Amendments Read Free Page B

we grow our food and the trees and clay from which we make our houses?”
                  “The kingdom boundaries are clearly defined.  The land on which old Talik—“
                  Grandel interrupted again and said, “Just because you fools drew lines on a map doesn’t make it yours.  If anything, this land should be holy land.  Now, go redraw your silly lines on your silly maps.”
                  “Sir, the tax collectors are coming in a short—“
                  Noir heard a sharp squeak of a chair gritting against the wood floor.  Grandel's patience had obviously been exhausted.  “Send them.  I will kick them out on their butts with impunity just like I am about to do with you right now.  You need to go back to whatever tali-mongering fools you came from and tell them that Talik has been a free town for six years.  It will continue to be thus.  Good day sir.”  The door to the room opened and Noir stepped to the side.  A lavishly dressed man whose clothes fit a bit too snugly around the waist walked hurriedly out the door.  He was being ushered forward by a man in hawk armor.  As the man passed, Noir heard him say under his breath, “Ignorant fool… complete waste of my time.”  Then he was out the front door.
                  Noir chuckled to himself and walked into Grandel’s quarters.  The man stood hunched over the large meeting table in the center of the room resting on his fists.  A couple other Talik leaders were there as well, all looking tired and frustrated.  One was saying something about jurisdiction but stopped when he saw Noir enter.  Grandel looked up as well at the silence.
                  “Luxin Noir,” he said with a slight smile “please tell me you come to rid us of these pompous thieves.”
                  Noir took down his hood and smiled.  “I am no good at diplomacy, Grandel.  You know that.”
                  Grandel laughed.  “I wasn’t imagining you using diplomacy to get rid of them.”  Grandel motioned toward a chair in the corner.  “Anyway, take a seat, Noir.  We just have a couple things to finish up.”  He read Noir’s face and added, “Unless you have something too important to wait.”
                  Noir shook his head.  “Not important, I’m just impatient I guess.  Do you have a map of Tier, Grandel?”
                  He nodded and rose from leaning on the table.  He walked to a small wooden chest in the corner.  “I have several maps of Tier, Luxin Noir.  Why do you have need of one?”  He paused a moment, looked at Noir, and lamented with a softer voice, “Oh, I see.”  He turned to the other men sitting at the table.  “Gentlemen, if you would give us just a couple minutes.”
                  The two men stood.  The one who Noir knew was Cairn said, “I don’t really think we need to discuss it any further.  Our stance is clear.  Like we have discussed before, they still have no power over us.”
                  Grandel nodded, “Then meeting adjourned, gentlemen.”  The two men walked around the table to leave.
                  “But you have three refugees outside,” Noir cautioned.
                  Grandel replied with a dismissive wave of his hand, “I can see to them on my own later.”  The two men left and closed the door behind them.
                  Grandel motioned to one of the chairs on the opposite side of the table and lifted the wooden trunk onto the table.  Most of his books had been destroyed in the fires when the first Talik was attacked.  Noir took a seat and Grandel thumbed through thick folded pieces of paper.  Some had burned edges.  “So you’ve finally decided to go find Ratt and your cousin?”
                  Noir was surprised how quickly and accurately Grandel had figured out