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He turned away ‘I have no expectations, Seren, only fears We should resulanced over at the Nerek They sat or squatted near the wagons, stea froely indifferent to the dead kin they had left behind in his rave of rutted mud, rocks and roots How an stripping away thean with a skid, only to beco run

The Letherii believed in cold-hearted truths Moed with the choice of stepping aside The division between life and death wasfor position aress No-one could afford coly, none expected it from others either

We live in an inimical time But then, they are all inian to rain once more

Far to the south, beyond the mountains they had just crossed, the downfall of the Tiste Edur was being plotted And, she suspected, Hull Beddict’s life had been made forfeit They could not afford the risk he presented, the treason he had as much as proht war, after all It was only the face of victory that was different

But Hull possessed little of the necessary acuaun to wonder if she would make any effort to save hion The Nerek clihter about her shoulders, eyes narrowed on the path ahead She sensed Hull co to her side, but did not look over

‘What temple was it you were schooled at?’

She snorted, then shook her head ‘Thurlas, the Shrouded Sisters of the Empty Throne’

‘Just opposite Small Canal I remember it What sort of child were you, Seren?’

‘Clearly, you have an iht his nod in her periphery, and he said, ‘Zealous Proper to excess Earnest’

‘There are ledgers, recording the naain and again For example, I hold title to the most punishments inflicted in a year Two hundred and seventy-one I was more familiar with the Unlit Cell thanpriest And before you ask, yes, I was guilty But the priest swore otherwise, to protect me He was excommunicated I later heard he killed himself Had I still possessed any innocence, I would have lost it then’

He caon was pulled past by the Nerek She was forced to look at him Hesitated, then offered him a wry smile ‘Have I shocked you, Hull Beddict?’

‘The ice has broken beneath er, then she realized the self-mockery in his confession ‘We are not born innocent, simply unmeasured’