David Weber - Wind_Riders_Oath 3

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WIND RIDER'S OATHD av id W eb er

T hi s i s a w or k o f f ic ti on . A ll t he c ha ra ct er s a nd e ve nt s p or tr ay ed i n t hi s b oo k a re f ic ti on al , a nd a ny

r es em bl an ce t o r eal p eo pl e o r i ncid en ts i s p ur el y coi ncid en tal.

C op yr ig ht 2 00 4 b y D av id W eb er

A ll r ig ht s r es er ved, i nclu di ng t he r ig ht t o r ep ro du ce t hi s b oo k o r p or ti on s t hereof i n any f or m.

A B aen B oo ks O ri gi nal

Baen Publishing Enterprises

P .O . B ox 1 40 3

R i ver dal e, N Y 1 04 71

www.baen.com

ISBN: 0-7434-8821-0

C ov er a rt b y L ar ry E lm or e

M ap s b y E le an or K os ty k

F ir st p ri nt in g, M ay 2 00 4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Distributed by Simon & Schuster

1 23 0 A venu e o f t he A meri cas

New York, NY 10020

P ro du ct io n b y W in dh av en P ress , A ub ur n, N H

P ri nt ed i n t he U ni ted S tates o f A meri ca

F or M eg an , M or ga n, a nd M ic ha el ,w ho h ol d my h ea rt i n t he ir h an ds .

An d a lway s a nd e sp ec ia ll y f or S h ar on ,

t he c en te r o f u s a ll , f or m ak in g m ir ac le s p os si bl e.

A ls o i n t hi s s er ie s:

Oath of Swords

Th e W ar Go d' s O wn

B AEN BOOKS by DAVID WEBER H o n or H a r rin g ton :

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O n B a si l is k S t at i on

Th e Hon or of t he Q ue en

T he S ho rt V ic to ri ou s W ar

Field of Dishonor

Flag in Exile

Honor Among Enemies

In Enemy HandsEchoes of Honor

Ashes of Victory

War of Hono

edited by David Weber:

More than Honor

W or ld s o f H on or

C ha ng er o f W or ld s

The Service of the Sword

Honorverse:

Crown of Slaves (with Eric Flint)

M u ti n eers ' M o on

T h e A r ma ge d do n I n he r i ta nc e

Heirs of Empire

Empire From the Ashes (MegaBook)

Path of the Fury

T he A po c al y ps e T r ol l

The Excalibur Alternative

w ith S te v e W h ite :

Insurrection

Crusade

In Death Ground

The Shiva Option

with John Ringo:

March Upcountry

March to the Sea

March to the Stars

w ith E r ic F lin t:

1633

Characters Alfar AxebladeSothoii armsman/horse herder from the holding of Warm Springs.


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Balcartha EvahnalfressaCommander of Five Hundred; the senior officer of the Kalatha town

guard.

Brother Relathan acolyte in the Balthar Temple of Tomanak.

Cassan AxehammerBaron Toramos, Lord Warden of the South Riding. Baron Tellian's mostpowerful political enemy, and someone who does not believe that it is possible or desirable to coexist

with hradani.

Cathman the Peddleran alias of Varnaythus.

Dahlaha FarrierTriahm Pickaxe's mistress and a worshiper of Shigu.

Da l th y s H a ll a fr e ss athe town administrator of Kalatha.

Darhal Pickaxeprevious Lord Warden of Lorham. Trisu Pickaxe's deceased father.

Darnas Warshoea trusted spy and agent of Baron Cassan.

DathgarBaron Tellian's bonded courser. The name means "Thunder Grass."

Dathian HalberdLord Warden of the Fens; one of Baron Tellian's vassals plotting with Duke

Cassan against him.

Edinghas BardicheOne of Baron Tellian's vassals; Lord Warden of Warm Springs.

Eramis Yohlahnafressaa war maid; one of Maretha's partisans.

Erlis RahnafressaCommander of One Hundred; the war maid officer in charge of training at

Kalatha.

Ermath Balcarafressathe head of Housekeeping for Kalatha.

Festian WrathsonLord Warden of Glanharrow. Baron Tellian's choice to replace the traitor Mathian

Redhelm at Glanharrow.

Forhada Helmcleavera wind rider who joins Bahzell's attack on Krahana's servants. His courser isnamedKonhandro , or

"Mist Born."

Garlahna Lorhanalfressaa young war maid assigned by Erlis as Leeana's mentor.

Garthan WarbridleLord Warden of Hollow Cave. One of Baron Cassan's vassals.

Gayrfressathe courser filly Bahzell heals at Warm Springs. The name means "Daughter of the Wind"

or "Wind Daughter."

GayrhalanHathan's bonded courser. The name means "Storm Souled."

Gharnal UthmgsonBahzell's foster brother; a member of the Order of Tomanak.


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Gurlahn Moraksonthe Horse Stealer warrior commanding the guard assigned to Bahzell in Balthar

by his father.

Hahnal Bardichethe eldest son of Lord Warden Edinghas.

Halahk Arrowsmithone of Baron Cassan's vassals.

Haliku Kohartha Servant of Krahana, under the orders of Jerghar.

Hanatha BowmasterBaroness of Balthar, wife of Tellian.

Hathan ShieldarmBaron Tellian's wind brother. Rider of courser Gayrhalan.

Jerghar Sholdana Servant of Krahana.

Johlana Ermathfressathe head seamstress of Kalatha.

Jolhanna Evahlafressathe war maid who serves as Kalatha's official trade representative to Thalar.

Lanitha Sarthayafressathe Kalatha librarian and senior schoolteacher.

Layantha Peliatha Servant of Krahana, under the orders of Jerghar.

L ee a na G l or a na S y li v es t e B o wm a st e r14-year-old daughter (and only child) of Tellian and

Hanatha of Balthar.

Luthyr Battlehorna wind rider who is not prepared for a hradani champion of Tomanak or ahradani wind rider.

Maretha Keralinfressathe leader of the faction of the Kalatha town council most opposed to any

s or t o f ap peasem en t.

Marthya SteelshankLeeana Bowmaster's personal maid.

Paratha Kharlanmajor in the service of the Church of Lillinara.

Ravlahn ThregafressaHundred Erlis' senior assistant for weapons training at Kalatha.

Rulth BlackhillLord Warden of Transhar. Political ally and vassal of Baron Cassan.

S ae t h P i c ka x edeceased father of Triahm Pickaxe.

Salgahna dog brother working with Varnaythus and Jerghar.

Salthan PickaxeLord Warden Trisu's cousin, senior magistrate, and librarian.

Saratic RedhelmLord Warden of Golden Vale. One of Baron Cassan's vassals who is working with

h im again st B ar on T el li an . H e i s a cou si n o f M at hi an R ed helm , t he d is gr aced L or d W ar den o f

Glanharrow.


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Shalsan Warlampa wind rider who joins Bahzell's attack on Krahana's servants. His courser is

namedShaynhara .

Shardohna demon familiar of Krahana.

Sharral AhnlarfressaMayor Yalith's assistant in Kalatha.

Sir Altharn Warbladecaptain in the service of Lord Warden Trisu.

Sir Chalthar RanseurSaratic Redhelm's military marshal, the commander of his personal troops.

Sir Fahlthu Greavesbitercommander of Saratic Redhelm's Third Company.

Sir Halnahk Partisancommander of Saratic Redhelm's Fifth Company.

Sir Jahlahan SwordspinnerBaron Tellian's seneschal at Hill Guard Castle.

S i r K el t hy s L a nc e be a re rLord of Deep Water, a minor manor of Glan-harrow. He is a wind rider

and a cou si n o f B ar on T el li an .

S ir M ar k ha l t Ra ve nc a wThe senior Sothoii member of the Order of Tomanak in Balthar upon the

arrival of Bahzell and Hurthang.

Sir Trianal BowmasterBaron Tellian's 19-year-old nephew.

Sir Yarran BattlecrowLord Festian's scout commander and marshal.

Sofalla Bardichewife of Lord Warden Edinghas.

Soumeta Harlahnnafressaa war maid commander of fifty from Kalatha who opposes any

app eas em en t o f t he w ar m aid s' o pp on en ts .

Taraman Wararrowthe senior priest of Tomanak in Balthar.

Tarith ShieldarmLeeana's personal armsman.

Tarlan SwordsmithLord Warden of High Tranith. One of Baron Cassan's vassals.

Tellian BowmasterBaron of Balthar, Lord Warden of the West Riding.

Thalgahr Rariksono ne o f t he h radani w ar ri or s ass ig ned t o B ah zell 's b od yg uard b y h is f at her.

Tharnha Garhlanfressaa war maid; one of Maretha Keralinfressa's partisans.

Theretha Maglahnfressaa war maid artist (glassblower) from Kalatha.

Trebdor Horsemasterone of Baron Cassan's vassals.

Treharm Haltharua Servant of Krahana, under the orders of Jerghar.

Triahm PickaxeLord Warden Trisu's cousin, a bitter enemy of all war maids.


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Trisu PickaxeLord Warden of Lorham.

VarnaythusMaster Varnaythus; a black sorceror and priest of Carnadosa.

WalasfroSir Kelthys Lancebearer's courser. The name means Son of Battle.

WalsharnoGayrfressa's older brother, the courser who bonds with Bahzell. His name means Battle

D aw n ( it c ou ld a ls o b e t ra ns la te d D aw n o f B at tl e o r B at tl e S un ).

Welthan HandaxeLord Warden of Dronhar, one of Baron Cassan's -vassals.

Yalith TamalthfressaMayor of Kalatha.


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G e n e r a t e d b y A B C A m b e r L I T C o n v e r t e r , h t t p : / / w w w . p r o c e s s t e x t . c o m / a b c l i t . h t m l

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Prologue

T hu nd er r um bl ed o verh ead l ik e a d is tant b at teri ng r am , p ou nd in g at t he h as p o f h eaven. T he h ar sh

g ru mb le w as m ut ed i n t he s to ne-w al led r oo m, b ut t he w at er fall s ou nd o f p ou nd in g r ai n cam e t hr ou gh t he

s in gl e o pen w in do w o n t he w in dy b reat h o f t he chi ll y s pr in g n ig ht . H al f a d ozen r ichl y d ress ed m en s at

aro un d t he l ar ge w oo den t ab le's p ol is hed s ur face. T hr ee o f t hem n ur s ed r ub y- hear ted w in eg las ses. T wo

m or e q uaff ed b eer f ro m elabo rately o rn am en ted t an kard s. T he s ix th l eaned b ack i n t he l ar ger, m or e

h eavi ly o rn am en ted chair at t he h ead o f t he t ab le. A s mall g lass o f D warv en hame w hi sk ey s at b ef or e h im ,

wa rm a mbe r i n t he li ght of the oi l la mps , a nd he s qui nt ed thr ough a cl oud of fr agr ant s moke a s he us ed a

f la ri ng s pl in te r t o r el ig ht hi s pi pe f rom t he l amp a t h is e nd o f t he t abl e.

H e w av ed o ut t he f la mi ng s pl in te r a nd r ep la ce d t he l am p c hi mn ey . H is p ipe h is se d s of tl y a s h e d re w

u po n i t, t hen exh al ed a s in gl e, p er fect ly f or med r in g o f s mo ke. M or e t hu nd er r um bl ed , a l it tl e clo ser t hi s

t im e, a nd t he d ar kn es s o ut si de t he w in dow f li ck er ed t o t he d is ta nt d an ce o f l ig ht ni ng , f ar a wa y o n t he

e dg e o f t he r ai ny w or ld .

" I agr ee t hat t he s it uati on i s i nt ol er ab le, M il or d, " o ne o f t he b eer- dr in ki ng m en s ai d i nt o t he cal m s ti ll ness

c re at ed by t he c omf or t of a fi re on a ni ght of s tor m a nd wi nd. Hi s ha ir wa s t he go lde n r ed of te n s ee n

a mo ng t he o ld es t o f S ot ho ii n ob le f am il ie s, a nd h is e xp re ss io n w as u nh ap py , t o s ay t he l ea st . H e t oo k

ano th er s wall ow f ro m h is t an kard , r ai sed h an d f li ck er in g w it h t he d an ce o f g ol den r in gs and r ef lect in g

ge ms . T he n h e s et t he t anka rd ba ck d ow n a nd s hr ugg ed. " St il l, we s ee m t o ha ve no o pt ion b ut t o a cc ept

it."

