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Show and rolled their eyes. The pious followers of the GreatMother and the Saints who came to BauerWorlde at her call touched eyes, lips, and nose with the little finger of the right hand. All were fearful at being at the mercy of the demon apostates on the west side of the Tartars and began praying to the GreatMother and all the Saints to deliver them from the dieties' fallen children. But there were two Provincials who were also apoplectic with anger. King Zud, for instance, and the Seljuk Lusela of the Matriarchy to the South. "The YellowBison are dull, lethargic beasts," hissed the Seljuk. "We can charge the pass and, with no trouble, run right o'er them!" "By the Great Lances of history, Lusela, the things thou thinkest of!" The man next to her slapped his knee disgustedly with a huge hand. He was the Desert Kingdom's regent, Elsen, a bear of a knight, well above two meters tall and as broad chested as a war horse-the open and good-natured uncle of the child-king, Damon. "The YellowBison stand higher at the withers than our own chargers. What meanest thou by such gibberish?" Zud was livid. "A plague on these western demons!" He said through clenched teeth. "When the bison broke apart to let the first lances through, why didst we not charge the beasts then and there?" He reached both mailed hands to his head distractedly and began pulling his hair. "If I had but gone with Jothra!" he cried. "If I could but face a good dozen of the demons with my brave lance, I . . ." "We must needs go o'er them, blackguard," persisted the Seljuk, poking Zud with the point of her helmet. "Lusela, fair one.." began the peacemaker, Elsen. 269 |