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Lefun and Ritun grinned, showing big holes in their bites; those teeth that remained looked overlong, sticking at all angles out of blistered gums.
"A mannerly boy he be," Lefun said to Ritun, and turned back to Garmund. "Your Pa be proud of you, wager we."
Falco could not hold his peace any longer. "How long have you been here? Why do you live here? Or there more like you? How old are you? Surely you were among other folk once up on a time? How did they treat you? Or did they fear you, or you them?"
Lefun and Ritun closed their gappy mouths and their eyes drooped, looking pained.
"Folk are mean," Lefun said simply. "Folk bigger than you leastway. Here we hide. Lost count of winters here we have."
"You'd be safe enough at the Mead Hall, I'd wager," Falco ventured.
The twins frowned. "We'll not leave. None come here till you."
"But word will get out now, surely," Falco said, "for though Garmund and I can keep a secret, there's no surety that Thornden and the other will."
The twins scowled. "Then leave here we shall, and hide elsewhere."
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