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The manservant leaned on a merlon and watched the Edur arlance to his left allowed hi of the fleet, and the vast, deadly de the width of the river and stretching back downstrea at its sorcerous chains

The west gate was open and unguarded The lead elements of the Edur ar with caution Ranging to either side of the column, in the ditches and across the fields, the first of the Soletaken wolves cahed, looked over at the other occupant along the wall ‘You will have to work fast, I think’

The artist was a well-known and easily recognized figure in Letheras A an on his head and swept down to join with the wild beard covering jaw and neck, his nub of a nose and small blue eyes the only visible features on his face He was short and wiry, and painted with agitated capering – often perched on one leg – s paint on surfaces that always see to capture This failing of perspective had long since been elevated into a technique, then a legitiiti, the foot of the other against the knee ‘The scene, you fool! It is burned intoEvery detail Historians will praise my work this day, you’ll see Praise!’

‘Are you done, then?’

‘Very nearly, very very nearly, yes, nearly done Every detail I have done it again That’s what they will say Yes, I have done it again’

‘May I see?’

Sudden suspicion

Bugg added, ‘I a of an historian myself’

‘You are? Have I read you? Are you famous?’

‘Famous? Probably But I doubt you’ve readdown’

‘Ah, a lecturer!’

‘A scholar, swi across the ocean of history’

‘I like that I could paint that’

‘So, esture with a enius for yourself’

The board perched on its easel ider than it was high, in theor, indeed, a record of soths wide Bugg walked round for a look at the ie captured on the surface