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TAXILA'S CHILDREN<br />
Lyot nodded acceptance of the formal approach.<br />
"Greetings, Danyk."<br />
The old man waited and Danyk contemplated him with affection. Lyot was not all that old<br />
yet, still a vigorous and striking figure, even though his waistline had expanded considerably<br />
from earlier years.<br />
"Your turn will come, my son!"<br />
Danyk realised with a start, that he had been thinking on open line. He grinned, Lyot was<br />
formidable but he permitted a certain laxity with his eldest son. Lyot continued vocally.<br />
"If you want to keep secrets from the All Wise, you had better keep your wits about you! -<br />
You have been busy this morning."<br />
It was a statement, not a question. Danyk nodded and moved towards the open window.<br />
"They were too quick for you."<br />
Another statement and no criticism.<br />
"I'm beginning to believe that they have someone with them who is as gifted as us."<br />
"Don't fence with me, I know you are trying to pin this business on the Adepts!"<br />
Danyk swung around.<br />
"How else would they know we were coming?"<br />
Lyot grunted.<br />
"Your men make enough noise to rouse the dead - I heard you go myself and you were<br />
trying to be quiet. With Psi surges affecting most of you, your crashing around in the scrub<br />
would have been heard arkas away."<br />
Danyk ignored the obvious response that his sire slept like the dead but snored like a living<br />
Vix. He was more concerned that his father had taken such an active interest in the morning's<br />
excursion.<br />
"You know the details then?"<br />
Lyot nodded grimly.<br />
"Your minds were wide open."<br />
Danyk waited, there was more to come.<br />
"Like yourselves, I wasn't able to penetrate the flood of the Psi surge, I couldn't isolate<br />
individuals - Shaita! The bestiality of it!"<br />
It was the second time in that day that Danyk had heard the name of the old god taken in<br />
vain. He kept very quiet, verbally and mentally. Lyot was working himself up into a fine old<br />
rage.<br />
"You know the sentence I will pass when they are caught?"<br />
"I suppose it will be in accordance with the Law of the Two Eyes."<br />
"Which states?"<br />
It wasn't time for a return to the schoolroom but Danyk groped around for an answer.<br />
"The Law of the Two Eyes states that reparation must be in the form of the offence and that<br />
it is the duty of the Thane to enforce the sentence."<br />
Lyot's grin was a snarl.<br />
"How do you relish depriving a screaming Lynxe man of his manhood!?"<br />
Danyk stared at his father and attempted a feeble answer.<br />
"I could think of better ways to spend the morning."<br />
Lyot grunted and the surge of fury began to subside. He gestured to a recliner to one side<br />
of the desk.<br />
"I have a report of a hairless Scarn they've picked up out in Jabez's territory. I want you to<br />
investigate it - but be careful. Jabez is an unpredictable, crafty bastard. If he gets wind of your<br />
coming, he will spirit this oddity away somewhere and I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't<br />
mixed up in this ritual sacrifice business somewhere along the line. We've had dealings with<br />
him before - they're a wild lot in that area."<br />
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