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erwan Ma looked on with surprise and even fear as Chezru Douan grilled Master Mackaront Merwan Ma had rarely seen his itated, and this particular instance seemed very out of place for the norifts must I shower upon Olin?" Yakiold and jewels, only to return for old and jewels?"

"The monies are not for Abbot Olin," Master Mackaront cal his hand in the air in a futile effort to calm the uncharacteristi-cally explosive Douan ?They are to convince his followers that their voices at the College of Abbots should be heard loudly"

"The College of Abbots," Douan echoed, spitting the words ?By the ti dead!" He came forward out of his cushioned chair as he spoke, and Mackaront shrank back beneath his withering glare and fiery tones

"Father Abbot Agronguerre has shown reth," the Master from St Bondabruce adh the su er, that Agronguerre s health has unexpect-edly improved He will survive the winter, so you now believe, and if that is so, then perhaps the spring and sue of Abbots, Master Mackaront?"

"We cannot know"

"Can you not schedule it for next fall in anticipation of the inevitable?"

Mackaront blanched at the suggestion ?We cannot presuuerre to his side"

"God," Yakim Douan spat ?This is not the work of God, fool, but rather the stubbornness of an old man too afraid to lie down and peacefully die And what does it say of your Church if your leader fears death?" jvlackaront fell back even laring at the seated Chezru Chieftain

jVlerwan Ma narrowed his eyes, ready to spring upon the ainst the God-Voice

And truly, Master Mackaront see visibly, jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth were grinding

If Yakim Douan was the least bit fearful, he did not show a hint of it He settled back in his chair, crossing his legs and tapping his fingers together before him

"You presume" Mackaront started to say, and it was obvious that he had to force every syllable out of his tightened jaw

"Enough,his hand up before hiuerre will not quietly pass on and allow Abbot Olin his rightful ascent"

"You cannot insult" Mackaront pressed, apparently bolstered by the Chezru&039;s shift in tone

But Yakim Douan&039;s fire returned instantly and he lowered his hands, freez-ing thethat you do not already fear," he replied, his voice flat and even, which gave it all the more power

"And I do not fear to speak the truth, however painful that truth ht be to hear"

"I will not - "

"You will sit down and hear whatever it is I have to say!" Yaki riches and bearing no news that rings sweetly in en for Abbot Olin And pray, Master Mackaront, to whatever god you discover honestly within your heart, that old Agron-guerre accepts the inevitable and goes to his reward

"Because I a out of patience Tell that to your Abbot Olin"

Master Mackaront started to reply, but Douan waved hione

As the door closed behind the departingsonal from the man When they were told that Master Mackaront was back in Jacintha, they had assuuerre was finally gone and that the Col-lege would be scheduled for the spring The Chezru Chieftain&039;s surprise at hearing that not only was Agronguerre still alive, but apparently in better health, had not sat well upon hiht Merwan Ma off his guard Chezru Douan had voiced his wishes that Abbot Olin ascend in the Abelli-can Church, but still, Honce-the-Bear seedom far, far away, separated by nearly ih Entel was a short boaYfide from Jacintha, neither Behren nor Honce-the-Bear could h of a fleet to threaten the other Why, then, was the continuing reign of Father Abbot Agronguerre of such great concern?

Yaki out theat the shadowed mountains Finally, he rose and moved to a small table at the back end of the rooe that had been delivered fro

Yakiain

"Do you knohat they are calling one of their leaders?" he asked a ai-ru rebels," Douan explained ?One band of raiders has named their leader Ashu" He turned to Merwan Ma, an arin on his face ?Do you knohat that n word for a few , and thought that the To-gai-ru word, ?awu," had so to do with compassion, but finally, he just shook his head

"Ashu," Yakiain ?He who kills without mercy" The Chezru Chieftain snorted and chuckled ?The pride of the conquered They have so little left that they grasp at every fleeting hope"

"Yatol Grysh asks for help?" Merwan Ma asked, though he knew the an-swer, of course, for he had perused the note before handing it to the Chezru Chieftain, as was expected of hined but co off as more than a little bit perturbed by it all ?He asks for an eight-square of soldiers"