”

“And how did you get them all the way up here by yourself?” No, he wasn’t buying it at all.

Van readied himself to go for his short sword, hidden under a fold of his bedroll. How much good it would do if the mage did have more of that powder, he didn’t know, but perhaps he could throw the man off with a physical attack, when he was prepared for a magical one, and take him out before he could use it. And just hope that his three cohorts, still lingering out of sight, hadn’t been armed with it as well.

“Music,” the Bard answered, sounding startling self-satisfied.

“Music?” the mage asked, as confused as Van felt.

A quick, waterfall trill of notes rang out from that beat up old gittern Stefen had kept at his side since they’d left the remains of Lord Rendan’s keep.

“Herald, stand!” he commanded, in a theatrically deeper voice, speaking over a lilting melody.

…Okay…

:There’s no way this will work,: ‘Fandes fretted as Van slowly rose, keeping his movements deliberately mechanical, opening his eyes but leaving them unfocused.

“Horse, stand!” With a deep, only slightly annoyed mental grunt, ‘Fandes clambered to her feet as well.

“You see?” Stefen asked in apparent glee.

“They obey you…as long as you’re playing?” the mage’s voice had gone faint.

“Of course! Here, look—Herald, raise your right arm.”

Lord and Lady, this was a farce!

But he obeyed.

“Horse, take one pace forward—Horse, lift your left foreleg—Horse, sidestep right.”

Fandes’ cursing was quite imaginative.

:Don’t think humans bend that way, dearest.:

:He will when I’m done with him.:

“See? But without the music? Nothing.” The gittern fell silent. “Herald, stand on one foot.”

This time Vanyel stayed as he was.

The mage approached him slowly. He tried to make it seem he was still relaxed and unaware of the world around him, but he desperately wished he’d left his sword strapped to him instead of hiding it in the bedroll.

“Wouldn’t, if I were you,” Stefen said, just as the mage’s fingers hovered inches from Van’s cheek. “Remember what I said about Rendan’s messing with him? He doesn’t seem to ever be under that deep.”

The extended hand clenched quickly into a fist and then fell back to the mage’s side. He turned on the Bard.

“This isn’t how the powder is supposed to work! How can this be?” he demanded.

Stefen shrugged. “What do I know? Am I a mage? All I know is—” he started picking out a melody again, something slow and low and dangerous. “I play my little gittern that Master Dark gave me, and that Herald over there does whatever I tell him to.”

It was a threat, a surprisingly clever, and hopefully effective one if the mage actually bought it: that Van’s magic was not suppressed, but subject to the Bard’s song, and that if Van himself were bothered he’d break free of the control of the powder entirely and the mage would face him in truth. Even the implication that the powder was too weak to contain him and it took multiple doses, while painfully untrue, seemed to undermine the mage’s earlier confidence. It was an insane, impossible bluff and the Bard…was pulling it off.

“They’re not very good company, but I won’t have to worry about that for much longer, as soon as I hand them off to the Master. I suppose, long as you made me get them up, we may as well continue on our way. You’ll give Gerlac and Saski my regards?” He never stopped playing, and Vanyel could feel the push behind the notes that said Stefen’s Gift was at play, lending the wordless song a deeply foreboding air.

The trees and bare stone around them suddenly seemed like they might hide more than just this mage’s friends. Worse things, by far. But perhaps the worst possible thing to face was standing right behind the mage, in this camp—

The young man was really very good.

“Uh—ahem, yes, yes—of course! It’s always nice when you pass through, Stefen, my lad. I do hope you come back soon. And stay longer then.” But not any longer now, was the unspoken addendum. “Must be off,” he said, disappearing back the way he’d come, into tall stone- and tree-shadow.

Vanyel stood, not relaxing, though Yfandes was comfortingly at his back, and the Bard sat before him, still playing—while he watched the disquieted minds of the mage and his companions flee.

Only when he felt them pass too far to have thoughts of an easy return did he let his shoulders slump and a sigh escape him. “By the gods, you actually did it!” he muttered, wonderingly.

Stefen finally stilled the disturbing song and grinned up at him, a blinding flash of teeth and joy. “I did, didn’t I?”

:Bard Breda always has said a talented enough Bard could talk themselves out of anything.:

But Stefen’s smile quickly fell and he cast a look over his shoulder at the direction the mage had gone. “We should go, though. In case Viga starts thinking it over and decides to come back to test my story more after all. If you’re so determined to see what Master Dark’s been doing, better with me than with Gerlac’s men. They’re not much better than Uwald and his—I did warn you everyone would be looking for you, fighting to be the one who gets to hand you over.”

Van nodded. “We need food for Yfandes, then we can go.”

