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Jaelica claimed they’d run off with their lovers, or had left to take better positions in other households Yet none of theain, and now he suspected that his es

The Brethren hadn’t sielica into a traitor, he realized They had broken her bond with Thierry, and had driven her mad in the process

Everyone had assu separated from her life companion as soon as they had been reunited She had been clever enough to act the part of a sygkenis and prevent anyone fro before I found Jeht have put an end to myself But madness is its own purpose, and has its own beauties and desires

Years of guilt sifted away, their ielica’s insanity had betrayed them to the Brethren The mother Jamys had always loved, the beloved ho had devoted herself to him and his father, had in fact never returned to theelica’s face, now serene, drifted into his hts, she nodded and sone

Peace and deterer and fear as he drove the last miles to Fort Lauderdale When he ca traffic away frohold, and saw the warriors who had taken discreet defensive positions, he turned off the road and parked in front of a crowded restaurant

Inside the maître d’ met him at the door "I’"

Jamys touched his shoulder, issued his instructions, and then entered the restaurant There were , but the ere closed and the ventilation minimal Curious eyes turned drowsy, and voices fell silent as the scent of sandalwood spread through the dining roo, Jaer, and I need your help"

Once he had commanded them, he went back to the kitchens, and did the sae boy who had been washing dishes, frouard the premises until the others return," he instructed the boy as he finished tying the laces

A final stop at the executive chef’s station provided him with the last of his needs, and Ja roohter from one of the tables as he passed

Outside on the street the barricades lay on their sides, knocked over by a hundred bespelled hold Lucan’s warriors had left their positions to surround the drawn into the mob of dancers

Ja as he stuffed the linen napkin in the neck of the bottle of brandy he had taken fro the brandy-soaked napkin aflah over the heads of the mob It s into a large fireball and a plume of black smoke

The secondary distraction of the fire dreay all but two of the warriors still standing guard at the entrance to the stronghold, and Ja beneath the thrust of their blades and coers in their sides He struck to disable, not to kill, and one toppled to the ground while the other clutched his side and turned on hih" He countered his ht me Stand down"

"The order is to kill anyone who atteri"

"So be it" Jah’s heart and, when the warrior parried, used his other fist to knock hih scrambled to his feet, Jahtclub twenty warriors stood in coure The captain of the guard regarded him steadily, but he appeared pained, as if he was locked in dread

Jae of the captain’s blade He stared past Aldan at Lucan, who lay sprawled atop an ared out of his office, a bottle of bloodwine in one gloved fist and a long sword dangling froal traitor returns" Lucan toasted hi a s He tossed the bloodwine aside, cla to his feet with uncharacteristic clumsiness "How biblical of you, boy"

"Give Christian to me," Jaain"

"Finally bedded her, did you?" Lucan grinned "Was she any good at it, or did she whine and flop about?" He shook his sword at Ja these mortal wenches All tears, no stamina"

"Captain," Ja"

The captain’s expression turned griht to the Pearl Girl," Lucan snarled "She is hold, and all that surrounds us They will all donow"