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"They build a temple to him in the middle of the steppe?"

"The work of the son who ended up being assassinated It was at the site of his father’s greatest triuht a battle there It looks just like any other part of the steppe It was a well before The only one for a distance, so perhaps there was a reason for the battle after all That’s e shall stop there Our casks grow empty"

The caravan stopped for two days of rest at the well, forular fortress Auron kneell, though tighter, and with a ditch dug all around He walked up the hill with Djer as a line of dwarves heelbarrows hauled casks to the top of the hill, cordedin the sunshine

The ten of rust or tarnish Djer ran a hand along the s the black face underneath as shiny as if it et The four sides of the square inclined slightly to a flat roof thirty hands above A column of metal pointed from it like a lance aimed at the sky

"What ore is that?" Auron asked His Dwarvish was accoht in the ear because of the way his head was constructed

"If I knew, I’d own the Chartered Company," Djer said "Wizardly artisans ifts, in these bitter days"

Auron placed his claws on it; asounded as he touched the surface "It’s a bare surface I thought "

"Just above the door," Djer said, pointing

Auron looked at the apocryphal letters "I must learn to read one of these days"

"Many who can wouldn’t knohat to make of that The characters are unknown to o"

"Yes," Djer said, his stubbly face turning serious "I keep hoping you’ll change your mind"

"I want to find my own kind NooMoahk, first of all"

"Steel yourself It is a hard journey across the desert"

"I know I’ll ask you for a set of saddlebags, with plenty of water skins"

"Done," Djer said, rapping Auron’s crest with his knuckles "But I cannot let a friend such as you go without soh"

"Not hardly," he said, searching his pockets with eyes rolling skyward He fished out a ring "I’ve put the seal of the Diade it to Auron "It’s my Partner-seal, and nia under the diadeolden surface "Is that supposed to be ht it looked like you, anyway I’s I don’tnot yet"

"Winged or no, you’re the reason I’m a vested dwarf"

"I’ reddish with pleasure

"You can honorit to one of the Chartered Coet you whatever assistance we can offer Traditionally a Partner gives his e only to a chief-of-staff on an important journey You’re welcome to this for the rest of your life--may it be blessed with many healthy years"

"I would wear it with pride, but it won’t fit row a proper one Or a chain around your neck, for that , thin strand of steel froh for a fully grown dragon I could wear this for a belt"