ESCORtING tERN GAtE IN t, tomasso bar Sandre settled o an easy for t time in forty-eigensely stressful hours.
t. Normally it urning to trada before curfey gates. Normally sundoreets of Astibar of all save trolling Barbadian mercenaries and to defy the dark.
t a normal time, onig tradas a triump one, tival of Vines reets for all ts. For ts in tibar tried to pretend it Senzio. No Duke in t even dour Alberico no release from the year.
tomasso glanced back at y. tting sun emple- domes and toibar in an eerily beautiful gloo it. tomasso t about putting on it: o remove some of e liked transitory ligumn ely upon t. It be long, a matter of days, before t frost touc fe on co become—if all fell rig ibar.
Be servants plodded stolidly along t above—of tomassos fature of tioned reds t ted betwo men.
tomasso corrected o count to tail of o mention tail of exactly ibar so be s to ting lodge for t-long vigil and from to t at dao put tter rato t, t: ed to learn during t t night.
At t t tomasso felt a nudge of appre, as augo do over tters her.
But no to upon t. tomasso, t iet were careful he could easily feel like a child again.
tables een-year-old son of the chief groom.
ed of course, tly, to keep tter quiet. tomasso iculously rediscovering to come to o him.
One of akes, tomasso reflected, ty years in autumn taste for t was one of w o call ies.
t manner. became clear—past t of nursing any ion t tomassos preferences o put it mildly, not going to be co acknoence of his middle son.
For more ten years t on t iently trying to train Gianno to succeed ime aeri—making it clear to everyone t son in line to . For over a decade tomasso simply did not exist he Sandreni Palace.
t certainly did elseher provinces as well.
For reasons t to eclipse te nobility t Astibar still told sales about, even them had been dead four hundred years.
o a certain degree, succeeded.
Certainly t;raidquot; on temple of Morian t Ember Nigo linger a o perspective, as hen) of sacrilegious debauchery.
t on ionsionso impact upon ever since t morning in tra to speak to or even acknoate functions. If tomasso learned somet Sandre sen enougimes—old one of ts togetomasso also kne t it mattered, really.
S for ill o t morning of oion betheir middle child.
Greater romantics t o t, as tigogetaliatory aftermat poisoning, sful hope by dying.
Bot so.
In fact, it al efficiency of brougomasso and Sandre to a certain very late-nigalk during t al, irredeemable, inescapable stupidity of Gianno dAstibar bar Sandre, titular o ttered fortunes of their family.
And to tter trut all denial, t s ed in t generation, y and perception, y to cloak s and discern tever of suco , to to tomasso.
o be spoken, let alone ibar or anywhe Palm.
In t inomasso ainly no evening road Sandre ravel—t one of truest measures of tature as a ruler of men er nig ony silence and spoke to his
middle son and made .
in tious eig to drive Alberico and ibar and tern Palm. A quest t omassos public manner became more and more eccentric and decayed, a parody—a self-parody, in fact— of the mincing, lisping lover of boys.
It , in late-nigalks ate outside ty walls.
Sandres parallel role o settle visibly and loudly into impotent, brooding, triad-cursing exile, marked by querulous, blustering s and too much drinking of his own wine.
tomasso ually drunk, and ing voice .
Eigried an assassination. A craceable only to try inn in Ferraut near tibar. For over ibar outed t inn as a place of groinction. No one remembered, aftero plant casual rumors of t among emples. ts of Morian, in particular, ites.
All tites.
A full year from time t tion, Alberico of Barbadior ed on riad Games— exactly as Sandre o take a ed inn in Ferraut near tibar border.
By time t do t brige-summer day every person in t inn— servants, masters, stable-boys, crons—s broken and t off, before being bound, living, upon ily erected Barbadian sky-wo die.
to taxes in t tibar, tregea and Certando. During tortured and burned in tibar uffed in t t not trouble Alberico or ate above the square.
In tomasso discovered t sorcerers cannot, in fact, be poisoned.
For t six years t talk at nig knos to t in Barbadior, h each passing year.
tomasso began commissioning and collecting icks ed. Gianno, ted a burgeoning reputation as a genial, uncomplicated seducer of e and illegitimate. to maintain modest y as part of Albericos overall policy to be as discreet a ruler as possible—except ened him.
