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’We struggle against more than one enemy, as shall be seen’

’I don’t want that card,’ Paran snapped ’You’d better paint a new face on that thing I have the blood of a Hound of Shadoithin me I am a liability -- ill you all see that? Hood knows, I do!’

The rustle of armour alerted them to Kallor’s approach

Whiskeyjack scowled ’You are not part of this conversation’

Kallor smiled wryly ’Never part of, but often the subject of-’

’Not this tirey eyes fixed on Quick Ben ’You, wizard, are a hoarder of souls … I am a man who releases souls -- shall I break the chains within you? An easy thing, to leave you helpless’

’Even easier,’ Quick Ben replied, ’to round’

Kallor dropped froone froe

Silverfox gasped, eyes widening on Quick Ben

The wizard shrugged ’You’re right, I don’t care who, or what, Kallor is’

Whiskeyjack stepped to the edge of the pit, glanced down ’He’s cli out… not bad for an old man’

’But since I’m not stupid,’ Quick Ben said hastily, ’I’ll take leave, now’ The wizard gestured and seeether

Turning his back on the grunting, cursing Kallor -- whose gauntleted hands were now visible scrabbling at the crue of the pit -- Whiskeyjack said to Paran, ’Return to the Bridgeburners, Captain If all goes well, we’ll ain at Capustan’

’Yes, sir’ Soest,’ Silverfox said, eyes fixed on Kallor’s efforts to extricate himself, ’we too should depart this particular place’

’Agreed, lass’

Slumped in his saddle, Whiskeyjack watched the colu out from the city of Pale The day was hot, the hint of thunderstorh above the two de-camped armies, fewer in number than was usual -- their Achievant, Twist, had departed with Captain Paran and the Bridgeburners four days ago, and eight of the eleven Flights had left in the night just past, on their way to the Vision Mountains on the northwest border of the Domin