ESC    tERN GAtE IN t, tomasso bar Satled o an easy    for t time in forty-eigensely stressful hours.

        t. Normally it urning to trada before curfey gates. Normally sus of Astibar of all save trolling Barbadian meraries and to defy the dark.

        t a normal time, onig tradas    a triump oival of Vines reets for all ts. For ts in tibar tried to pretend it    Senzio. No Duke in t even dour Alberio 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 bee—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 t 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 redisc to e 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 aoence of his middle son.

        For more ten years t on t iently trying to train Gianno to succeed ime aeri—making it clear to everyo    son    in lio . For over a decade tomasso simply did    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;raid" on temple of Morian t Ember Nigo linger a o perspective, as hen) of sacrilegious debauchery.

        t    on ionsionso impact upon ever si m in tra to speak to or even aoate funs. If tomasso learned somet Sandre sen enougimes—old    one of ts togetomasso also k it mattered, really.

        S for ill o t m of oioheir middle child.

        Greater romantics t o t, as tigogetaliatory aftermat poisoning, sful hope by dying.

        Bot    so.

        In fact, it al efficy of    brougomasso and Sao a certain very late-nigalk during t al, irredeemable, inescapable stupidity of Gianno dAstibar bar Saitular o ttered fortunes of their family.

        And to tter trut    all denial, t s ed in t geion, y and perception, y to cloak s and dis tever of suco , to to tomasso.

        o be spoke 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 silend spoke to his

        middle son and made .

        in tious eig to drive Alberid ibar and tern Palm. A quest t omassos publiner became more and more etrid decayed,    a parody—a self-parody, in fact— of the ming, 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 ibar. For over ibar outed t inn as a place of groin. 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 Saake    a ed inn in Ferraut ibar border.

        By time t do t brige-summer day every person in t inn— servants, masters, stable-boys, s—s broken and t off, before being bound, living, upon ily erected Barbadian sky-wo die.

        to taxes in t    tibar, tregea aando. During tortured and burned in tibar uffed in t t not trouble Alberico or ate above the square.

        In tomasso discovered t sorcerers ot, in fact, be poisoned.

        For t six years t talk at nig knos to t in Barbadior, h each passing year.

        tomasso began issioning and colleg icks     ed. Gianno, ted a burgeoniation as a genial, unplicated 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 Viumns o    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 versation, tomasso remembered, leading    betrees t flaions ; t. Aftero fall asleep, te of tival to e omasso a cain, a different way.

        te t    tibar to omasso made a ure to avert evil at t t. Bees to ligreinted 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, sorc suited task and omasso let t off to to e at lengto ting lodge her had loved.

        ts laid trestles ing in ter of t room. dles    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 aurn at daybreak. At vigils end.

        And so t alone, finally. tomasso and two years before.

        "ine, my lords?" tomasso asked. "e will ly.”

        , deliberately, in ural voice, dropping tificial, fluting to ibar. o see bote t immediately, turo him.

        "; groomassos voior ions gave too muctle indeed.

        "My brotaeri and nep." tles of Sandreni red reserve as ing to see wher had said would follow. Scalvaia would ask, Sandre had said.

        "; Lord Scalvaia asked softly.

        Inomasso saluted em to release t, ;I dont kno name o e    our cil tonight.”

        t oo had been carefully chosen.

        "cil?" elegant Scalvaia ec;It appears t I he

        impression t t; Nievoles dark eyes glo tomasso.

        "A little more t," said taeri as ered the room, herado behind him.

        tomasso o see te sobriety, and to , for all t timing of taeris entrance, his expression rofoundly serious.

        "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 loo a cret front of ed ed it at tomasso. tip did not waver.

        "I asked you a question," iful voice. "omasso bar Sandre?    enses?”

        tomasso stopped playing o t at last. o burly Nievole.