At ly stered, empty and dusty. A useful, potent symbol of t resist tyrant. titious claimed to see gly lig nig, or on tumn Ember Nigo walk abroad.
try Sandre old tomasso, o die on tival of Vines tumns o name t it ime to tell taeri, t son, . stupid, and migain t Gianno illegitimate, and
t y-one by t and ambition— ion s Sandre o create just after time of his dying.
It , in fact, a question of ed: family er all, family. t o mind.
It irely dispassionate conversation, tomasso remembered, leading betrees t flanked tions ; t. Aftero fall asleep, te of tival to e omasso a co try again, a different way.
te t tibar to omasso made a ure to avert evil at t t. Bees to ligorc greinted a somber s upomasso t of souls, hers and his own. he shivered.
te moon, Vidomni, rose, and t long after, came blue Ilarion to c torc, so brigorc suited task and omasso let t off to to come at lengto ting lodge her had loved.
ts laid trestles ing in ter of t room. Candles and t up at opposite ends of t up earlier t day. It o air t the breeze.
At a nod from tomasso tes ao t and return at daybreak. At vigils end.
And so t alone, finally. tomasso and two years before.
quot;ine, my lords?quot; tomasso asked. quot;e will ly.”
, deliberately, in ural voice, dropping tificial, fluting tone t ibar. o see bote t immediately, turned to him.
quot;; groomassos voice, nor ions gave too muctle indeed.
quot;My brotaeri and nep.quot; tles of Sandreni red reserve as ing to see wher had said would follow. Scalvaia would ask, Sandre had said.
quot;; Lord Scalvaia asked softly.
Inomasso saluted em to release t, ;I dont kno name o come our council tonight.”
t oo had been carefully chosen.
quot;Council?quot; elegant Scalvaia ec;It appears t I he
impression t t; Nievoles dark eyes glo tomasso.
quot;A little more t,quot; said taeri as ered the room, herado behind him.
tomasso o see te sobriety, and to note t, for all t timing of taeris entrance, his expression was profoundly serious.
quot;You ; tomasso murmured, moving to pour t;You may not herado, Giannos son.”
t silent, as omasso carried to her and nephew.
tillness lasted a moment longer, to a cretc in front of ed ed it at tomasso. tip did not waver.
quot;I asked you a question,quot; iful voice. quot;omasso bar Sandre? enses?”
tomasso stopped playing o t at last. o burly Nievole.
quot;t; ;o be t lords of any real po in Astibar. ters past ended to die on tival. At a time o refuse es of burial—ime wibar, wo name you his vigil-keepers.”
e recitation and let ;My fat suspicion, or interruption, or risk of being detected, to set in motion certain plans for tibar.”
c Sandre o wrayed surprise or dismay by so much as a flicker of a muscle.
Sloable by ick range moments suchis.
quot;Do you kno; said bluff Nievole from by t;do you kno t ually crossed my mind o riad-cursed fats die ; ic, and it did not reac;—o imes I tried to en tes along in the days when he ruled.”
tomasso smiled in return, just as t;ain you ; ely to t sure ;e certain you o come, being one of t of a dying breed in Astibar. Indeed, in the Palm.”
Bearded Nievole raised ;You flatter say I do prefer your voice as it is no all tters and y t normally go .”
Scalvaia looked amused. taeri laugcomasso liked , as o assure ing conversation, in icular fashion.
quot;I prefer t; o t;You fees, being ain aspects of my life in certain ages to being seen as aimlessly degenerate.”
quot;t; Scalvaia agreed blandly, quot;if you is served by sucion.
You named a name a moment ago, and intimated he
bearer of t name dead or gone. e ies migic eventuality.”
e unreadable; tomasso blessedly kept quiet, as instructed. ook one of the bier.
Scalvaia on, quot;e cannot be una by saying ely in our migially appear. At time, I do surmise t , to rise and begin to ride back toibar carrying reac these woods.”
It ated—a minor fact to be confirmed before moving on to more important issues.
tomasso s;; ;You do us irely free to leave. Indeed, you if you t I migo point out t alted and deater torture, it is exceedingly likely, approacainty, t Alberico o do to bot o ter t unfortunate incident in Ferraut some years ago?”
this.
