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Jardir shook his head "To shift a few grains of sand is no reat sight There is no glory in doreat boon to us," Jayan pressed "Our victory is complete, and at no cost to ourselves"

Across the roo desk

"You have so, ers He stood and braced hi deeply "It was but a cough"

"No, please," Jayan said "Tell us what amused you so"

Abban’s eyes flicked to Jardir, who nodded

"There may have been no loss of dal’Sharum, my prince, but there has definitely been cost," Abban said "Food, clothing, shelter, transportation Keeping such a vast army as ours on the move is costly beyond measure Your father may control the riches of all twelve tribes, and Everam’s Bounty besides, but even his wealth has an end"

Asome nodded "The Evejah tells us: When a hed "Who would dare oppose Father? Besides, why should the Shar’Da? We have conquered this land We can take whatever ish"

Abban nodded "That is so, but a robbed merchant has no capital to replenish his stock You can take all the chandler’s candles, but if you do not pay at least their cost, you will find yourself sitting in the dark when the last one burns out"

Jayan snorted "Candles are for weak khaffit scroll worshippers They ht"

"Wood and steel for spears, then," Abban said patiently, as if speaking to a child "Cloth for uniforms and fired clay for ars do not appear frooat now, there will be nothing to fill our bellies a year hence"

"I do not care for your tone, pig-eater," Jayan growled

"Be silent and attend his words," Jardir snapped "The khaffit is offering you wisdom, my son, and you would be wise to take it"

Jayan looked at his father in shock, but quickly bowed "Of course, Father" His eyes shot daggers at Abban

Jardir looked to Asoh all this "And you, my son? What say you to the khaffit’s words?"

"The unworthy one makes a fair point," Aso the Damaji who resent your rise, and they would use any privation of their tribesmen as excuse to sow discord"

Jardir nodded "And ould you do to attend this probleed "Kill and replace the disloyal Darow bold"

"That would sow discord of its own," Jardir noted He looked to Abban