Page 39 (1/2)

"Listen to his words," Ashan urged "You will see"

Jardir looked at the greenlander, having never seen a chin up close before He knew Northern Messengers sometimes came to the Great Bazaar, but that was not a place for s, tainted by hunger and shained He was young--no older than Jardir had been when he first donned his blacks--and not a particularly large man, but he had a hard air about hi Jardir’s eyes boldly, as a iven up alagai’sharak, cowering behind their wards like women, but the sands of Krasia went on for hundreds of h that ht not be Sharum, but he was no coward

Jardir looked down at Abban’s sniveling forust "Speak, and be quick about it Your presence offendsa feords in a harsh, guttural tongue The Northerner replied sternly, sta his spear for emphasis

"This is Arlen asu Jeph a back to Jardir but keeping his eyes on the ground "Late out of Fort Rizon to the north, he brings you greetings, and begs to fight alongside the ai’sharak"

Jardir was stunned A Northerner ished to fight? It was unheard of

"He is a chin, First Warrior," Hasik growled "Coht!"

"If he was a coward, he would not be here," Ashan advised "Many Messengers have come to Krasia, but only this one has come to your palace It would be an insult to Everaht, if he wishes it"

"I’ll not putat the Messenger’s feet Many of the Sharureement despite the dama’s words It seemed there was a limit to the clerics’ powers, after all

Jardir considered carefully He sahy Ashan had wanted to defer the decision to hirave repercussions

He looked at the greenlander again, curious to see his reen lands one day, and the Evejah taught men to know their enemy before battle was joined

"Husband," Inevera said quietly, touching his arm "If the chin wishes to stand in the Maze like a Sharu"

No wonder she had co special about this man, and needed his blood for a true divination Jardir narrowed his eyes, wondering what she was not telling, but she had offered him an escape from a difficult situation and he would be a fool not to take it He turned back to Abban, still hunched in the dirt

"Tell the chin that the da will cast the bones for hiht"

Abban nodded, turning back to the greenlander and speaking his harsh Northern tongue A flash of irritation crossed the chin’s face--a feeling Jardir kneell, having been a slave to the bones for ed words for soritted his teeth and nodded in acceptance

"I will take hi," Inevera said

Jardir nodded "I will accoh the ritual, for your own protection"

"That will not be necessary," Inevera said "No "

"No Krasianwhat these Northern barbarians are capable of" He s your i you alone with one"

Jardir knew she was snarling under her veil, but he did not care Whatever went on between her and the greenlander, he was deternaled Hasik and Ashan to follow them back so she could not expel him froged along with theh his presence sullied the palace floors They would need to be washed with blood to remove the taint