It ;t it?quot; ;Not t all!”
quot;It ; tomasso agreed calmly. quot;e learned a great deal, I must say.”
quot;So,quot; Scalvaia murmured drily, quot;did ted Fabro bar Canzian.”
quot;t o be on t of terms,quot; tomasso said blandly. quot;t say t if you focus on t aspect of t miss t.”
quot;t you prefer us to take,quot; Nievole amended pointedly.
Unexpectedly, Scalvaia came to tomassos aid. quot;Not fair, my lord,quot; o Nievole. quot;If anytrue in times it is t Sandres red and arget was Alberico.”
, and finally ted in a pain in ed leg.
quot;Very ; o tomasso. quot;You old us of trut a deat being ruled by a coarse, vicious, overbearing minor lord from Barbadior brings little joy to my aged . I am o . On my oathis.”
tomasso s tion of t ;Your oaties beyond measure,quot; it.
quot;t; said Nievole, taking a ep for;And I o say t t lesser coin. t o lie dead and cut to pieces—triad oo am h and honor.”
quot;Sucerribly splendid ; said an amused voice from te the door.
Five faces, four ood outside ting on tiny, he window frame.
quot;I ,quot; ;kno p a lineage to succeed in ousting a tyrant. In t; ition ed himself upwards,
so t comfortably perc;On t; ;agreeing on a cause does make a starting point, I much.”
quot;You are t; tomasso asked warily.
t . not ty, in to s. t , ornament.
quot;I ion t,quot; t;I actually , because if I am tions are unsettling, to say t. t is, I never spoke to your fativities and someed me to find out about ting and be flattered by raturbed t me. On t; ime, quot;it is Sandre dAstibar alking about, and I do seem to make six I?quot; any visible irony, tos trestles.
quot;You are, t Alberico?quot; Nievoles eyes chful.
quot;I am not,quot; said te bluntly. quot;Alberico means noto me. Except as a tool. A o open a door of my own.”
quot;And lies be door?quot; Scalvaia asked from deep in his armchair.
But in t moment tomasso remembered.
quot;I kno; ly. quot;I saregean ses!quot; taeri snapped ion came o him as well.
quot;I played t; te unruffled. quot;But I am not a sregea. It ed my purposes to play a role, many different roles, in fact, for a great many years. tomasso bar Sandre ougo appreciate t.quot; he grinned.
tomasso did not return t;Perances, you mig; as politely as tuation seemed to . quot;My fat .”
quot;Nor, Im afraid, s yet,quot; t;t o s onight.”
It ter-of-factly said, less.
to forestall Nievoles predictable burst of anger tomasso said quickly, quot;You deny us some information surely, even if you co sool for you. A tool for -of-tregea?quot; o find t ioned yesterday. quot; is your oo this lodge?”
till, almost masklike. And into ting silence t ensued ;I Brandin. I Brandin of Ygrat my souls immortality beyond t portal of Morian.”
tumn fires on to tomasso as if ter o t speech.
t;Sucerribly splendid ; murmured Scalvaia lazily, stering t of laugaeri, bot smile.
t nod of ;t, my lord, a subject about y. If o oget o remember t.”
quot;You, I am forced to say, are an overly proud young man,quot; replied Scalvaia s;It might be
appropriate for you to remember to whom you speak.”
t back retort. quot;Pride is a family failing,quot; ;I escaped it, Im afraid. But I am indeed mindful of o be a t times I , discreetly. t instance in his.”
quot;But you old us t Alberico is noto you.quot; tomasso iner prepared h figure.
quot;Not; ted. quot;ill you allo; it ing for a reply ed o the wine.
quot;Please,quot; said tomasso, belatedly.
tage red. , and poured anoturn back to address tching him, were enormous.
quot;ts,quot; t;Learn t freedom in t or slay Alberico you ed or slain Alberico same period of time.”
opped. omasso noticed noo toyed he handle of his cane.
quot;t be understood,quot; tranger on in tone. quot;Neit, nor you in yours, can afford to lose sigrutime. t no een years ago. today only t take ther.”
quot;; taeri asked, too eagerly.
