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customary watch on the horizon. There, in the distance, movement caught his eye.
Everyone froze on his command. Stay here, he said warily, then beckoned to Gless, who had been
entertaining the children with a juggling trick.
The two men made their way closer to the shapes Yozerf had seen, although there was no real way of
hiding their own presence on the flat land. They stopped as soon as they were close enough to see better,
but by that time they also had been seen, for several of the figures that had been sitting down were now
on their feet.
"Looks like another family, Gless said. Yozerf grunted agreement, then turned and waved to the rest of
their own little band to catch up.
As they drew closer to the other group, sight confirmed what Yozerf's nose had already told him these
were Aclytes, not humans. There were perhaps ten of them altogether, most likely all members of the
same clan, and they ranged in age from a baby that looked to be only a few days old to an elder so
twisted with arthritis that he could no longer stand up straight. All were dressed in clothing that could
have belonged to peasants anywhere, but hardship had left it dirty and tattered. Like Tan and Morwen,
they had a cart, but this one was much larger. Unfortunately, they had no animal to pull it, and Yozerf
guessed that the younger and stronger travelers must have taken turns between the traces.
As they approached, two young men and a woman came forward, their stances radiating suspicion. All
carried makeshift weapons, from a pitchfork to a pruning hook held like a spear in the woman's hand.
Dirt darkened their pale skin and made their long hair lank, but their eyes were clear and sharp and
unafraid of a fight.
"Well met, Yozerf called when they were within easy distance.
The woman started to say something then her eyes narrowed sharply and a puzzled frown creased her
face. Yozerf Jonaglir?"
Surprised murmurs broke out among the Aclytes behind her. Startled himself, Yozerf eyed the young
woman warily. Aye. I do not know you, though."
She tossed her head proudly, sending brown hair tumbling back over her shoulders. Her large, canted
eyes were violet, a color common among Aclytes, but the fire in them was something he had seen in the
gaze of few others. I am Ji'seth Sharneth, she proclaimed in Aclytese.
"Sharneth? Yozerf scanned the faces of those behind her again, but did not see the one he looked for.
You are related to Kelayna Sharneth, then?"
"My older sister."
"She is not here?"
Ji'seth's face hardened. No. She and Sevarin left Lord Auglar's demesne during the winter, hoping to
build a new life elsewhere. I do not know what became of her. But she spoke often of you before she
left, and I saw you once, at the Hallows Night festival."
"Ah. He considered Gless's tale briefly. Did the army from Argannon drive you from your homes?"
"What else? she asked bitterly. When the mighty fight, do they care that their battlefield is being used to
grow someone else's food? Do they care that their horses hooves tear up the wheat? Do they care that
when one side retreats into a village, there are others already living there who don't appreciate having the
place burned to the ground to get them out?"
"No, they do not, he agreed sadly.
"But what of you? Ji'seth's gaze went past him to the cluster of humans behind him, none of whom could
understand a word that had been spoken. Why are you traveling with this human filth? Leave
them you will be welcome among us."
The surge of anger that awoke in him at Ji'seth's offhand dismissal of the humans surprised Yozerf. At
one time, after all, he would have agreed with her wholeheartedly. One of them is my daughter, adopted
into my clan, he replied sharply. As for the rest, one is an old friend, and the others are victims of this
war like yourselves."
Ji'seth's eyes narrowed in contempt. Since when have humans ever been the victims of anything?"
Morwen stepped forward. I don't know what this bitch is saying, but it's clear enough by her tone that
she doesn't much like us, she snapped, glaring balefully at Ji'seth. I say we move on now and not waste
anymore time on the likes of her."
Ji'seth's eyes blazed. Human scum! she shouted, switching to the Keld. It's your kind who have done
this to us!"
"Stop this! Yozerf shouted, shoving himself in between the two women before they could come to
blows. He glared at them both, first at Ji'seth, who seemed the most prone to violence, and then at
Morwen. How Fellrant and Jahcgroth would both laugh to see this! They steal your homes, their war
ravages your lands, and yet you can do nothing but attack each other!"
He stepped back, letting contempt and anger show in his voice and face. We could help one another.
Seventeen people will be safer together than seven and ten apart. But instead of being sensible, we will
savage each other like dogs. Fellrant and Jahcgroth don't even need to do anything more they can just
sit back, and we'll destroy one another for them."
He threw up his hands in a gesture of disgust and stalked off. Morwen called out to him before he had
gone more than six paces. I'm sorry, Yozerf."
He stopped, then slowly turned around and met Ji'seth's gaze. She dropped her eyes first.
"Your words make sense, she admitted reluctantly. I too am sorry if I spoke hastily. But we've had a
hard road."
"Where were you going? Yozerf asked.
"South. We thought to flee the war in the north."
"Then you are going the wrong way. There are armies in the south as well."
Despair showed in Ji'seth's eyes, and several of her kinfolk cried out. Then what will we do?"
"We are going to find refuge in Shalai. You can join us if you can work together and keep a civil tongue
in your head. He glanced at Morwen when he spoke the last, and she nodded.
The Aclytes drew apart to make their decision. After all, they had just come down from Kellsjard, and
Yozerf was asking them to turn around and make the trip back all over again. It would not be an easy
thing to do, he recognized. But, in the end, they had no choice.
"Very well, Ji'seth said, clutching her pruning hook in one hand as if it could lend her strength somehow.
We will do as you ask."
Chapter Nine
The long weeks after they left Kellsjard were filled with despair and darkness for Suchen and her
companions. Bereft of any certain destination, they joined the multitudes of other refugees set loose in
Jenel, struggling only to live and to stay out of the way of either army. There was some brief talk of
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