" I' m afr ai d W el th an i s r ig ht abo ut t hat, M il or d, " o ne o f t he w in e- dr in kers agr eed s ou rl y. " It 's an i ns ul t t o

e ve ry S ot ho ii e ve r b or n, b ut a s l ong a s T el li an i s p re pa re d t o s wa ll ow i t h im se lf , h e c an f or ce i t d ow n a ll

o f o ur t hr oa ts , a s w el l. "

" An d a s l on g a s t he K in g i s p re pa re d t o a ll ow h im t o, " a not he r o f t he w in e- dr ink er s r em in de d t he m a ll


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darkly. "Don't forget that, Garthan."

" I' m n ot f or gett in g any th in g, T ar lan, " G ar th an r ep li ed s ho rt ly . " Bu t d oes any m an at t hi s t ab le b el ieve t hat

H is M aj es ty h as n' t b ee n . . . p oo rl y a dv is ed i n t hi s i ns ta nc e? "

" Il l- ad vi sed o r w el l- ad vi sed, t he K in g i s t he K in g, " t he p ip e- sm ok in g m an at t he h ead o f t he t ab le

o bs er ve d. H is vo ic e w as w el l m od ul at ed , h is t on e a lm os t b ut n ot q ui te m il d. T he re w as a ls o a f ai nt lyd an gero us s et t o h is h an ds om e f ace, and G ar th an s ti ff en ed s li gh tl y i n h is chair .

" It w as n ot m y i nt en t t o s ug gest any th in g els e, M il or d. " H is o wn v oi ce w as d ef er en ti al , b ut cor ed w it h

s tu bb or nn es s. " No ne th el es s, t he re i s a r ea so n H is M aj es ty h as a C ou nc il , a nd y ou are a member of it . Is

i t n ot t he f un ct io n o f a c oun ci lo r t o c ou ns el ? A nd w ho i s m or e v al ua bl e? A c ou nc il or w ho o ff er s hi s ow n

w is do m, e ve n w he n i t m ay n ot b e t he m os t p op ul ar a dv ic e? O r o ne w ho w il l n ot d is ag re e w he n h e

believes that other, more . . . expedient councilors are in error?"

T he n ig ht o ut si de t he c ha mb er w as o n t he c ol d s id e o f c oo l, a nd t he b re ez e b lo wi ng t hr ou gh t he w in do w

wa s a bi t s tr onge r t ha n i t ha d be en a mom ent be for e. N o d oubt t ha t a cc ou nt ed f or t he c hi ll w hi chbreathed through the room.

" Yo u' re c or re ct , o f c ou rs e, " t he m an a t t he h ea d o f t he t ab le t ol d G ar th an a ft er a l on g, s ti ll m om en t,

s tr ok in g hi s g ol de n b ea rd w it h hi s l ef t h and . " Ye t s o i s Ta rl an . A nd w hi le I m ay s it on t he Co unc il , I 'm

c er ta in ly n ot t he o nl y o ne w ho d oe s. P ri nc e Y ur ok ha s a ls o s it s t he re , f or e xa mp le . A nd a t t he m om en t,

K in g M ar kh os s ee ms p re pa re d t o l is te n t o t he p ri nc e a nd g iv e T el li an t he o pp or tu ni ty t o p ur su e h is

useless attempt to 'peacefully coexist' with the hradani."

M or e t ha n on e of t he m en s ea te d a ro un d t he t abl e l oo ke d a s i f he w an te d t o s pi t o n t he po li she d s tone

f lo or , a nd t he re w as a l ow m ut te r o f t hu nd er -w as he d d is gu st . Y et n on e o f t he m c ou ld d is ag re e w it h w ha t

t he ir h os t h ad j us t s ai d.

" We ll , y es , M il or d, " t he s ec on d b ee r- dr in ke r a gr ee d a ft er s ev er al s ec on ds . " We 'r e a ll a wa re o f t ha t, a s

I 'm s ur e y ou r eali zed b ef or e y ou cal led u s h er e t on ig ht . B ut I t ru st y ou 'l l f or gi ve m y p os si bl e b lu nt ness i n

o bs er vi ng t hat y ou d id n' t cho os e u s f or t hi s m eeti ng b ecau se o f o ur ard en t agr eement w it h P ri nce

Yurokhas' position."

H is t on e w as s o d ro ll t ha t m or e t ha n o ne of t he m en a t t he t ab le a ct ua ll y f oun d t he ms el ve s c hu ck li ng , a nd

even the pipe-smoking man smiled.

" Fo r m y o wn p ar t, " t he s pe ak er c on ti nu ed , " I r ea di ly a dm it t ha t I h av e p er so na l a s w el l a s p at ri ot icr easo ns f or d et es ti ng t he p resent s it uati on . M y k in sm an M at hi an f in ds h im self l it tl e b et ter t han a b eg gar, a

pensioner in my house, supplanted by a jumped-up, common-born knight without a drop of noble blood

i n h is ve in s." H is t one w as no l on ge r d ro ll , a nd hi s e ye s we re d an ge ro us . " Le av ing a si de t he i ns ul t t o m y

e nt ir e f am il y an d t o e ve ry t ru e n ob le h ou se a mo ng u s th er e i s s uc h a t hi ng a s j us ti ce . W e h av e a b on e

t o p ic k w it h B ar on T el li an , a nd I , f or o ne , r ef us e t o p re te nd w e do n' t. N or , I t hi nk, a re y ou pr ep ar ed t o

d o s o, M il or d. "

S om e o f t he o th er s s ud de nl y s ee me d t o f in d t he c on te nt s o f t he ir g la ss es o r t an ka rd s d ee pl y a bs or bi ng .

T he y s ta re d d ow n i nt o t he m a s i f c on su lt in g f er me nt ed a ugu ri es , b ut t he m an a t t he h ea d o f t he t ab le o nl y

l oo ke d s te ad il y a t t he o ne w ho h ad s po ke n.

" I h av e n ev er p re te nd ed I d id n' t h av e m an y b on es t o p ic k w it h T el li an o f B al th ar , L or d S ar at ic . I d o.

A nd y ou 'r e qu it e r ig ht t o p oi nt o ut t ha t I i nvi te d a ll of y ou t o j oi n m e t hi s e ve ni ng b ec au se I f el t c onf id en t


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e ac h of you do, a s we ll . Ye t i t be hoove s a ll of us t o r em embe r t ha t t o o pe nly a ss ai l hi m ove r th is ma tt er

r is ks p resent in g t he app earance o f d ef yi ng t he King . B ef or e w e m ay d ea l p rop er ly w it h T el li an a nd h is

pet hradani, we must bring King Markhos to realize that, as Garthan says, he has been poorly advised in

t hi s m at te r. O nc e h e w it hd ra ws s up po rt f ro m T el li an , w e m ay b ec om e m or e . . . d ir ec t i n o ur m et ho ds .

B ut f or t he p re se nt , a s l oy al s ub je ct s a nd v as sa ls o f t he K in g, w e m us t l end h is p ol ic ie s o ur f ir m p ub li c

support."

" O f cou rs e, M il or d, " S ar at ic agr eed. " I w ou ld n ev er s ug gest and i t w as n ev er m y i nt en ti on t hat w e

do a nyt hi ng e ls e. A s y ou s ay, i t i s our m ani fe st dut y t o t he Cr own t o m ake our a cc ept anc e of t he K ing' s

policies clear. And public."

"Precisely." The pipe-smoking man blew another smoke ring while rain pounded down, heavier than

ever, o ut si de t he w in do w. B ur ni ng coal s eeth ed o n t he h eart h b eh in d h im , h is si ng as t he o ccas io nal

r ai ndr op f ou nd i ts w ay d ow n t he c hi mn ey a nd t hr ou gh t he f lu e. H e pi cke d u p hi s w hi sk ey g la ss a nd

s ip ped w it h s lo w app reci at io n, t hen s et i t b ack d ow n v er y p reci sel y.

" Sti ll ," he sa id, " jus t a s i t is t he dut y of any s ubj ect of t he Ki ng to ac ce pt his pol ic ie s a nd a bide by hi sd ec is io ns , s o i t i s a ls o t he du ty o f h is s ub je ct s t o c on si de r a ll t he w ay s i n w hi ch t he y m ig ht f ur th er t he t ru e

o bj ec t o f t ho se p ol ic ie s. W hi ch , o f c ou rs e, i s t he p ea ce a nd s ec ur it y o f t he e nt ir e K in gd om . A nd , a s a ll o f

y ou , I can no t con vi nce m ys el f t hat B ar on T el li an 's p resent act io ns can u lt im at el y p os e any th in g b ut a

t hr ea t t o t ha t p ea ce a nd s ec ur it y. "

" I s ee , M il or d, " S ar at ic s ai d. " An d I a gr ee w it h y ou ." O th er h ea ds n od de d a ro un d t he t ab le , a nd i f m os t

o f t he n od s s eemed l es s ent hu si as ti c t han S ar at ic's , n on e o f t hem s eemed t he l east h es it an t. " Yet b eari ng

i n m in d w hat y ou 'v e alr eady s o r ig ht ly s ai d abo ut o ur r es po ns ib il it y and d ut y t o s up po rt t he K in g' s

policies, it would seem there's little we can openly do to stop Tellian."

" Yo u' ve f ou gh t as m an y b at tl es as any m an h er e, L or d S ar at ic," t he p ip e- sm ok in g m an s ai d. " As s uch,you know a s we ll a s I t ha t t he mos t obvi ous a nd ope n t ac ti c i s s el dom t he mos t e ff ec ti ve on e.

Unde rs ta nd m e, a ll of you. I wi ll not openl y oppos e Hi s M aje st y i n t hi s ma tte r, or i n a ny ot he r. I wi ll , a s I

a lw ay s h av e, e xp re ss m y o wn v ie ws b ef or e b ot h t he K in g a nd t he o th er m em be rs o f h is C ou nc il , a nd I

w il l s tr iv e t o c onv in ce hi m o f t he w is do m of m y a rg um ent s. B ut b ey on d t he l im it s o f de ba te a nd t he d ut y

t o a dv is e w hi ch c om es w it h m y s ea t o n t ha t C ou nc il , I w il l r ai se n o h an d a nd n o v oi ce a ga in st H is

M aj es ty . I t w ou ld b e n ot m er el y w ro ng b ut f oo li sh and p er haps even f oo lh ar dy t o d o o th er wi se.

" Ye t w ha t I c an d o t o c ha ng e t he f ac to rs a nd l im it at io ns w hi ch c on st ra in t he K in g' s o pt io ns I w il l d o.

A nd i f i t p rov es po ss ib le t o c re at e c ir cu ms ta nc es w hi ch w il l m ak e t he w is dom of m y o wn vi ew s a nd

r ec om me nd at io ns a pp ar en t, t he n I w il l d o t ha t, a ls o. N or " h e l et h is e ye s s we ep o ve r t he ir f ac es i n t hel am pl ig ht " w il l I f or get t ho se w ho h el p m e t o creat e t ho se cir cu ms tances ."

" I s ee ," S ar at ic m ur mu re d o nc e m or e. H e a nd G ar th an l oo ke d a t o ne a no th er a cr os s t he t ab le , a nd t he n

S ar at ic t ur ne d h is g az e b ac k t o t he ir h os t. " An d m ay I a sk , M il or d, i f y ou 'v e g iv en t ho ug ht t o t he b es t

w ay i n w hi ch w e m ig ht aid i n t he creat io n o f t ho se cir cu ms tances t o w hi ch y ou j us t r ef er red?"

"Well, no," the pipe-smoking man said mildly. "I mean, certain possibilities seem obvious enough. For

examp le, t hi s ' Lo rd F es ti an ' w ho T el li an con vi nced t he K in g t o i ns tall at G lanh ar ro w i n p lace o f y ou r

k in sm an M at hi an i s s ca rc el y l ik el y t o b e e qu al t o t he s or ts o f c ha ll en ge s a ny l or d m us t e xp ec t t o f ac e a nd

m as te r i n s af eg ua rd in g h is l an ds a nd t he p eo pl e c on si gn ed t o h is c ar e. S ur el y i t w ou ld b e a pp ro pr ia te f or

t ho se i n a p os it io n t o d em on st ra te h is i nc om pe te nc e t o d o s o. "

H e b ar ed hi s t ee th i n a s mi le a ny s ha rk m ig ht h av e a dm ir ed, a nd e qu al ly t oot hy s mi le s c am e ba ck t o h im


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from his guests.

