Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...

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Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html far-off sentry-call.I hope it sounded better to everyone else than it did to me . "I submit myself." She set her teeth, and started the long slow breathing; then came the whistling of air, and the first blow. I flinched. My face flinched, I didn't think of my face, shit! Next stroke, my face is rock, my face is stone… She made her eyes bore through the spot on the post, worn grey wood-grain.Breathing, I'm forgetting … The second stroke came, before she was ready for it; she'd never be ready for it, but she managed not to flinch somehow.It's not so bad. Not as bad as I feared . She caught on, then, to the rhythm. Lines she'd heard someone quote from an old strategy book came into her head, and somehow stayed there, the pain searing them in, in fluid Yeoli.There is rhythm in all things. There is a season to everything . She breathed, and burned into the spot with her gaze, and put all her soul into keeping still and silent. With all her soul she counted with the count-herald, to know and celebrate in her bones that it would only be eleven more, ten more, nine more, half over, to measure out her strength to last just as long as she needed.It'll be over. It'll be over in a moment and then he'll hold me, and we'll stagger off to the healer together and get our backs salved . 'Ten!' She felt her face flinch again. Ialmost yelled. Don't relax, yet. Only five more, I can make it, breathe in, and out, and in, and out… Eleven. I can make it. Twelve. I can make it. Just three more. Thirteen. Hardly anything left, I can make it. In, out… Fourteen. I've just about made it. Fifteen. It's over, O Gotthumml great god Nurse Zhymatait's over Echerry shitI'm still in front of everyone I'd better not fall over … Grey cleared from her eyes. Straightening was agony, walking all she could do. The whip-wielder was there, his face sympathetic; dully remembering what Echera-e had done, as if she hadn't known it before, she kissed the hand offered, and salutedkhyd-hird , who sat impassive. Sensation returning, she realized she had tears in her eyes; but she was sweating so much as well, maybe no one had seen. In the ring of faces was only admiration. It occurred to her that they might never have seen a fourteen-year-old flogged before, since Yeolis under sixteen didn't get flogged.I did it. I didn't cry out or fall over or faint or anything. I did it . Echera-e's arms welcomed her, clasping her shoulders. XIV To: Slaf Hikarme, Rilla called Shadow's Shade and Shyll called Dog Lord From: Megan called Whitlock Dated: Seventh Iron-Cycle, Sixth Day, Year of the Lead Cat I greet you both, with love, from the middle of the largest gathering of naZak that I have ever seen in one place at one time. We are all well; Sova arrived with not so much as a scratch on her. She is doing well fighting in Shkai'ra's collection of "odds and sods" mercenaries and is associating with a very nice young Yeoli boy, Echera-e. Since she speaks not a word of his tongue and he very little Enchian, this is doing wonders for her Yeoli language lessons, among other things. Shkai'ra is having a marvelous time doing what she does best, bashing heads. The command that given her was, at first, exactly how she described it, but has since improved. She has been awarded a Nephrite Flame, the decoration for "conspicuous presence of mind," which is high enough that she had it presented
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html by the Yeoli king in front of the whole army. I'm glad; this might be her last chance for true glory. You know how she measures herself by kills made and battles won. Any other acknowledgements of merit seem rather hollow and toy-like, to her. I have been having a wonderful time causing Arkans grief, usually losing sleep doing it but, as one says, "No party without the risk of headache." Rest assured, Shyll, that I am taking all the care I can, so I am not likely to get hurt. All my love to you and to little Ness. I won't get started on business or this letter will be far too long. I hope that the assorted creatures aren't making an unreefable mess of the house. I pray for you, and think of you often, which is a great comfort. Stay well, please, till we get home safe with Lixand. Love, Meg To: Same From: Sova called Learned Scribe Dear Zhymata Rilla and Zhypatr Shyll: I guess Zhymata has said everything about the war and the army and all that. I'm learning so much I never dreamed of before. People are strange. But they're nice. Except for the Arkans that is. I've fought in a couple of battles and I don't think I did too badly, though khyd-hird had me flogged once, for insubordination (what else). I like it here. Oh, the biggest news: I'M IN LOVE I'M IN LOVE I'M IN LOVE!!!!! His name (I hope I'm spelling it right) is Echerry Lemana, he's sixteen and he used to be with his hometown infantry until he got himself transferred to khyd-hird's unit (wonder why that happened, hmmmm). He's Yeoli and SOOOOO handsome, Rilla, you wouldn't believe it. His accent is so romantic. I've met Chevenga thesemanakraseye (that's Yeoli for king, and I know that's how you spell it). He is very different from Ranion. He lets you come up to him without wiping your face along the floor, for instance, and he'll talk to you just as if he were a normal person. He's fantastically handsome too, but much too old for me (ha ha). Love to the animals, Ness, and you. Sova From: Shkai'ra called Mek Kermak's Kin To: Rilla called Shadow's Shade and Shyll called Dog Lord Scribed in entire and unerring accuracy as per the Oath of the Scrivener by: Sova called Far-Traveller Spelling corrected by: Megan called Whitlock Dear Rilla and Shyll:
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Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M.
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people around for camouflage, and t
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Und now I vind dose two—Celestial
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