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’I would not disturb your solitude, Captain’

’Please do, it’s nothing I would regret abandoning Too hts creep in when I’m alone’

The Mortal Sword moved forward and slowly settled down onto the step at Paran’s side, his tattered ar He rested his forear ’I share the same curse, Captain’

’Fortunate, then, that you found Hetan’

The runted ’Problem is, she’s insatiable’

’In other words, you’re the one in search of solitude, whichas you don’t claw my back, your company is welcome’

Paran nodded ’I’m not the catty type -- uh, sorry’

’No need If Trake ain’t got a sense of huain, he must have, since he picked me as his Mortal Sword’

Paran studied the man beside him Behind the barbed tattoos was a face that had lived hard years Weathered, roughly chiselled, with eyes that od’s poithin his flesh and blood None the less, there were laugh lines around those eyes ’Seems to me Trake chose wisely …’

’Not if he expects piety, or de I’m not a soldier and have no desire to be How, then, am I supposed to serve the God of War?’

’Better you, I think, than sole eyebrow, Gruntle Reluctance to unsheathe those swords and all they represent seeh at the moment’

’Not sure about that This whole city was reluctant The priests, the Gidrath, even the Grey Swords If there’d been any other way…’ He shrugged ’The same for me If it wasn’t for what happened to Harllo and Stonny, I’d be down in the tunnels right now, gibbering with the rest of them’