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“When was the last ti?”

He looks over with a chiding expression “Sometimes it’s better to let a wheel squeak than break the cart trying to fix it”

The truth sits unspoken between us Either the bowstring was tampered with, which see with Sefi herself But horong?

“Oh shit…what is that?” I cry as harvesters pull two brain-sized gelatinous sacks from the drake’s belly

“The testicles, of course They have intense hallucinogenic properties when dried and ground down Berserkers used thee Now they are forbidden, per Sefi’s decree”

I wince as the testicles are tossed onto a fire by a shaman “No wonder the men never speak up around here”

At a jingle behind us, Pax’s face lights up “?’Lo, Ozgard!” he calls as the shah pulled by two blue-painted aurochs, each with tiny bells hanging froreat ivory horns The shaman drinks froreet us

“Stupid heatlander,” he snaps at Pax, striking at hiot string-guard You embarrass esticulates drunkenly “They think I a” He tosses Pax a hooked blade as long as Pax’s leg “Do not sit back in shaot , one kilo spleen, two-ounce flaain, stupid boy”

Without objecting, Pax departs at a jog Good little soldier

“Bit late,” I say to Ozgard

“Should have used boots or ship” Ozgard sighs and punches hisfor my Godspeak in ruins of Spires Nefelfjar sensed evil sprits within a crag Becae” The aurochs sways back and forth, drunker than his sha the harvesters, whohim

“It is sacrilege to kill a high beast with a firearard says “Valkyrie nailed two poachers to a rock and had a buzzard eat their liver for just that teeks past”

“I’ve been told,” I say as another group of skyhunters co with Sefi?” I ask as they depart

He doesn’t hearthis?”

“What is it with you two?” I mutter “Xenophon didn’t cast a spell And you knoell as I do that Pax can draw Olyet to war with Sefi?”