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"No, Your Goldness, don’t!" cried Gravelbeard, but too late

Nettlebrand sank his teeth into the cactus with relish, only to flinch back, howling A thousand tiny thorns were piercing his gums -- the only unprotected part of his body

"Pull the things out!"

Hastily Gravelbeard slid down the huge muzzle, perched on the terrible front teeth, and set to work

"He’ll pay for this!" bellowed Nettlebrand "He’ll pay for every thorn, that stupid homunculus Thick as two short planks, he is! I et out of this desert!"

Then a fine film of sand suddenly rose in the hot air around the bitten cactus, fore shape with every breath of the desert wind Its sandy li on a spindly-legged ca cloak, like the rest of hirains of sand

"You ater?" whispered the rider Even his voice sounded like sand crunching underfoot

Gravelbeard shrieked and fell headfirst off his master’s muzzle Nettlebrand was so surprised, he closed his sore rowled at the sandy rider

The translucent caon, obviously not in the least afraid of hiain: Do you ater?"

"Yes!" grunted Nettlebrand "What a stupid question! Of course I do!"

The sandman blew hiive you water," he breathed, "but ill you give ry that he spat cactus thorns "What will I give you in return? I’ll refrain frohed His ive reat tinny !" Gravelbeard whispered into Nettlebrand’s ear "Anything!"

But Nettlebrand lowered his horns, snorting furiously Ar, he leaped forward and snapped His teeth crunched, and the sandrains of sand went down his throat Then he bared his fangs in a satisfied grin

"Soahen Gravelbeard suddenly drummed frantically on his armored brow

"Your Goldness!" he croaked "Look! Look at that!"

Twofroht shone through the ar in the air, and a wind suddenly rose over the desert

"Get away from here, Your Goldness!" cried Gravelbeard, but it was already too late

The wind howled over the dunes, and wherever it whipped up the sand alloped toward Nettlebrand on their camels and surrounded him Soon he was enveloped in a vast, i He snapped at the thin legs of the ca robes But for every sandet, two more rose fro sand, circling around him faster and faster Horrified, Gravelbeard put his hat over his eyes Nettlebrand spat and roared, struck out with his claws, and kept snapping his terrible jaws But all he got between his teeth was sand -- gritty, dusty sand that scratched his nose and throat Every time the sandmen completed another circle, Nettlebrand sank deeper into the sand, until even his snorting, sputtering head disappeared When the sandy riders finally reined in their caon and his ar the dunes For a fewhard, while their masters’ sandy robes billowed in the breeze Then the wind blew over the dunes, sighing, and the sandain