Lanara lowered her voice. “I have worked with him. He’s ready. He can persuade, imitate, and be heard over great distance. He has the deepest of all Shillitoe magic.” She gazed at Speckarin. “Will you include him?”

    The old magician had thought about this for days. He admired Runagar’s enthusiasm and tenacity, but most importantly he had the gift of voice. With all my tools of magic, thought Speckarin, I can’t come close to doing what he can. But he’s foreign, and his ilon is strange. No one knows how they will react under the strains we’re certain to face.

    Speckarin stood up and address...

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