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"Since when is there an edict against truth?"

"There’s private truth and public truth, girl"

The hu AuRon to watch the clih to wave, Hieba juain," Evfan mused to himself

AuRon saw Hieba run into Naf’s arladness at Hieba’s joy folded under a crest of jealousy Naf would take Hieba away again, leaving him lonelier than before

Naf still wore the silver circled about his long hair He had filled out since AuRon had last seen him as a desert-lean bandit: his neck was thick with e and cares AuRon could no e human beauty than he could talk to the stars, but Naf’s face still looked as though it was put together froure squatted and rested while the lovers e cloak, scratched a red beard and looked out on the vista of city, river and plain

The four continued up thethe trail They covered the short distance left easily, except for the cloaked figure, who paused at the edge of the outlook AuRon could hear wheezy breathing from beneath the cowl

AuRon sniffed, but smelled only thick man-scent and traces of charcoal on the cloak

"You knowraywe oncedid trustone another," she said, lowering her hood to reveal a scarred face and hair like hoarfrost in the sunshine It was Hazeleye, her hair bristling with pine needles "It is hi her breath back "It’s tiny now, but he still has his egg horn I’ve never known a dragon to keep it, save this beast"

Naf approached, and grabbed him by the loose skin at his jaw joint The ray at his teh yet"

"Old? Not a phrase I’d choose for e; I’ve still a hundred winters before I’m counted in my prime"

"There is still one here you do not know," Naf said "This is Hischhein, counselor to the queen, of the ruling house of Ghioz"

"Welcoon," Hischhein said For a courtier, he spoke the tongue of the Dairuss with a thick accent "This is a long-hoped-for day"

The elf looked at the whitecapped mountains "And a cool one, even in summer I wouldn’t care to pass a winter at this post"

"Shall we talk inside?" Hieba asked

"No," Hazeleye said "What I’ve coht"

The Silver Guard brought out chairs of wood and fur, and the visitors sat

"We have dark news, too," Hieba said "There is war cohts and beyond The blighters are building boats for a descent of the Falnges"

"They will come in the tens of thousands," AuRon said "Not just from the river, but in chariots as of old"

"The queen’s diploht us the tiether in thought "They ht ood tion can do We have a great favor to ask, erous than battle, but more hopeful, as well"