All to the better that despite her complaints at the way he’d ordered her around, Yfandes too had been rather impressed with Stefen’s quick thinking and ability to sell his own unlikely lie. She’d softened to him, a little, and had come to trust him, just a bit.

The ride towards the Ice Wall Mountains and Crookback Pass, the only reasonable way through those mountains, was spent much as the day before had been: coursing through an unchanging landscape of white and gray and black, beset by the snow and wind and bitter cold of the storms that raged anew each day.

Leareth’s work, he was certain of it now, though he wished he’d realized it when he’d still been at his own border and could have safely interfered with the weather patterns; now he didn’t dare. All his plans hinged on Leareth not realizing that Van was so close and still free.

But where the day before had been marked by weariness, today was tinged by the high alert of a battle about to be joined. By Stefen’s word, they should reach the pass by tonight. Come morning, Van would know exactly what lay on the other side.

They would take a short rest somewhere outside the pass for Yfandes, but then they would ride through the night, so as not be caught in it. Although he didn’t dare tap any of them, Van was carefully marking the ley lines they passed, in case he had the need and opportunity to use them later. He could feel a node ahead of him, a young one, likely created by Leareth himself and probably it marked the pass, tied to whatever reserves lay in his stronghold beyond the mountains. It was already close enough that he could have tapped into it if he’d had a mind to, which told him how close he was getting to Leareth himself if he’d still had any doubts.

Today it was Stefen who was nodding off, but Vanyel let him. They wouldn’t rest long outside the pass and though he may be young, as Yfandes herself had pointed out, he wasn’t used to spending endless hours on horseback. A Companion’s gate was unnaturally smooth and with his arms around Van it wasn’t too hard to keep them there with a firm grip at one of his wrists. It was pleasant, though a part of him wished it were less so, to have him draped across his back, arms around him like a lover. Though that simple, guilty pleasure felt like more of a betrayal of Lendel than the brief relationships he’d had over the years since his death.

:You like the Bard, in spite of what he did,: ‘Fandes commented tiredly, but he knew it wasn’t the exertion that put that tone in her mind-voice. They were close and they both knew how this would likely end.

:He paid for it.: Though Van still tried not to linger on those memories of his time in Lord Rendan’s keep. :And he saved us this morning. If we’d tried to fight, even if we’d tried to run, that mage and his friends might have caught us with more of that powder. He’s a good ally:

:And?:

He chuckled at her. :And he’s pleasant company. Nice to look at, nice to listen to, and…interesting. I’m glad that we aren’t making this journey alone.: Though for more than one reason.

:…Are you ever going to tell me what you’re planning?:

He’d been guiltily braced to hear hurt in her mind-voice when she finally confronted him on what she had to have known he was keeping silent. Instead she just sounded resigned and that was somehow worse. As long as they’d known each other she’d been nothing but a source of love and support and if his dream was the ForeSight it seemed, and his fate already set, he didn’t want what were possibly their last hours together to be spent this way. :Tonight, love,: he promised. :I’m…not actually sure I’m ready to talk about it yet.:

Her response was wordless, a wash of pure emotion: the love that had saved him following after a broken lifebond, the love that had stood beside him through learning his powers, through war and through political machinations, the love that would make a lie of his ice dream, if only the part where he faced his end alone.

When they reached the mouth of the pass and after Van and ‘Fandes both swept it for magic traps or men waiting in ambush, they found a small protected space at the base of the Ice Wall Mountains themselves.

Vanyel cleared only enough snow for a fire and saw that Yfandes was fed and comfortable for a quick rest—then left her with Stefen. The Bard tried to protest, but Van waved him away. Vanyel wouldn’t let his guard down again and he certainly wasn’t going to sleep.

He sat himself on a flat stone, well away from ‘Fandes and Stefen. With a sigh, he pulled out all eight of the remaining packets of the powder and laid them out on his legs.

:So, Chosen? Will you tell me what this terrible plan is now?:

:I will,: he told her, :And I’m hoping you will help me prepare—:

Continued in Chapter 6

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[brajeshupadhyay]

There were a few hairy moments but Andy Murray’s movement was encouraging

There were a few hairy moments but Andy Murray’s movement was encouraging… his touch was superb but the acid test will come in singles

Andy Murray made his competitive return to tennis on Thursday at Queen’s Club 

He and Feliciano Lopez beat Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-7, 6-3 

The Scot made his first appearance since a second hip operation six months ago

Sportsmail’s MATTHEW LAMBERT was courtside to assess his return to action 

By Matthew Lambert for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:34 EDT, 20 June 2019 | Updated: 18:05 EDT, 20 June 2019

Andy Murray made a victorious return to competitive tennis on Thursday as he and partner Feliciano Lopez defeated Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in straight sets at Queen’s Club.

