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.We re not alone, Rahendo giggled. No, you re not, Obyann said, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling. And guys, remember, you re boys.You re boys.Boys. They ignored him completely, in turn pecking kisses. Don t worry, Rahendo, Arranulf said, laughing, I happen toknow that the farthest we will get is the base camp near Dermolhea.The provisional plan seems to be for the army to take the field atthe first sign of the enemy and meet them in the Renuvian Plains.Usthey will leave behind to guard the camp.We will be quite safe. I doubt that very much, Ryhunzo said, blowing a recalcitrantcurl out of his face. Just to be on the safe side we should makesteamy, passionate, wild, wild love as often as we can anyway, FinalAnswer to All my Questions. Yes, I agree, Rahendo said, that would indeed be the wisestcourse of action. Just out of curiosity, how many pages are there, Nulf my man? Ryhunzo asked.Arranulf shrugged. You ll have to ask Obyann.I just tell them where they will belodging.He keeps the lists and rosters. Ryhunzo looked expectantly at Obyann. Well? Oh, quite a lot. Yes, but exactly? Bonds of Fear 459 Exactly enough, I suppose. Being how many? Obyann began sweating.Just a little. Eh.plenty. Oh, Obie, Rahendo said, I am so, so disappointed in you. You can t count, can you? Ryhunzo asked. Sure I can count, Obyann defended himself indignantly.Ryhunzo took a handful of nuts out of the basket and laid themupon the table. Count them please. No.Why would I? We ll be eating them in a moment and thenthere ll be none anyway. The nuts.Count the nuts. Obyann looked at the determined face at the other side of thetable. All right.Will you leave me alone then? The nuts.Just count the nuts. Sweating, Obyann counted out the nuts. Nine.ten.That s it.Ten nuts.Satisfied, you little tyrant? Without a word, Ryhunzo laid two more nuts on the table. Eleven.twelve, Obyann counted.Another two nuts landed on the table. Eh.twelve.twelve.twelve and some. Another three nuts were laid upon the table. 460 Andrew Ashling Twelve and some more.Now leave me alone. Everybody fell silent. Twelve, Obyann? How come you can count to twelve and nofurther? Arranulf asked softly after a while. Well, I figured I should be able to count my sons, Obyann saiduneasily. Wouldn t want to lose one. Arranulf thought for a while. But, weren t you stopping at eight? Of course I m stopping at eight.But there s bound to be somemishaps. And by mishaps you mean girls, I suppose. Anyway, I saw no reason to learn to count any further. But Obie, that s terrible, Rahendo said, they ll be robbing youblind. That s what you said to make me learn how to read, you littlemanipulator. Can he read? Ryhunzo asked. Oh, well, he can decipher a letter, I suppose.I wouldn t exactlycall it reading. Hey, Obyann intervened, don t talk about me as if I m not here. There s nothing else for it: I ll have to teach him.Counting,adding, subtracting, long division.Is he a quick study, Delight of myDreams? Hey, I m here.Right here, Obyann fumed. Meh, Rahendo went, making a so-so gesture with one ringedhand. Bonds of Fear 461 Look, guys, it is not happening.I mean it this time, Obyannstated firmly. But, Obie, Rahendo pleaded, you have to learn arithmetic. Rithmetic? Obyann looked at Arranulf. Fancy name for counting, Arranulf said. You really must, Obie, Rahendo continued. Look, they ll showyou a long list with numbers and you won t be able to make heads ortails of it.So you ll ask What did the seed cost? and they ll answer Not all that much, my lord.Then you ll ask And what did we getfrom the sale of the grain? and they ll answer Quite a lot, my lord.So you ll say That makes quite a lot minus not all that much andthey ll answer Yes, my lord, which makes just enough to get by. Tens,maybe hundreds of rioghals will disappear in their satchels, neverto be seen or heard of again.It will be a disaster, Obie.The future ofRamaldah depends on you being able to count. Obyann looked unsurely at Arranulf. Actually, I think he s right, big guy. Obyann groaned. That s settled then, Ryhunzo said. So, what s the best way toteach him, my Moonbeam in a Dark Night. Rahendo put one finger to his lips, and wrinkles on his browindicated he was concentrating. Well, teaching Obie is a bit like roasting a chicken and keepingit moist. I m afraid you quite lost me, my Balm on an Open Wound. You know how you have to ladle the juices over a roastingchicken to prevent it from drying out? In much the same manner youladle knowledge over his brain.Most of it drips right off, but tiny, 462 Andrew Ashlingever so tiny bits get absorbed.So, you have to repeat the processover and over and over again
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