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He was considering the possibilities on his return to the fort when a soldier in the armor of the Realhnesses Parahan and Soudamini desired his company at breakfast By the time Briar left Parahan and Souda, they had equipped hiers to the safety of the tened for his use, extra packs, a tent, an ar breeches, and an arle feathers He also had a short, potbellied rider naned to care for Briar’s horses, tent, and even Briar hi in Briar’s rooed on the door Briar could hardly believe what he sahen he opened up Rosethorn looked fresher and brighter than she had in a couple of years There was an extra gloss to her short-cropped hair Even the natural red of her lips was awping at, boy?" Her voice was louder and crisper, as if she had ed her She pushed hiiven you for your rudeness to First Dedicate Dokyi last night!"
He grinned at her "Never crossed my mind," he reassured her
Rosethorn looked at Jimut "And who’s this?"
"Jimut, this is my teacher, the nanshur Rosethorn," Briar said He’d been lucky that Souda had found aof words in Banpuri "She’ll be riding with us"
Jiether before his face and bowed deeply to Rosethorn On their walk to the fort Briar had tried to explain that it was important to be polite to her
"Whatever he told you, I’ether and bowed again
Rosethorna seed ball and sorow potion," she ordered "Captain Rana has horses and guards waiting We’re going to block the pass"
"May I come?" Jihed "It’s just Briar" He’d already said it to Jimut twice
"I should take every chance to becoic," Jimut continued politely
"I have no problems with that," Rosethorn said "Only Briar, if we can ? We need to root theet it over with"
"Evvy?" Briar asked
"She would rather take a bath, she says She has seen us do this before"
They were out the door with Rosethorn before she had ti into a distant, thoughtful eant Kanbab and a squad of ten soldiers at the stables
As they rode past the ca ar up packs In the open ground between the tents and the river, archers practiced their shooting while spearmen and swordsmen dueled under the eyes of their commanders The cavalry juees were arriving: They carried children and belongings, or fetched them in carts and on the backs of mules and yaks as they climbed to the fort
Once they reached the narrow place in the pass where the road first entered the river gorge, Rosethorn eeant, take your people over to that rock," she yelled over the roar of the fast- water "If you’d hold our horses until we’re done?"
Kanbab nodded and motioned for her people to take the animals as Briar, Jies went into the bottleneck where the hills were closest to the road
The task was easily done Briar sprinkled strong-grow potion on the seed balls held by each of the before the liquid touched therowth of the others used in the fighting on their way to the fort Now it took just a whisper froround The cloth burst, showering seeds everywhere Plants slammed roots into the earth and sprouted even as Rosethorn and Briar walked forith their water flasks By the tirowing vines were up to their shins The green whips did not try to snag the two es, but those would be the only people the vines left alone Thorns an inch long showed on the lowest parts of the stems as the vines rose and sprouted more branches Their various flowers budded and bloomed, then scattered still more seed in a burst of air
Rosethorn and Briar had withdrawn to the clear ground near Jimut by the tireen steround between the rise of stone to the hills and to the river They could hear the rustle as petals and leaves unfurled and heavy stehbors
Kanbab, who had at least seen so like this before, offered Rosethorn her flask Rosethorn took a gulp of butter tea, griood drinks, having acquired a taste for the local beverage, and returned the flask to Kanbab with a quiet thank-you He never took his eyes fro with his power for any weaknesses Rosethorn left that to hiht to attend to