The 32-year-old former world No 1 was making his first appearance for six months but he looked sharp on court as he and his Spanish partner won out 7-6, 6-3. 

So, how did he shape up on his return? Sportsmail’s MATTHEW LAMBERT watched the Scot at close quarters and gave his verdict from Queen’s Club.

Andy Murray made a victorious return in doubles at Queen’s Club with Feliciano Lopez

The Scot was making his first appearance since his second hip operation six months ago

Movement

Encouraging. Murray did not look physically hampered, darting around at the net and coming forward well. Sprightly and light on his feet between points, he was a world away from the limping figure when his hip pain was at its worst.

The area in which he struggled before his op was in moving out wide on the forehand side. That was never going to be fully tested in doubles, but on the one occasion he was forced to stretch, he tracked down a backhand and whipped it up the middle of the court to win the point.

There were a few of hairy moments when he slipped and twice he failed to get across to cover the middle of the court, but that was down to his inexperience in doubles.

One balletic mid-air backhand overhead showed flexibility and explosiveness.

There were a few hairy moments but Andy Murray’s movement was encouraging on court

Body language

Murray has never been a poster child for positive body language on court but he looked full of beans here.

Early on there were a few trademark grimaces towards his box, the odd frustrated slap of the thigh. But there were also fist pumps and even a ‘Vamos’ for the benefit of Spanish partner Feliciano Lopez. He raised his fist to the crowd after winning the first set and during the second he was really enjoying himself.

Ball-striking

Got better and better. The Scot was not hitting the ball cleanly at the start, especially on the forehand return of serve.

But gradually he found his range and struck a crucial double-handed backhand to get to 4-4 in the tiebreak. In the second set he was seeing the ball well and the two forehand winning returns in a row to break for 4-2 were vintage Murray.

The former world No 1’s body language was positive and appeared full of beans to be back

Touch

Superb. He never tried to hit his volleys too hard, calmly directing them into space. It took until 5-6 in the opening set for him to miss at the net.

Reactions

Razor sharp. When Lopez served for the match, Farah hit a thumping overhead but Murray somehow reacted to punch a double-handed backhand winner.

Conclusion

The acid test for Murray will be when he returns to the singles court but this was a very encouraging start.

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Kevin Anderson defeats John Isner in record-breaking contest to reach maiden Wimbledon final | Tennis News

http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=5682 Kevin Anderson defeats John Isner in record-breaking contest to reach maiden Wimbledon final | Tennis News - http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=5682 Anderson wins dramatic final set 26-24; Will meet Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in final on Sunday Last Updated: 13/07/18 8:32pm Kevin Anderson defeated John Isner in a record-breaking Grand Slam semi-final contest to reach the Wimbledon final. The 33-year-old won a near three-hour long final set to become the first South African Wimbledon men's singles finalist since Brian Norton in 1921, prevailing 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 26-24.Anderson will now meet either world No 1 Rafael Nadal or three-time champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday's showpiece after winning the longest ever singles semi-final at the All England Club, which lasted six hours and 36 minutes. Kevin Anderson reached his first Wimbledon final in dramatic circumstances In a meeting between two of the sport's biggest servers, it was Isner who began the quickest but was left to rue squandering three break points in the third game of the match, which featured eight deuces.Anderson gradually grew in confidence as both players traded quick fire service holds before Isner saved his first break point, a set point, in the 10th game. But after initially falling a mini-break it was the South African who pinched the opener on a tiebreak.Serve continued to dominate in the second set but Isner, seeded ninth, was forced to save a break point to avoid enabling Anderson to serve for a two sets to love lead. John Isner was aiming to become the first American men's Grand Slam finalist since Andy Roddick in 2009 After both players held serve to bring up a second tiebreak, it was Isner who took control winning the opening two points against the eighth seeds serve before hammering down an ace to level up the match.As the contest appeared on track for a third tiebreak, Anderson found his range off the return of serve to secure the first break of the match and snap Isner's streak of 110 consecutive service holds in the competition.Despite the setback, Isner broke back immediately to stay in the third set before resuming usual service on his way to forcing another tiebreak. Isner appeared in command after taking the third set After saving set point Anderson conspired to double fault on his own set point moments later and Isner took advantage to gain command of the contest.Anderson broke Isner for the second time in the match to move ahead in the fourth set but just like in the third was broken back immediately but the South African regained his composure to break again before a decisive hold forced a decider.Just like in his shock five-set quarter-final victory over Roger Federer, Anderson was serving second throughout the fifth set and saw four break points go a-begging before eventually making the breakthrough in the 29th game of the decider.Anderson secured victory when Isner struck a weary forehand wide, which saw him reach his first Wimbledon final at the 10th time of asking.We have Wimbledon covered from all angles via our website skysports.com/tennis then click through to our dedicated section skysports.com/tennis/wimbledon. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Keep up to date with the latest on skysports.com/tennis We will have news, previews, live blogs, reports and expert analysis from Wimbledon. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Our next tennis action comes from the German Open in Hamburg. Watch the action live on Sky Sports Arena from Monday, July 23 from 10am.Never miss the big kick-off or have to deal with interrupted games or low-quality streams with a NOW TV Sky Sports Pass this summer. You'll get exclusive coverage of the 147th Open from Carnoustie, The Ryder Cup, ATP Tour, World Darts Matchplay, and loads more starting from just £7.99. No contract. 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Roger Federer's Wimbledon reign ended by Kevin Anderson | Tennis News

