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’Well,’ Whiskeyjack said gruffly, then surprised Itkovian by disauntleted hand ’A the soldiers of the Eauntlet is for war and nothing other than war, to re the hand of another, in peace, is the rarest of gestures’

’So it, too, is often misunderstood,’ Itkovian said ’I, sir, do not rasped the commander’s hand ’You accord me far too much-’

’I do not, Itkovian I only wish you were travelling with us, so that I could come to know you better’

’Yet ill meet at Maurik, sir’

Whiskeyjack nodded ’Until then, Itkovian’

They released their grips The coathered the reins He hesitated, then said, ’Are all Elin like you, Itkovian?’

He shrugged ’I am not unique’

’Then ’ware the Eions assail your homeland’s borders’

His brows rose ’And coions?’

Whiskeyjack grinned ’Go well, sir’

Itkovian watched theup green clumps of sand He had a sudden, inexplicable conviction that they would never see each other again After a ht

’Well, of course Kruppe will bless this company with his presence!’

’You hed ’That was only a question, not an invitation’

’Poor wizard is weary, yes? So ued with leaky lack of integrity None the less, Kruppe is impressed with your prowess -- such a dance of warrens rarely if ever before witnessed by huh! to the foolish one in chains! Such a bold challenge! Such a-’

’Oh, be quiet! Please!’ Quick Ben stood on the river’s north shore Mud covered his leggings toas much as possible the distance of the paths he had fashioned for the coluons, the livestock and the spare lers who’d yet to arrive, Whiskeyjack included To make his exhaustion evencomplaint from his invisible perch on the wizard’s left shoulder