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Hastily gathering the apples, Jared set the of flour, a sar

"I think that will do it," Jared said, fighting the urge to abandon the supplies and race back to the wagon

Fool! Thrice-tientle She’d see the enemy’s smile but not the knife until it was too late She didn’t have any experience with this kind of treachery

"I think we should add a few vegetables to this," Blaed said "Onions, at least And we needhim like that? Why was Blaedreally here? To help? Or to warn Thera if he returned sooner than expected?

What’s wrong, Jared? Blaed asked All of a sudden, you’re ju at shadows

Jared added a braid of onions to the supplies Aer touched hiy Neither of them will say why Blaed’s temper flared You’re not the only one who believes in honor, Warlord

They turned away fronoring the old woman atched the to the full counter, he used Craft to float the vegetables so they wouldn’t bruise the fruit and offered the wide-eyed wo that he, at least, was finished, he watched Blaed pick up winter squashes and put the about the Warlord Prince’s training that he shouldn’t have discounted

What do you think Sadi would do if he were here? Jared asked

I wish he was, Blaed replied, facing Jared Then whatever was troubling Thera and Lia wouldn’t trouble the

Their eyes met and held

Yes, if the Sadist had been with theroup would have quietly disappeared by now

Jared turned to the old woman "Meat?"

"No, Lord," she said "There is a butcher just down the street"

"Fine What do e you?"

"What I have is yours, good Lords," she whispered

Blaed’s snarl had her backing away fro her throat

"We came here to buy supplies, not steal thely at Jared "I meant no insult, Lord"

"I know," Jared soothed "I know" Worried that she ht collapse, he waited until she see froain, she pulled a piece of coarse paper and a sli figures She totaled theed the paper out from under her hand, read the total, called in the wad of silverain," Blaed said dryly

Relieved that Blaed had shaken off his anger so quickly, Jared gave hily vanished half the supplies, including the bag of potatoes The Warlord Prince could have taken all the supplies without thinking twice It was just the principle of sharing the work "Happy?"

"Ecstatic" Blaed vanished his half Facing the old woht bow that denoted courtesy to a woman of less rank

Flustered, she smiled shyly

"Ato Blaed, ent out, he turned back to the old woman

She went to a slass jar "Fruit preserves," she said, handing the jar to Jared "Ibiscuits"

"Thank you How--"

"A gift, Lord Please take it"

Touched, Jared kissed her hand He vanished the jar and gave her the saain to leave, she placed a hand on his aro back to Shalador, Lord," she said hurriedly "There’s nothing for you there Shalador lies in ruins They say all the good Queens are dead, and those who are left have sold themselves for Hayll’s pleasure"

"Why?" Jared said sharply "How?"

"War" She shook her head "Terrible war"

Jared braced his hands on the counter and closed his eyes<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>