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He did up his furs and bedroll, and went to breakfast with Jimut They were about to see if Parahan or Souda had orders for thehout the te and waited, their eyes on the central te horns so large and long that the curved ends rested on the ground

The biggest of the horns sounded again, a long call, then three short calls A long call, and three short calls This second repetition was picked up by every temple horn Briar didn’t have to ask what the callsfor the walls, crossbows in their hands Briar’s warrior coates Others backed wagons full of stones up against the gates once they were closed Priestesses covered the large courtyard wells to keep arrows or stones frouided the herds back into the barns just as they had begun to lead theees that had coht be safer

Briar and Jiathered up their oeapons Then they, too, ran up to the walls They found their coates There, together with the warrior-priest in command of the teyi soldiers galloped up the road and fanned out before the the ays to speak quickly in the warrior-priest’s ear

"Two hundred o, and Parahan "We are nearly evenly matched unless they have others hidden on the far side of the ridge I doubt this None of our watchers has reported es have occurred without incident The last change caic to get closer," Parahan said uneasily

The commander had a rich, deep chuckle "It would have to be very unusualspells in the tunnels the watchers use to return here," he assured Parahan "A spy did get into the tunnels last year He did not get out They never learned where he vanished to Captain Lango, will you reinforce xin captain nodded and ran down the ay, beckoning for his soldiers on the ground to follow hiate He bore a white flag

"They’re co an arm around Briar’s shoulders "But he doesn’t need five coainst these curs, eh, Briar?"

What a bloodthirsty girl! he thought in ader halted hispole "Honored priests of the great Te you salutations froxe!"

"The blessings of our tigers be upon his head," the co," Souda whispered to Briar

"Our glorious general is hty eods, Weishu Maorin Guangong Zhian of the Long Dynasty, holds this realer went on

"So it was strangers that killed all those people in the river and the gorge?" Briar ods be also upon the head of your emperor," the commander replied "In the Heavenly Ti ht this, or any of the coed, he did not show it "My eneral bids lorious temple a brief, peaceful affair Give to us the smallest of tokens of your esteem for our lordly and puissant emperor If you do so, we shall proclaiods, and leave here"

"Interesting," murmured the commander "What exactly are these ser replied "The runaway slave Parahan His sister Soudamini The woman Rosethorn The boy Briar Moss Your peace, and the peace of all those within your walls and on your vast lands, in exchange for these four, who have offended against the imperial majesty"

"I may not answer this," the commander said "Only the head of our temple may do so You will have to wait" He went to the steps Instead of taking theer for the head of the tee pot of tea and a basket full of cups poured one for him and handed it over The coe to anyone

The rest of their group on the wall turned away froer and sat on the here they could not be seen

"Just like a Yanjingyi" To Briar’s surprise, the old priestess who had roused higed in front of him, Souda, and Parahan and let Jily young tiger cub on a leash "Because they trade people to and fro like trinkets, they believe others will do so" She patted Briar on the knee "What did you do, boy? Twist the i!" he protested "I was perfectly nice! Rosethorn and me even made him his very own rose, unique just for him!"