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I flinch "He wanted to knohere I trained, that’s all"

"Mround like she’s irandmother set up Garon Stable just for hi tone

"Do you know his maternal uncle is the Illustrious Southwind?"

"Yes"

"He made his reputation at Asander Stable and yet by onestable without a single victory to its na venture means they think they can make some kind of brilliant profit from all this What profit theyin dangerous waters, Jessamy Maybe you have been thrown into the Fire Sea without a raft, for which I am sorry, but do not involveFor four years she has trained and encouraged round "I’m sorry, Honored Lady I meant no harive him that If he smiled at you I suppose it would have been hard to refuse"

I take in several sharp breaths rather than ad hi because he knew I lost on purpose Anyway, he’s desperate They won’t truly let hio into the ar because I cannot bear the way Anise stares athand "Don’t tell me secrets that aren’t yours to share"

Behind us the adversaries flow through the transition fro death of the to hold of my hands, she turns them over to examine my calluses and scars Then she looks up into my face "I promised your mother I would do my best by you"

"My mother talked to you?"

"Of course she talked to ht be harmed when you went out of the house on your own You are the best I’ve trained, Jessath, and the flair, and most i as you train at Garon Palace, you ain"

21

Despite having died in disgrace and in debt, Lord Ottonor must be allowed a final procession to the City of the Dead because that is the prerogative of a lord as head of a clan and thus must be honored by burial in an oracle’s tomb

We assee, the seven noble palaces, and all the lordly clans with their retinues are required to accompany the procession Tana pushes irl, filling in a row of five

I lean toward Gira "Why did Talon stay behind in the stable?"

She steps on "

We march in time to the mournful pulse of funeral drums I have never before worn formal household livery because ed to Lord Ottonor’s household The adversaries of Garon Stable wear a version of the parade uniforth sleeveless vest Its back is stitched with the horned and winged fire dog that represents Garon Palace Three buttons close the bright yellow silk acrossit to flow open to either side Beneath the sleeveless vest I wear a knee-length tunic cinched at my waist with a lacework of three belts Loose trousers are tucked into boots The color of the processional scarf , narrohite funeral scarves

Anise’s harsh words haunt me Whatever it is Garon Palace wants, it will not hesitate to trample anyone who stands in its way

By the ti all over Father told us stories of his childhood and how it got cold in a season he called "winter," but I don’t understand why Patrons wear all these layers of clothing in war

As all the households reach the Avenue of Triu to status Clans whose aniive way to palaces, whose talis the palaces there is a further hierarchy, depending on who stands highest and who lowest in the royal favor Although every lord’s clan we ive way to all six of the other palace clans How Lord Gargaron o ahead of him! Finally we take our place