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Teeks later, Finadd Gerun Eberict, his breath whistling through the new gap in his front teeth, knelt before Ezgara Diskanar in the throne roo’s Leave For the remainder of the soldier’s life, he was immune to criminal conviction He was, in short, free to do as he pleased, to who’s own line

The identity of the person behind the assassination attempt was never discovered

Since then, Gerun Eberict had been on a private crusade A lone, iilante He was known to have personally hly respected and politically powerful merchants, and at least a dozen other mysterious deaths were commonly attributed to him He had, in short, become the most feared man in Letheras

He had also, in that time, made himself rich

Yet, for all that, he re’s Guard, and so was bound to the usual responsibilities Brys Beddict suspected the decision to send Gerun Eberict with the delegation was as much to relieve the city of the pressure of his presence as it was a statement to the queen and the prince And Brys wondered if the king had couards walked side by side across Soulan Bridge and into the Pursers’ District The day was hot, the sky white with thin, high clouds They entered Rild’s, an establishment known for its fish cuisine, as well as an alcoholic drink e rinds, honey and Tusked Seal sperm They sat in the inner courtyard, at Gerun’s private table

As soon as drinks and lunch were ordered, Gerun Eberict leaned back in his chair and regarded Brys with curiosity ‘Is ’s Cha,’ Brys ad Buruk the Pale It is believed that Buruk will re There is concern about Hull’

‘What kind of concern?’

‘Well, you knew hio’

‘I did Rather well, in fact He was ot roaring drunk at Porul’s and likely sired a dozen bastards each with a visiting troupe of flower dancers from Trate In any case, the company folded about ten months later, or so we heard’

‘Yes, well He’s not the same man, you know’

‘Isn’t he?’

The drinks arrived, an amber wine for Brys, the Tusked Milk for Gerun

‘No,’ Brys said in answer to the Finadd’s question, ‘I don’t think so’