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Kallor’s grin was feral ‘It hasn’t yet’

Skintick glanced back again, eyes bright, and all at once he laughed ‘I a God has stolen Clip’s soul,’ Niet it back’

‘Good luck’

‘I suppose ill need it’

‘I’m not the kind who helps, Nimander,’ Kallor said ‘Even kin of Rake Maybe,’ he added, ‘especially kin of Rake’

‘What makes you think-’

The man interrupted with a snort ‘I see hi the e to Coral Or you were, before this de-tour was forced upon you Tell lorious patron? Will he reach out one perfect hand to brush your brows, to bless the gift of your existence? Will you thank hi alive?’

‘What do you know about it?’ Ni the heat rise to flush his face

‘Ano thes of truth Kallor, you have just prodded my own soul A trait I inherited from him, then? That makes too much sense ‘So, when I speak to him of you, Kallor, he will know your name?’

‘Were we acquaintances? Yes, ere Did we delight in each other’s com-pany? You will have to ask hie Nothing but earth and stone As for K’azz, well, I’ll know more when I fi-nally meet the bastard’

‘I do not know those names,’ Nimander said ‘Caladan Brood K’azz’

‘It’s of no real significance We were allies in a war or three, that is all And per-haps one day ill be allies once ain into the same camp, all on the same side’ He see changes’

‘Are you then returning to Coral-where waits our father?’

‘No The dust I kicked up last time will need a few centuries to settle, I ex-pect’ He was about to add so more when his attention was pulled away, and he stepped across Nie, facing north