19/02/2026 02:04

---

6Like every army messhall, the officers' mess was a study in stainlesssteel. You interviewedRomlar? That's right. Fossur nodded. Suddenly he realized his fear was gone, replacedfor the moment by something like the exhilaration the T'swa seemed tofeel.

Then he played the audio recording of the teaching brother, Ban-Shum,their host and guide in Oldu Tez-Boag, who could speak Orlanthan. The sergeant looked questioningly to the president. Kristal looked again at the sorlex, then back at Kusu. Elizabeth Moon, for comments that have sharpened my writing skills.