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‘But I have no desire to be in any faction-’

‘You’re the King’s Champion, brother As I see it, you have little choice’

‘Tehol, I aue’

‘So say nothing Ever’

‘What good will that do?’

‘You’ll convince them you’re s You can see through all their facades-’

‘But I can’t see through all that, Tehol Therefore, I’m not smarter’

‘Of course you are You just need to treat it like a duel In fact, treat everything like a duel Feint, parry, disengage, all that complicated stuff’

‘Easy for you to say,’ Brysout over the dark city Oil lamps lit the canal walks, but the water itself was black as ink, winding like ribbons of oblivion between the squat, hulking buildings Other lights swung inabout their tasks For all that, darkness dominated the scene

Brys stared up at the nearest tier, watched a few lanterns slide along the span likeabout Hull,’ he said after a time

‘I would hold out little hope,’ Tehol said ‘Our brother’s desires have nothing to do with self-preservation It is in histo die soon’

Brys nodded

‘And,’ Tehol continued, ‘if he can, in so doing he will also take down as much of Lether as possible For that reason alone, soeance against those murderers will be expected of me,’ Brys said

‘Not necessarily,’ Tehol said ‘After all, your fore even that to my fa would be seen as cowardice Worse yet, I do not think I could face Hull’s killers without reaching for my sword’

‘You may have to, Brys Of course,’ Tehol added, ‘I am not so bound by such prohibitions’

Brys studied his brother for a long e Hull?’

‘Count on it’

Eventually, Brys slanced over and nodded ‘That’s perfect, brother When you come face to face with them, show that smile It will put terror in their hearts’

Brys sighed and returned his gaze to the city ‘Outwardly, we seem so different, the three of us’