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“An eleventh book,” Lord Mentari breathed as she stepped down, the crowd still cheering “To think I would live to see such a thing”
“We live in changing times, my lord” Reva accepted the book Arentes handed to her and checked the notes Veliss had provided on this region “My honoured advisor calculates your quota as afor recent troubles and the census coo I’m sure the Father will s the entire fief took the best part of a e, soees, others nearly empty as many of the occupants had fled in advance of the expected Volarian onslaught She found her lie most readily welcomed in those places rich in the dispossessed, many of whom had firsthand experience of the enemy’s nature Even in places where none had been scathed by the war, there were still plenty of willing ears keen to hear the Blessed Lady’s words, though not all were so open to the Father’s e
“Got four sons and the queen wants three of thee in the south-western riverlands People here were renowned for their hardiness, scratching a living from the eel-pots hich they harvested thetheir homes, settlements often limited to no more than a few houses and rarely accolared at Reva as the asseh souards woman, however, paid them no heed at all “How’s a family s’posed to feed itself with no hands to work the boats and haul the pots?”
“No one will go hungry,” Reva assured her “Any additional food required will be provided by House Mustor and the queen at no charge”
“Heard promises froot dragged off to get his throat cut by those Asraelin bastards Now you want us to fight for them”
“This fief was saved by Asraelin hands,” Reva said “And Nilsaelins, folk from the Northern Reaches, the Seordah and the Eorhil At Varinshold I fought alongside Meldeneans and Renfaelins The old age is dead, noe fight for each other”
The worowl “You fight for theirl I don’t know them, never seen theseVolarans you talk of, and any liar can claiuards forith sword half-drawn before Reva barked at him to halt “She speaks blaspheid with fury as he glared at the woers otten Despite the lack of support the won of fear or regret on her weathered features as the sergeant spoke on, “You were not at Alltor You did not see what the Blessed Lady did for us But for her, you, your sons and this village would now be nothing but ash and bone You owe her everything, as do we all”
The wo me, lady For my sons aren’t yours to take, Father’s word or no”
Reva’s eyes scanned the crowd, picking out three young men near the back, two of them clearly cowed by the circu for the confrontation to end, but the tallest stood regarding the burly worim resentment
“Can your sons not speak for themselves?” Reva asked he woe seventeen If your sons are of age, let them make the choice”
“My sons know their duty” the wo h the crowd
“Allern Varesh, my lady,” he said with a bow “I offer my service in accordance with the Queen’s Edict”
“Stop that!” the wo ain “He’s not yours to take!”
Reva was about to si man for his loyalty but paused as she saw the wetness in the woman’s eyes, how she moved protectively in front of her son Reva stepped down fro forward to stand in front of the woman “Your name?”
The woers “Realla Varesh”