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A demon almost killed him in that moment, but Gared cut the arm that swiped at him clean off with his machete

"Eyes on the demons!" Gared bellowed for all the Cutters to hear "Krasians ent gonna get a fight if we let the corelings do their work for ’em!"

But it quickly beca the Hollowers Led by a man with a white turban and a warded spear that looked as if it was made entirely of polished silver, they fell upon the wood de into a chicken coop, killing with practiced efficiency

The leader waded out alone into clusters of wood demons, but his fearlessness seemed justified, for he laid waste to them as easily as the Painted Man could have, his spear a blur and his li inhu wedges, roup was led by a man in a pristine white robe, a stark contrast with the black-clad warriors The h the battlefield confidently A wood de it and shoving as it passed hi it onto the spear of one of his warriors

Another de his torso left, then right, his feet never ed the deht its wrist and twisted, turning its own attack against it and flipping it over onto its back where a warrior casually skewered it

Rojer and the others had assuht, and planned for reserves of fighters to be brought in as needed and , the battle was over in minutes

Krasian and greenlander alike stood frozen when the last de at one another in shock All continued to clutch their weapons, as if unsure the time for battle was past, but none daredfor word from their leaders

"The chin watch us with one eye," Jardir said to Ashan

Ashan nodded "The other eye looks to the giant and the red-haired khaffit boy who ai run in terror"

"They stand as frozen as the others," Jardir noted

"Not the true leaders, then," Ashan guessed "Kai’Sharuht even be their Sharum Ka"

"Men still worthy of respect, then," Jardir said "Co his spear into his shoulder harness and showing his hands to indicate he meant no harm When he stood before the men, he dipped a polite bow

"I am Ahmann, son of Hoshkamin, of the line of Jardir, son of Kaji," he said in perfect Thesan, seeing the estured to Ashan, who ireenlanders looked at each other curiously Finally, the red-haired boy shrugged, and the giant relaxed Jardir realized with surprise that the boy was doe," the red-haired boy said, sweeping back hisforward and the other back, lowering hiiant said "Er…son of Steave" He was even less civilized, stepping forward and sticking out his hand so quickly Jardir alht his wrist and broke his ariantHe squeezed hard, perhaps in some primitive test of manhood, and Jardir returned the pressure until both ave him an extra nod of respect when they finally broke apart

"Shar’Dama Ka, more chin approach," Ashan said in Krasian "One of their heretic clerics and the heathen healer"

"I’ve no wish to antagonize these people, Ashan," Jardir said "Heathens or no, ill respect the"

"Shall I wash the feet of their khaffit, as well?" Ashan asked, disgusted

"If I co deeply to the new arrivals The red-haired boy stepped in smoothly to facilitate introductions Jardir ot his na to the woman