'No, sir!' Duvain responded at full volume, fighting the urge to wipe the moisture from his ear. 'So you think you're good enough to join Onyx Battalion, eh?' Spittle flew from the corporal's mouth. Endyn's brutish exterior hid a kind, gentle soul. He'd learned to take the abuse better he endure the stream of derision than letting Endyn, always an easy target, suffer under the shouts and stares of those who met him. Corporal Rold's words rolled off him-his father had been particularly creative with his insults after a few cups of agor. 'And you're not much better, shite-for-brains! Here I thought the big one was the ugliest of the lot, yet you look like some afterbirth disgorged from a demon's taint.'ĭuvain managed to keep the smile from his face. The movement drew the corporal's attention. 'Quite frankly, I'm sick just imagining the draconic-looking slit that managed to spew you out.'ĭuvain shifted and coughed.

'I'd say you have a face only a mother could love, but I can still see traces of the Keeper-damned raptor's egg you crawled out of.' Though he didn't even reach Endyn's chest-few men did-his volume more than made up for the size difference. Endyn bore the tirade with his usual stoic silence, but Duvain recognized the hardening around his brother's mouth, his typical response to the mockery he always drew. 'I've never seen a man so ugly a whore'd kick him out of bed, but blacken my boots, if you ain't the exception to the rule.'ĭuvain winced.

'Keeper's beard, boy, you're one hell of an overgrown bastard!' Corporal Rold, a large man with a heavy black beard, dark eyes, and craggy face, shouted up at Endyn.

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Ragged Heroes by Andy Peloquin