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‘A deh Fort? Did not ive their lives to win victory? Healers are to accede to the wishes of the warriors after a battle They are not toHad I been here, I ht well have struck her for her impudence Shall every Edur woman now assume the flaws of our Empress Mayen? Not if I have a say in the matter Now, Fear, you will correct your warriors’ attitudes You will re the journey to retrieve the emperor’s sword You will tell them to recall his delivery of the news of the Letherii harvest of the tusked seals Most importantly, Fear, you will not turn away froe ht lifted frohtened with a wry smile ‘I would not dare,’ he said

Trull hesitated, then said, ‘Mother, Fear’s anger with reement with the necessity of this war I have been careless in voicing my objections-’

‘A crisis of loyalty to the eht to be angry, nor am I pleased by your words Only the emperor has the power to halt this conquest, and he will not do that Neither Fear nor I, nor anyone else, Trull, are capable of responding to your doubts Do you not see that? Only Rhulad, and he is not here’

‘I understand,’ Trull said He looked to Fear ‘Brother, I apologize I shall save my words for Rhulad-’

‘He is not interested in hearing them,’ Fear said

‘None the less’

They studied each other

Uruth sighed ‘Enough of this Trull, is that the de round to where Lilac stood, five paces back ‘Yes’

His mother approached the demon ‘KenylPrah, do your kin still rule over you in your home realm?’

A deferential nod ‘The tyrants remain, mistress, for the war continues’

‘Yet you were not a soldier’

Lilac shrugged ‘Even the Kenryll’ahthose we su the war Four of the Kenryll’ah towers have fallen Korvalahrai ships were seen far up the Chirahd River’

‘I ,’ Uruth said ‘Which leaves us this night’

‘For what?’ Trull asked

‘A conversation with a Kenryll’ah tyrant,’ she replied, her regard still on the demon ‘Perhaps the time has come for a formal alliance’

Lilac spoke ‘They are not pleased with your thefts, Tiste Edur’