He and his men were here before the invaders, the merchants, the well-wishers, the miners. Before the strangers.

And here they will stay, here they will wait. He nods with the bow, watching the pyres burn and his creatures perform their duties, and just as the living man makes his excuses, he calls a follower close and leans to present his hair. The creature slices part of the braid, and Anurr offers it to the man with a slow hand. "T o Re MEmB Er M E by."