        "t; ;o be t lords of any real po in Astibar. ters past    eo die on tival. At a time o refuse es of burial—ime wibar, wo name you his vigil-keepers.”

        e recitation a ;My fat    suspi, or interruption, or risk of beied, to set in motioain plans for tibar.”

        dre o wrayed surprise or dismay by so much as a flicker of a muscle.

        Sloable by ick range    moments suchis.

        "Do you kno; said bluff Nievole from by t;do you kno t ually crossed my mind o riad-cursed fats die ; id it did not reaes I tried to en tes along in the days when he ruled.”

        tomasso smiled iurn, just as t;ain you ; ely to t sure    ;e certain you o e, 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 laugasso liked , as o assure ing versation, in icular fashion.

        "I prefer t; o t;You    fees, being ain aspey life iaio being seen as aimlessly degee.”

        "t; Scalvaia agreed blandly, "if you    is served by su.

        You named a name a moment ago, and intimated he

        bearer of t name dead one. e    ies migic eventuality.”

        e unreadable; tomasso     blessedly kept quiet, as instructed. ook one of the bier.

        Scalvaia    on, "e ot be una by saying ely in our    migially appear. At time, I do surmise t , to rise and begin to ride back toibar carryihese woods.”

        It ated—a minor fact to be firmed 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 aer torture, it is exceedingly likely, approaty, t Alberico o do to bot o ter t unfortunate i in Ferraut some years ago?”

        this.

        It ;t    it?" ;Not t all!”

        "It ; tomasso agreed calmly. "e learned a great deal, I must say.”

        "So," Scalvaia murmured drily, "did ted Fabro bar zian.”

        "t o be on t of terms," tomasso said blandly. "t say t if you focus on t aspect of t miss t.”

        "t you prefer us to take," Nievole amended pointedly.

        Uedly, Scalvaia came to tomassos aid. "Not fair, my lord," o Nievole. "If    anytrue in times it is t Sandres red and arget was Alberico.”

        , and finally ted in    a pain in ed leg.

        "Very ; o tomasso. "You old us    of trut a deat being ruled by a coarse, vicious, overbearing minor lord from Barbadis little joy to my aged . I am o . On my oathis.”

        tomasso s tion of t ;Your oaties beyond measure,"    it.

        "t; said Nievole, taking a ep for;And I o say t t lesser . t o lie dead and cut to pieces—triad oo am h and honor.”

        "Sucerribly splendid ; said an amused voice from te the door.

        Five faces, four ood outside ting on tiny, he window frame.

        "I ," ;kno p a lio succeed in ousting a tyrant. In t; ition ed himself upwards,

        so t fortably per t; ;agreeing on a cause does make a starting point, I    much.”

        "You are t; tomasso asked warily.

        t .    not ty, in to s. t ,    or.

        "I ion t," t;I actually , because if I am tions are uling, 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, "it is Sandre dAstibar alking about, and I do seem to make six    I?"    any visible irony, tos trestles.

        "You are, t Alberico?" Nievoles eyes chful.

        "I am not," said te bluntly. "Alberieans noto me. Except as a tool. A o open a door of my own.”

        "And    lies be door?" Scalvaia asked from deep in his armchair.

        But in t moment tomasso remembered.

        "I kno; ly. "I saregean ses!" taeri snapped ion came o him as well.

        "I played t; te unruffled. "But I am not a sregea. It ed my purposes to play a role, many different roles, in fact, freat many years. tomasso bar Sandre ougo appreciate t." he grinned.

        tomasso did not return t;Perances, you mig;    as politely as tuation seemed to . "My fat    .”

        "Nor, Im afraid, s yet," t;t o s onight.”

        It ter-of-factly said,    less.

        to forestall Nievoles predictable burst of aomasso said quickly, "You    deny us some information surely, even if you co sool for you. A tool for -ea?" o find t    ioned yesterday. " is your oo this lodge?”

        till, almost masklike. And into ting sile 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.”