" An d, " h e con ti nu ed , " th er e' s alw ay s t he m at ter o f t hi s s o- call ed champ io n o f T om an ak , ' Pr in ce B ah zell .'

P er ha ps y ou m ay h av e f ai le d t o n ot e t ha t w hi le H is M aj es ty i s p re pa re d t o a ck no wl ed ge t he e xi st en ce o f

a c ha pt er of t he O rde r o f T om ana k a mon g t he hr ada ni , a nd e ve n t o t re at t hi s Ba hz el l a s o ne of t he W ar

G od 's champ io ns , h e h as n ot exp ress ly g rant ed B ah zell amb as sado ri al s tatu s. W hi le I f eel cer tain K in g

M ar kh os w ou ld b e h or ri fi ed i f s om e evi l m is ch an ce b ef el l B ah zell , i t w ou ld n' t b e t he s am e as i f t hatmischance had befallen an accredited ambassador from a civilized land."

" No r d oes h e enj oy t he l eg al i mm un it ies o f an amb as sado r, " T ar lan s ai d s lo wl y. H is t ho ug ht fu l v oi ce w as

l it tl e m or e t han a m ur mu r, b ut t he p ip e- sm ok in g m an n od ded.

"Obviously not," he agreed. "There is t he m at te r o f h is s up po se d s ta tu s a s a c ha mp io n o f T om an ak , o f

c ou rs e. B ut w it h a ll d ue r es pe ct t o H is M aj es ty a nd h is o th er a dv is er s, h ow c an a ny on e h on es tl y b el ie ve

T om an ak w ou ld cho os e a h radani and a Horse Stealer h radani , at t hat as o ne o f H is champ io ns ?"

H e s no rt ed con temp tu ou sl y. " If t hi s B ah zell w an ts t o claim t he p ri vi leges and p ow er s o f a champ io n, I

t hi nk i t w oul d b e o nl y f ai r t o g iv e h im t he o ppo rt uni ty t o pr ov e h e de se rv es t he m. A nd s in ce S ca leB al an ce r' s c ou rt ro om i s t he f ie ld o f b at tl e, t he re 's r ea ll y o nl y o ne p la ce h e c ou ld d o t ha t, i sn 't t he re ?"

O ne o r t wo o f t he o th er s e xc ha ng ed g la nc es o f v ar yi ng d eg re es o f u ne as in es s a s t he y l is te ne d t o h is l as t

c ou pl e o f s en te nc es , b ut n o o ne d is ag re ed . A ft er a ll , t he m er e t ho ug ht o f a h ra da ni c ha mp io n o f a ny G od

o f L ig ht w as f ar w or se t han m er el y r id icul ou s. I t v er ged all t oo clo sely u po n o ut ri gh t b lasp hemy , w hatever

others might think.

"I , f or o ne, agr ee w it h y ou com pl et el y, M il or d, " S ar at ic s ai d, and G ar th an n od ded f ir ml y. T ar lan als o

nodded, only a shade less enthusiastically.

" Th an k y ou , L or d S ar at ic," t he p ip e- sm ok in g m an s ai d. " I v al ue y ou r s up po rt . A nd i t h as alw ay s b eent he t ra di ti on o f m y h ou se t o r em em be r t ho se w ho h av e l en t u s s up po rt w he n w e m os t n ee de d i t. "

M or e t han a h in t o f avari ce f li ck er ed i n S ar at ic's eyes. I t d id n' t s up pl an t t he ang er and v en gefu ln es s

w hi ch alr eady f il led t hem, b ut i t h on ed and s tr en gt hened t ho se p reex is ti ng emo ti on s, and t he p ip e- sm ok er

h id a s mi le o f s at is fa ct io n a s he s aw i t.

" It s ee ms t o m e, M il or d, " S ar at ic s ai d a ft er a m om en t, " th at i f w e r ea ll y p ut o ur m in ds t o i t, t he re o ug ht t o

be some way in which we might both demonstrate this Festian's inadequacy as Lord Mathian's

u su rp er I m ean, o f cou rs e, successor and simultaneously provide 'Prince Bahzell' the opportunity to

prove his status as Tomanak's champion once and for all."

" I 'm c er ta in t he re i s, " t he p ip e- sm ok in g m an a gr ee d. T he n h e p ut h is h an ds o n t he t ab le to p a nd p us he d t o

h is f eet, s mi li ng at t he o th er s.

" Ho wever, " h e con ti nu ed , " I f ear t he h ou r h as g ro wn q ui te l at e. I h av e a f ul l and d em an di ng d ay w ai ti ng

f or m e t om or row , a nd s o, w it h y ou r p er mi ss io n, I w il l b id y ou a ll g oo d n ig ht . N o, n o, " h e s ai d, s ha ki ng

hi s h ea d a nd r ai si ng t he pa lm of on e ha nd a s t wo or t hr ee of hi s gue st s ma de a s i f to s ta nd, a s we ll . "D on' t

l et m y d ep ar tu re i nt er ru pt y ou r c on ve rs at io n, g en tl em en . I t w ou ld b e a p oo r h os t w ho e xp ec te d h is o wn

ear ly r et ir em en t t o cut s ho rt h is g uest s' enj oy ment o f d is cu ss io ns amo ng t hems el ves. " H e s mi led at t hem

a ga in . " St ay w he re y ou a re a s l on g a s y ou l ik e. T he s er va nt s h av e b ee n i ns tr uc te d t o l ea ve y ou i n p ea ce ,

unless you summon them for additional refreshments. Who knows? Perhaps your discussions will suggest

s om e w ay i n w hi ch w e m ig ht all f ur th er t he K in gd om 's i nt er es ts and p ro sp er it y. "


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H e nodd ed t o t he m a ll , a nd t he n wa lke d s of tl y ou t o f t he r oo m.

Chapter One T hi ck m is t s wi rl ed i n s lo w, h eavy clo ud s o n t he chi ll b reeze, r is in g f ro m t he col d, s tand in g w at er and

s carcely t hi ck er m ud o f t he s wamp . S om ew here abo ve t he m is t, t he s un crawl ed t ow ar ds m id day,

burnishing the upper reaches of vapor with a golden aura that was delicately beautiful in its own way. All

t hi rt y o f t he m ou nt ed m en w er e l ib er al ly coated i n m ud , h ow ev er , and t he g ol den g lo w d id l it tl e t o

improve their tempers.

"It would be the Bogs," one of the trackers growled, grimacing at the mounted troop's commander.

" Wo ul d y ou r eall y p refer t he G ul let?" t he g ri zzled h or seman r es po nd ed i n an equ al ly s ou r v oi ce.

" No t r eall y, S ir Y ar ran, " t he t rack er adm it ted. " Bu t at l east I 'v e b een d ow n t he G ul let b ef or e. H al fw ay ,

at least."

Si r Y arr an gru nte d a l augh, a nd s o di d m os t of hi s me n. The ir l as t t ri p down th e Gul le t ha d not be en a

h ap py o ne , b ut t he m en i n t hi s t ro op w er e n ot s o s ec re tl y d el ig ht ed b y a t l ea st o ne o f i ts c on se qu en ce s.

Y et t he l au gh ter f ad ed q ui ck ly , f or l ik e S ir Y ar ran, all o f t hem w er e u nh ap pi ly cer tain t hat t he m is si on

w hi ch b ro ug ht t he m t o t he s wa mp s t hi s m or ni ng h ad b ee n s pa rk ed b y a n e ff or t t o u nd o t ha t

consequence.

S ir Y ar ra n r os e i n h is s ti rr up s a s i f t ho se e xt ra f ew i nc he s of e le va ti on c ou ld s om eh ow h el p hi s s ig htpierce the billowing fog. They didn't, and he growled a mental curse.

" We ll , l ad s, " h e s ai d a s h e f in al ly s et tl ed b ac k i nt o t he s ad dl e, " I' m a fr ai d w e' ve n o c ho ic e b ut t o k ee p

goi ng f or a t l ea st a bi t f ar the r." H e l oo ke d a t one of hi s m en a nd p oi nt ed ba ck ove r hi s s houl de r t he w ay

t he y' d c om e. " Tr ob ius , g o ba ck a nd f in d S ir K el thy s a nd h is m en . T el l hi m w e' re pu sh in g o n i nt o t he

s wa mp ." H e g ri ma ce d. " If h e c ar es t o j oi n u s, h e' ll b e w el co me , b ut t he re 's l it tl e p oi nt his wallowing

a bo ut i n t he re , u nl es s h e' s n ot hi ng b et te r t o d o t ha n f re ez e h is a rs e o ff i n m ud dy w at er a lo ng w it h t he r es t

of us."

" Ay e, S ir Y ar ran. " T ro bi us s al ut ed , r ei ned h is h or se aro un d, and w en t t ro tt in g o ff i nt o t he m is t. S ir Y ar ran con temp lated t he s wamp ahead o f t hem s ou rl y f or a f ew m or e m om en ts , t hen g ru nt ed r es ig nedl y.

" Al l r ig ht , l ad s, " h e s ai d. " Let' s b e g oi ng . W ho k no ws ? W e m ig ht g et l ucky eno ug h t o act uall y f in d

something to track."

" Ay e, S ir ," t he t rack er ack no wl edg ed , and u rg ed h is h or s e f or war d, p icki ng a carefu l p at h d eeper i nt o

t he w at er y m uc k. " An d pi gs m ay f ly, t oo ," he m ut te re d t o h im se lf , a nd S ir Y ar ra n g la nc ed a t hi m.

F or tu nately , h is v oi ce h ad b een l ow eno ug h S ir Y ar ran cou ld p retend h e h ad n' t h eard h im . W hi ch s ui ted

S ir Y ar ran j us t f in e. E sp eciall y b ecau se h e w as i n com pl et e agr eement w it h t he o th er m an .

H e w at ch ed t he t ra ck er a nd h is t wo a ss is ta nt s m ak in g t he ir c au ti ou s w ay d ee pe r i nt o t he t re ac he ro usf oo ti ng , t hen s ig hed and clu ck ed g en tl y t o h is o wn h or se.

* * *


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" An d of c ou rs e we w on' t b e a bl e t o p rove a t hi ng. "

S ir Y ar ra n B at tl ec ro w g ri ma ce d, t he n h aw ke d n oi si ly a nd s pa t i nt o t he f ir e i n d is gu st . I t w as a h ab it S ir

F es ti an W ra th so n, L or d W ar de n o f G la nh ar ro w, h ad b ee n t ry in g t o b re ak h im o f f or y ea rs . N ot b ec au se

F es ti an d is ag reed w it h t he emo ti on s w hi ch s pawn ed i t, b ut b ecau se Y ar ran d id i t w it h s o m uch energ y.

A t t he m om en t, h ow ev er , F es ti an f el t n o u rg e t o r ep ri mand Y ar ran. I f any th in g, h e l on ged t o emu late h is

m ar sh al , t he com mand er o f G lanh ar ro w' s arm sm en . A nd w hatever F es ti an m ig ht l on g f or , Y ar ran, at

l ea st , h ad e ar ne d t he r ig ht t o e xp re ss h im se lf h ow ev er h e c ho se .

S team o ozed f ro m t he k ni gh t' s r ai n- so ak ed t un ic and t ro us er s. H is g rayi ng b lo nd h ai r w as r ou gh edg ed

a nd s od de n, a nd a lt ho ug h i t w as o bv io us h e' d w ip ed d ow n h is r id in g b oo ts , t he y w er e s ti ll s me ar ed w it h

m ud s ta in s. H is s od de n p on ch o w as d ra pe d o ve r t he b ac k o f o ne o f t he h al l' s c ha ir s, r ad ia ti ng i ts o wn

s te am w is ps b ef or e t he f ir e, a nd a s er va nt w as b us y d ry in g Y ar ra n' s c ui ra ss i n o ne c or ne r.

" No, w e w on' t b e, " F es ti an s ai d a ft er a m om en t. " And b ec au se we w on 't , I c an' t a ff or d t o go a bo utmaking accusations. Especially not about my neighboring lords."

" Ay e, t ha t' s t ru e e no ug h, a nd I k no w i t, " Y ar ra n a gr ee d i n a h ea vy , r es ig ne d t on e. " St il l a nd a ll , t ho ug h,

M il or d, y ou a nd I b ot h kn ow , d on' t we ?"

