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Siri is no threat, he thought But if so her? Would Aller? Without his concerned guidance, would Blushweaver see that Siri wasn’t crushed?

If he did walk away, there would be a cost He would be to blaiven up

"Who was she, Llari woh priest didn’t answer

"I need to know," Lightsong said, turning "This time, I really need to know"

"I" Llarimar frowned, then looked away "No," he said quietly "She was not your wife"

"My lover?"

He shook his head

"But she was important to me?"

"Very," Llarimar said

"And is she still alive?"

Llarimar wavered, then finally nodded his head

Still alive, Lightsong thought

If this city fell, then she would be in danger Everyone orshiped Lightsong--everyone who counted on hier

T’Telir couldn’t fall Even if there ar, the fighting wouldn’t coer It was the dom in the world

And what of his dreaovern co when they should be used And when they should not be

Still alive

He turned and walked toward the steps

THE LIFELESS ENCLAVE was technically part of the Court of Gods The huge building was built at the base of the court plateau, and a long, covered ay ran down to it

Lightsong uard posts, though he wasn’t sure why they needed guards in a hallway leading from the court He had only visited the enclave a couple of ti his first feeeks as a Returned, when he had been required to give the security phrase to his ten thousand soldiers

Perhaps I should have coht What would have been the point? Servants cared for the Lifeless,certain their ichor-alcohol was fresh, that they exercised, anddid whatever else it was that Lifeless did

Llari fro, brisk walk by the ti, of course, had no trouble, as he was in perfect physical condition There were soodhood that never uards opened the doors into the coantic, of course--it contained space for forty thousand Lifeless There were four large ware house-like storage areas for the different groups of Lifeless, a track for them to run around, a room filled with various stones and blocks of , and a medical area where their ichor-alcohol was tested and refreshed

They passed through several twisting passages, designed to confuse invaders who uard post set beside a large open doorway Lightsong passed the living huuards and looked in at the Lifeless

He’d forgotten that they kept them in the dark

Llarimar waved for a couple of priests to hold up la platform The floor of the ware house extended below, filled with line upon line of silent, waiting soldiers They wore their armor and carried their weapons in sheaths

"There are holes in the ranks," Lightsong said

"So," Llarimar replied "I have sent a servant to fetch the nodded The Lifeless stood with eyes open They didn’t shuffle or cough Staring out over the suddenly remembered why he never felt any desire to return and inspect his troops They were si said

"Your Grace?" Llarimar asked "Don’t you want a few priests to stay?"

Lightsong shook his head "No I will bear this phrase myself"

Llari as ordered

In Lightsong’s opinion, there was no good way of keeping Cood was to risk losing the phrase through assassination However, the more people who knew the Command phrases, the more likely it was that the secret would be bribed or tortured out of so Apparently, with his powerful BioChro control of ten thousand would require weeks, even for the God King

The choice was left to the individual Returned They could let some of their priests hear the Cood, the priests could pass the phrase on to the next Returned If the god chose not to give the phrase to his priests, then he placed an even larger burden on hi had found that option silly, years before, and had included Llarimar and several others in the secret