The carillon rang again, the second short ring.  When I glanced, I saw dragons marching away with the blockades; and the road was opened up again.  Guards slinked away from the area in pairs or flew lonelily away.  I saw Jarce leaving like that, and the big plain-dweller wiver.


    prepared.  An enemy of Gwymr/Frina stands before me, and she wears a weapon.  A fool would be calm and pleasant, dealing with you.”


    innocent when you gaze is so narrow as to miss those truly at fault.”


    convince you.  Rather, you must convince Mlaen-ychy there is anything at all to your speculation???—”


    Allow me to finish.  To try to convince Mlaen you’ll need evidence.  Should you even be capable of sifting the truth, you’ll soon discover that I have no incentive to ally myself with them.”


    If they have secret smuggling deals with humans, and if they perform dark magic rituals to revive their dead prophet, well, whom am I to judge?”


    justice, you see.”


    any foreign fat-belly taste in this pit of a town?  Glass and metal.  It’s all we’re good for, you’d think, when every fifth dragon you meet is some flavor of sifter.”


    trade.”


    sister was just telling me that I should work with you.”  I looked up.  “One of us is lucky I really am an exile, I just wish I knew which.”


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    It was near the outskirts of the cordoned off area, smelling like tortoises and crushed plants, when I heard, as chased after Adwyn, a plaintive jagged voice.


    slow.  More than slow the stone-shells.”


    Hinte.”


    Their growth stunts.” Hinte looked at Digrif.  “Do you know nothing of farming?  This is simple.”


    * * *