" Ma yb e w e d o, a nd m ay be w e d on 't ," F es ti an r ep li ed . Y ar ra n g av e h im a s ke pt ic al l oo k, a nd t he l or d

w ar de n w av ed o ne h an d. " Oh, I kn ow wh at w e b ot h suspect , Yarran, but as you say, it's not as if we

h ad p ro of , i s i t? "

" No , P hr ob us t ak e i t, " Y ar r an ackn ow ledg ed s ou rl y.

"Th en l et 's t ak e i t on e s te p a t a t im e a nd c ons ide r w ha t we d o k now f or c er ta in . F or e xa mp le , wh at

d ir ecti on w er e t hey h eaded w hen y ou l os t t he t rail ?"

" Ph ro bu s o nl y k no ws ," Y ar ran g ro wl ed . A s er vi ng w om an ent er ed t he h al l and h an ded h im a s team in g

m ug , and t he m ar sh al 's exp ress io n l ig ht en ed p er cept ib ly as h e d et ected t he r ich, s tr on g s cent o f

cho co late. I t w as an ext raor di nari ly exp en si ve l ux ur y o n t he S ot ho ii W in d P lain , and t he t ou gh , g ri zzled

w ar ri or h ad a b ig ger s weet t oo th t han any t hr ee o f G lanh ar ro w' s chi ld ren com bi ned.

H e s mi led at t he s er vi ng w om an , accep ted t he m ug , and s ip ped w it h s lo w, s en su al p leas ur e. F es ti an

a ll ow ed h im t o s av or i t f or s ev er al s ec on ds . T he n h e c le ar ed h is t hr oa t r at he r p oi nt ed ly , a nd Y ar ra nl ow er ed t he m ug a nd w ip ed a f ro th o f c ho co la te f ro m hi s m us ta ch e w it h a n a lm os t s he epi sh a ir .

"B eg p ar do n, M il or d, " h e s ai d. " To ok m e a b it b y s ur pr is e, t ha t d id ."

"Y ou 'v e b ee n w or ki ng y ou r a rs e o ff f or m e f or w ee ks n ow , Y ar ra n, " F es ti an s ai d m il dl y. I n f ac t, a s h e

a nd Y ar ra n b ot h k ne w, t he o th er k ni gh t h ad b ee n d oi ng p re ci se ly w ha t F es ti an w ou ld o nc e h av e b ee n

d oi ng f or t he d ep os ed L or d M at hi an . N ot , a s b ot h o f t he m k ne w, t ha t M at hi an w ou ld h av e b ee n

r ew ar di ng any on e w it h h ot cho co late f or h is eff or ts .

" Wh at I 'm h er e f or , M il or d, " Y ar ra n s ai d, w hi ch w as a s c lo se a s e it he r o f t he m w as e ve r l ik el y t o c om e

t o p ut ti ng t heir s hared k no wl ed ge i nt o w or ds .

" An y r oad, " t he m ar sh al con ti nu ed aft er a m om en t, " wh oever i t w as s tart ed o ff h eaded s ou th west , b ut


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t he re 's n o d am ne d w ay t ha t w as w he re h e w as r ea ll y g oi ng . N ot hi ng t ha t d ir ec ti on b ut t he G ul le t, a nd n ot

e ve n a w iz ar d c ou ld g et t ha t m an y c at tl e d ow n t he G ul le t. " H e s ho ok h is h ea d. " No , M il or d, t he y s ta rt ed

out t ha t w ay, a nd I 'm gue ss ing t he y m ea nt t o a t l ea st m ake us wo nde r i f t he y' d h ea de d do wn i t. W ant ed

u s t o t hi nk i t w as t he H or se S te al er s i f t he y c ou ld , l ik e a s n ot . B ut t he y t ur ne d a no th er d ir ec ti on o nc e t he y

hi t t he Bo gs ." He s hr ugge d. "C an' t pr ove a ny of t ha t, of c ou rs e. W e di d o ur b es t t o f ol low t he m, but

t he re 's t oo m uc h q ui ck sa nd a nd t oo l it tl e s ol id g ro un d t o h ol d h oo f p ri nt s. I d am ne d n ea r l os t t hr ee o f m y

me n be for e w e ga ve i t up. I 'd ha ve ke pt goi ng i f w e' d be en a bl e t o f ind a ny s igns a t a ll , bu t i t' s s oup ye no ug h i n t he re a t t he b es t o f t im es . I n t he s pr in g es pe ci al ly o ne a s r ai ny a s t hi s? " H e s ho ok h is h ea d

a ga in . " No w ay a t a ll t o s ay w ha t d ir ec ti on t he y w en t. "

" An d w ha te ve r w ay t he y h ea de d, t he re a re a lt og et he r t oo m an y p la ce s t he y c an c om e o ut o f t he m uc k

again," Festian agreed sourly.

" Ay e, M il or d. T ha t' s t ru e e no ug h. B ut w ha t s ti ck s i n m y m in d i s t ha t i t w ou ld t ak e s om eon e w ho k no ws

t he Bo gs l ike t he ba ck of hi s ow n ha nd t o ge t a he rd of c at tle t hr ough t he m. "

F es ti an g ru nt ed i n a gr ee me nt . H e k ne w w ha t Y ar ra n w as r ea ll y g et ti ng a t. " Th e B og s" w er e at re ac he ro us s pr ea d o f s wa mp , m ud b an ks , a nd m ir e w hi ch s tr et ch ed f or m il es s ou th a nd e as tw ar d f ro m

t he n ar ro w p as sa ge k no wn a s " th e G ul le t. " O nc e, c en tu ri es a go , a r iv er h ad f ou nd i ts w ay d ow n t he

E scar pm en t, t he t ow er in g s id e o f t he S ot ho ii W in d P lain , t o t he g rass land s b el ow , t hr ou gh t hat p as sage.

T he n s om e l on g f or got te n e ar th qu ak e h ad c ha ng ed i ts c ou rs e, t ur ni ng t he g or ge i t h ad b it te n o ut o f t he

E scar pm en t' s f or bi dd in g w al l i nt o o ne o f t he v er y f ew avenu es b y w hi ch t he S ot ho ii and t he b ar bari an

h ra da ni c ou ld g et a t on e a no th er . I t w as n' t m uc h o f a n a ve nu e mo re o f a t or tu ou s, t wi st in g a ll ey ,

r ea ll y bu t i t ha d s er ve d a s a n i nv as io n r ou te e it he r w ay, i n i ts t im e.

Y e t Ya rr an wa s c or re ct w he n he s ai d n o on e c oul d po ss ibl y ge t a h er d of s tol en c at tl e do wn t he

G ul le t . . . a nd t ha t o nl y s om eo ne w it h a n i nt im at e k no wl ed ge o f t he t er ra in c ou ld h av e t hr ea de d t ha t

s am e h er d t hr ou gh t he t ra ck le ss m ud w he re t he f ru st ra te d r iv er h ad s pr ea d a nd f lo we d a nd s oa ke d t oc re at e t he B og s.

W hi ch m eant , alm os t cert ai nl y, t hat w ho ev er h ad s to len t he cat tl e an d t he s heep, and t he h or ses,

before themcame from Glanharrow itself. Not that that was very much of a surprise.

" Wi th a ll due r es pe ct , M il or d, a nd I kn ow y ou d on' t w ant t o, but I t hi nk i t' s t im e yo u c al le d on Ba ron

T el li an f or h el p, " Y ar ran s ai d aft er s ev er al s il en t s econ ds . A h eavi er g us t o f r ai n d ru mm ed o n t he h al l' s

r oo f, a nd t he f la me s o n t he h ea rt h d an ce d.

" A l or d i s s up pos ed t o l oo k a ft er hi s ow n he rds , j us t a s h e' s s up pos ed t o l oo k a ft er t he we ll -b ei ng of h isown people," Festian said flatly.

" Ay e, s o h e i s, " Y ar ra n a gr ee d w it h t he s tu bb or n d ef er en ce o f a t ru st ed h en ch ma n. " An d m ea ni ng n o

d is re sp ec t, b ut j us t w ha t h as t ha t g ot t o d o w it h i t? " F es ti an g la re d a t h im , a nd t he m ar sh al s hr ug ge d.

" Che w my he ad of f i f you w ant, M il or d, but you a nd I bot h know t rut h w he n i t bi te s us on t he a rs e. And

s o do es B ar on Te ll ia n, c om e t o t ha t. H e kn ew w he n h e c ho se yo u t o r epl ac e t ha t a rs e- he ade d i di ot

Re dhe lm th at t he re 'd be t hos e a s woul d do a ll t he y c oul d t o s ee t o i t you f el l f la t on your f ac e. We ll , t ha t' s

wh at 's ha pp eni ng now . I 'd be t my be st s wor d t ha t who eve r r an t hos e c at tl e of f i n t he f ir st p la ce i s o ne of

ou r o wn pe opl e. No o ne e ls e' d kno w t he Bo gs we ll e nou gh t o ge t a he rd t ha t s iz e t hr ou gh ' em . B ut

whoever he i s, he 's got t o have someone t o ta ke t he m off his hands when he gets to t 'othe r si de . Now, I

s up po se i t' s p os si bl e h e c ou ld h av e s om e b en t m er ch an t w ho c ou ld d is po se o f t he m f or h im f or a p ar tn er .

But i t' s a l ot more l ikel y one of your f el low lor ds is w ai ting f or hi m. Ma ybe we c an't pr ove it , but we bot h

kno w i t, a nd Ba ron Te ll ia n' s y our l ie ge l or d . . . n ot t o m ent ion t he one a s d roppe d yo u i nt o t he pot i n t he


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f ir st p la ce . A nd i f a no th er l or d i s b eh in d t hi s, t he n l ik e a s n ot h e' s a c lo se e no ug h n ei gh bo r o f y ou rs t o

m ak e t he B ar on his l ie ge , t oo . O r e ls e h e' s s om eo ne else's vassal," Yarran carefully named no names, "in

w hi ch c as e yo u' ve n o c ho ic e b ut t o a ppe al t o t he B ar on . S o, e it he r r oa d, i t s ee ms t o m e, i t' s t he Ba ro n' s

place to be sending help now that someone's declared open war on you."

" St ea li ng c at tl e a nd h or se s i s h ar dl y ' op en w ar ,' Y ar ra n, " F es ti an o bj ec te d, b ut i t s ou nd ed w ea k, e ve n t o

h im . T ru e, t here'd b een n o f or mal d eclarati on o f d ef iance o r h os ti li ti es , b ut amo ng t he S ot ho ii ,h er d- raid in g and l ig ht ni ng b or der f or ay s w er e t he t radi ti on al m eans o f s tr ik in g at an enemy . Y ar ran o nl y

s no rt ed w it h m ag ni fi cent emp hasi s, w hi ch w as q ui te eno ug h t o m ak e h is o wn o pi ni on o f F es ti an 's

o bj ect io n clear, and t he L or d W ar den o f G lanh ar ro w s hr ug ged.

" Wh at ev er i t m ay b e, " h e s ai d, " Baro n T el li an h as eno ug h o th er p ro bl em s o n h is p late r ig ht n ow w it ho ut

m y a dd ing t hi s o ne t o i t."

" Ag ai n, w it h a ll d ue r es pe ct , M il or d, t hi s i s s om et hi ng a s i s s up po se d t o b e l an di ng o n h is pl at e. A nd I 'm

n ot t he o nl y o ne w ho t hi nk s s o. " F es ti an c oc ke d a n e ye br ow , a nd i t w as Y ar ra n' s t ur n t o s hr ug . " Si r

Kelthys thinks it's time, as well."

" Yo u' ve d is cu ss ed t hi s w it h K el th ys ?" F es ti an ask ed s harp ly , a t hi n f li ck er o f ang er d an ci ng i n h is eyes

f or t he f ir st t im e, a nd Y ar ra n n od de d.

"Wa sn' t a s i f I h ad a l ot o f c hoi ce a bo ut i t, Mi lor d," he po int ed ou t. " Be ing a s how D ee p Wa te r ba cks

r igh t u p on t he Bo gs t he wa y i t doe s. W oul dn' t ha ve do ne f or me t o be l ea di ng m or e t ha n a s co re o f

m ou nt ed m en acr os s h is l an d w it ho ut exp lain in g t o h im j us t w hat w e w er e u p t o. "

" T he t hi ev es cut acro ss D eep W at er ?" F es ti an d em an ded, h is s ur pr is e evi dent .

