“This is the ashwood. The gateway to the Cera Huo.” Mal took out his map. “I don’t see it.” “It’s a story. There was a massacre here.” “A battle?” I asked. “No. A Shu battalion was brought here by their enemies. They were prisoners of war.” “Which enemies?” asked Harshaw. Tolya shrugged. “Ravkan, Fjerdan, maybe other Shu. This was old days.” “What happened to them?” “They starved, and when the hunger became too great, they turned on each other. It’s said the last man standing planted a tree for each of his fallen brethren. And now they wait for travelers to pass too close to their branches, so
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