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‘That they’re definitely not, Slavemaster,’ Captain Kindly replied

‘Excellent Now, if we could-’

‘He tried to bribe me, sir,’ Cord said in a troubled, distressed tone

There was silence, then the captain said, ‘Ebron? Is this true?’

‘Afraid it is, Captain’

There was cool satisfaction in Kindly’s voice as he said, ‘How unfortunate Bribery is a cri, sir,’ Cord noted

‘I was invited to ar hissed

‘No you wasn’t,’ Ebron replied

Captain Kindly spoke ‘Lieutenant Pores, place the slavemaster and his hunters under arrest Detach two squads to oversee their incarceration in the town gaol Put them in a separate cell from that bandit leader we captured on the way back-the infa those we strung up beside the road east of here, that is Oh, and send in a healer for Li of a mess in his efforts on the unfortunate man’

‘Well,’ Ebron snapped, ‘I ain’t Denul, you know’

‘Watch your tone, Mage,’ the captain calmly warned

‘Sorry, sir’

‘I admit to some curiosity, Ebron,’ Kindly continued ‘What is the nature of this spell you have inflicted on this warrior?’

‘Uh, a shaping of Ruse-’

‘Yes, I know your warren, Ebron’

‘Yes, sir Well, it’s used to snare and stun dhenrabi in the seas-’

‘ Dhenrabi ? Those giant sea-worms?’

‘Yes, sir’

‘Well, why in Hood’s name isn’t this Teblor dead?’

‘Good question, Captain He’s a tough one, he is, ain’t he just’

‘Beru fend us all’

‘Aye, sir’

‘Sergeant Cord’