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’Ill-advised, priest,’ Buke said, not unkindly ’My eant scum!’

’That may be, but they’re not ones to irritate, sir’

’Irritate? When my master hears of this -- this -- insult delivered to his most valued servant, then, oh then shall the shadows flow!’ With a final snarl, the priest sta drauntil the man named Marble disappeared around a corner

The sound of fighting was on all sides, but getting no closer Hours earlier, in the deep of the night when Buke had been helping people from the Camps and from Daru District’s tenements-- from which they would be led to the hidden tunnel entrances -- the Pannions had reached all the way to the street Buke had just walked Soed to drive them back Bodies from both sides littered Kilsban Way

Buke pushed hi beneath the scorched lintel of the entrance with a firain leave Bauchelain and Korbal Broach’s estate Even as his steps slowed to a sudden surge of self-preservation, he saas too late

Bauchelain stood in the courtyard ’Ah, one’

Buke ducked his head ’My apologies, sir I’d delivered the tax exemption writ to the Daru civic authorities as requested-’

’Excellent, and was our arguuard winced ’The event of siege, alas, offers no relief from property taxes, master The monies are due Fortunately, with the evacuation, there is no-one at Daru House to await their arrival’

’Yes, the evacuation Tunnels Very clever We declined the offer, of course’

’Of course’ Buke could no longer hold his gaze on the cobbles before hihtly to take in the half-score Urdo bloodless, faces mottled black beneath their visors, on all sides

’A precipitous rush of these uided soldiers,’ Bauchelain hted, and makes preparations to recruit them’

’Recruit them, master? Oh, yes sir Recruit them’