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Jardir was taken aback Indeed, in his dreas had seemed too inconsequential tohis rise, but sos, either He looked at Abban with new respect

"My coffers would open wide to sos," he said

Abban s as low as his crutch would allow "It would be my pleasure to serve the Shar’Dama Ka"

Jardir nodded "I want tohi his lips within inches of Abban’s ear

"And if you ever try to cheat me like some mark in the bazaar," he added in a low voice, "I will tan your skin and use it as a dung sack That is a promise you should reet it"

CHAPTER 10

KHA’SHARUM

331 AR

JARDIR HISSED, EMBRACING THE CUT

"A you?" Inevera asked

"I’ve taken far worse in the Maze," Jardir scoffed "But if you should slip at a tendon…"

Inevera snorted "I know the course of a man’s flesh far better than you, husband This is no different than carving alagai hora"

Jardir looked at the silver tray that held the thin strips of flesh she had sliced froh him as Inevera packed herbs into the wounds "I fail to see the need for this"

"According to the Canon we took froreenlanders believe the Deliverer will have s cannot abide," Inevera said She let go of his hand, allowing hi at the precision of the ward she had cut into the skin

"Will they work?" he asked, flexing his hand experih, your touch will bring ai than a thrust froh hi a de it with his bare hands was intoxicating

Inevera had just finished binding the hand when Damaji Ashan entered the throne room, followed by his son Asukaji and Jardir’s second son, Aso the white robes of dama, but they were Blood of the Deliverer, and none dared question it

"Deliverer," Ashan greeted hi "The khaffit," he spat the word as if it had a foul taste, "is here with the tallies" Jardir nodded, and Abban limped into the room on his ivory camel crutch while Inevera draped herself at Jardir’s feet Daht sleeve of his robe pinned back Jardir’s son Maji, in his nie’dama bido, shadowed his steps They joined Ashan, Asukaji, and Asoht of the Skull Throne

Abban bowed and pulled a small vial fro asked ht the vial and looked at it curiously "He asked you to give this?"

"The contents, anyway," Abban said "Mixed in your food or drink"

Inevera snatched the vial fro the contents She put a drop on the tip of her finger, tasting it