It's so hard to make out things that aren't under your nose. It was The Dance of the Hawk and the Hummingbird, by Teven Aerwin, which purported to set forth the proper conduct of men toward women and women toward men. You will put your sword in the other man with that, if you're quick, but not before he has his through your ribs. Uneasily he wondered how the youth had known what name to use.
He sounded the way he always did, flippant - and bitter under it, too, of late - but he looked worried. The room with the flies came back unbidden to his mind. Dangerous coins. They looked through him; servants did not exist unless needed.
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