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It didn’t coround, eyes averted Whining, it raised itsat hie, fearful but expectant expression

“You better be rich, boy,” a gruff, deeply angry voice said “You owea ragged, stockythe hardship of running in the wake of the dogs A sword of the Asraelin pattern was strapped across his back and he wore a soiled dark blue cloak

“Two dogs,” Vaelin said

Theback to draw his sword in a practised easy movement “These are Volarian slave-hounds, you little shit The third’s no good toover the snow in a fahtly bent

The dog growled, a lowto find it advancing on hiaze was fixed on theover bared teeth

“You see!” the man shouted at Vaelin “See what you’ve done? Four years to train these bastards in the shitter”

It canition he should have felt as soon as theit to be empty, and reached inside his shirt to pull out his ies, brother”

Momentary confusion played over the ht of theif he was still perh he was of the Order In the event the decision was made for him

“Sheath your sword, Makril,” said a strident, cultured voice Vaelin turned as a horse and rider eed from the trees The sharp faced uided his rey Asraelin hunter froed breed renowned for staression Thedown at Vaelin hat ood will Vaelin noted the colour of his cloak, black: the Fourth Order

“Good day to you, little brother,” the sharp facedhis knife “And you, lanced at the re at him “I fear we may have provided you an unwelcome companion, little brother”

“Coe beyond belief at tiid hierarchical code You killed this animal’s pack leader and the one ould have replaced hi to challenge you so instead will provide you with unswerving loyalty, for now”

Vaelin looked at the dog seeing a snarling, drooling mass of muscle and teeth with an intricate web of scars on its snout and fur led dirt and shit “I don’t want it,” he said

“Too late for that, you little sod,” Makrilso tiresome, Makril,” the sharp faced et some more” He bent down to offer Vaelin his hand “Tendris Al Forne, brother of the Fourth Order and servant of the Council for Heretical Transgressions”

“Vaelin Al Sorna,” Vaelin shook the hand “Novice Brother of the Sixth Order, awaiting confirmation”

“Yes, of course” Tendris sat back in his saddle “Test of the Wild is it?”

“Yes, brother”

“I certainly don’t envy your Order’s tests” Tendris offered a sympathetic smile “Remehtround, occasionally crouching to peer closely at a mark in the snow Vaelin had seen Master Hutril do the saave off an aura of calm reflection when he looked for tracks Makril was a sharp contrast, constantly on the itated, restless

The crunch of hooves on snow heralded the arrival of three more brothers from the Fourth Order, allthe hardy, weathered look of reeted Vaelin with a brief hen Tendris introduced hi area “They sbrother here”

“May I ask what you’re searching for, brother?” Vaelin enquired

“The bane of our realm and our Faith, Vaelin,” Tendris replied sadly “The Unfaithful It is a task charged to me and the brothers hom I ride We hunt those ould deny the Faith It may be a surprise to you that such folk exist, but believehere,” Makril said “No tracks, nothing for the dogs to scent” He h a heavy snow drift to stand in front of Vaelin “Except you, brother”

Vaelin frowned “Why would your dogs trackyour test?” Tendris asked “A irl perhaps?”

“Erlin and Sella?”