http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=2888 Roger Federer's Wimbledon reign ended by Kevin Anderson | Tennis News - http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=2888 Anderson completes remarkable comeback to defeat eight-time champion Roger Federer in five thrilling sets By Raz Mirza at Wimbledon Last Updated: 11/07/18 5:48pm Roger Federer was stunned by Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon quarter-finals Kevin Anderson dethroned Roger Federer to reach his maiden Wimbledon semi-final after sealing a dramatic 13-11 deciding-set victory on Wednesday. Federer was on the ropes after dropping a comfortable two-set lead, and he even failed to take a match point chance in the third set, but the South African held his nerve to win a captivating contest 2-6 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-4 13-11.US Open finalist Anderson, who became the first South African man to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon since Kevin Curren in 1983, said: "Down two sets to love I tried my best to keep fighting. Beating Roger Federer here at Wimbledon will be one I remember, especially in such a close match. "I kept telling myself to keep believing. I said today is going to be my day. You need that mindset against Roger."I'm ecstatic. That's what you work so hard for. Matches likes that are very special." Federer, playing in the unfamiliar surroundings of Court One for the first time in three years, oozed confidence as early as the opening game when he broke Anderson's huge serve with ease and then again in the ninth game before serving out the set in 26 minutes.But the 32-year-old Anderson refocused in the second set to end the Swiss star's streak of consecutive games won on serve at 85 as he raced into a 3-0 lead before Federer quickly hit back to win the next three. The longest streak of service games won at the All England Club was Pete Sampras's 118, set between the third round in 2000 and the second round in 2001. Federer, aiming for a record-extending ninth Wimbledon title, settled for a tie-break which he took 7-5 - his 300th set overall at the Championships.The 20-time Grand Slam champion had not dropped a set against the tall South African in their four previous meetings, but after Anderson saved a match point in the 10th game, a couple of errant forehands from Federer enabled the eighth seed to serve for the third set.Anderson took his opportunity, despite having to save three break points, to seal it in majestic fashion with an ace.That ended Federer's streak of consecutive sets won at the All England Club at 34, with the former world No 1 unable to break his own record. Federer previously won 34 straight sets between the third round in 2005 and the final in 2006 but records were the last thing on Federer's mind as he just thinking of making it through to the last four unscathed.Federer was looking fragile and when he netted on the forehand side to hand Anderson a 4-3 lead in the fourth set, the errors were becoming more problematic.Anderson held his nerve with his relentless and powerful serve win the fourth and send the rip-roaring contest into an unlikely fifth and deciding set. Federer, who had won his previous six five-set matches, looked a lot more focused on serve although Anderson's rhythm remained unperturbed during a marathon contest.Neither man looked like faltering until Federer double-faulted for the first time in the match and just the fourth time in the tournament in the 23rd game before Anderson held his nerve to snatch a remarkable victory in four hours and 14 minutes.Anderson will take on the winner of the quarter-final clash between former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and ninth-ranked John Isner.We have Wimbledon covered from all angles via our website skysports.com/tennis then click through to our dedicated section skysports.com/tennis/wimbledon. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Keep up to date with the latest on skysports.com/tennis We will have news, previews, live blogs, reports and expert analysis from Wimbledon. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Our next tennis action comes from the German Open in Hamburg. Watch the action live on Sky Sports Arena from Monday, July 23 from 10am.Never miss the big kick-off or have to deal with interrupted games or low-quality streams with a NOW TV Sky Sports Pass this summer. You'll get exclusive coverage of the 147th Open from Carnoustie, The Ryder Cup, ATP Tour, World Darts Matchplay, and loads more starting from just £7.99. No contract. Tennis updates straight to your phone How to receive all the latest tennis news straight to your mobile 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