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"The ward should activate in the next day or two," Erny said, "but the area is well patrolled Now that newWe won’t have full potency until buildings, walls, and fences reinforce the shape"

Arther passed Thamos a list "These are the proposed names for the new baronies, and the barons and baronesses elected to lead the to kneel and swear oath to you and to the ivy throne"

Tha at the paper He was still not pleased about letting the refugees elect their own leaders, but the count and the Wooden Soldiers he brought to the Holloere fighting overn the as they kept the peace and did their part for Hollow County

"And recruit the rounds at every barony, letting folk know there’s training to help protect their own if they join the Cutters Raood coht"

Tha the raood? Have the weapons shortages continued?"

"The fletchers are struggling to keep up with delanced at Erny "The delay is in warding theht not stand up for himself with his wife, but at the council table, he was not to be trifled with "I’ll leave it to Your Highness to decide which takes longer,as fast as they can, but we don’t have nearly enough to meet demand"

Thamos was not cowed "Then train more"

"We are," Erny said "Hundreds, but one doesn’t learn wardcraft overnight Would you want to wager your life on a first-year student’s warding?"

S attention back to his take time, of course There will be more horses, in the meantime"

Thamos sat up at that He had lost his favorite horse, and ht a giant Angierianmuch like Gared’s own stallion Rockslide since, and he talked of it so often Leesha had once suggested hethe mare to her

Gared nodded "Jon Stallion hired a bunch of Hollowers out at his ranch Big as a toith hundreds out catching and ta Says you’ll have all the Wooden Soldiers lost and to spare by spring Cost is a bit more than we’d like …"

Arther rolled his eyes "Of course"

"Pay it," Thamos said "I need my cavalry back, Arther, and don’t have time to dicker over klats"

Arther’s ave a shallo froht give us an update on the convalescent initiative?" Leesha asked In addition to the loss of cavalry, thousands of Hollowers had been injured in the attacks Leesha used hora ic to heal those with the most critical cases or important positions, but the vast majority were required to heal naturally after the Herb Gatherers stitched the to use broken bones again, and needed proper exercise and attention to return to self-sufficiency

Darsy gave an aard atherers ather in town squares to help the injured build their strength walking, stretching, and lifting weights" She thrust her chin at Rojer and Hary "Jongleurs been touring, keeping spirits high as folk struggle to rebuild"