Erden

I heard a strange drum had been set down at our valley's hearth and laughed the whole day. Laughing is the cheapest thing there is.

• SorongoBrother, your laughter always gets billed later.
  ErdenSo buy it now. While it's cheap.
• BatmaYou laughed just like that in front of your father, too.
  ErdenWet-nurse, your old stories come cheap.
• ArjanThe bone cracked two ways. The laughing side was shallower.

The snow's shallow enough here that even a hoof can dig up grass. I said split it in half. I never said take it all.

• HargalI've never once seen a clan winter through on a pasture split in half.
  ErdenThe trouble with old men is they've seen too much.
• JurgaWe've no cattle left already. Just twenty-three mouths.
  ErdenTwenty-three. That's not a number I have to count.