        "You, I am forced to say, are an overly proud young man," replied Scalvaia s;It might be

        appropriate for you to remember to whom you speak.”

        t back    retort. "Pride is a family failing," ;I    escaped it, Im afraid. But I am indeed mindful of o be a t times I , discreetly. t instan his.”

        "But you old us t Alberico is noto you." tomasso iner prepared h figure.

        "Not; ted. "ill you allo; it ing for a reply ed o the wine.

        "Please," said tomasso, belatedly.

        tage red. , and poured anoturn back to address tg him, were enormous.

        "ts," t;Learn t freedom in t or slay Alberico you ed or slain Alberico    same period of time.”

        opped. omasso notioo toyed he handle of his e.

        "t be uood," tranger    on in tone. ", nor you in yours,    afford to lose sigrutime. t no een years ago. today only t    take ther.”

        "; taeri asked, too eagerly.

        turely silvering dark uro ;Patieaeri bar Sandre. I    to tell you about carelessness before deg if our pato join. And I say te respect for to o o agree to submit yourselves to my guidance et all.”

        "tted to notory," t vulpine lord said, texture of velvet in ;I am not readily of a mind to bee t to do so.”

        "ould you prefer," t;to    like dles on tions?”

        "You ter explain yourself," tomasso said icily.

        "I io.     double mooo meet?" Alessaed, ting like a blade. "ed along t pato    ernoon to guard test ao your ts— who I am?”

        "My fat Alberico    ; tomasso stammered furiously. "ely certain of t.”

        "And o ely rig you ot let your focus be so narroo o say it —oo long. oo i upon Alberico. It s the

        greedy? tty informer o follo to see o ory to tell in tavern tomorro to sugs?

        Or to t o e and arrao be here before you?”

        tile silence. A log on ttled h a crad a shower of sparks.

        arily at the sound.

        "ill it i you to kno; t on, mently, "t my people o t Ive ernoon keeping an eye on ts setting up, and hem?”

        "?" taeri exclaimed. "In ing lodge!”

        "For your prote and my o; to t above, s ored.

        "I t s, my friend," co carry. "Youve earned a glass of er so long dry-ted among t. You may as well e down now, Devin.”

        It ually been very easy.

        Menico, purse jingling    at ts o Bur di Corte. Bur,    first, ariff ion t m.

        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 er, 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 vassed ti 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, ing 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 text, rat wo .

        told old e ing lodge    to wine.

        It s strained sensitivity after t of    tace t time to glimpsing Alessan di tregea at a booters and poets. t some ain verses of dole    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-brounid bree a cap to    against ticed teeming croreets over tate 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 try house.

        Rovigos    Devin could see of it, set rees— looked fortable and cared for.

        A day ago, a different person, opped. But someto    m 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 tryside; 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 remaio be seen ive red-o dictate to e.

        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 o.

        Nursing a sook a pillos stored up to est, darkest er uffed lered corbin stag. By lying on    side, eye to a plete viehe room below.

        ried to guide oience. Unfortunately, ionally scious of t t tteringly fixed upon a made ually    up, turnut 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    m made t clear enoug riana    to overo prevent    time Devin began to plate 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, unplaining.

        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 oriad-blig do from t in case one of the vigil-keeping lords should grow weary.

        "Goc be more of a fool tely must be!" te;to keep a c—a pallet in t to teful you arent depe on your brain to feed your belly, Goch!”

        Devin fervently seded timents of t and ive existence. For tentime sis ered triana, and for tietime, io seemed abht.

        Finally ts left; ibar to bear terus 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 . tord 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.

        "ine, my lords?" said tomasso dAstibar in t closet. "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 upefa t    of a fregea at all and ting target of e.

        Rasainly o be.

        So by time Alessan named ed o e doogetly took th offered him.

        "All quiet, since mid-afternoon," , extrig epping past tlers to t. "Only ts    do muco pick. t seeing eache wiser.”

        as coolly as ely so tered t certainly reized    ration, and isfa, lay in the brief smile of approval he received from Alessan.

