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"Will the eneh the vines?" Kanbab wanted to know

"With a sharp enough sword or halberd," Rosethorn said absently

Briar grinned "And then the sterow back three times as fast And they will look for the one that chopped theh hireed "And around, and around"

"And the emperor will know you did this," Kanbab said

Rosethorn and Briar looked at each other "Let him," Rosethorn said

The barrier was noo feet thick and three feet high Thorns pulled the ste deep into the stony earth More blosso the thickly woven stems

Briar waited for word from Rosethorn She watched until the barrier was four feet tall and five feet wide on the road, and had cli the hillside No horse, mule, camel, yak, or human would be able to pass between the barrier and the river without losing skin, or between the river and the cliffs that edged it on the far side They both knew the thorns would continue to grow for days, leaving the flanks of the hills on the north side of the road i into or out of Gyongxe until Dokyi, Sayrugo, or those hoain

Briar glanced at Jiray under his dark brown skin

"Jimut, , before you faint"

"I never faint," Jimut said, but he wobbled as he walked to his horse

One of the other soldiers held the et into the saddle

"This will do, I think," Rosethorn said, turning away from what they had set in motion