08/02/2026 12:59

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At the top of the slope a steep river valley opened beneath his feet. And I need no mollycoddling. On abroad reach, with her sails full and the wind free, her hull slicedthrough the water like a blade, Hal watched them row acrossto the quay and climb the stone steps.

All his attention was on the array ofsilver dishes and chargers that were laid before him, one afteranother. They came scrambling upwards. Schreuder bowed deeply and sat down. Schreuder was silenced and clung desperately to the mast besideLlewellyn.