        For t irely different. Alessan imacy o trollis in ts    spao figo trol ement.

        tomasso    over to ted courtesy and tuated eyes, t alting voice migomasso, iain matters and propensities, ill very muc o be. Devin accepted t to let touch.

        "I ; dra;are o be treated to a recital o be a quantity of musis onight.”

        Devin said not follo smile.

        "S; there was real anger in Alessans voice.

        "And call Nievole a grain-farmer from tern distrada?    side ttle to do wo ways only.”

        ;One: as musis ages I need not belabor." A sed finger s up beside t. "trains tics, ic, to precision of detail. t of prey lords, t     defer to riving.”

        o anotly: "I mig I mig. It is a vanisu one, o be sung. As matters stand I    only say again t if o oget ask you to accept my lead.”

        directly to Scalvaia    and expressionless, in his deep chair.

        It .

        "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.”

        "hich is?”

        "t you tell us your name.”

        Deviy, anxious not to miss a ant, as if to    miged t silence.

        t;It is a fair dition, my lord. Ua is entirely fair. I    only pray you    o it t is a grief—I ot tell you    is—but I am uo accede.”

        For t time o be reaames are poyrant-sorcerers from overseas most certainly k    of our triump es, and not before. I    t is not a co be truly to let t suffiy lord, or must    ways?”

        t question o of t    of his arrival.

        Just as Devins earlier fear o excitement, so    surreo 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.

        sarios in     rut became a queer, private sorroer. A symbol, a displat ret. A reminder of    o be mortal and so doomed to tread one road only and t one only once, until Morian called ts . e ever truly kno walked.

        t eac lodge o e portals to endings near or far    cried a sed time, very clearly, just as Nievole began to speak.

        Alessan flung up ;trouble!" ;Baerd?”

        t .    and leggings cut in t, gleamed a dazzling blue. he carried a drawn sword.

        o Astibar.

        "Lets go!" tly. "You and t son and tions. Get rid lasses.”

        " is it?" tomasso dAstibar asked quickly, his eyes wide.

        "ty    patinue yil and be as calm as you — be

        far aurn after. Alessan, e on!”

        tone of o tomasso, and t look,    Devin never fot, or fully uood.

        For a long moment—a very long moment, it seemed to Devin, y    and a dra;It seems iremely iing 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," ;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.

        "My t is blue," Alessan said. "t. Lest on any single nig    is I am alive to do.”

        "Not forever lost, I ; said tomasso, equally softly.

        "Not forever, I    has gone.”

        "t er tonig; said tomasso, "if it is at all in my poo provide it. And I    o our fathers souls.”

        "Alessan!" s;In Adaons name, I said ty horsemen!

        ill you e?”

        "I ; said Alessan.    o t;triad guard you all," 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.

        "ty-t; a voice said. tly to ther side.

        "them is hooded.”

        Devin looked over. And by t of triana dAstibar.

        "; Alessaed, on a sake;You are certain?”

        "Of course I am," said Catriana. " does it mean?”

        "Eanna be gracious to us all," Alessan murmured, not answering.

        "I    be ting on it no; t;I they will search.”

        For a moment Alessan looked as if    just the lodge.

        it anotly moved away.

        "t; murmured Scalvaia, "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.

        "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.

        "Gentlemen!" tomasso fluted expertly, ?    brings you o interrupt a vigil?" o souulant, not angry.

        t even deign to look at    alone reply. t to c to exami ered appreaking up positions outside eac deal of side among torches.

        tomasso abruptly stamped    in frustration. " is t; io igell me! I sest directly to your lord. e o du under ; ain standing by the door.

        Again it ely did t to their expressions blank and dangerous.

        "tolerable!" tomasso o Alber-ico! I s you all be sraigo your ched hovels in Barbadior!”

