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The two Nerek stepped out into the gritty ash, and began the journey south The birth of dreah and betorlds It would not take long

Fear Sengar led hilade, the sounds of the readied army distant and muted As soon as Trull took his first stride into the clearing, his brother spun round Forear him back until he struck the bole of a tree, where Fear held him

‘ You will be silent! No more of your doubts, not to anyone else and not to me You are ht Are you hearing , yet he remained motionless, his eyes fixed on Fear’s

‘Why do you not answer?’

Still he said nothing

With a snarl Fear drew his arm away and stepped back

‘Kill ainst the tree He s me unawares Otherwise, brother, you would be hard-pressed’

Fear looked away Then nodded ‘Yes’

‘A knife in the back’

‘Yes’

‘Because, if I have my spear, it’s equally likely that you would be killed, not er slowly drained froo into battle-’

‘And you doubt ness’

‘Well, yes, you are right to doubt that But I will do as you command I will kill Letherii for you’

‘For the emperor For our people-’

‘No For you, Fear Otherwise, you would be well advised to question my ability Indeed, to remove me from command From this entire, absurd war Send es of the Den-Ratha where there are likely to be a few thousand Edur who chose to remain behind’

‘There are none such’

‘Of course there are’

‘A handful’

‘More than you think And yes, I have been tempted to join them’