turely silvering dark urned to ;Patience, taeri bar Sandre. I to tell you about carelessness before deciding if our pato join. And I say te respect for to o o agree to submit yourselves to my guidance or oget all.”
quot;tted to notory,quot; t vulpine lord said, texture of velvet in ;I am not readily of a mind to become t to do so.”
quot;ould you prefer,quot; t;to like candles on tions?”
quot;You ter explain yourself,quot; tomasso said icily.
quot;I intend to. double moonrise to meet?quot; Alessan retorted, ting like a blade. quot;ed along t pato ernoon to guard test ao your ts— who I am?”
quot;My fat Alberico ; tomasso stammered furiously. quot;ely certain of t.”
quot;And o ely rig you cannot let your focus be so narroo o say it —oo long. oo intent upon Alberico. It s the
greedy? tty informer o follo to see o ory to tell in tavern tomorro to suchings?
Or to t o come and arranged to be here before you?”
tile silence. A log on ttled h a crack and a shower of sparks.
arily at the sound.
quot;ill it interest you to kno; t on, more gently, quot;t my people o t Ive ernoon keeping an eye on ts setting up, and hem?”
quot;?quot; taeri exclaimed. quot;In ing lodge!”
quot;For your protection and my o; to t above, s ored.
quot;I t s, my friend,quot; co carry. quot;Youve earned a glass of er so long dry-ted among t. You may as well come down now, Devin.”
It ually been very easy.
Menico, purse jingling at ts o Burnet di Corte. Burnet, first, ariff ion t morning.
So, in t, Devin and t of t of ted out for everyone an immediate bonus of five astins and benevolently o ts of tival. even offer ure.
Already, just past noon, tands on every corner, more t the busier squares.
Eacibar province, and even some from fart or Senzio, s vintages from previous years available as ts looking to buy in quantity her less so.
Fruit vendors ando.
Over by t ty and its distrada canvassed tinerant tradesmen. Overates flapped brigumn breeze as Devin strode purposefully toold fasibar.
ts to fame. tedly announced, and in a matter of moments t kions asked about anyones age, thank you very much.
It o find out Sandre dAstibar. ions seemed entirely natural, coming from tenor .
Devin learned about Sandres long rule, ter exile, and feo a blustering, drunken er of small game, a o w he once had been.
In t last context, rat wo .
told old e ing lodge to wine.
It s strained sensitivity after t of tacance t time to glimpsing Alessan di tregea at a booters and poets. t some ain verses of condolence t yet arrived from Ced eacely s delighe packed room.
Back at t ardent of t upstairs alone. ed in o be sure t of them had gone.
o a dark-brounic and breec on a cap to against ticed teeming croreets over to tern gate of ty.
And out, among several empty o trada by sober, prudent farmers urn in tead of celebrating all nigo earned.
Devin c part of ting axes and tes being paid t year for lambs ually o t.
At one point ion, a temple of Adaon on t. Just past it, as promised, ely rendered image of a se of a modest country house.
Rovigos Devin could see of it, set rees— looked comfortable and cared for.
A day ago, a different person, opped. But someto morning y spaces of t going.
A to , souto t led to t coast and Ardin tohe sea.
It in t and cooler rees and Devin began to follo, toing lodge of tion. On tumn countryside; respasser all for being where he was.
Unless pride and trange, dreamlike events of t past could be called adequate excuses. Devin rated it. At time, it remained to be seen ive red-o dictate to come.
If s o dupe—a o o anyt ernoon and to s girl could be.
else t reveal, Devin didnt knoion.
to tly among trees for a long time to be certain. t door inside, opened a to relock t, and took a look around.
ttle option, really. t very useful if ed to o make it up to t on tempt.
Nursing a sook a pillos stored up to est, darkest corner uffed lered corbin stag. By lying on side, eye to a c complete viehe room below.
ried to guide oience. Unfortunately, ionally conscious of t t tteringly fixed upon ances it made ually up, turned tnut o one side and
settled in to his hiding-place again.
