| "Ha! Devils and abominations are we? It seems that unreasoning prejudice
is not confined to humankind," Astra responded contemptuously. "I would
have hoped for better from those who must often be the victims of prejudice
themselves. Arguing with you is clearly a waste of time. But I warn you
that my companion and I are trained warriors and, though these bodies may
be different from what we are used to, we will still sell our lives dearly."
Shabot did not respond to Astra directly, but instead asked: "What did you want with Synizn?" "None of your business," said Fred curtly. "Anyway, I thought you said he was paranoid for worrying about what the dragons were up to, yet you seem to be equally paranoid about them yourselves." "I said what I did about Synizn so that you should not suspect anything. It was all lies. That you were seeking him is as good as an admission of guilt, for he is a were-bear himself, and suspected of being a dragon's creature. "We don't imtend to fight you, for were-creatures are hard to kill unless one has weapons of silver, which we do not. And no doubt you have sorcerous defences that would make attacking you dangerous...
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