“The men in front of you will now perform the Stance of Life, a series of moves designed to protect.” O'Bellah's voice rang false with every word that dripped from his acid tongue, and Ju wanted none of it. The rest of the crowd was totally taken in by the spectacle, and murmured in amazement as the gathered men in front of them shifted into different patterns of sinuous movements. Each time they moved it was in direct response to a word shouted by a leather-clad man with his hair tied in braids. He was obviously related to the men, partway between the biggest and smallest, but showing the traits of both. These were not a local people. The hall was silent in response to the strange shouts and smoothly flowing responses. The commands were less recognisable than the shouts by the fighters, a
