Page 92 (1/2)

"The Tiru panicked, attacked each other, and htered all those he found They said that he fought like a god, like Anat had possessed hihbalu rallied around him then, and they rounded up the Tiru tribes, the traders and camp followers and the wives and the shepherds… and…" He sed "And Hanishu slaughtered them all Personally The Tiru numbered two thousand families, and the Tiru are no more" He handed Kip the card "Beware of what memories you choose to watch, Kip You may carry what you find forever"

Kip knew he should keep his mouth shut, but he couldn’t help it "What if the truth in that card is different than what you were told?"

The big commander turned mournful eyes on Kip "I don’t think it would matter I lost most of the people I cared about, and I lost my brother Hanishu is no more He was broken by what he did Still a peerless warrior, but he doesn’t trust himself anymore He can’t lead He’s not even a watch captain Can’t bear the weight of responsibility Every tiht with him, I lose him for weeks afterward" He ran a hand over his shaven, bare head "I’m afraid I’ve eaten too much truth recently So this is what you came to speak to me about?"

"Will you swear not to tell anyone else?" Kip asked

"You can’t ask ht"

"I’," Kip said "If you won’t pro"

Commander Ironfist heaved a deep breath "You’re as bad as any Guile, you know that?"

"Yes, sir Sorry, sir"

Commander Ironfist stared at the floor for a while "I don’t knohy you drag us in your wake Even a child of the Guiles is pulling ale" He shook his head, and there was bitterness in his sad eyes "Very well, you have my word"

"Janus Borig ? She’s a myth, Kip The old Witch of Wind Palace?"

"I don’t knohat you’re talking about," Kip said "She’s just an old lady with a little shop"

"A shop?"

"On Big Jasper" Kip looked at hiht You’ve been in this city two months? How’d you find her?"

"The librarian told me--"

"Which librarian?"

"Rea Rea Siluz"

"Hmm I’ll check into that But never ’s house tonight She wasthose cloaks Shimmercloaks Made them mostly invisible, except in the sub-red and superviolet"