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But it was ruiven her heart to Brizad And that Triban Gnol ht well have done the very sa apart the old alliance between queen and Chancellor If so, then Turudal Brizad had becoued with stress

Yet ere the consort’s own ambitions? Had he too surrendered his heart, and if so, to which lover?

Brys entered his room He divested himself of his belt and ararments He layered himself in scented oil which he then scraped off with a wooden co his formal arular longsword in the scabbard at his waist A finalthe misplaced brace of knives on the shelf above his bed, indicating that yet another spy had gone through his roo position – that had been done by whoever had been spying on the spy, to let Brys know that yet another search for who knehat had taken place, a weekly occurrence of late

He moved the knives back into their usual position, then left

‘Enter’

Brys stepped inside, then paused to search through the crowded, cluttered cha’s Champion’

He followed the sound of the voice and finally caught sight of the Ceda, as suspended in a leather-strap harness depending froht above the floor, Kuru Qan earing a strange metal helmet with multiple lenses fixed in a slotted frame in front of his eyes On the floor was an archaic, yellowed map

‘I have little time, Ceda,’ Brys said ‘The Chancellor has requested that I attend hi?’

‘Is it important, lad?’

‘That I know? I suppose not I was just curious’

‘No, the Chancellor’s summons’

‘I’ly viewed as soa rarely asks for rateful, since I make it a point not to involve myself with such considerations Thus, I have no opportunity to influence our Sire’s opinion, nor would I wish to’

‘By thisthat the world is round’

‘Indeed? Did not the early colonizers froated the globe, after all’