Tern said to the largest of the three figures. The ogre was dressed like a human, and Tern didn’t have a lot of experience with ogres in general, since Tern generally avoided the wilderness as a large, dirty place lacking in expensive things to steal.“My people call themselves Besnisti,” the ogre said. She spoke like someone with an education, though the words were muffled by the tusks. The red light of the walls didn’t hit her properly. It was as though she were lit from within somehow.“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Tern said, smiling. “My boyfriend and I were taking a hike by the light of the wall here. We heard that children conceived by its light grow up to be better wizards!”“I’m not certain that the magical emanation would have any beneficial effect upon an unborn child,” Hessler said, and then blinked at her stare and added, “but we thought we might try nevertheless.”“You are thieves,” said the bony woman. “Your lies are an insult.”“Well, I suppose we had better surrender, then,”
