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Talon heard a scuffle, coins tossed, swords drawn, battle cries, cries from wounds, horses neighing, the twang of many arrows, more slashing and yelling.  Then he heard something in Salmi, the language of the desert tribes, which he didn’t understand.  He heard ponies ride off, then silence -- a long silence when he barely breathed and it was no longer a game any more.  The compartment lid opened and Talon saw his father’s wounded servant beckon him out.  Before the servant could cover his eyes, Talon got a glimpse of the scene that told the rest of the story.  A contingent of Andril border guards had ridden out from the Fortress of Carmel and chased off the Nomar raiders, but not before many Nomar and Andril lay dead or wounded ... and his mother and father lay among the dead.

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Scroll 1: History's Mirror                                                                                    Chapter 1: Treasures from the Past