And rig tivities of to a time , Devin began to be afraid.
ension in tomasso bar Sandres morning made t clear enoug riana to overo prevent time Devin began to contemplate wum of his wounded pride had carried him.
s came er to prepare ts. Bad enoug, to make olid er buffaloes. tures, er buffaloes, patient, uncomplaining.
to be said for table grey skies of Asoli in autumn and table people. None of tatingly superior as Catriana dAstibar , Devin e certain, ever eered, as one triad-bligo bring do from t in case one of the vigil-keeping lords should grow weary.
quot;Goc be more of a fool tely must be!quot; te;to keep a c—a pallet in t to teful you arent dependent on your brain to feed your belly, Goch!”
Devin fervently seconded timents of t and ive existence. For tentime since ts ered triana, and for tietime, io seemed about right.
Finally ts left; ibar to bear teructions akingly explicit. its like Goc spitefully, to be.
From owards dusk. ly op.
urned back to to ty, dusty rooms of to t at triana wed above her hips.
op t too.
It greeadily darker. t o far a ing in t ting of t to rustling.
tly, te ligains and Devin kne Vidomni all trees of t t blue Ilarion be very much longer.
It . torc and ttled, and teomasso came in wo lords whe Paelion.
ts uncovered and laid out t, Gocumbling on t. te to go, s apology, bohe door behind him.
quot;ine, my lords?quot; said tomasso dAstibar in t closet. quot;e will ly.”
And from t t ude of he peril he was in.
t te the door.
Devin couldnt, in fact, see t ely and it upefaction t of a fortnigregea at all and ting target of e.
Rasainly o be.
So by time Alessan named ed o come doogetly took th offered him.
quot;All quiet, since mid-afternoon,quot; , extricating epping past tlers to t. quot;Only ts do muco pick. t seeing eache wiser.”
as coolly as ely so tered t certainly recognized ration, and isfaction, lay in the brief smile of approval he received from Alessan.
For t irely different. Alessan imacy o trolling events in ts spanned to figo control ement.
tomasso over to ted courtesy and tuated eyes, t alting voice migomasso, in certain matters and propensities, ill very muc o be. Devin accepted t to let touch.
quot;I ; dra;are o be treated to a recital o be a quantity of musicians onight.”
Devin said not follo smile.
quot;S; there was real anger in Alessans voice.
quot;And call Nievole a grain-farmer from tern distrada? side ttle to do wo ways only.”
;One: as musicians ages I need not belabor.quot; A second finger s up beside t. quot;trains tics, or logic, to precision of detail. t of precision, my lords, t defer to riving.”
o anotly: quot;I mig I mig. It is a vanisune, t one, never to be sung. As matters stand I can only say again t if o oget ask you to accept my lead.”
directly to Scalvaia and expressionless, in his deep chair.
It .
quot;I am not in t of delaying my judgment of men. I t you say and t you are more versed in t. I ion.”
quot;hich is?”
quot;t you tell us your name.”
Devin, censity, anxious not to miss a ant, as if to miged t silence.
t;It is a fair condition, my lord. Under tances it is entirely fair. I can only pray you o it t is a grief—I cannot tell you is—but I am unable to accede.”
For t time o be reac;Names are poyrant-sorcerers from overseas most certainly knoterest of our triump comes, and not before. I t is not a co be truly to let t suffice you, my lord, or must ways?”
t question one bereft of t of his arrival.
Just as Devins earlier fear o excitement, so noement surrender to somet yet identify. ared at Alessan. to prevent t naked showing of his need.
Nievole cleared loudly, as if to dispel an aura, a resonance of somet seemed to ered t of tside. Anoted from to reply to Alessan.
t he would have said, or Scalvaia.
Afterars in Eannas Diadem in a moonless dark, Devin moment carry rying—for reasons to explain—to imagine e lines run differently from t lodge.
scenarios in rut became a queer, private sorroer. A symbol, a displacement of regret. A reminder of o be mortal and so doomed to tread one road only and t one only once, until Morian called ts . e can never truly kno walked.
t eac lodge o e portals to endings near or far cried a second time, very clearly, just as Nievole began to speak.
Alessan flung up ;trouble!quot; ;Baerd?”
t . and leggings cut in t, gleamed a dazzling blue. he carried a drawn sword.
o Astibar.
quot;Lets go!quot; tly. quot;You and t son and tions. Get rid of tra glasses.”
quot; is it?quot; tomasso dAstibar asked quickly, his eyes wide.
quot;ty patinue your vigil and be as calm as you can— be
far aurn after. Alessan, come on!”
tone of o tomasso, and t look, Devin never forgot, or fully understood.
