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Back Bleak Seasons Save as PDF
Chapters (102)
  1. Title page
  2. 2
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Less than a week later I received the identical message as a handwritten note that looked like it had been inscribed by a six-year-old. One of Cordy Mathers Guards brought it up. I read it, told him, Give the old fool a beating and tell him not to bother me again.

The Guard gave me a funny look. He glanced at Thai Dei, then whispered, Aint old, aint a him, but probably is a fool, Standardbearer. Was I you Id take the time.

I got it. At last. Ill just box his ears myself, then. Thai Dei, try to keep the bad guys out. Ill be back in a few minutes.

He did not listen, of course, because he could not bodyguard me from a distance, but I did confuse him long enough to get a headstart. I got down there and got my hands on Sahra before he caught up or got ahead of me. After that he had little say. And my clever lady had brought To Tan to distract him.

Thai Dei did not talk much but that did not make him stupid. He knew he could not win with the cards he held right now. Clever, I told Sahra. I thought Id never see you again. Hi, kiddo, I said to To Tan, who did not remember me. Sahra, honey, you gotta promise me. No more of that cryptic stuff like Grandpa Dam. Im just a simpleminded soldier.

I led Sahra inside and up to my little hole in the wall. For the next three years I marvelled every morning when I wakened to find her beside me and almost every time I saw her during the day. She became the center of my life, my anchor, my rock, my goddess, and every damned one of my brothers envied me almost to the borders of hatred though Sahra converted them all into devoted friends. She could give Lady lessons on softening the hearts of hard men.

Not till Uncle Doj and Mother Gota came to visit did I find out that Sahra had done more than just defy the customs of the Nyueng Bao. She had ignored the express orders of her tribal elders to come make herself the wife of a Soldier of Darkness. Confident little witch.

Those toothless old men put no value on the wishes of the witch Ky Hong Tray.

I think I have a realistic picture of who and what I am so I am amazed that Sahra ever thought as much of me as I thought of her.

98

98

I sipped water, ate, and reflected that this was one time when I had no trouble leaving Smokes world. There was no attenuation of the pain if I went out there to see Sarie. What was I doing here?