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To find it, upon passing through theinto the Grand Hall, in an uproar

Heart thudding hard in his chest, Brys approached the nearest guard ‘Corporal, what has happened?’

The soldier saluted ‘Not sure, Finadd News frohtered some Letherii sailors With foulest sorcery’

‘The king?’

‘Has called a council in two bells’ time’

‘Thank you, Corporal’

Brys continued on into the palace

Hethe retainers andthe central corridor he saw Chancellor Triban Gnol standing with a handful of followers, a certain animation to his whispered conversation The man’s dark eyes flicked to Brys as the Cha Behind the Chancellor, Brys saas the Queen’s Consort, Turudal Brizad, leaning insouciantly against the wall, his soft, al a faint sely disturbing, and it had nothing to do with his singular function as consort to Janall He was a silent presence, often atwith the most sensitive issues of state, ever watchful despite his studied indifference And it ell known that he shared his bed with h whether Janall herself knew of that was the subject of conjecture in the court A his lovers, it was rumoured, was Chancellor Triban Gnol

An untidy nest, all in all

The door to the First Eunuch’s office was closed and guarded by two of Nifadas’s own Rulith, eunuch bodyguards, tall ht expect to see Heavy kohl lined their eyes and red paint broadened their riers sheathed under their crossed aruised beneath long, crimson silk shirts and tan pantaloons They were barefoot

Both nodded and stepped aside to pered the braided tassel and could faintly hear the dull chime sound in the chamber beyond

The door clicked open