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Hundreds of skulls and spines e chandeliers Bones made up hundreds of benches where worshippers prayed The altar The chalices The walls The great do Warriors beyond count had protected this temple with their flesh, and built it with their bones

The massive nave was circular, and its walls were pocked with a hundred s whole skeletons on bone pedestals These were Sharum Ka, First Warriors of the city

Under the eyes of the dama, the kai’Sharum commanded the warriors of their respective tribes, but when the sun set, the Sharum Ka, appointed by the Andrah, commanded the kai’Sharum The current Sharureat pride

Jardir’s hands shook as he took it all in The entire telory His father, killed in a Majah raid and not alagai’sharak, was not reht add his own bones to this hallowed place, bringing honor to his father, his sacrifice rereater honor than to becoiven their lives before him, and those unborn, perhaps centuries hence, whose lives were yet to be given

The Sharus of Evera battle, and those of Kaji, the first Deliverer

"Kaji," they called, "Spear of Everam, Shar’Daai in the first age, look down upon these brave warriors who go out into the night to carry on the eternal struggle, battling gai on Ala even as Everath, that they h to the dawn"

The warded shield and heavy spear were the shtest Qeran could find, but Jardir still felt dwarfed by theest of the asse was amiss as he headed to stand with them, but even the smallest towered over him

"Nie’Sharuht in the Maze," Qeran said, "to ensure their will does not break when the alagai first come at them It is a moment that tests the hearts of even the bravest warriors The warrior assigned to you will be your ajin’pal, your blood brother You will obey his every command and be bonded until death"

Jardir nodded

"If you survive the night, the da will coaze snapped to his ?" he asked He was not afraid to face alagai, but da still filled him with fear

Qeran nodded "One of the a shudder "Only with her blessing will you be dal’Sharuhast "I don’t wish to know"

Qeran snorted "They don’t tell you, boy The future is for the da alone to know But if a coward’s death is in your future, or greatness, they will know before you ever lose the bido"

"I will not die a coward’s death," Jardir said

"No," Qeran agreed, "I don’t think you will But you may still die a fool’s death, if you don’t listen to your ajin’pal, or are not careful"

"I will listen well," Jardir promised

"Hasik has volunteered to be your ajin’pal," Qeran said, gesturing to the warrior

Hasik had grown much in the two years since he had lost his bido Seventeen years old and fleshed out with hard muscle by the rich food of the dal’Sharuht