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"Don’t waste too much time on it," the Par’chin said "Need you to protect the Hollow, but keep a low profile Strengthen the folk, but let theht I’ll skate in when I can, but only to see you No one else can know I’m alive"

"Don’t like it," Renna said "Man and wife shouldn’t be apart like this"

The Par’chin sighed "Ent nothin’ for it, Ren Bettin’ the farh"

"Ay," Renna said "Love you, Arlen Bales"

"Love you, Renna Bales," the Par’chin said They kissed again, and Jardir heard rapid footsteps as she descended the tower The Par’chin, however, began to clin sleep Perhaps he ain the element of surprise

He shook his head I am Shar’Dama Ka It is beneath me to hide I will meet the Par’chin’s eyes and see what re the roar of pain in his legs His face was serene as the Par’chin entered He wore plain clothes, much as he had when they first met, a cotton shirt of faded white and worn deni over one shoulder His feet were bare, pant and shirt cuffs rolled to show the wards he had inked into his skin His sand-colored hair was shaved away, and the face Jardir res

Even without his crown, Jardir could sense the power of those syth cae fro than a man

"What have you done to yourself, old friend?" He had notpushed him

"Got a lot of nerve callin’ me that, after what you did," the Par’chin said "Din’t do this to myself You did this to me"

"I?" Jardir asked "I took ink and profaned your body with it?"

The Par’chin shook his head "You left me to die in the desert, without weapon or succor, and knew I’d be corespawned before I let the alagai haveyou left me to ward"

With those words, all Jardir’s questions about how the Par’chin had survived were answered In his mind’s eye he saw his friend alone in the desert, parched and bloodied as he beat alagai to death with his bare hands

It was glorious

The Evejah forbade the tattooing of flesh, but it forbade s Jardir had since permitted for the sake of Sharak Ka He wanted to condehtened at the truth of the man’s words

Jardir shivered as a chill of doubt touched his center No thing happened, but that Everam willed it It was inevera that the Par’chin should live to ht be the Deliverer Jardir had dedicated his life to being worthy of that title He was proud of his accomplishments, but could not deny that his ajin’pal, the brave outsider, reater honor in Everam’s eyes

"You play at rituals you do not understand, Par’chin," he said "Domin Sharum is to the death, and victory was yours Why did you not take it and claihed "There’s no victory in your death, Ahmann"

"Then you admit I am the Deliverer?" Jardir asked "If that is so, then return my spear and crown to me, put your head to the floor, and have done All will be forgiven, and we can face Nie side by side once more"