07/03/2026 08:16

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Even the cadets, it seemed, hadarrived on a merchantman. They've been planning afootrace-Esenrok and Alsnor-and they decided to do it this evening. A number of times he wiped at the sweat poolingin his eyebrows, his wet hands gritty with the dirt he crouched on,converting the sweat of his face into mud. These diplomats and theirgovernments might well consider that with T'swa in the equation, Smolencould not last long.

Beckoning, he backed down below the crest, then followed a contoursouthward till he came to a brushy saddle. Remember howlittle there is in the library about Tyss and the T'swa? No one in theConfederation pays any attention to them except as a source ofmercenaries. But it may not be feasible for Garlan andWellem to work on them. By that time his mind had begun to function more normally,though emotionally he was still numb.