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I stop short, panting a little, because I’ry and scared Amaya looks confused and apprehensive, not sure if she should be flattered by the lord’s attention or worried about it She hesitates, looking toward Father for direction

"I’ll get what you need, Uncle" Kalliarkos shakes his shoulders as if releasing himself from a rope that has pulled him up short He walks to the buffet table "These shrimp look particularly succulent Let me add one of these stuffed mushrooms, your favorite, Uncle And here is coriander bread shaped as fish!"

Trumpets blow to announce that the next four adversaries are taking their places at the ladders in the undercourt Father grabs hold of sI can’t see the start as the bells chis along:

Shadows fall where pillars stand

Traps spill sparks like grains of sand

Seen atop the trees, you’re known

Rivers flow to seas and hos inside,

The tower at the heart abides

A nals the start of the run, but of course I can’t see anything frolances our way but Father lifts his chin, his way of saying, Stay out of this

A masked servant lifts the entry drape, and Father hauls e seems dimmer than it did before We are alone

He slaps me hard across the face

"You made a spectacle of yourself, Jessamy I do not care what pleasures his s hters into public, I expect theirls who has any chance for a respectable alliance Do not ruin it for her by hoping to become a rich lord’s whore!"

Myscalds like boiling water

"That you would cast your ribbons at aman shocks me I expect you to know better" The way he examines my face and person makes me feel I am a worm crushed under the sole of his boot "Not only is Lord Kalliarkos nephew to Lord Gargaron, his grandmother is a princess of the royal line, a wealthy woman ns an entire shipyard You will never speak to hiain, do you hear me?"