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"Do not presu said "I will act as I think best, and you will do as you are bidden"

Jardir felt his back strike the wall, and realized he could retreat no farther He nodded

"Learn everything you can in your ti"

The words struck Jardir like a physical blow Sharak Ka The final battle was coht in it All his worldly concerns vanished in that instant, as she closed the door and left him in darkness once more

The lamp in the hall flickered back to life after soht tap at the door Jardir opened it to Khevat’s youngest son, Ashan He was a slender boy, clad in a bido that extended upward to wrap over one shoulder,He wore a white veil over his mouth, and Jardir knew that , when nie’da, then took in the wreckage of the cot in the corner He winked and gave a slight bow, as if Jardir had somehow passed a secret test Ashan jerked his head down the hall, then headed that way hi and followed

They came to a wide chamber with a floor of polished marble Dozens of dama and nie’dama, perhaps every one in the tribe, stood there, feet planted, practicing the sharukin The boy waved a hand for Jardir to follow, and the two took their places in the nie lines, joining in the slow dance, bodies flowing fro in unison

There were many forms Jardir was unfamiliar with, and the experience was quite unlike the brutal lessons to which he was accustomed, where Qeran and Kaval shouted curses at the boys, whipping any whose for that they flow faster and faster still The da the lead daht the clerics pampered and weak

After an hour, the session ended Immediately a buzz of conversation started as the dama broke into clusters and left the roonaled him to remain, and they clustered with the other nie’daesturing to Jardir "With only twelve years under his bido, Jardir, son of Hoshkaai blood on his hands He will stay and learn the ways of the dah to don his blacks"

The other boys nodded silently, bowing to Jardir

"Ashan," the dama called "Jardir will need help with his sharusahk You will teach him" Ashan nodded

Jardir snorted A nie’dama? Teach him? Ashan was no older than he was, and Jardir waited ahead of boys years his senior in the nie’Sharuruel line

"You feel you need no instruction?" Khevat asked