" No , o f c ou rs e n ot ." Y ar ra n s no rt ed a ga in . " I j us t s ai d t ha t a ny on e w ho k no ws t he B og s w el l e no ug h t og iv e m e t he s li p i n t he m h as t o b e f ro m a ro un d h er e, M il or d. A nd a ny on e f ro m a ro un d h er e k no ws

e xa ct ly w ha t w ou ld h ap pe n t o a ny on e f oo l e no ug h t o t ry t o t ak e a h er d o f s to le n c at tl e t hr ou gh S ir

K el thy s' l and s. " H e s hoo k h is he ad . " No , I c ut a cr os s D ee p W at er t o t ry t o m ak e u p t im e on t he m. Di d,

t oo . J us t n ot eno ug h.

" An yw ay , he t ur ne d o ut a h al f- sc or e o f hi s o wn m en t o h el p, n ot t ha t i t m ad e m uc h d if fe re nc e i n t he e nd .

A nd h e s pe nt m os t o f o ur r id e t og et he r d is cu ss in g t he r ai ds a nd t he ir pa tt er n w it h m e. "

" I s ee." F es ti an f ro wn ed u nh ap pi ly , b ut m uch as h e m ig ht h av e l ik ed t o, h e cou ld n' t s im pl y r ej ect

Y ar ran' s adv ice o ut o f h an d. E sp eciall y n ot i f S ir K el th ys L an cebear er , B ar on T el li an 's cou si n, als ot ho ugh t i t w as t im e F es ti an c al le d u pon h is l ie ge f or a ss is ta nc e. I f o nl y i t d id n' t s ti ck s o s id ew ays i n h is

craw!

" Mi lo rd ," Y ar ran s ai d w it h t he r es pect fu l i ns is tence o f t he m an w ho h ad b een F es ti an 's s en io r l ieut en an t

w hen F es ti an h ad com mand ed G lanh ar ro w' s s co ut s f or L or d M at hi an , " I k no w i t' s n ot s om et hi ng y ou

w ant t o be d oi ng . A nd I kno w pi gs pr ob abl y kno w mo re a bo ut po li ti cs t ha n I do. Bu t i t' s pl ai n a s a

pimple on Sharna's arse that whoever is doing this is striking as much at Baron Tellian as at you. I'm not

s ay in g w ho ev er i t i s w ou ld n' t b e h ap py e no ug h t o d o a ny th in g h e c ou ld t o m ak e y ou l oo k u nf it t o h ol d

G la nh ar ro w, b ec au se w e b ot h k no w t ha t, e ve n a s s tu pi d a s R ed he lm w as , t he re 'l l a lw ay s b e s om e a s

t hi nk he o ug ht t o be s it ti ng i n t ha t c ha ir s ti ll . B ut t he re 's bi gg er f is h t o f ry t hi s t im e, a nd i f t he y m ak e you

l oo k u nf it , t hen t hey m ak e him l oo k u nf it f or h av in g cho sen y ou . T hat' s m y o pi ni on , any way, and S ir

K el thy s s ha re s i t. W hi ch m ea ns Ba ro n Te ll ia n wo n' t be t ha nk in g y ou i f yo u w ai t t o c al l on hi m u nt il i t' s t oo

late."


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F or a t ac it ur n f ig ht in g m an w it h a r ep ut at io n f or n ev er u si ng t wo w or ds w he n o ne w ou ld d o t he t ri ck ,

Y ar ran d id h av e a w ay o f g et ti ng h is p oi nt s acr os s, F es ti an r ef lect ed . A nd h e w as n' t s ay in g any th in g

F es t ian h ad n' t alr eady t ho ug ht . I t w as j us t

I t' s j us t t ha t I 'm t oo da mn ed s tub bo rn t o as k f or h el p e as il y. B ut Y ar ran 's r igh t. I f I c an 't s ol ve t hi s

problem on my ownand it seems I can'tand I wait too long to ask the Baron for help, it will betoo late. And then both of u s wi ll be dr ow ni ng i n hor se s hi t.

" We ll ," h e s ai d m il dl y a ft er a m om en t, " if y ou a nd S ir K el thy s b ot h a gr ee s o s tr on gl y, t he n I s upp os e

t he re 's n ot m uc h p oi nt i n m y a rg ui ng , i s t he re ?" Y ar ra n h ad t he g ra ce t o l oo k e mb ar ra ss ed , t ho ug h i t w as

o bv io us i t t oo k s om e eff or t o n h is p ar t, and F es ti an g ri nn ed cro ok ed ly .

" Fi ni sh y ou r c hoc ol at e, Y ar ra n. I f y ou 'r e s o e ag er f or m e t o g o h at i n h an d a sk in g f or B ar on T el li an 's

a ss is ta nc e, t he n I t hi nk y ou 'r e t he b es t c ho ic e t o t ak e t he m es sa ge t o h im ."

A no th er g us t o f r ai n p ou nd ed o n t he h al l' s r oo f, a nd Y ar ra n g ri ma ce d a t t he s ou nd .

Chapter Two "He's certainly tall enough, isn't he, Milady?"

" Ye s, M ar th ya , h e i s, " Le ea na B ow ma st er a gr ee d, a nd t he m ai d h id a s ma ll s mi le a t h er y ou th fu l

m is tr ess ' r epr ess iv e t on e. T her e w as a r eas on f or t hat r epr es s iv en es s, s he t ho ug ht , and m an ag eds om eh ow n ot t o g ig gl e at t he r ef lect io n.

" Pi ty abo ut t he ear s t ho ug h, M il ad y, " s he con ti nu ed i n an i mp is hl y i nn ocen t t on e. " He cou ld b e alm os t

handsome without them."

" ' Ha nd so me ' i sn 't e xa ct ly t he w or d I 'd c ho os e t o d es cr ib e h im ," L ee an a r ep li ed . A lt ho ug h, i f s he 'd b ee n

prepared to be honest with her maid (which she most emphatically was not), she would have argued that

t he m an i n q uest io n w as q ui te h an ds om e even w i t h t he e ar s. I nd ee d, t he u nd en ia bl e e dg e o f o th er ne ss

they lent him only made him more exotically attractive.

" We ll , a t l ea st h e c om es c lo se r t o h an ds om e t ha n h is f ri en d d oe s! " M ar th ya o bs er ve d, a nd t hi s t im e

L ee ana c hos e t o m ak e no r es pon se a t a ll . M ar thya h ad k no wn he r s inc e c hi ld ho od, a nd s he wa s on ly t oo

capable of putting isolated comments together to divine her charge's thoughts with devastating accuracy.

W hi ch w as n ot - so meth in g - Leeana n eeded h er o r any on e els e! d oi ng at t hi s p ar ti cu lar m om en t.

E sp eciall y n ot w here t he cur rent o bj ect o f t heir att en ti on w as con cern ed .

T he t wo o f t hem s to od i n t he con ceal in g s hado ws o f t he m in st rel g al lery abo ve H il l G uard C as tl e' s g reat

ha ll . B el ow t he m, L ee ana 's f at he r a nd a doz en or s o of hi s s eni or of fi ce rs ha d j us t r is en t o gr ee t t wo ne w

arrivals. Well, not new , p re ci se ly . T he y' d b ee n l iv in g a t H il l G ua rd f or w ee ks n ow . B ut t he y' d b ee n a wa y

f or s ev er al d ay s, o n a v is it t o t he ir o wn p eo pl e, a nd L ee an a w as a fi re w it h c ur io si ty , a mon g o th er t hi ng s.

E ve n h er f at he r ( wh o a ny u np re ju di ce d s ou l m us t c on ce de w as t he b es t f at he r i n t he K in gd om )sometimes forgot to mention interesting political information or speculation to a mere daughter. Besides,

t he n ew co me rs f as ci na te d L ee an a. S he w as a S ot ho ii . N o o ne h ad t o t el l h er a bo ut t he b it te r, e te rn al


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e nm it y b et we en h er o wn p eo pl e a nd t he h ra da ni . B ut t he se t wo w er e u tt er ly a t o dd s w it h t he p op ul ar

s tereot yp e o f t heir p eo pl e, w hi ch w ou ld h av e m ad e t hem i nt er es ti ng eno ug h w it ho ut all o f t he p ol it ical

ramifications of their presence.

A nd , s he adm it t ed , M ar t hy a w as q ui t e cor r ect abo ut h ow t al l h er f ath er ' s g ues t or capt or , d ep en di ng

upon one's perspectivewas.

* * *

" Welcom e b ack, P ri nce B ah zell . A nd y ou , t oo , L or d B rand ar k. " T el li an B ow mast er , B ar on o f B al th ar

and L or d W ar den o f t he W es t R id in g, s mi led w it h a g en ui ne w ar mt h s om e m ig ht h av e f ou nd s ur pr is in g as

h e g reet ed h is v is it or s. T el li an 's t en or v oi ce w as m el od io us eno ug h, b ut i t alw ay s s ou nd ed a b it s tr an ge

c om in g f rom s om eo ne w ho s to od s ix a nd a h al f i nc he s ov er s ix f ee t i n h ei gh t. A s w as t rue o f m an y of t he

o ld es t n ob le h ou se s o f t he S ot ho ii , m em be rs o f t he B ow ma st er c la n t en de d t o b e v er y t al l, f or h um an s,

and T el li an w as n o excep ti on .

" It 's t ha nk fu l f or t he w el co me w e a re ," t he t al le r o f t he n ew a rr iv al s r ep li ed i n a d ee p b as s t ha t s ou nd ed

n ot a t a ll s tr an ge r um bl in g u p o ut o f t he m as si ve c he st o f a h ra da ni w ho s to od w el l o ve r seven and a hal f f eet i n h is s to ck in gs . " St il l and all , I 'm t hi nk in g y ou m ig ht w an t t o b e m ak in g t hat w el co me a m it e l es s

obvious, Milord."

" W hy ?" T el li an s mi led cro ok ed ly as h e w av ed B ah zell and h is com pani on t ow ar ds chair s at t he l on g

r ef ecto ry t ab le b ef or e t he f ir e b lazi ng o n t he h eart h. T hat h eart h w as b ig eno ug h t o con su me ent ir e t rees

but, like most fires on the rolling grasslands of the Wind Plain, it burned coal, not wood. "Those who

believe I have even the faintest notion of what I'm doing won't be bothered by it. And those who are

convinced I don't ha ve a ny not ion w on' t l ike me a ny m or e j us t be ca us e I pr et end t o s ul k wh en you c ros s

m y t hr es ho ld . T ha t b ei ng s o, I m ig ht a s w el l a t l ea st b e po li te !"

" A s uc ci nc t a na ly si s, M il or d, " t he s ma ll er o f t he t wo h ra da ni o bs er ve d w it h a c hu ck le . A t s ix f ee t t woi nches, B rand ar k B rand ar ks on w as s ho rt er t han T el li an , f ar l es s B ah zell , and h e d ress ed l ik e s om eo ne

wh o w as a s c los e t o a n ove rc iv il iz ed f op a s a ny hr ada ni c oul d ho pe t o c ome . But he wa s a lm os t s qua t

w it h m us cl e, and t he s ho ul ders u nd er h is exq ui si tely cut d ou bl et s and w ai st co at s w er e alm os t as b ro ad as

B ah ze ll 's . D es pi te h is s ho rt er s ta tu re , h e w as o ne o f t he v er y f ew p eo pl e w ho c am e c lo se t o m at ch in g

B ah ze ll 's l et ha li ty i n a f ig ht , w hi ch h ad b ee n a ha ndy t hi ng , f rom t im e t o t im e, f or h e w as a ls o a b ar d. O f

sorts.

