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Feykaald was old； tough； and full of experience。 He'd lived long by being careful。 But Jureem knew that Raj Ahten often desired less…cautious counsel。 The Wolf Lord had grown in power by listening to Jureem。
He leaned his ear to Jureem。 〃And what would you do？〃
Jureem bowed his head。 He spoke carefully as he thought aloud。 〃Forgive me； O Blessed Light； if in this matter； I do not seem so alarmed。〃 He flashed a distrustful glance at Feykaald。 〃It may be true that King Orden has captured your forcibles； but who will he use them on？ You have already stripped endowments from everyone who was worthy at Longmont。 Orden cannot use the local populace。 Which means he would have to take endowments only from his warriorsan unfortunate proposition； for with each endowment he took to himself； he would weaken his own army。〃
〃So you propose？〃
〃Go to Longmont and take your forcibles back！〃 It was； of course； the only possible answer。 Raj Ahten could ill afford to wait for reinforcements。 It would only give Orden time to either slip away with the treasure or draw reinforcements himself。
Raj Ahten smiled at this answer。 It was risky； Jureem knew。 Perhaps Orden wanted to draw them out of Castle Sylvarresta for an ambush。 But all life was a risk。 And Raj Ahten could ill afford to do nothing。
The Master had taken six endowments of metabolism。 In doing so； he was able to thwart the assassins who came after him time and again。
But taking such endowments carried a great danger； the promise of an early death。 Metabolism could serve as a weapon against its owner。 Indeed； in one case； according to legend； a Dedicate who gave a great king metabolism was kidnapped by the King's enemies。 Then； the enemies gave hundreds of endowments of metabolism to the Dedicate； making him a vector； so that the King died of old age in a matter of weeks。 For this reason； Raj Ahten had vectored all his metabolism through a single Dedicate； a man he always kept near to his side； in case he needed to slay the man and break his own link。
Few kings ever dared take more than one or two endowments of metabolism。 With six； Raj Ahten could run six times the speed of another man。
But he also aged six times faster。 And though Jureem's master had many thousands of endowments of stamina； and would grow old with incredible grace； Jureem knew that the human body was meant to wear out over time。 His master had lived for thirty…two years now； but because of his many endowments of metabolism； he had aged far more than that。 Physically； he was in mid…eighties。
Raj Ahten could not hope to live much beyond the biological age of a hundred and ten； nor could he survive without his endowments。
Only a few years back； Raj Ahten had made the unfortunate mistake of slaying some of his Dedicates； so that he could slow his own aging。 But within a week； a Northern assassin had nearly slain the Wolf Lord。 Since then； Raj Ahten had been forced to bear this lonely burden of high metabolism。
Three years。 He needed to unite the world； to bee the Sum of All Men within three years； or he'd die。 One year to consolidate the North。 Two to take the South。 If Jureem's master died； it might well be that the hope of all mankind would die with him。 The reavers were that powerful。
〃So we go to Longmont；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃What of Orden's army in the Dunnwood？〃
〃What army？〃 Jureem asked； certain from many small cues that there was no great threat。 〃Have you seen an army？ I heard war horns blowing in the wood； but did I hear a thousand horses neighing？ No！ Orden's mists were there only to hide his weakness。〃
Jureem squinted up at his master。 Jureem's obesity； his bald head； made him look like an oaf； but Raj Ahten had long known that Jureem was every bit as dangerous as a cobra。 Jureem found himself saying； 〃You have twenty legions approaching Longmontan army Orden cannot withstand； not if you fight at our head。 We must go and take Longmont。〃
Raj Ahten nodded solemnly。 Those forty thousand forcibles represented the labor of thousands of miners and craftsmen over the past three years。 A large pocket of blood orenow tapped dry。 They were irreplaceable。
〃Prepare the men to march；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃We will empty Sylvarresta's treasury； take what food we need from villages we pass。 We leave in an hour。〃
〃My lord； what of the horses？〃 Feykaald asked。 〃We will need mounts。〃
〃Our soldiers have enough endowments； most need no mounts；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃And mon horses require food and rest； more than a man。
My warriors shall run to Longmont。 We will use what horses we can。 We'll empty Sylvarresta's stables。〃
A hundred and sixty miles by road。 Jureem knew that Raj Ahten could walk that distance himself in a few hours； but most of his archers would not bear the burden of more than a single endowment of metabolism。 Such soldiers could not run to Longmont in less than a day。
Raj Ahten would have to leave his nomen here。 They would only slow the march。 The giants and war dogs； though； could take such abuse。
〃But；〃 Feykaald urged； 〃what of your Dedicates here？ You have two thousand in the Dedicates' Keep。 We don't have horses to move them； nor do we have enough guards to protect them。〃 His attention； too； had turned to logistics。
Raj Ahten's answer was chilling。 〃We need leave no warriors to guard the Dedicates' Keep。〃
〃What？〃 Feykaald asked。 〃You practically beg Orden to attack。 You'll get your Dedicates killed！〃
〃Of course；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃But at least their deaths will serve some higher purpose。〃
〃Higher purpose？ What higher purpose can their deaths serve？〃 Feykaald asked； wringing his hands； mystified。
But Jureem suddenly saw the plan in all its cruelty and magnificence： 〃Their murders shall nurture facetiousness；〃 Jureem reasoned。 〃For years； the Northern nations have united against us。 But if Orden murders Sylvarresta's Dedicates； as he must； if he destroys his oldest and dearest friend； what will he win？ He might weaken us for a few days； but he will weaken himself forever。 Even if he should escape with the forcibles； the lords of the North will fear Orden。 Some here in Heredon will revile him； perhaps even seek vengeance。 All this shall work against House Orden； and destroying Orden is the key to taking the North。〃
〃You are most wise；〃 Feykaald whispered； glancing first at Raj Ahten； and then at Jureem； his voice filled with awe。
Yet such a waste saddened Jureem。 So many men go through their lives content to do nothing； to be nothing。 It was wise to harvest endowments from such men； put them to use。 But wasting the lives of Dedicates this waywas a great shame。
Jureem and Feykaald shouted a few curt orders； and in moments the castle walls became alive as the troops prepared for the march。 Men rushed to and fro。
Raj Ahten began heading along the narrow cobbled streets； wanting to be alone with his thoughts； walking past the King's stablessome fine new wooden buildings that stood two stories tall。 The upper story held hay and grain。 The lower stabled the horses。
His men rushed everywhere； claiming the first steeds they found； shouting orders to stablehands。
As he passed； Raj Ahten peered into several open doors。 A few Dedicate horses