‘Were you beautiful once, Emroth?’ ‘I do not remember.’ ‘I was hopeless with women,’ Hedge said. ‘My ears are too big – yes, that’s why I wear this leather cap. And I got knobby knees. It’s why I became a soldier, you know. To meet women. And then I discovered that women soldiers are scary. I mean, a lot more scary than normal women, which is saying something. I guess with you Imass, well, everyone was a warrior, right?’ ‘I understand,’ Emroth said. ‘You do? Understand what?’ ‘Why you have no companions, Hedge of the Bridgeburners.’ ‘You’re not going to turn into a cloud of dust on me, are
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