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"They’vearmy at the passes on the east slopes of the Red Mountains We couldn’t risk ht of Ghioz itself because of the roc-riders, but there isup to the Iwensi Gap, heavily laden barges full of grain That and even more rocs in the south over the Sloai Horsedowns may mean thrust into Hypatia"

"LaDibar, these rocs, are they fast fliers, or are they more for endurance?" the Copper asked

"They’re said to be the farthest-flying creatures of the sky over a distance Griffaran are said to be quicker in a fast flutter, but like dragons they tire after the first sprint"

"Perhaps Ghioz used them to spread sickness to the Anaean crops," the Copper said

"The elves once won a victory in the Age of Wheels by sowing locusts in Old Uldam’s fields," LaDibar said

"Anaea is re the sculpture of the plateau with his tail-tip "That plateau cuts theest cli-riders certainly kneas important to us," NoFhyriticus put in "They attacked Anaea first"

"Perhaps soon-riders," LaDibar said "The principles of flight are the sae of winds and safe altitudes, same survival skills"

"The Ghioz seeainst us," the Copper said

"War! That’s quite an ascent froreeine the our kern doesn’t ainst the demen," NoSohoth said

The roo pursuit of a final victory over the demen had wearied the Lavadome Every hill had suffered losses

He knew there hispers That he was only settling an old score against the race who had wounded hi the uncos stolen now, and we have vast new areas of the Lower World open to traffic We can use the rivers again without fear, and the Star Tunnel could one day support ons"

"We are short of wholesome kern now, my Tyr," NoFhyriticus said "You can’t eat cold, dark, and damp"

"Still, we have losses to make up," NoSohoth said "It doesn’t help that we’ve lost pros to the kern-sickness"

"If it was the Ghioz, the Red Queen picked the perfect tio to the islands, Tyr I’ll burn their slaveships and s hard in the Sunstruck Sea, they’ll affect those featherweights ons"

"Perhaps they wish us to do just that," LaDibar said "I agree, the Red Queen ht knoe’re weak now If we attack her she could rally all Ghioz to the fight"

"We attack her?" HeBellereth said, stoaining a fe canyons "The Ghioz mass in the Horsedowns, stir up trouble in Bant, take slaves fro the," the Copper said "As though we’re rats in sorotty waste-shaft"

LaDibar stiffened "That conclusion is utterly unfounded"

"I have reports of winged birds above Anaea this summer," the Copper said

"My Tyr’s information is always very carefully chosen," LaDibar said "It always seeht one de is the fault of de your fa caves, your scores would have astounded the Lavado-raid and still feel the pain in ry," the Copper said "It’s started throbbing again just now, LaDibar"

"My apologies, Tyr But nature ht on the kern Perhaps some new parasite has found its way to Anaea Diseased crops are nothing new Send an Anklene ate, and we’ll have an answer after observing healthy crops against sick ones for a cycle or two"