[…] the Ximenean camp […] makes up the hardliners, setters and solvers who insist on every clue being thoroughly sound in both grammar and execution […]

It's worse," gulped a choky voice.

The next stop was the house of the gup (the village headman), who was once the reputed strongman of Merak, famous for being able to lift a young bull yak and place it on his back.

In sharpest perils faithful proved, Let his soul love thee to the end.