        "t    be necessary," said a burly, he doorway.

        epped for;You may make your c ; said Alberico of Barbadior, tyrant of Astibar, tregea, Ferraut aando.

        tomassos o    even as o oo, k immediately, even old Scalvaia eo desd over tomasso, trammeling all speec.

        "My lord," ammered, "I did not ... I could ...    know!”

        Alberico , gazing blankly doer error and be. "You are most ;most    oo muc my fates.”

        "I do," said Alberico bluntly. tomasso received t of a iny from t and unblinking deep in t. s of ;I y palm.

        "But of course, of course.”

        tomasso stumbled to obey, intimidated as aly of Alberid ed    about tern Palm yrant could crack    t having done so.

        It    a f 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 fident, less guilty. "You o your soldiers. Not knowing you were ing in ignorance of your wishes.”

        "My o knohose ges before you, bar San-dre.”

        "Of course, my lord. But of course. they—”

        "I ed," said Alberico of Barbadior, "to look upon to look, and to laug; race of an ination to. tomassos blood felt suddenly i his veins.

        Alberico stepped past ood massively over t;t; ly, "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?

        "ill you not laugent Lord Scalvaia? Is it not diverting to t oo long to uand ings of ime could be so easily smas today.”

        ering t sound of distress Scalvaia sank bato his chair.

        "My lord," tomasso gulped, gesticulating. "    you possibly mean?    are you—”

        no furt. ily across tomasso staggered backtering from h.

        "You ural voice, son of a fool," terrifying because spoken in t tone as before. "ill it at least amuse you to knoo me?" And    came down.

        terror tomasso ing desperately to hold back.

        O, stri to    it s they were now undone. By family. Family!

        Several tremely s span of time.

        "My lord!"    in c;You promised! You said t know!

        You told me—”

        It    to expostulate .

        "t u; said aeri, inuous motion, s in .

        "One less Sandreni for your sky-ed, gasping. "triad send a plague to eat t; o ; blood    tomassos. "Fare; ;Morian grant our sher in her halls.”

        Sometomassos , squeezing and squeezing, as ed to    sort of blo tepped foraeri over on oes of ts.

        "Fools!" spat Alberico, visibly upset for t time. "I needed ed bot; t tten in ures.

        t elsewirely.

        itibar, a very big man    t ed as t the coffin.

        Still r, 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 io fotten ri raised eady ed it straig Albericos face, and squeezed tche handle.

        Sorcerers ot, indeed, be poisoned—a minor protective art, o most of ter in t certainly    be slain, by arroruments of viole be.

        trut men and triad in tars or single as of space.

        It is trut mortal man ot uand    off in fullest floo sue must sometimes be trampled and evil flourisy of a try 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 agly small are lives measured and marred.

        Alberico, turning in a o snap an order at ain, saraigurning tile bursting into his brain.

        It o uriest     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 stilla of time, kno an instant later ant too late—t    forever,    to ently i lay in ambuss of o himself.

        It hing.

        o    eyelid from t day on, a it ired, ever after,    foot o splay outrag 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 aals Alberico did nnize, clattered loudly to to turally deling sound to rembling at the back of his knees.

        It , eted silence of trusted o even try to speak.

        "You are dung," o tain. "You are less t. You are filt;    he swallowed his saliva.

        Ferociously straining to make    bo to o a palsied tremor in    .

        t many dead men in t eveirely 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.

        &qu ; 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 e. 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 oizen of his four provinces

        o doubt tice or deny timacy of o t.

        Or miss t of    respoo be.

        it caution t ruest ions of t ant danger and ern g, but t blind, could see t o give it     tless things.

        And the Emperor was old.

        Alberico s from too seductive cail agaiail ters suc steps of o place like beads on a djarra string as    caused ion omasso bar Sa least, did not o be made publid t be. Only ts revealiails o be knoside ever took pla certain rooms underground could be extremely private ile icipation .

        At one poiing lodge torc. Smooted . Let ts find t da t    a little while.

        to be made extremely clear.
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