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The sun set and Snorri spent that ti north, his black eyes no doubt hunting the Norsheireeaker as the night fell I tried some dry bread and water, donated them to the sea, and dropped into a dreamless slumber

Dreaels

I stood in the predawn, on the hills just beyond Ver ard towards the distant sea Baraqel stood aboveuntil the rays of the rising sun lit his shoulders

“Hear me, Jalan Kendeth, son of—”

“I knoho I’m son of”

The angel had far ravitas about him now than he had in his early visits As if he spoke more with his own voice than the one I’d fashioned for hiination

“The time will soon co froas—a place where heroes are needed, and e”

“I don’t think reood cardinal would turn and run if a goat blocked his path It wouldn’t have to be a big one either”

“It’s in the nature of children to see past the strengths of their parents Tiolden-eyed, gloith the dawn

“And what’s so great about being brave? Skilfar had the right of it We’re all running around each according to our nature, so, some honest, some sly, some brave—but what of it?”

Baraqel flexed his wings “Your grandmother spoke to her sister of you ‘Has he the e required?’ An ‘idle, shallow boy, full of bluster but ringing hollow,’ she called you, Jalan ‘A mind blunted by sloth, blinkered by a dry wit,’ she said, ‘but whet it and that h and tiht make of the childbut we have neither world nor ti to a point not so many miles distant, a second not so many years hence and in that spot, in that moment, will come a test on which the world will turn’ These are the words she drew you with”