Page 423 (1/2)

The Jaghut was silent for a long ht I hope the one -- torn away -

’I feel,’ the Jaghut rasped, ’empty Still, why should I believe you?’

Paran studied the Jaghut, then said, ’Release hio You can’t negotiate with a prisoner and expect hi Seer, the place Quick Ben has in mind -- no-one -- no-one -- will be able to manipulate you there And perhaps more importantly, you will possess the opportunity to make the Chained One pay for his temerity And, finally, you will have a sister -- still a child -- ill need to heal Seer, she will need you ’

’You hold tooa shred of honour, integrity and the capacity for compassion,’ the Bonecaster pronounced ’With all that he has done -- whether by his will or not -- he will twist that child, as he hied ’Fortunate for that child, then, that she and her brother will not be entirely alone’

The Seer’s eyes narrowed ’Not alone?’

’Free hihed, then spoke to the sticksnare crouching on the Jaghut’s chest ’Let hiret it,’ it replied, then clambered off The sorcerous web flickered, then vanished

The Seer scrambled to his feet Then hesitated, eyes on the Finnest in Quick Ben’s hands

’This other place,’ he finally whispered, looking to Paran, ’is it far?’

The Jaghut child, a girl of but a handful of years, wandered froether on her lap in a -deaddignity that started tears in Paran’s eyes

’What will she re,’ Quick Ben replied ’Talamandas and I will, uh, work on that’

A soft sound frohut stood, tre child -- who had now seen the

’Go to her,’ Paran told the Seer

’She remembers … a brother -’