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.
*****
AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, LORAINE CAME
TO HIM. "I'M GOING AWAY. DON'T ASK, AND DON'T
FOLLOW."
HE ARGUED, BUT SHE STOOD FIRM. "YOU HAVE
YOUR DUTY. YOUR HONOR IS YOUR LIFE,
REMEMBER? KEEP YOUR HONOR FOR MY SAKE.
REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE TO ME."
SHE KISSED HIM. HE TRIED TO CATCH HER, BUT
SHE TWISTED OUT OF HIS HOLD AND WAS GONE -
BOTH FROM HIS ARMS AND FROM XAK TSAROTH.
SHE WAS CARRYING A DUFFEL THAT HE HADN'T
EVEN NOTICED SHE'D BROUGHT. HURT, HE
WATCHED HER WALK AWAY. AS THE WINDS FROM
THE SIDE STREETS BLEW ACROSS HER, SHE
CAREFULLY PATTED HER HAIR IN PLACE OVER HER
EARS. SHE DID NOT LOOK BACK.
MORAN RETURNED TO HIS STUDIES. YEARS
LATER, WHEN HE HEARD THAT LORAINE HAD
RETURNED, HE DIDN'T GO TO VISIT HER.
*****
Tarli knocked. For once, Moran didn't put on the Mask,
but left his face as gentle and weary as he'd seen it in the
mirror. "Come in."
Tarli had his duffel and thonged stick with him. He
looked at Moran quizzically. "I've never seen you at your
desk. Is that where you wrote THE BRIGHTBLADE
TACTICS?"
"Yes." Moran gestured at the other chair. "Sit down."
Without further delays, he began: "Tarli, I've watched
your progress these past few weeks
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