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Gahten fractionally ‘That rehtened, the one ‘Adjunct, you have quietly- very quietly-arranged this e has no audience While I am a Claw, you and I are both aware that I have-lately-incurredin h the Imperial Warren A temporary situation, of course, but none the less, the consequence is that I a of a loose end at the ht conclude,’ the Adjunct said carefully, ‘that you are available, as it were, for a rather lance Gods below! What is this about ? ‘One

There was silence, broken at last by the Red Blade, Lostara Yil ‘I arated ‘As a loyal subject of the en your honour, Captain,’ the Adjunct replied, her gaze unwavering on Pearl She added nothing more The Claw half sht in being curious, did you know that? You fear that I will bargain my way back into Laseen’s favour, for the mission you would propose to the captain and me is, to be precise, not on behalf of the Empress, nor, indeed, of the empire An extraordinary departure from the role of Imperial Adjunct Unprecedented, in fact’ Gamet took a step forward, ‘Adjunct-’

She raised a hand to cut him off ‘Pearl, the task I would set to you and the captainof the empire-’

‘Oh well,’ the Claw sination is for, isn’t it? One can scrape patterns in the blood no matter how dried it’s beco sound justification for whatever I’ve just done By all means, proceed-’

‘Not yet!’ Lostara Yil snapped, her exasperation plain ‘In serving the Adjunct I expect to serve the empire She is the will of the Empress No other considerations are permitted her-’

‘You speak true,’ Tavore said She faced Pearl again ‘Cla fares the Talon?’

Pearl’s eyes ide and he aler exist,’ he whispered

The Adjunct frowned ‘Disappointing We are all, at the moment, in a precarious position If you are to expect honesty from me, then can I not do so in return?’

‘They re his features ‘Like bot-fly larvae beneath the i deeper’

‘They none the less serve a certain… function,’ Tavore said ‘Unfortunately, not as competently as I would have hoped’

‘The Talons have found support a the nobility?’ Pearl asked, a sheen of sweat now visible on his high brow

The Adjunct’s shrug was almost indifferent ‘Does that surprise you?’