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He said it with such an adult tone and assurance that Gavin looked at his brother’s bastard son with new eyes Four ed the boy He was still chunky-- men can do, he’d dropped at least a seven already It was like watching a e from himself The fat that had rounded and softened his features was receding The strong line of his jaw and broas all Guile He was broad-shouldered, and his are His confidence was soaring today, of course, his having just gotten into the Blackguard It would cruain--a dozen times Boys, especially athletes, can look like a er to reconcile thelimpse of the Kip who could be

And Gavin liked that Kip

It takes soer to reconcile ourselves to ourselves, does it?

Looking at his brother’s son, Gavin was pierced with sorrow He would never have his own son Not even if he achieved his i less and less likely with every passing day

Aware that he had paused too long, Gavin said, "It’s a good plan Tell the rest of the runts that we’re going to lose this city, so they shouldn’t get any heroic ideas in their heads Herois, but heroism wasted means you can’t be there to help on the day you canthe sa" Kip frowned "But thank you For tellingme the truth Now, if there wasn’t so

"I want to go with you to anywhere tomorrow--other than the fact that all of us are already traveling, so you’ll be going with me by default?"

"You’re the proht with you"

So ready to fight But was I any different? How many men did I kill before I really understood what it oing to killIt’s one thing to kill a wight, or ayour city or your home, ready to rape and oods will bring death, but who is hi Aa , and a destitute one at that"

"We all pick sides," Kip said

"Simple as that?" Gavin asked

Kip shifted from foot to foot, but nodded

"We’ve heard from four different spies that Liv Danavis is with the Color Prince now Part of his army So tell me, Kip, if we see Liv Danavis on the deck of one of those ships, about to toss a grenado at us, you’ll kill her? Without hesitation, before she can kill us?"

Kip sed "Orhola to make such a choice"

"If Orholam defended us froo with them, sir? They’re monsters Literal, real, flesh and luxin row their idealism, they beco so much on the Chromeria’s flaws that she believes those who oppose usabout our ene As it turns out, they’re h that their rule would be a cataclysood points about us It doesn’t mean that every fool orks for the the into here, Kip I leave toet permission from your commander for you to join me, but if you can’t kill Liv if you need to, don’t show up I won’t hold it against you as amy back either"

Kip didn’t answer immediately, and Gavin respected him the more for it