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Lhean sharpened his awareness, and when the second tolling came, he heard beneath it the subdued thunder, three separate blasts of it, that broke apart earth and rock, a power like the greatto have witnessed

But etherea was gone froht saw nothing a powder like that which he’d s devices In time, the scent became more pronounced

He ain They’d sustained hi neas afoot, and he must keep watch

SILK

"I don’t care if we have to eh labor," Silk told the construction boss "I will have the road repaired by this afternoon, at three hour at the latest"

"B-but--"

"If you cannot see that it is done," Silk said, leaning down fro crop at the man, "I shall appoint so in their work"

"Yes, sir Three hour"

Silk nodded, and after a swift bow, the ain in his saddle Even now his household slaves were raising a canopy for his comfort while he waited

Down the slope of the Old City’s ht shone on his caravan where it waited at a standstill on the winding road It consisted of Moody and his assistants fro, specially constructed wagon hauled by a team of mules It was laden with his precious drill, all covered in canvas Even so, a steely glow permeated the cloth Silk wondered if others saw it or if it was just an effect of his own peculiar sight

He wrenched his stallion around and gazed up the road where a swar the first crater that had been blasted by the opposition It had been a nasty surprise to find the first one, and even nastier to learn there’d been five others He’d posted guards up at the drillhouse on the suht to cover the road After all, the drillhouse and steaets, wouldn’t they? But they hadn’t been touched