“Don’t threaten me, boy,” he said in Rabedy’s ear, his voice conversational and soft, which felt all the more deadly. “You need to get that name out into the air for it to be of any use and I am not entirely infirm.”

Rabedy fought the grip, but to no avail. The green-bree held him long enough to show that, had he wanted, he could have caused some real pain—could have snapped Rabedy’s neck, could have held him until he choked—then he let go and gave the bogan a push away from him. Rabedy staggered on the sand and only just caught himself from falling. He turned, glaring, a name forming on his lips.

“I could have killed you, boy,” Odawa said before Rabedy could get the name out. “I could have snapped your neck like a twig. But I didn’t. Will you now kill an unarmed, blind man?”

Rabedy lifted a hand to rub at his throat. He wanted to speak the name Big Dan had given him. Wanted to drive the pluiking green-bree’s face into the beach and choke him on the wet sand. And he wasn’t fooled by the mild tone of Odawa’s voice. He was wary now, and if the truth be known, more than a little nervous. How could a blind man move that fast?

Odawa’s milky-white gaze remained fixed on him, waiting for a reply.

“I’m not a boy,” was all he could find to say.

“No, you’re somewhere between a bogan and a dog. Hold,” the greenbree added, lifting his hand when Rabedy was about to speak. “I know what you meant and I’ll offer you this promise: I’ll mind my manners and call you by the speaking name you’ve given me. Can I expect the same consideration in return?”

“Or what?”

Odawa sighed. “Or nothing. Or you’ll go your way and I’ll go mine. Or you’ll speak my true name and my will becomes yours. Why must everything be a confrontation with you people?”

Rabedy could only look at the green-bree. His neck was sore. He remembered the ease with which Odawa had put him out of action.

“After what you just did to me,” he said, “you still expect me to help you?”

“I expect nothing. I am only asking. The decision is entirely yours.”

“And if I help you, you’ll go away and leave us all alone?”

“I’ll leave you alone even if you don’t help me,” the green-bree said. “Haven’t you been listening? I offer you no threat. I need help and I’ll be grateful to you if you provide it, but I am not here to force my will on anyone.”

“Except for Grey.”