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He ignored the e in her eyes ’Fine, so lead the oman’

’I always do’ She strode to the door and pulled it open ’Local security measures -- you can’t kick these doors in, they all open outward, and they’re built bigger than the inside fra a house by house scrap once the walls fall -- those Pannions are going to find the going messy’

’The defence of Capustan assumes the loss of the walls? Hardly optimistic We’re all in a death trap, and Keruli’s dream-escape trick won’t help usour bodies for the main course, will it?’

’You’re a miserable ox, aren’t you?’

’The price for being clear-eyed, Stonny’

She ducked as she entered the building, waving for Gruntle to follow He hesitated, then, still scowling, stepped through

A sreeted them, bare-walled, clay-tiled, with a few lantern niches set in the walls and a row of iron pegs unadorned by clothing Another dooras opposite, a long leather apron providing the barrier The air smelled of lye soap, with a faint undercurrent of bile

Stonny unclasped her cloak and hung it on a hook ’The wife crawled out of theher entrails the whole way Raised the suspicion that her suicide wasn’t voluntary Either that or she changed her oat’s ested, ’and she was trying to cancel her order’

Stonny studied hied ’Seems a bit elaborate, as an explanation, but who knows? Could be’ She swung about and entered the inner doorway in a swish of leather

Sighing, Gruntle followed

The main chamber ran the full width of the house; a series of alcoves -- storage rooms and cell-like bedrooms -- divided up the back wall, a central arched ay bisecting it to lead into the courtyard garden beyond Benches and trunks crowded one corner of the chamber A central firepit and hu heat The air was rich with the sged on the tiled floor to the left of the firepit, head bowed, his pate glistening with beads of sweat

Stonny edged forward and dropped to one knee ’Master?’

The priest looked up, his round face creasing in a smile ’I have wiped clean their slates,’ he said ’They noell at peace Their souls have fashioned a worthy drea’

’Your god ishis eyes, Gruntle strode over to the trunks ’Thanks for saving rowled ’Sorry I was so miserable about it Looks like your supplies survived, that’s good Well, I’ll be on my way now-’

’A moment please, Captain’