Page 44 (1/2)

He feared there would be another confrontation with Shanvah once Ren’s blood was up and she had her full night strength, but the toht

Only once did their paths cross Shanvah braced herself for three field de her when Renna lifted a hand and drew quick wards in the air The de away to ashes before they could reach the Sharu

Satisfaction was palpable on Renna’s aura as she turned aithout waiting for a response Shanvah could likely have taken the dee was teht, Renna Bales had powers she could not hope to match

The next afternoon Renna still returned bruised and bloodied after their lesson, but she had a smirk on her face

It was a start

The Par’chin led them down cool stone steps, away fro sun was a familiar trial, but not one Jardir had missed He better understood nohy Everam had sent his people there to be tested and made hard Already, the tereen lands were having a softening effect on his people

Sharak Ka had best coht, but it was a fool’s wish They needed time most of all The Northern dukes would not kneel before hiht It would be a decade at least to unite the green lands into any semblance of unity And without unity, they had no hope of winning the First War

"Take what you like," the Par’chin said to Shanjat and Shanvah when they reached the bottoonna stand and fight once we’ve got e’re after Gonna run like all the Core’s after us"

The words were casual, but as they slipped into darkness he drew light wards in the air, and the warriors stood transfixed, staring at the arsenal before the circles, bows of various sorts, dozens of spears and shields, hundreds of arrows and bolts Piles of other weapons--ha the Par’chin could find, it seemed All intricately warded in his unmistakable hand

Jardir expected the warriors to rush in, but they hesitated, like khaffit taken into a Damaji’s treasure room and told they could take any prize they wished What to choose frolanced at the Par’chin, would there be a hidden price?

"Go," Jardir bade them "Explore Find the weapons that best fit your hands We will not leave until after sunset You have several hours Use them well The fate of all mankindreverently into the rooan to lift weapons, testing their weight and balance Shanjat spun a spear through an intricate set of sharukin while Shanvah did the sa

"Where are the other rooms?" Jardir asked the Par’chin "I would rest and refresh ed "Just got the one Wasn’t sleeping much back when I used to frequent this place ’Fraid there’s no fancy pillow chambers for Your Grace" He pointed to a workbench, beside which lay a bundle of rags It had been many years since Jardir had been in sharaj, but he knew a bedroll when he saw one

A memory flashed in hisa thin blanket that didn’t even cover them Jardir remembered the bitter choice between cold shoulders and cold feet He’d been fortunate to have Abban, that they ht pool their warmth Other boys were forced to sleep alone, or to accept the price older boys often dee for a partner Jardir had fallen asleep shivering, listening to theirsince he last slept in such squalor? The Par’chin had done it for years, living in isolation fro weapons to face the alagai in the day, and killing thereenlanders are soft, he reoose, if you need a feather pillow," Renna offered when he had been silent a while, staring at the bedroll The Par’chin laughed