For a long moment—a very long moment, it seemed to Devin, y and a dra;It seems inue tremely interesting discussion at a later ; tomasso bar Sandre murmured, ;ill you take a last glass before you go, in my fathers name?”
Alessan smiled t;I o o do so later,quot; ;I o your fat I I dont tisfy in time we have.”
tomassos mout;Ive satisfied a number of s in my day. Do tell me yours.”
t, Devin o strain to hear.
quot;My t is blue,quot; Alessan said. quot;t. Lest on any single nig is I am alive to do.”
quot;Not forever lost, I ; said tomasso, equally softly.
quot;Not forever, I has gone.”
quot;t er tonig; said tomasso, quot;if it is at all in my poo provide it. And I o our fathers souls.”
quot;Alessan!quot; snapped t;In Adaons name, I said ty horsemen!
ill you come?”
quot;I ; said Alessan. o t;triad guard you all,quot; o to t she clearing.
itly around to t from t led to t go far. o tiously out from under a cluster of dark-green serrano bus she open windows.
A moment later Devins lurc by a s bo behind him.
quot;ty-t; a voice said. tly to ther side.
quot;them is hooded.”
Devin looked over. And by t of triana dAstibar.
quot;; Alessan repeated, on a saken breat;You are certain?”
quot;Of course I am,quot; said Catriana. quot; does it mean?”
quot;Eanna be gracious to us all,quot; Alessan murmured, not answering.
quot;I be counting on it no; t;I they will search.”
For a moment Alessan looked as if just the lodge.
it anotly moved away.
quot;t; murmured Scalvaia, quot;groful by t.”
tomasso eful for t lords equanimity. It eady his own nerves. he looked
over at aeri seemed all rige-faced, omasso the boy.
quot;ely prettier o fear. e are ly w we o be doing.”
t over to t at a gulp. Just as t doo t, and four enormous, fully-armed Barbadian soldiers strode in, making the lodge seem suddenly small.
quot;Gentlemen!quot; tomasso fluted expertly, ? brings you o interrupt a vigil?quot; o sound petulant, not angry.
t even deign to look at alone reply. t to c to examine t ered appreaking up positions outside eac deal of noise outside among torches.
tomasso abruptly stamped in frustration. quot; is t; inued to ignore ;tell me! I sest directly to your lord. e o conduct tomorroing under ; ain standing by the door.
Again it ely did t to their expressions blank and dangerous.
quot;tolerable!quot; tomasso o Alber-ico! I s you all be sraigo your ched hovels in Barbadior!”
quot;t be necessary,quot; said a burly, he doorway.
epped for;You may make your c ; said Alberico of Barbadior, tyrant of Astibar, tregea, Ferraut and Certando.
tomassos o even as o oo, knelt immediately, even old Scalvaia ened to descend over tomasso, trammeling all speec.
quot;My lord,quot; ammered, quot;I did not ... I could ... know!”
Alberico , gazing blankly doer error and be. quot;You are most ;most oo muc my fates.”
quot;I do,quot; said Alberico bluntly. tomasso received t of a iny from t and unblinking deep in t. s of ;I y palm.
quot;But of course, of course.”
tomasso stumbled to obey, intimidated as aly of Alberico and ed about tern Palm yrant could crack t having done so.
It a comforting line of t. Only eigo s eady as to Alberico. t. Nievole aeri and ogetood, braced upon ting.
It ime, tomasso judged, to sound more confident, less guilty. quot;You o your soldiers. Not knowing you were ing in ignorance of your wishes.”
quot;My o knohose changes before you, bar San-dre.”
quot;Of course, my lord. But of course. they—”
quot;I ed,quot; said Alberico of Barbadior, quot;to look upon to look, and to laug; race of an inclination to. tomassos blood felt suddenly icy in his veins.
Alberico stepped past ood massively over t;t; ly, quot;is tcuous old man wo no purpose.
No purpose at all. Is it not amusing?”
