Page 435 (1/2)

Dujek paused, eyed theeburners The Trygalle are waiting for you Captain, remain a moh Mage Quick Ben up here, will you?’

Picker blinked ’High Mage?’

Dujek grier Tayschrenn’s insisted’

’Yes, sir’

Paran watched the small troop head down the hill

Dujek drew a palsied hand across his face, turned away ’Walk with me, Paran’

Paran did ’That ell done, sir’

’No, it wasn’t, Ganoes, but it was all I could do I don’t want the last of the Bridgeburners to die on sohting hard to stay free I’ what’s left of my Host to Seven Cities, to reinforce Adjunct Tavore’s retributive army You are welcome-’

’No, sir I’d rather not’

Dujek nodded, as if he had expected that ’There’s a dozen or so colues below Go with your co the casualties’

’Thank you, High Fist I don’t think I was ever cut out to be a soldier’

’Not another word of that, Captain Think what you like about yourself, but ill continue seeing you as you are -- a noble man’

’Noble-’

’Not that kind of noble, Ganoes This is the kind that’s earned, the only kind that e, it’s damned rare’

’Well, sir, there I’ll respectfully disagree with you If there’s but one experience I will carry withhuain, by those around eburners, Ganoes Paran’

’Yes, sir Goodbye, High Fist’

’Goodbye’

As Paran hted hieburners, he said, well, the achieverim-faced soldiers on all sides, Toc -- Anaster -- reined in beside the siven him Aye, I remember Anaster, and this may be his body, but that’s all He slipped from the saddle and entered it

He hunted until he found the cask, hid it within a leather sack and slung that over a shoulder, then hurried back outside