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The Mud City stood on both banks of the river, surrounded by green, atered hills and walls of various age The buildings were all a white or sandy color, sprouting wood supports or a plot of gardening here and there The dwellings looked cracked and dry, like Fourfang’s sunburned skin

He expected to see flocks and herds on the surrounding hills, but there were few ani, and what there were kept close to town

The dragons caood cliffs to one side and a steep slope on the other

"The Ghi men’s horseuide said

"I don’t put anything past men They always shohere you don’t expect ’em," SiDrakkon said

"And don’t let your thralls cut wood fro to the local chieftain Wood pilfering will create a grudge"

"Of course"

The Firemaid departed, and SiDrakkon i fires--but only dead branches and deadfalls

Rhea spent weary hours cleaning dust out of the Copper’s scale, while Fourfanga spitted larease when the Copper was through eating

The Copper hoped the provisioning would i over food allot NiThonius arrived, and the whole caon, rather bony and the color of a rusty shield, and had strips of cloth running from his crest and twelve horns, all tied to an ivory tusk piercing his nostrils, creating a sort of fabric shield for his eyes and nose

Alongside hi, forked beard wrapped in gold cording More gold cording held a sun cloth to his head, and his robes had glittering strands woven into the lapels

SiDrakkon lined up the drakes and Fireuard just behind him "Let’s wait doind; we’ll be able to hear better," Nivoreetings," SiDrakkon said

"Mate-brother to the Tyr, I long regret the Tyr’s absence from my hearth and hoard Will you cry ally?"

"I do cry ally"

They bothnoise at the sky

"I welco Onato of the Rains and Winds and the Three River Savanna You reat warrior and friend to the Lavadoue the Copper did not understand

"Did you catch that?" the Copper asked

"I can’tBut I expect I’ll learn if we’re here long"

So’s retainers unrolled whitetrees The king sat beneath atop a folding wooden sort of post-seat, and NiThonius settled down beside SiDrakkon dis Nivom forward The Copper followed behind

"A Drakwatch commander and an Imperial Courier I’m impressed you’ve come so well arrayed," NiThonius said

"I was not ied from the Lower World"

NiThonius pulled back his head a little "I did not expect so on or two to help ainst fortresses by a dragon or two?"

"I would rather attack them where they are vulnerable, rather than behind scale or stone"

"Where are they vulnerable?"

"Where their archers can’t stand behind battlements and their war machines throw javelin, rock, and fire I’ waste to flocks and herds The men of Ghi, the Stonemen, would probably be induced to quit rabbed if we make the lands unprofitable They are keen calculators, not prideful Also, they have some salt mines and clayworks and lumber camps Burn them and kill the workers, swim up under their trade boats, scatter their herds, and burn their crops in the night A war of stealth and surprise eary them before too on or two And that is what our allies gathered provision for"