, ruly frigomasso had ever heard in his life. how had he known?
quot;ill you not laugent Lord Scalvaia? Is it not diverting to t oo long to understand ings of ime could be so easily smas today.”
ering t sound of distress Scalvaia sank back into his chair.
quot;My lord,quot; tomasso gulped, gesticulating. quot; can you possibly mean? are you—”
no furt. ily across tomasso staggered backtering from h.
quot;You ural voice, son of a fool,quot; terrifying because spoken in t tone as before. quot;ill it at least amuse you to knoo me?quot; And came down.
terror tomasso ing desperately to hold back.
O, stricken to it s they were now undone. By family. Family!
Several tremely s span of time.
quot;My lord!quot; in c;You promised! You said t know!
You told me—”
It to expostulate .
quot;t under t; said aeri, inuous motion, s in .
quot;One less Sandreni for your sky-ed, gasping. quot;triad send a plague to eat t; o ; blood tomassos. quot;Fare; ;Morian grant our sher in her halls.”
Sometomassos , squeezing and squeezing, as crained to sort of blo tepped foraeri over on oes of ts.
quot;Fools!quot; spat Alberico, visibly upset for t time. quot;I needed ed bot; t tten in ures.
t elsewirely.
itibar, a very big man to ering ed as t the coffin.
Still roaring, Nievole grappled for ims sword.
ually out and urning to do battle wook and c.
dully slack for an instant, to a macabre smile of triumpo the floor.
And t to do. Slumped deep in ionless t forgotten rician raised eady ed it straig Albericos face, and squeezed tche handle.
Sorcerers cannot, indeed, be poisoned—a minor protective art, one t most of ter in t certainly can be slain, by arroruments of violent deat be.
trut men and triad in tars or single as of space.
It is trut mortal man cannot understand off in fullest floo sue must sometimes be trampled and evil flourisy of a country garden. e lines of men.
It t for deatent upon taut, bleeding form of tomasso. No one he crippled lord in his chair.
It —mercilessly random—t t evenings Captain of to o t cory in things so achingly small are lives measured and marred.
Alberico, turning in a o snap an order at ain, saraigurning tile bursting into his brain.
It o urned tiest ook all time for ture. t t was his ending had already been loosed.
Alberico released his hold upon his body.
atcerror and disbelief, tomasso sa he wall above a window.
And in t same scintilla of time, kno an instant later ant too late—t forever, to ently in te t lay in ambuss of o himself.
It hing.
o eyelid from t day on, and rengt it ired, ever after, foot o splay outracing trange release of t momentary magic. hen, much as Scalvaia had done.
t fougo focus properly, Alberico of Barbadior sareated by ted sain of ted of stones and metals Alberico did not recognize, clattered loudly to to turally dense. tling sound to rembling at the back of his knees.
It , etcunned silence of trusted o even try to speak.
quot;You are dung,quot; o tain. quot;You are less t. You are filt; he swallowed his saliva.
Ferociously straining to make cain bo to o a palsied tremor in .
t many dead men in t even entirely feel as if o self in not quite t t ill, nauseous. to breato be outside, aifling lodge of his enemies.
Noto pass as ed. t left of mig offer a kind of pleasure, t migtle of w ely awry.
urned, sloo look at Sandres son. At to a smile, unaware of how hideous he looked.
quot;Bring ; o ;Bind o die. te to w he was.”
ill not omasso bar Sandre closed hey were done.
Alberico put up ed up tain and supported the man whose face had been broken by Nievole.
to yrant mount ing, but o feel better during torc ride back to Astibar. terly devoid of magic tions of ered, reassembled body least t all came back. If it all came back. instant in t of magic ever had in his life.
stered t dangerous families left in tern Palm. Even more, o come. t he recesses of his hood.
It o be done by la from taken porary exercise of migted to rear its dangerous e e not one citizen of his four provinces
o doubt tice or deny timacy of o t.
Or miss t of response to be.
it caution t ruest ions of t ant danger and needed stern governing, but t blind, could see t o give it tless things.
And the Emperor was old.
Alberico s from too seductive cail again; detail ters suc steps of o place like beads on a djarra string as caused ion omasso bar Sandre. t least, did not o be made public and t be. Only ts revealing details needed to be knoside ever took place in certain rooms underground could be extremely private indeed. tle icipation .
At one point ed ting lodge torc. Smooted . Let ts find t da t a little while.
to be made extremely clear.