T h e h radani l an gu ag e w as w el l s ui ted t o l on g, r ol li ng cad en ces, and r ichl y evo cati ve v er se and s on g. T hat

w as g oo d, f or d ur in g t he d ar ke st p er io ds o f t he ir t we lv e c en tu ri es i n N or fr es sa , i t w as o nl y t he o ra l

t radi ti on s o f t heir g en er al ly i ll it er at e b ar ds w hi ch h ad k ep t any o f t heir h is to ry ali ve. E ven t od ay , b ar dsw er e m or e h on or ed amo ng t he h radani t han amo ng any o th er N or f res san p eo pl e, except , p er haps , t he

e lv en l or ds o f S ar am an th a, a nd B ra nd ar k h ad t he s ou l o f a b ar d. H e w as a ls o a b ri ll ia nt , c om pl et el y

s el f- ed ucat ed s ch ol ar , and a t al en ted m us ician. B ut n ot even h is clo sest f ri en ds w er e w il li ng t o p retend

t hat h e cou ld act uall y sing , a nd his poet ry wa s a lmost as ba d a s his voic e. He yea rned to cr af t the e pi c

poems to express the beauty his soul reached out to . . . and what he actually produced was doggerel.

W it ty , ent er tain in g, t renchant d og gerel, t o b e s ur e, b ut d og gerel. W hi ch p er haps exp lain ed h is h ab it o f

writing biting, sometimes savage satire. Indeed, he'd spent years baiting Prince Churnazh of

Navahksomething no one else had dared to doand only the deadliness of the swordsman hiding

beneath his foppish exterior had kept him alive while he did it.

T ho se d ay s w er e b eh in d h im n ow , b ut h is b ro ad g ri n s ug gest ed t hat h is i nn er s at ir is t f ou nd t he ent ir e

situation which had engulfed his friend and the Sothoii enormously entertaining.


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Which Bahzell did not.

" ' Su cc in ct ' i s a ll w el l a nd g oo d, " t he H or se S te al er g ro wl ed a t h is f ri en d. " Bu t t he re 's e no ug h a s w ou ld

l ike t o s ee t he t wo of us f al l f la t on our a rs es a s i t i s, w it hout us l ooki ng a ll ha ppy t o be s ee ing one

another."

" No d ou bt w e s ho ul d m ai nt ai n a p ro per d ecor um i n m or e p ub li c v en ues, " T el li an con ceded. " Bu t t hi s i sm y h om e, B ah ze ll . I 'l l d am ne d w el l gr ee t a nyo ne I wa nt a ny wa y I w ant i n i t."

" I c an' t s ay a s I c an f aul t yo u t he re ," B ah ze ll s ai d a ft er a m om en t. " Mi nd y ou , I 'm t hi nk in g t he re 's m or e

Sot hoii w oul d r at he r s ee m y he ad on a pi ke ove r your ga te t ha n my ba cks ide in thi s c ha ir in fr ont of your

fire!"

" No t m an y m or e t ha n t he n um be r o f h ra da ni w ho 'd l ik e t o s ee my h ea d o ve r y ou r f at he r' s g at e i n

Hurgrum, I imagine," Tellian replied with a wry smile. "Although at least you didn't surrender an entire

i nv as io n arm y t o a r ag tag f or ce o f h radani y ou o ut nu mb er ed t hi rt y- o r f or ty -t o- on e. "

" Bu t a t l ea st P ri nc e B ah ze ll w as a ls o g oo d e no ug h t o g ra nt u s a ll p ar ol e, W in d B ro th er ," a s ho rt er ,

stockier Sothoii pointed out.

" Yes, H at han, " T el li an agr eed. " An d I accep ted h is o ff er w hi ch o nl y m ak es t ho se w ho w ou ld alr eady

h av e b ee n p re pa re d t o b e d is gu st ed f ee l t ha t t he h on or o f a ll S ot ho ii h as b ee n m or ta ll y a ff ro nt ed , a s w el l.

T he y j us t c an 't de ci de i f t he y' re m or e f ur io us w it h m e f or t he ' tr ave st y' o f m y s ur re nd er o r w it h B ah ze ll f or

the 'humiliation' of his acceptance of it!"

" Wi th a ll d ue r es pe ct , B ar on ," B ra nd ar k s ai d, n od di ng h is t ha nk s a s h e r ea ch ed f or t he w in e g la ss

Ha tha n ha d fi lle d f or hi m, " I' d s ay le t t he m f ee l a s a ffr onte d a s the y wa nt t o f ee l a s long a s what you a nd

B ah ze ll a re u p t o m an ag es t o k ee p y ou r p eo pl e f ro m o ne a no th er 's t hr oa ts . A nd s pe ak in g p ur el y f or m ys el f, o f cou rs e, and adm it ti ng t hat i t' s r em ot el y p os si bl e I m ig ht b e s li gh tl y p reju di ced, I h ap pen t o f eel

y ou d id exact ly t he r ig ht t hi ng , s in ce any s ol ut io n w hi ch l ef t m y p er so nal h ead o n m y s ho ul ders w as a

g oo d o ne . W hi ch , o f c ou rs e, o nl y u nd er sc or es t he b ri ll ia nc e a nd w is do m o f t he p eo pl e w ho a rr iv ed a t i t. "

S ev er al o f t he h um an s s ea te d a t t he t ab le c hu ck le d, y et t he ir l au gh te r h ad a d ar ke r e dg e. T el li an 's

d ecis io n t o " su rr en der" t he u naut ho ri zed i nv as io n f or ce M at hi an R ed helm h ad l ed d ow n t he G ul let t o

a tt ac k t he c it y s ta te o f H ur gr um w as t he on ly t hi ng w hi ch ha d p re ve nt ed t he m as sa cr e o f t he f ir st h ra da ni

c ha pt er o f t he O rd er o f T om an ak i n N or fr es sa n h is to ry . I t h ad a ls o p re ve nt ed t he s ac k o f H ur gr um , t he

s laug ht er o f i nn ocen t w om en and chi ld ren, and q ui te p ro babl y a n ew and even b lo od ier w ar b et ween

Sothoii and hradani.

U nf or tu nately , n ot every on e an d n ot j us t o n t he S ot ho ii s id e had b een i n f av or o f p revent in g all t ho se

things.

I t 's t ru ly r em ar ka bl e h ow f ra nt ic al ly w e a ll c li ng t o o ur m os t t re as ur ed h at re ds , Brandark thought.

And even though I would have said it was impossible, these Sothoii are even more bloody-minded

a b o u t t h a t t h a n hradani are.

" Yo u m ay b e p re ju di ce d, B ra nd ar k, " T el li an s ai d i n a m or e s er io us t on e, " bu t t ha t d oe sn 't m ak e y ou

wr ong. And a t l ea st t he K ing s ee ms pr epa re d t o go a long wi th us f or no w."

"For now," Bahzell agreed.


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" An d w hi le t ha t' s t ru e, w e n ee d t o m ak e a s m uc h p ro gr es s a s w e c an ," T el li an c on ti nu ed . " Pe rh ap s w e

can actually manage to turn his acceptance into enthusiastic support."

" It 's c er ta in ly t o b e h op ed s o, " B ah ze ll s ai d. " An d F at he r i s a ft er a gr ee in g w it h y ou . I p as se d o n y ou r

m es sa ge t o hi m, a nd h e s ay s a s ho w, i f y ou 'r e w il li ng , he 's t hi nki ng i t mi gh t b e b es t f or hi m t o b e s en di ng

a no th er s co re o r s o o f h is l ad s u p t he G ul le t t o f il l o ut m y ' gu ar ds .' " T he t ow er in g h ra da ni s hr ugg ed , a nd

h is f ox li ke ear s t wi tched g en tl y b ack and f or th . " Fo r m ys el f, I 'd s oo ner n ot h av e any guards."

"I've explained that before, Bahzell," Tellian half-sighed. "You may not be an official ambassador, but

t ha t' s on e o f t he r ol es you 've go t t o pl ay . An d i f you e xpe ct a b at ch o f s ti ff -n ec ke d Sot hoi i t o t ake yo u

s er io us ly a s a n a mb as sa do r, y ou 'd b et te r h av e a p ro pe r r et in ue ."

" Ay e, y ou 'v e exp lain ed i t, r ig ht eno ug h, " B ah zell agr eed. " An d s eein g as h ow F at her agr ees w it h y ou ,

a nd he 's a ft er be ing one of t he c anni es t me n I' ve ye t t o me et , I 'll not s ay you' re wrong. But i t' s i n my mi nd

t ha t i f I wa s a ft er be ing one o f t hos e of your f ol k a s don' t t hi nk t hi s i s j us t t he ve ry b es t i de a a nyo ne e ve r

ha d, t he n I 'd not l ike t o s ee a ju mpe d up ba rba ri an l ike m e br ing ing i n a ny mor e s wor ds t o s ta nd be hi nd

him."

" Yo u' d n ee d a l ot m or e m en t ha n y ou r f at he r i s t al ki ng a bo ut s en di ng b ef or e y ou c ou ld p os e a ny s or t o f

credible threat to the Kingdom," Tellian pointed out. "Again, Bahzell. You've got to pl ay t he pa rt

properly, and having your father send you the guards your position demands isn't going to upset anyone

w ho w as n' t a lr ea dy p re pa re d t o b e u ps et w it h u s. S o f or T or ag an 's s ak e, s to p w or ry in g a bo ut i t! "

B ah zell r eg ar ded h is h os t t ho ug ht fu ll y acr os s t he t ab le f or s ev er al s econ ds , t hen s hr ug ged. H e s ti ll w as n' t

cer tain h e agr eed w it h T el li an , and h e was cer tain h e w an ted t o d o n ot hi ng w hi ch m ig ht m ak e t he S ot ho ii

baron's position any more precarious than he had to. But if Tellian, his father and mother, his sister

M ar gl yt h, and even B rand ar k w er e all i n agr eement , i t w as o bv io us ly t im e f or h im t o clo se h is m ou th and

accept t hei r adv ice.

" We ll , s ee in g a s y ou 'r e a ll s o s et on i t, I 'l l s ay n o m or e a ga ins t i t, " h e s ai d m il dl y.

" To ma na k p re se rv e u s! " B ra nd ar k e xc la im ed . " My e ar s m us t b e d ec ei vi ng m e. I c ou ld s we ar I j us t

heard Bahzell Bahnakson say something reasonable!"

" Ju st y ou k eep i t u p, l it tl e m an . I 'm t hi nk in g i t s ho ul d m ak e an i mp ress iv e f un er al ."

B rand ar k t wi tched h is ear s i mp ud en tl y at h is - to weri ng f ri en d, and ano th er , l ou der chu ck le r an aro un d

t he t ab le.

" If y ou k eep t hr eateni ng m e, " B rand ar k s ai d w ar ni ng ly , " I' ll h av e y ou t ro dd en o n. I t w on 't b e t hat h ar d,

y ou k no w. " H e elevated h is p ro mi nent n os e w it h a d is dain fu l s ni ff . " Dath gar and G ay rh al an b ot h l ik e me

m uch m or e t han t hey l ik e y ou ."

" Oh -h o! " T el li an l au gh ed and s ho ok h is h ead. " Th at 's a l ow er b lo w t han t hat s on g o f y ou rs , B rand ar k!

C ou rs er s h av e m em or ies as l on g as S ot ho ii and h radani com bi ned! "

"I pr ef er t o t hi nk of i t not s o m uc h a s a ma tt er o f r eme mbe re d pa st gr ie va nc es a s a c as e o f e xqui si te a nd

r ef in ed p res en t g oo d t as te," B rand ar k r ep li ed . T hen h e s hr ug ged. " Of cou rs e, t he f act t hat t hey' ve s pent

t he b et te r p ar t o f a t ho us an d y ea rs t hi nk in g o f H or se S te al er s a s t he ir n at ur al m or ta l e ne mi es m i g h t play

s om e s ma ll p ar t i n i t, I s up po se ."


