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Trull sensed the uncertainty and began wondering for himself Fear, after all, was Weapons Master for all the tribes, and indeed had been tasked with reshaping the Edur military structure From Weapons Master to War Master, then It seear And Binadas was considered bythe united tribes’ ether, Fear and Binadas had been crucial during the cans of conquest, whilst Theradas Buhn was unequalled in leading raids from the sea The only expendable members of this expedition are myself, Rhulad and MidikWas the issue therefore, one of trust?
What precisely was this gift they were to recover?
‘There have been untoward events of late,’ Mayen said, with a glance at Uruth
Trull caught his father’s scowl, but Mayen must have seen acquiescence in Uruth’s expression, for she continued, ‘Spirits walked the darkness the night of the vigil Unwelcome of aspect, intruders upon our holy sites – the wraiths fled at their approach’
‘This is the first I have heard of such things,’ Tomad said
Uruth reached for her wine cup and held it out to be refilled by a slave ‘They are known none the less, husband Hannan Mosag and his K’risnan have stirred deep shadows The tide of change rises – and soon, I fear, it will sweep us away’
‘But it is ho are rising on that tide,’ To to question defeat, but now you question victory, wife’
‘I speak only of the Great Meeting to co from the depths that stole the souls of the Letherii seal-hunters? When those ships sail into the harbour at Trate, how think you the Letherii will react? We have begun the dance of war’
‘If that were so,’ Tomad retorted, ‘then there would be little point to treat with the his father’s oords when he first returned from the Calach beds, ‘to take their o,’ Fear said ‘The Letherii will seek to do to us as they have done to the Nerek and the Tarthenal Most a them see no error or moral flaw in their past deeds Those who do are unable or unwilling to question the methods, only the execution, and so they are doomed to repeat the horrors, and see the result – no matter its nature – as yet one more test of firmly held principles And even should the blood run in a river around thee the fundamental beliefs of such people, for they will not hear you’
‘Then there will be war,’ Trull whispered
‘There is alar, brother,’ Fear replied ‘Faiths, words and swords: history resounds with their inter of bones,’ Rhulad said, with the smile of a man with a secret
Foolish conceit, for Toar, you speak like a blind elder with a sack full of wraiths I aloat from your face’
Trull felt sweat prickle beneath his clothes He saw the blood leave his brother’s face Oh, Father, you deliver a wound deeper than you could ever have ilanced over at Mayen and was startled to see soht
‘I a, Father,’ Rhulad said in a rasp, ‘nor you so old, to let such words pass-’
To cups and plates clattering ‘Then speak like a e that coils your every strut and has for the past week! Or do you seek to part tender thighs with your wo warrior who seeks to walk in step omen? Sympathy, son, is a poor path to lust-’
Rhulad was on his feet, his face twisting with rage ‘And which bitch would you have me bed, Father? To whom am I promised? And in whose nae and then youat last on Trull ‘When the war begins, Hannan Mosag will announce a sacrifice He must A throat will be opened to spill down the bow of the lead ship He will choose me, won’t he?’
‘Rhulad,’ Trull said, ‘I have heard no such thing-’
‘He will! I ahters! Sheltatha Lore, Sukul Ankhadu and Menandore!’
A plate skittered out fro the shellfish it held As the slave reached forward to contain the accident, Uruth’s hands snapped out and grasped the Letherii by the wrists A savage twist to reveal the palms