Amendments Read Free Page A

the Lumin changed everything.  Since one of the first things that the angelic figure declared was for the senseless fighting to stop, neither Chiron’s forces nor Tier’s had the gall to strike New Talik first.  It didn’t matter that the legitimacy of the Lumin’s authenticity was still being debated in both kingdoms.  Word became widespread of the free town not under the oppression of either kingdom.  People from Chiron wanted to evade the tax collectors, and the Tierians wanted to escape from their oppressors.
                  The town boasted nearly four hundred official occupants, and new refugees were coming every day.  Grandel, Elrid, and the others were frantic trying to deal with all of the newcomers.  Also, it was difficult having small Chiron and Tierian armies camped at their doorstep.  Each army sent their ambassador every day to try to manipulate the town into being under their rule.  Grandel’s free town was now more successful than ever before.
                  Noir’s had been hiding and residing in the back of Elrid and his family’s house.  The historians, bards, diplomats, and occasional religious fanatic would bother him at all times of the night unless his whereabouts remained hidden.  Elrid’s wife and two children were nice to Noir, but they didn’t speak to him much.  Or perhaps he didn’t talk to them much.  Noir wasn’t sure.  He would have to go there before setting off, but first he needed something from Grandel.
                  Noir came to the side of the main hall in the central courtyard and leaned against it nonchalantly.  The main hall was barely larger than the small clay houses.  He listened closely in an attempt to discover whose voices were inside.  The two guards in leather hawk-decorated armor who guarded the door watched Noir, but did not stop or question him.  Many men who guarded random points around town had grown accustomed to his attempts to remain anonymous.  They had respect enough for him to allow him his secrecy.  They probably had a thousand questions about the Lumin, but they usually kept their questions to themselves and let him be.
                  Noir heard a few voices coming from inside but couldn’t distinguish what they were saying.  Finally, he gave up his attempt at not communicating with anyone and approached one of the guards.  Noir knew him by name.
                  “Terris, is Captain Grandel in right now?”
                  “Yes, sir.”  Noir was glad the guard didn’t use his name.  A random passerby might recognize his name and start bothering him for information about the Lumin.  “I don’t think now is a good time, though.  A representative of the Chiron government went in about an hour ago, and they haven’t stopped talking since.”  The guard motioned to a man, a woman, and a child standing nearby staring at the ground.  “Plus he has another group of new refugees to figure out what to do with.”
                  Noir grunted.  “That figures, but I have to see him.”  Noir walked past them and through the front door despite their warnings.  Now that Noir had his mind set on what he wanted to do, he didn’t feel like waiting any longer to do it.
                  There was a very small front entryway that connected the three rooms of the main hall.  The largest one in the back was where the voices were coming from.  Noir stepped forward and listened.
                  “Besides those added benefits,” said an unfamiliar voice that sounded forcibly patient, “The currency situation still stands.  The tax on the stolen tali and goods from Chiron property sets you in debt—”
                  Noir heard Grandel’s voice interrupt.  He sounded unabashedly impatient.  “We owe you nothing.  What we took from the land was ours to take.  How can you claim to own the soil from which