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“Well, that sounds insidious Lucky for me, we’re in Republic territory If you would just call the Sov—”

He shoots me point-blank in the chest with a tacNet It knocks the wind out of s the line to Godeater’s saddle and barks at the griffin Riderless, it springs off the stone wing and into the winter air Valdir flies beside it on gravBoots, keening a savage song I’le Rest, pissed beyond all belief

Last place I wanna die is Mars

VALDIR’S GOONS DUMP ME uncere patterns of duress on my skin Griffins set down and Valkyrie women slip from the saddles Male braves with red runes on their arravBoots One of them kicks my ass until I stand to my bare feet They ache from my failed escape and the cold Did I fracture theot slippers?” I ask None pay ot socks?”

“They do not like Grays, Grarnir Especially the ladiators, or worse” I turn toward the voice Wrapped in his raven cloak, the sha walnuts

“Oh, you again”

He slides down fro in Nagal at hiain, idiot” The shaman flaps his crow cloak at the warlord and covers his earholes

“You got anythe fur coat around me for the chill “Lost the last pair”

“Only a fool gives a gift when the first is valued so little,” he says “I told you your destiny was not out theyou suffer”

“Yeah, well I’m Hyperionin We’re natural skeptics”

He tilts his big head and laughs “Maybe next ti, you will value it” He flicks walnut shells at

“You gave me this?”

“Idea, not ard” He points at me “Grarnir It means—”

“Hold up You’re Ozgard?”

He grins “Ozgard the Mad Ozgard the Bad Ozgard the Berryclad” He bows