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‘With whom?’

‘The Rat Catchers’ Guild’

Brys frowned ‘Now I aed and rolled up the scroll to put it away Over his shoulder he said, ‘No need to be, sir The guild is profoundly competent in a whole host of endeavours-’

‘Competence doesn’t seem a relevant notion in this ree Punctual reports No queries Two reneithout challenge Highly competent, I would say, sir’

‘Nor is there any shortage of rats in the city, as one would readily see with even a short walk down any street’

‘Population ement, sir I dread to think what the situation would be like without the guild’

Brys said nothing

A defensiveness came to the scribe’s expression as he studied the Finadd for a longbut praise for the Rat Catchers’ Guild, sir’

‘Thank you for your efforts,’ Brys said ‘I will find my oay out Good day’

‘And to you, sir Pleased to have been of some service’

Out in the corridor, Brys paused, rubbing at his eyes Archival chaet outside, into what passed for fresh air in Letheras

Seven thousand disappearances every year He was appalled

So what, I wonder, has Tehol stumbled onto? His brother re, contrary to outward appearances And he had somehow held on to a formidable level of efficacy behind – or beneath – the scenes That all too public fall, so shocking and traumatic to the financial tolls, now struck Brys as just another feint in his brother’s grander scheht that such a scheht exist worried Brys His brother had revealed, on occasion, frightening competence and ruthlessness Tehol possessed few loyalties He was capable of anything