Page 73 (1/1)

Father flips his sleeves, then sies, my lord I am not yet accustomed to the formal htly itation aron’s frown lifts as he joins Father at the"It is just as well you’ve lingered here because there is a small matter I wish to speak of while we still have privacy"

"My lord" Father inclines his head obediently

Lord Gargaron leans out to exa arroill pierce hiht "On the road, it is likely you will be joined by your wife’s brother"

"Likely? Is there soiven one final chance to prove he can h I aiven my word to allow hiames, he may devote himself to the Fives If he loses I will finally be allowed to send hi"

He rubs a cheek with a finger, as if rubbing a gloating s

"I expect you to keep hin is run Give him a chance to prove hi the important decisions Above all else, keep him safe"

"Whatwith, my lord?" Father asks with the patience of a man who has overseen any number of hapless lordly whelps sent out to endure their first and possibly only cans

"He’s a s and experience The one thing you must cure him of is that he wants people to like him He is inappropriately friendly toward those who are not of his station He believes he can rescue forlorn wretches He has a bad habit of doing favors for people to win their approval"

Father is far too disciplined to glance my way but the twitch of his shoulders and the cant of his body betrays that he is abruptly wondering how I got here and who ht have helped me

"Cleanse him of that desire for camaraderie, if you can But above all, I need him back sound in o aood soldier Your fortune will rise with his, I promise you"

I rock back a step to catch racious lady wife speaks little of her brother," Father remarks "I a"

"Though close in age, they are notlike a statue by the door He flutters a hand "Out! These creatures! Too stupid to take initiative"

Father’s gaze flicks toward me, then back to his lord "Good soldiers undertake their duty and accomplish all that they have been ordered to do," he says as I depart

The words areThe stone steps slip away, like they are falling farther and farther from my feet, and by the ti Only uards

"Slon!" he barks

Panting, I duck h my heart stumbles

The corridor is awash in a locust cloud of voices Because I do not know the layout of the villa, I e atrium in which a co Across the room I see Lord Kalliarkos, Lord Thynos, and General Inarsis chatting ah Kalliarkos glances around the roo the wall like a shadow

Lords and ladiesThe women wear linen sheaths, the fabric covered with embroidery and tiny beads to create flowers and vines and butterflies Bright ribbons tiered in clusters and waterfalls in their hair swirl and swing as their heads move

At the still center stands Prince Nikonos No adornold silk is all he need wear toNo one stands close to hihter He looks up at a woazes cross like sparks spitting and, reets a woman with an effusive smile and a cheek touched one to the other’s

I have seen that face before, so striking with decorative kohl artistry turning her eyelashes into the spine of wings drawn onto her cheek The architecture of ribbons in her hair spreads like a fan to fra out of the carriage at the Ribbon Market the day Coriander’s brother was arrested and Kalliarkos saved e because she is his sister, and now my father’s wife