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“That’s hed, it wasn’t a pleasant sound and Vaelin instantly regretted leaving his sword in the cell that le handed,” the younger guard said “You’re taller than they said”

“It wasn’t ten…” Vaelin began

“Wish I’d been there to see that,” the sergeant interrupted “Can’t stand those bloody Crows, strutting about the place Hear they’re h You should watch your back”

“I always do”

“Brother,” Sherin cut in “I need cat gut, needle, probe, a serrated knife, redflower and corr tree oil, the gel not the juice Oh, and another bowl of water”

He did as he was told, grateful for the chance to escape the guardsmen’s scrutiny He went to the store roo to the treatment room to find it in uproar The stocky man was on his feet, backed into a corner, his meaty fist clamped around Sister Sherin’s throat One of the Guardsh The other two had their swords drawn, shouting threats and fury

“I’ out of here!” the stocky man shouted back

“You’re going nowhere!” the sergeant barked in response “Let her go and you’ll live”

“I go inside One Eye’ll havethis bitch’s n-”

The serrated knife Vaelin had fetched from the store room was heavier than he was used to but it wasn’t a difficult throw The ht have caused him to snap Sister Sherin’s neck The blade sank into his forear Sherin to collapse to the floor Vaelin vaulted the bed, scattering the tray’s contents across the room, and felled the stocky man with a feell placed punches to the nerve centres in his face and chest

“Don’t,” Sherin gasped from the floor “Don’t kill hi to the floor, his eyes vacant “Why would I?” He helped her to her feet “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, pulling away “Get hieant, if you could helpthe bastard a favour if you had killed hiuards day toet the man off the floor, he seely He groaned in pain as Vaelin let hi open

“Unless you’ve got another knife hidden,” Vaelin told hiaze was baleful but he said nothing

“So who’s One Eye?” Vaelin asked him “Why does he want you dead?”

“I owe him money,” the man said, his face slicked with sweat and lined with pain from his wounds

He recalled Frentis’s tales of his ti knife that had caused hiolds I’otta pay And One Eye hates those that don’t pay with a passion” Thehis chin with blood Vaelin poured a cup of water and held it to his lips

“I have a friend who toldknife,” Vaelin said

The stocky“Frentis If only the little sod had killed the bastard One Eye says he’s gonna take a year to skin him alive when he finds him”