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Valek pulled his gaze back to the Co on?" he whispered urgently "Where were you?"

"Just reo," the Com to General Tesso’s excruciatingly detailed report on the corn harvest in MD–4"

I studied the Co to superimpose the wo Dreams twisted reality and it was easy to envision the Co continued without incident, and I dozed on e dreaavel, I ake in an instant

"Last iteation has requested ato life as if the Generals were picking up an old debate right where they had left off They discussed trade treaties, and quarreled about attacking Sitia Instead of trading for goods, why not take theainall worries about Sitia atte to attack Ixia

The Commander sat in silence and let the flow of advice wash over hih to proclai the Sitians to come The four northern Generals (Kitvivan, Chenzo, Franis and Dinno) didn’t want to ation, while the four southern Generals (Tesso, Rasmussen, Hazal and Brazell) favored a summit with the Sitians

The Coe your opinions about Sitia, but the southerners would rather trade with us than attack us We have more men and metal A fact they are well aware of To attack Sitia ould expend e sums of money And for what? Their luxury items aren’t worth the cost I’’s disease Perhaps my successor ant more You’ll have to wait until then"

A reement, with his thin lips anchored in a predator’s smile

"I have already agreed to ent," the Commander continued "They’re due to arrive in four days You have until then to express your specific concerns toadjourned" The bang frohout the dead silent roouards and Valek close behind, he prepared to leave Valek gestured for me to join them I lurched to my feet The full effect of the brandy I had consumed washed over me Giddy, I followed the others froh the door just before it closed behind us

"That should stir things up a bit," the Coainst vacationing in MD-8 this year," Valek said sarcastically "The way Dinno reacted to your announceation I would expect him to pepper your beach house with sand spiders" Valek shivered "A horribly painful way to die"

My skin crawled too, thinking of the lethal spiders the size of ss Our procession continued in silence for a while as we headed back to the Coait was unsteady The stone walls blurred paststill

Outside the Commander’s suite, Valek said, "I’d watch out for Rase in your successor well"

The Colance inside his suite The same plain utilitarian style that decorated his office and the rest of the castle was present What had I expected? Maybe a splash of color, or soave hts The motion made my head spin, and I had to put a hand to the wall to keep

"I watch out for everyone, Valek You know that," the Co the door behind hi our suite, Valek stripped off his uniform jacket and threw it on the couch He pointed to a chair and said, "Sit We need to talk"

I plopped into the chair and dangled a leg over the ar Valek pace the roo black pants I ropyfit Brandy flowed throughtonight," Valek said

"Oh, come on I just dozed for a minute," I said in my defense

Valek shot me a quizzical look "No, no You did fine I ; the Generals" He continued to pace "First, Brazell seee in successor and the Sitian delegation He’s alanted a trade treaty, but he typically exercises a ician in the rooic Very subtle, from a trained professional I only felt it once, a brief touch, but I couldn’t pinpoint the source But the ician had to be in the roo Tesso’s long-winded dissertation about corn" Valek’s posture had relaxed a little, as if the act of talking out a proble could be heard halfway across the room"