never, lasher assured him, for his stance when it came to peregrine was as unmoving and stalwart as his opinion of siku. barring some wicked contrivance, it would remain so. the swarthy leader soon took his leave, and taltos held his gaze for a long moment before peregrine turned.

watching for second's span of time as the man departed, lasher moved deeper into the veldt, thinking of julien and the many words, vicious and virile, he had spoken before his death.