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Thornden entered. The smithy was still warm from the day’s fire. “No, we have not heard back from Garwine or Athanar’s man. We expect them back late tonight. I can tell you of today’s work, though.” And he did so, telling him what had passed in a concise way that neither embellished what had happened nor downplayed it. “We completed what we set to do, at least,” he finished. “They promised to send the grain and animals within the next week. We’ll soon be well set for winter.”
When he ended, they were both silent a moment. Harreld continued to polish away at the utensils. Thornden’s eyes were fixed on the glowing embers in the furnace while he thought about what he wanted to say next. After a while of contemplating several ways of making the approach in a side-ways, or indirect manner, he decided that going straight at it was probably going to be the best way.
“Did the letter for Ginna’s father not bear the news you two were expecting?” he asked.
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