"I have heirs enough now; my lands are safe. It is time to undo the damage my folk did long years since. Time to redress old grievances, time to bring ancient enemies together in peace.""Are you sure this is your task?" The woman stood by the fireplace, leaning one arm on the mantel; it shadowed her face, but the firelight brought out the gleam of silver in her belt, in the hilt of a dagger at her hip, and glinted from the crescent symbol of Gird that hung from a thong around her neck. And in shadow or sun or firelight, nothing dimmed the silver circle on her brow. Paksenarrion, paladin of Gird, the king's friend and former soldier."I'm sure. My grandmother, that Lady you met, said the present ruin was in part my fault—I cannot argue. And the original problem, too, comes from my ancestors." He gestured to the table behind him, with its litter of scrolls and books. "The Pargunese, in their rough way, have the right of it: they were free Seafolk, whom my ancestors sought to enslave—""As they had enslaved the Dzordanyans?""Perhaps.
