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'Axes and spears?'

'It's a strange ladiatorial stuff He toldready to invade the Seventh Realm'

'Do you believe him'

'No That little man tells the truth where he needs to'

'But you don't necessarily think he's lying?'

'Crispin' Too anywhere He likes it here Those swords and things are cover for the high-tech stuffhe's planning a palace coup'

'A what?'

'He intends to seize power'

'He told you that?'

'Of course not He's as wily a parish ape Balduur doesn't give anything away unless he has toand then he expects soht you said he comes from a primitive society in which the most advanced weapon is a chariot with blades attached to its wheels'

'It ht seem primitive by some standards, Crispin But it's not primitive when it comes to politics I've been to the Seventh Realm and I knohat it's like There are people there who could run circles around the chancellor and his likes'

'Run circles? Is that another military term, Professor?'

'Yes, Crispin, and it's time for us to think in military terainst the chemical factory The next phase is the attack on the prison camp They will need every ounce of support we can provide'