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" Ay e, t hat t hey h av e, " B ah zell r um bl ed . " An d, t ru th t o t el l, I 'm t hi nk in g as h ow I d on 't b lame t hem i f i t

s ho ul d h ap pen as h ow t hey' re w an ti ng t o car ry a g ru dg e. A t l east t hey' ve b een civ il eno ug h. "

Th e ba ron mi ght ha ve c hos en t o ma ke a jo ke of i t, b ut i t ha dn' t a lwa ys be en a l aughi ng ma tt er. And f or

many Sothoiiand coursersit still wasn't. The Horse Stealers' "traditional" taste for horseflesh had

always been grossly exaggeratedby themselves, often enough. Their habit of eating warhorses killed in

com bat h ad b een t he p ro du ct o f t heir b it ter, u nr el en ti ng h at red f or t he h um an s w ho 'd s ou gh t t heir ext er mi nati on w hen f ir st t he S ot ho ii cam e t o t he W in d P lain a cas e o f s tr ik in g b ack at t heir enemi es i n

t he w ay t he y k ne w w ou ld h ur t t he m w or st . T he y' d n ev er m ad e a p ra ct ic e o f s la ug ht er in g live warhorses

f or t he p ot , h ow ev er . T hat p ar ti cu lar charg e h ad b een t he p ro du ct o f S ot ho ii d em on izat io n o f t heir f oes,

because the Horse Stealers had been right about how they would react. The Sothoii had regarded it as

proof of the hradani's subhuman, blood soaked barbarian status. For the coursers , ho we ve r, i t h ad b ee n

t he equ iv al en t o f can ni bali sm . T o t he b es t o f B ah zell 's k no wl ed ge, t here'd b een o nl y t wo cas es o f

cou rs er s t hems el ves b ei ng eat en i n t he ent ir e b lo od y h is to ry o f h is p eo pl e' s end less b at tl es w it h t he

So thoi i, a nd t he c ou rs er s kne w t ha t a s we ll a s he di d. B ut a s Te ll ia n ha d j us t s ai d, c our se rs ha d l ong

m em or ie s. I t w as f or tu na te t ha t t he y w er e a t l ea st a l it tl e l es s p ro ne t ha n h um an s o r h ra da ni t o v is it

r es po ns ib il it y f or t he s in s o f t he f at hers u po n t he s on s.

A little l es s p ro ne , a t a ny r at e.

" Real ly ?" B rand ar k g lanced at h im s id el on g. " Ar e y ou s ay in g y ou d id n' t r eall y n eed t hat d ou bl et

G ay rh al an t or e t o s hr ed s . . . w hi le y ou w er e w ea ri ng i t? "

" We ll , a s t o t ha t, " B ah ze ll r ep li ed w it h a c al mn es s h e' d b ee n v er y f ar f ro m f ee li ng o n t he d ay i n q ue st io n,

" I' m t hi nking a s how Ga yr ha la n wa s a ft er be ing i n a ba d m ood t ha t da y. And I' ll a sk you to be t aking

note of t he fact that he never dre w any blood at all, a t a ll. If he'd been so minded, it's an arm I woul d

h av e b ee n l os in g, a nd n ot j us t a d ou bl et ."

" Th at r eall y i s t ru e, " H at han agr eed, and s ho ok h is h ead, g ri nn in g w ry ly at t he m em or y o f h is

c om pa ni on 's f ra ct io us m oo d. " An d i t w as a t l ea st p ar tl y m y f au lt , t oo. I w as a bi t c lu ms y w it h m y h oof

knife that morning."

" No , y ou w er en 't ," T el li an s no rt ed . " Gayr halan f li nched and t os sed y ou h al fw ay acr os s t he s tabl e w hen

t hat s tu pi d w ar ho rs e s tall io n o f T ri an al 's s lamm ed i nt o t he o th er s id e o f t he w al l. H ow y ou m an ag ed t o

avo id r eall y g as hi ng h im i s m or e t han I 'l l ever k no w. A nd D at hg ar h ap pens t o agr ee w it h m e, h ow ev er

u ns cr up ul ou sl y G ay rh al an m ay t ry t o s hu ff le t he b lame o ff o n t o y ou , W in d B ro th er !"

" You m ay b e r ig ht ," H at ha n a ck no wl edg ed w it h a s lo w s mi le , t he n c huc kl ed . " I m ay h ave k no wn on e o r t wo c ou rs er s w it h t em pe rs w or se t ha n G ay rh al an 's , b ut I k no w I h av en 't k no wn t hr ee o f t he m. T he re 's a

r easo n f or h is n am e, y ou k no w. "

He chuckled again, louder, and Bahzell grinned at him. "Gayrhalan" meant "Storm Souled" in the Sothoii

t on gu e, a nd t he c ou rs er s ee me d t o f ee l a n a lm os t B ra nd ar k- li ke o bl ig at io n t o l iv e u p t o t he i ma ge i t

conjured.

" Th ey d o s ay t ha t c ou rs er s b ec om e m or e l ik e t he ir r id er s, a nd w in d r id er s b ec om e m or e l ik e t he ir

- co ur se rs ," H at ha n c on ti nu ed , " an d s in ce G ay rh al an a nd I w er e b ot h a lr ea dy a b it o n t he o bn ox io us s id e

before we ever met"

H e s hr ug ged, and t he l au gh ter w as even l ou der t hi s t im e.


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"F or all t hat, t ho ug h, " t he w in d r id er con ti nu ed aft er a m om en t, h is t on e at l east m ar gi nall y m or e s er io us ,

" he t ru ly w as j us t s ho wi ng h is t em per, h ow ev er u ng raci ou s o f h im i t m ay h av e b een. "

" Oh , n ev er f ea r, H at ha n! T he re w as n ev er a ft er b ei ng a ny l ea st d ou bt i n m y m in d o n t ha t s co re ! I t' s

battleaxes I've seen with blades less impressive than your outsized friend's teeth." Bahzell shook his head.

"I t wa s the n a nd t he re t hat I wa s af ter ma ki ng up my mi nd not t o be ca ll ing on him or on Da thga r, f or

that matterwithout I'd been formally invited."

"How uncharacteristically wise of you," Brandark murmured in a mildly maliciously provocative voice.

B ah ze ll m ad e a r ud e g es tu re a t h im , b ut t he t ru th w as t ha t b ot h T el li an 's a nd H at ha n' s c om pa ni on s

con ti nu ed t o r eg ar d all h radani , b ut esp eciall y all Horse Stealer hradani, with profound reservations.

G ive n t ha t a c ou rs er wa s on e of t he ve ry f ew c re at ur es o n t he f ac e of t he e ar th w ho c oul d r ed uc e a

H or se S te al er t o s o m uc h g or y, t ra mp le d j el ly , h e w as e mi ne nt ly p re pa re d t o g iv e t he m a s w id e a b er th

as t hey d es ir ed f or as l on g as t hey w an ted i t. H ow ev er m ag ni fi cent t hey m ig ht b e, and h ow ev er q ui ck ly

h radani m ig ht h eal, n ow t hat h e' d f in al ly s een t hem at clo se q uart er s, h e p referr ed h is b on es u nb ro ken.

" I 'v e n o d ou bt w e' ve m or e t han eno ug h o th er m at ters t o b e d is cu ss in g, M il or d, " h e con ti nu ed , r et ur ni ng

h is att en ti on t o T el li an . " Ju st f or a b eg in ni ng , F at her s ay s h e and K il th an h av e b een t al ki ng o ver y ou r

not ion o f a t hr ee -wa y t ra de up t he Es ca rpme nt , a nd he 's of a m ind t o a gr ee you' ve h it on a n e xc el le nt

i de a. B ut I 'v e a f ew m at te rs t ha t n ee d d oi ng f or t he O rd er , a s w el l, a nd I 'v e m es sa ge s f or H ur th an g f ro m

V ai jo n. W ou ld i t b e t ha t h e a nd K ae ri th a a re s om ew he re a bo ut t he p la ce ?"

" No ne o f u s e xp ec te d y ou b ac k b ef or e t om or ro w, " H at ha n r ep li ed f or t he b ar on , " an d t he t wo o f t he m

w en t o ve r t o t he t em pl e t hi s m or ni ng . T he y' re n ot b ac k y et , b ut w e c an c er ta in ly s en d w or d f or t he m t o

return if it's urgent."

" Well , as t o t hat, " B ah zell s ai d, p us hi ng h is chair b ack and com in g t o h is f eet, " I' m t hi nk in g t here's n one ed t o be r ous ti ng out on e of you r pe op le t o r un m es sa ge s. I ne ed t o be dr oppi ng by t he t emp le my se lf ,

s o i f i t' s a ll t he s am e t o y ou , M il or d, " h e n od de d t o T el li an , " I' ll j us t b e he ad ing o ve r t ha t w ay ."

* * *

" Oh ! E xcus e m e, P ri nce B ah zell ! I d id n' t s ee y ou ."

" No h ar m d on e, " B ah zell s ai d m il dl y, s et ti ng t he g ir l b ack o n h er f eet. S he'd emerg ed f ro m t he

h al f- hi dd en a rc h w it h m or e s pe ed t ha n d ec or um , b ut h is r ef le xe s h ad b ee n g oo d e no ug h t o c at ch h er

before the actual impact that would have bounced her off her feet. Her maid came bustling down the stair

behind her, then screeched to a halt as she saw her charge being set effortlessly upright by a pair of handst he s ize o f s mall s ho vels .

T he m ai d Mart hy a, h e t ho ug ht h er n am e w as , i f h e r ecal led cor rect ly w as o bv io us ly l es s t han

ent hr al led b y t he s ig ht , b ut s he d id n' t l oo k esp eciall y s ur pr is ed . N or w as B ah zell , r eall y. O ne t hi ng h e' d

d is co ve re d e ar ly o n a bo ut h is h os t' s d au gh te r w as t ha t s he w as u tt er ly l ac ki ng i n t he s or t o f b or ed l an gu or

w hi ch app eared t o b e t he cur rent , car ef ul ly cul ti vated i deal o f m os t ari st ocrati c y ou ng S ot ho ii

n ob le wo me n. I t m ig ht b e t oo m uc h t o c al l h er o wn a cc us to me d p ac e h ea dl on g, b ut n ot b y v er y m uc h.

H e s mi le d d ow n a t h er h ow ev er t al l s he m ig ht b e f or a h um an c hi ld , s he w as b ar el y e ve n p et it e f or a

Horse Stealer girland restrained himself with some difficulty from patting her on the head. She wouldn't

h av e app reci at ed i t i f h e' d y ield ed t o t he t em pt at io n, h e t ho ug ht d ry ly .

Although she had her father's hair and height, she'd thankfully escaped Tellian's hawklike profile. At


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fourteen, she'd just emerged from the coltishly awkward stage, although there were momentslike this

o new hen s he s uf fered t em po rary r el ap ses. S he h ad an i ns at iabl e cur io si ty t o g o alo ng w it h an

obviously keen mind, and she obviously found Brandark and Bahzell himself exotically intriguing, no

d ou bt b ecau se t hey w er e t he f ir st h radani s he'd act uall y m et . H e f ou nd t he o bv io us i nt en si ty o f h er

cur io si ty amu si ng , b ut h e' d l earn ed t o t ak e h er q uest io ns s er io us ly , d es pi te t he f act t hat s om eo ne h er age

w ou ld h av e r em ai ned f ir ml y i mm ur ed i n t he s ch oo lr oo m, h ad s he b een o ne o f h is s is ters . L eean a' s m ot her

a nd f at he r, o n t he o the r h and , h ad l on g s inc e b egu n h er f or ma l t ut el ag e a s t he ir on ly h ei r. T hes ho rt er -l iv ed h um an s o ft en s ee me d t o d o t hi ng s w it h b re ak ne ck s pe ed c om pa re d t o h ra da ni . S o h e

reminded himself once again that Leeana Bowmaster obviously didn't consider herself the

barely-out-of-leading-strings child he saw when he looked at her.

T he f ac t t ha t s he wa s a s c ut e a s a ba sk et ful of pupp ie s di dn' t m ake i t a ny e as ie r f or hi m t o r em em be r

t ha t s he w as o r a t l ea st t hou gh t s he wa s ol de r t ha n s he l oo ke d t o hi m. Th e . . . i rr it at ed l oo ks s he

g av e h im w he n h e f or go t, h ow ev er , d id . S o h e s up po se d i t w as s om et hi ng o f a w as h.

" It 's k in d o f y ou t o b e s o u nd er st an di ng ," s he t ol d hi m no w. " Bu t i f I 'd b ee n w at ch in g w he re I w as g oi ng ,

I would ne ve r ha ve c om e bur sti ng out of t he ga ll er y s ta ir and r un i nt o you t ha t wa y. So i f no ha rm wa sdo ne , i t wa s on ly a m at te r of pur e l uc k. Pl ea se don' t m ent io n t o M ot he r t ha t I di d! " Sh e r ol le d he r gr ee n

e ye s. " Sh e a lr ea dy t hi nk s I h av e t he d ep or tm en t o f a s ta bl e h an d. "

" Now , s om eh ow I 'm d ou bt fu l s he 'd be p ut ti ng i t q ui te t ha t w ay ," B ahz el l s ai d w it h a g ri n. " No t t ha t s he

w ou ld n' t b e a ft er h av in g a f ew t ar t t hi ng s t o s ay , I 'm s ur e. B ut s he 'l l n ot h ea r a bou t i t f ro m m e, M il ad y. "

" Th an k y ou ." S he s mi led u p at h im w ar ml y. " An d m ig ht I ask h ow y ou r v is it h om e w en t?" s he con ti nu ed .

