Chapter 7Liefer eased off a display visor and laid it gently on the table as Taithur entered.
“I’m sorry,” said Taithur. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Liefer looked up at the younger man and reflected that while Taithur’s courage and sincerity drew people to him, it was by such small courtesies that they were bound to him. A man of words, Liefer never quite found the one he wanted to describe this quality. Taithur was humble without being obsequious, bold and authoritative without being aggressive. Harsh in judgement of his own mistakes but compassionate and patient with those of others. He was a difficult man to encompass briefly. Not like that firebrand Konrad — explosive, was the word for him.
Then, as if triggered by the word, a surge of memories burst into his mind and in that br
