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"I hardly have the heart to tell the rest I ran and hid a some brush on the far side of the tohich was pushed over into the sea Men caboats with the heads and tails of dragons fore-and-aft The dragons hunted any elves who tried to flee, and the men came forclothes were spitted on the broken tions attached some sort of iron contraption to the ends of their tails, and began to sons saw to it that no stone stood upon another They broke the foundations of the toith tailswipes and pushed it with elves still screaons rested in the ruins of the city feasting on their prey, then roared inland Those who had hurt themselves in battle went afoot, the rest aloft Death and destruction passed over s put , praying for the sun to hurry across the sky before I was discovered When darkness came I started east"

"We know they’ve served the dwarves, and men ill not join them, likewise," Hischhein said, his face ith the story of Hazeleye’s grief "It is always the saons see to it that there is no ru war They come in sudden fury froe of the chaos Ancient Hypat wears a circlet of burned cities, and it will be the next to fall, I fear The Wizard of the Isle of Ice has sent an ambassador to my cousin, our queen He thinks the Dairuss a barbarian people, an opinion perhaps many of the Ghioz shared until this last lesson in true barbarity The queen plays for time, shows him preparations for hich are in truth preparations for our defense Our good cousins in Hypat will find their eastern doors held while we still live"

"The queen’s first duty is to her people," Naf said "She could spare her landan ally of this far-off wizard The people already coees from the other side of theout of the east, they may force her to choose the wizard’s side"

Hischhein looked at Naf in blank astonishnorant of politics I am surprised that you, cohts, leave alone give voice to theet, could cost you your coht with battle "Hischhein, the Dairuss aren’t as ignorant of the affairs at court as you think Cha than who has a certain green-eyed sht"

"Ho dare--," Hischhein sputtered

Naf lunged The explosive energy in coiled body flashed out, turning over the furred chairs, and he pushed Hischhein across the loall and over the edge of the cliff At the last rabbed the Ghioz’s ankles

"Naf, to attack the Ghioz is death!" Hieba shouted, running to hi over the abyss, and saw the interesting sight of Hischhein thrashing like a fish on a line--enainst the cliff wall Naf’s nored Hieba’s atteht? She plots with this ambassador to join the war She’ll sell us as slaves and open the falls to the blighters!"

"No! No! Help, rip, and Hischhein screaain

"The next drop will be farther, and every man will swear you had a seizure and fell Tell the truth, and uides will see you over the mountain to the borders of Hypat You have my oath Do you witness it, Evfan?"

"I do hear your oath"

"No, you are wrong The queen is true to her duty What put such thoughts into your head? Put me before this witness who slanders the queen and let o"

Hischhein ceased his struggle "Then drop ods you hold dear, Naf I’ll die with a clear conscience, and you’ll die with my murder on your soul"

Naf took a deep breath and pulled the Ghioz up Hischhein’s face was red and flushed as Naf let hiive his madness," Hieba pleaded, on her knees before Hischhein She kissed his feet in desperation, and AuRon felt his sii claws slide within their sheaths

Naf kneeled and bowed his head "You have ies, Counselor, but I had to be sure The Silver Guard will stand true to the queen, now that we know the queen is true to us But I’d heard that she’s becoht to her bedchamber in secret"

Hischhein’s eyes widened "I am deep in court secrets, and I have not heard this"

"No one knows more secrets than a washerwoman The same one who does the queen’s sheets attends to ossip from the chambermaids I pay her well"

"You’ve more layers than an onion, Commander I shouldn’t want you as an ene cat of southern jungles "Naf, I wait to hear how I fit into this"

"That was on," Hischhein said "I want you to know I speak for the queen on this matter She will offer you mountain, forest, and plainland on our southern borders to live as you will, with the soldiers of Dairuss seeing that you are not disturbed, if you will help us in our need"

"The proeneration, Counselor," AuRon said