" Be tt er t ha n I 'd h op ed , m or e w ay s t ha n n ot ," h e r ep li ed , a nd s ho ok h is h ea d i n s om et hi ng v er y l ik e

bemusement. "Father and Mother are well enough, though I'd not have thought anyone could be as busy

as t hey' re aft er b ei ng at t he m om en t. "

" I' m n ot s ur pr is ed ," s he s ai d, a nd c hu ck le d. " Ju st k ee pi ng u p w it h a ll y ou r s is te rs a nd b ro th er s m us t b e

challenge enough without settling all the political problems your father's facing right now!"

" Ay e, y ou 'v e g ot t hat r ig ht eno ug h, " h e agr eed. " St il l and all , t hey' ve h ad m or e t han eno ug h exp er ience

ma nagi ng a ll of us ; it 's t he r est of m y f olk ke epi ng t hei r ha nds f ull j us t now. M y Da 's a l ot of det ai ls t o be

s et tl in g an d s om e o f t hem u gl y o nes, t oo b ut I 'm t hi nk in g t hi ng s are aft er b eg in ni ng t o q ui et d ow n a

m it e. " He s nor te d. " Of c ou rs e, i t c oul d be a s how t ha t' s be ca us e t he re 's a ft er b ei ng s o f ew l ef t a s f ee l l ike

arg ui ng t he f in e p oi nt s w it h h im . T he cro ws h av e f in is hed p icki ng o ver C hu rn azh' s h ead, and h is s on

C halak' s aft er b ei ng s o s tu pi d n ot even t he l ik es o f C hu rn azh' s h an gers -o n w il l b e f ol lo wi ng h im .A rs ha m' s t he o nl y o ne o f C hur na zh' s g et w it h t he b ra in s t o b e c om in g i n o ut o f a t hu nd er st or m, a nd t he y

m us t h av e c om e f ro m h is m ot he r, f or t he y c an' t h av e b ee n c om in g f ro m h is f at he r! A nd t he f ac t t ha t h e' s

bastard-born isn't so very big a thing to be holding against him in the succession amongst our folk. So

no w he 's s wo rn f ea lt y t o F at he r a s Pr in ce of N ava hk, t he r es t o f t he Bl ood y Sw or ds a re a ft er l ini ng up t o

d o t he s am e. " H e g lanced at B rand ar k f or a m om en t, h is exp ress io n h al f- ap ol og et ic, and s hr ug ged. " If I

w er e b ei ng a b et ti ng m an , w hi ch I 'm no t, I 'd p ut m y ko rm ak s o n t he f igh ti ng b ei ng o ve r f or g oo d a nd a ll

at last."

L eean a cocked h er h ead i n t ho ug ht . M os t S ot ho ii m ig ht h av e con si dered B ah zell 's r es po ns e t o h er

q uest io n a b it o dd . L ad ies an d esp eciall y g en tl y b or n o nes w ho w er e s ti ll l it tl e m or e t han

childrenshould be sheltered from the brutal realities of the difficult problems and solutions which faced

r ul er s. L eean a, t ho ug h, o nl y w ei gh ed w hat h e' d s ai d car ef ul ly , t hen n od ded. O ne t hi ng abo ut h er w hi ch

w as n ot at all chi ld li ke, B ah zell t ho ug ht , w as h er o bv io us ly d eep i nt er es t i n p ol it ics. O r h er u ncan ny abi li ty


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t o g rasp t he r am if icat io ns o f h er f at her' s cur rent , con vo lu ted p ol it ical p ro bl em s. F or t hat m at ter, h er g rasp

o f t he p ro bl em s f acin g Bahzell's f at her w as b et ter t han t hat q ui te a f ew h radani chi ef tain s cou ld claim .

" Do y ou t hi nk t he f ig ht in g i s o ve r, t oo , L or d B ra nd ar k? " s he a sk ed s of tl y a ft er s ev er al s ec on ds o f

c on si de ra ti on . S he l oo ke d a t t he s ho rt er h ra da ni , a nd B ra nd ar k g az ed b ac k a t h er f or a l on g m om en t, h is

eyes more thoughtful than Bahzell's, then shrugged.

" Ye s, I do , M il ad y, " h e s ai d. " An d wh il e I wo n' t go s o f ar a s t o s ay I 'm ha ppy t he B lo ody S wo rds ha ve

h ad t heir f eet s ys temati call y k icked o ut f ro m u nd er t hem b y a b un ch o f l ou ti sh H or se S teal er s, i t' s

cer tain ly n ot a b ad t hi ng i f t he f ig ht in g r eall y i s o ver. " H e g ri maced. " We'v e b een k il li ng each o th er o ver

o ne i ma gi ne d i ns ul t o r a no th er f or a lm os t a s l on g a s t he H or se S te al er s a nd your people have been doing

t he s ame t hi ng. As s om eo ne wh o o nc e w ant ed t o be a b ar d, I m ay r eg re t t he l os s of a ll t ho se gl or ious ,

ballad-inspiring episodes of mutual bloodletting and slaughter. As a historian, and someone who's seen

t he b lo od le tt in g i n q ue st io n f ir st ha nd , I 'd j us t a s s oo n s et tl e f or t he b al la ds w e a lr ea dy h av e. A nd a ll t he

gods know Bahzell's father is infinitely preferable to someone like Churnazh."

H e k ep t h is t on e l ig ht , b ut h is g az e w as l ev el , a nd s he l oo ke d b ac k a t h im f or s ev er al h ea rt be at s b ef or es h e n od d ed .

" I c an s ee t ha t, " s he s ai d. " It 's f un ny , i sn 't i t? A ll t he s on gs a nd t al es a re f ul l o f h ig h a dv ent ur e, n ot w ha t

r ea ll y h ap pe ns i n a w ar . A nd I 'v e h ea rd l ot s o f s on gs a bo ut s pl en di d v ic to ri es a nd d ef ia nc e e ve n i n

d ef ea t. B ut I d on 't t hi nk I 'v e e ve r h ea rd e ve n o ne w he re t he s id e t ha t l os t e nd s u p a dm it ti ng t ha t i t' s b et te r

that they didn't win."

B ah zel l' s m ob il e ear s cocked, and o ne eyebr ow arched, b ut B rand ar k s im pl y n od ded, as i f u ns ur pr i sed

by her observation.

" It 's n ot a n e as y t hi ng t o d o, " h e a gr ee d. " An d t he b ar ds w ho w ri te s on gs s ug ge st in g t ha t i t' s a g oo d t hi ngt heir o wn s id e g ot i ts b acks id e k icked t en d t o f in d t heir aud iences l es s t han r ecep ti ve. U nf or tu nately , t hat

d oesn 't m ean i t i sn 't t ru e s om et im es , d oes i t?"

" No , I do n' t s up pos e i t d oe s, " s he s ai d, a nd l ook ed ba ck a t B ah ze ll . " So f rom w ha t yo u a nd L or d

B rand ar k are s ay in g, P ri nce B ah zell , i t s ou nd s as i f y ou m ay f in d y ou rs el f an o ff icial amb as sado r f or t he

K in g o f t he H radani aft er all ."

B ah zell 's d eep, r um bl in g chu ck le cou ld h av e b een alarm in g i f s he h ad n' t h eard i t b ef or e and k no wn w hat

i t w as . Sh e c oc ke d he r he ad a t h im , a nd h e gr inne d.

" No w, t ha t I w on 't b e. " H e s ho ok h is h ea d. " Fi rs t, I 'v e n o l ea st d es ir e t o b e a ny on e' s ' of fi ci al

a mb as sa do r. ' S ec on d, M il ad y, I 'v e e ve n l es s o f a n ot io n h ow t o g o a bo ut b ei ng o ne ! A nd t hi rd , t he o ne

t hi ng m y D a' s l east l ik el y ever t o b e cal li ng h im self i s ' Ki ng o f t he H radani .' "

" Th er e I h av e t o agr ee w it h B ah zell ," B rand ar k agr eed w it h a s li gh tl y l es s r um bl in g l au gh o f h is o wn .

"Prince Bahnak is many things, Milady, but one thing he's remarkably free of is anything resembling

- delu si on s o f g rand eu r. U nl ik e B ah zell , h e' s als o a v er y b ri gh t f el lo w. W hi ch m eans h e u nd er st an ds

e xa ct ly h ow h ar d a b un ch o f h ra da ni p ri nc es w oul d f in d i t t o t ak e a ny on e w ho c al le d h im se lf ' Ki ng o f t he

H radani ' s er io us ly . I h av e n o i dea w hat t it le h e' ll f in al ly com e u p w it h, b ut I f eel con fi dent t hat i t w on 't

h av e t he w or d ' ki ng ' i n i t any wh er e. "

" Perh ap s n ot ," s he s ai d. " Bu t w hat h e cho os es t o cal l h im self w on 't chang e w hat h e act uall y i s, n ow w il l

i t? " H er t one w as a bi t t ar te r, a nd t he gr ee n e ye s g az in g up a t t he t wo hr ad an i w er e a b it ha rde r.


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" No , i t w on 't ," B ra nd ar k a gr ee d. " Wh ic h i s m y r ea l p oi nt , I s up po se . J us t a s h e' s u nl ik el y t o r ub h is

r ecen t enemi es ' n os es i n t heir d ef eat b y cal li ng h im self a k in g, h e' s n ot g oi ng t o m ak e y ou r f at her' s

position even more difficult by asking him to officially a cc ep t a h ra da ni a mb as sa do r a t h is c ou rt ."

Leeana's eyes w id en ed v er y b ri ef ly . T hen t hey n ar ro wed again , even m or e b ri ef ly , b ef or e s he n od ded.

" Th at d oe s m ak e s en se ," s he s ai d a ft er a m om en t, a nd B ra nd ar k w on de re d i f t he g ir l r ea li ze d h ow

completely her thoughtful tone demolished her pretense of having "accidentally" collided with Bahzell. She

s to od t he re f or a s ec on d o r t wo , a s i f b ei ng c er ta in s he 'd d ig es te d t he i nf or ma ti on t ho ro ug hl y, t ha n s ho ok

herself and smiled at Bahzell again.

" No w I 'v e com po un ded m y car el es sn es s i n r un ni ng i nt o y ou b y k eepi ng y ou and L or d B rand ar k

s tand in g h er e n at teri ng away, " s he apo lo gi zed. " I s eem t o b e g oi ng f ro m t ri um ph t o t ri um ph t hi s aft er no on ,

d on 't I ?"

" In a m an ne r o f s pe ak in g, I s up po se ," h e a gr ee d. " No t b ut w ha t B ra nd ar k a nd I h av en 't e nj oy ed t heconversation."

" It 's ki nd o f you t o s ay s o, b ut I 've de ta ine d bot h o f y ou l on g e nou gh. Ma rt hya ?" S he l oo ke d ov er he r

s ho ul de r a t h er m ai d a nd g at he re d u p t he o ld er w om an w it h h er e ye s. T he n s he g av e B ah ze ll a nd

B rand ar k a q ui ck , abb revi at ed cur ts y and w hi sk ed M ar th ya o ff d ow n a con nect in g h al lw ay .

Chapter Three The herd stallion was magnificent.

He w as c oa l bl ac k, bu t f or a wh it e s ta r on h is f or ehe ad, a nd h is c onf or ma ti on wa s pe rf ec t. At j us t ov er

t we nt y- on e h an ds , h e w as h ug e f or a ny h or se , a nd l oo ke d e ve n b ig ge r t ha n h e a ct ua ll y w as , w it h h is

s ti ll -s ha gg y c oa t o f w in te r. B ut d es pi te t ha t, h e w as a ct ua ll y o f l es s t ha n a ve ra ge s iz e f or a c ou rs er

s tall io n, and h e l acked t he h eavi ness o f b ui ld w hi ch charact er ized any b reed o f h or se w hi ch even

app ro ached h is o wn , m as s iv e s tatu re. I nd eed

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David Weber - Wind_Riders_Oath 3