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‘What was it about?’ one of the loafers growled suspiciously

‘Business,’ Stragen told him in a cold tone

‘Anybody could say that,’ the unshaven el in his hand

‘This is always so tedious,’ Stragen sighed to Sparhawk Then his hand flashed to the hilt of his rapier, and the sli out of its sheath ‘Friend,’ he said to the loafer, ‘unless you want three feet of steel between your breakfast and your supper, you’ll stand aside’ The needle-like point of the rapier touched the estively

The other ruffian sidled off to one side, his hand reaching furtively toward the handle of his dagger

‘I wouldn’t,’ Sparhaarned him in a dreadfully quiet voice He pushed his cloak aside to reveal his mail-shirt and the hilt of his broadsword ‘I’m not entirely positive where your breakfast or your supper are located just now, neighbour, but I’ll probably be able to pick the in the street’

The fellow froze in his tracks, sing hard

‘The knife,’ Sparhawk grated ‘Lose it’

The dagger clattered to the cobblestones

‘I’m so happy that we could resolve this little probleen drawled ‘Nohy don’t we all go inside so you can introduce us to Djukta?’

The tavern had a low ceiling and the floor was covered with mouldy straw It was lit by a few crude lamps that burned melted tallow

Djukta was by far the hairiest man Sparhawk had ever seen His arms and hands seemed to be covered with curly black fur Great wads of hair protruded from the neck of his tunic; his ears and nostrils looked like bird’s nests; and his beard began just under his lower eyelids ‘What’s this?’ he de of a face

‘They made us let them come inside, Djukta,’ one of the en’s rapier

Djukta’s piggish eyes narrowed dangerously

‘Don’t be tiresoiven you the recognition signal twice already, and you didn’t even notice’

‘I noticed, but coet things off to a good start’

‘We were a little pressed for tien sheathed his rapier

‘You’re not from around here, are you?’

‘No We’re fro way fro unhealthy back there’