Page 59 (1/2)

"How do you know of that?" Jardir asked

Inevera disrave robber, nothing er to Jardir’s lips to forestall his protest, "cunning and bold, but a thief all the same"

"And what am I, but the one who robbed him in turn?" Jardir asked

"You are what you choose to be," Inevera said "You can choose to be the savior of all men, or you can sulk over past deeds and let pass the opportunity before you"

She leaned in, kissing hi, one that reminded Jardir that even now, he still loved her "I have faith in you, even if you do not The dice speak Everam’s will, and neither they nor I would have aided in your rise if we did not believe that you, you and no other, could shoulder this burden Killing the Par’chin was a necessary evil, like killing Amadeveram You would have spared them, if you could"

She slid into his arth return Necessary evil The Evejah spoke of it, as Kaji accounted his own subjugation of the northern chin Every alagai killed helped to balance those scales, and Jardir meant to kill them all before he went to the Creator to have his life’s deeds weighed and judged

The scout rode his ca at a respectful distance and punching a fist to his chest

"Shar’Dareeted him "We have found the lost city It is half buried in the sand, but much of it seems intact There are several wells that we believe can be restored to service, but little in the way of food or grazing"

Jardir nodded "Everaroup to hter the livestock and preserve the erous," Abban said "Slaughtering all the aniives no way to replenish stock"

"We reen lands to provide," Jardir said "For noe need as much time as possible to explore the sacred city"

The bulk of his people ht up to the scouts, who by then had er by far than the Desert Spear, and there ht yet be parts undiscovered There were discrepancies between the maps of the scouts and the ancient scrolls taken from Sharik Hora

"We will divide the city by tribe, and set each Damaji to oversee excavation of his section, advised by his most learned daued and presented to me each day"

Ashan nodded "It shall be made so, Deliverer," he said, and he moved off to instruct the other Damaji

Over the next week, the tribes ransacked the ancient city, breaking through walls, looting to whole sections of warded walls and pillars There had been little sign of the Par’chin’s passing when they arrived, but the Krasians took no such care to leave the city intact Rubble piled everywhere, and whole sections of street and buildings collapsed as the tunnels beneath them were compromised

Each afternoon, the Das Hundreds of neards, ical effects Painted weapons and ars of ancient battles, soht Demons still came thick to the city, and as the sun set Jardir’s men put aside their work and took up spear and shield With powerful wards on even the weakest kha’Sharuai died by the thousands, and soon there were none left to haunt the sacred sands Sharum continued to patrol, but it seen frohtness of their path

"Deliverer," Ashan said, entering the tent with Asome and Asukaji "We’ve found it"

Jardir had no need to ask what "it" was, putting down hison his white robe He had not yet made it to the tent flap when Inevera appeared at the head of his da Ashan’s claih the city

"Which tribe had the honor?" Jardir asked

"The Mehnding, Father," Asoht, and race one expected of a sharusahkfrom the tall, lean frame in its white robe, like a spear wrapped in silk

"Of course," Jardirthat his least loyal Da with Jardir’s Mehnding son Savas, still in his nie’dama bido, when they arrived

"Shar’Da himself on the dusty floor of the burial chamber "It is my honor to present Kaji’s tomb to you"