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"I know of Veldergrath," Tobias said "He owned the land er came ’round and told her the rent would be doubled She hated him to the end of her life"

"He has his enerath has no co from Carthya to himself until it’s sed up"

"So which do you prefer?" Tobias asked "A reign of Veldergrath or civil war?"

"Neither That is why you are here" Conner tossed the rest ourselves, then brushed his hands together and said to Mott and Cregan, "Wipe away any trace of our being here as best you can I wish to leave within the hour"

Roden and Tobias dove for the bread, but I stayed where I atching Conner walk back to the cart The hints he left for us about his plan were not subtle It was clear what he wanted But there was obviously so out I didn’t dare wonder what that aze as he passed by, and stopped walking He gavelook as we stood there, then slowly nodded his head before walking on

I closed ht be true Conner was holding us on the brink of treason

Conner lectured us about Carthya for nearly the entire ride to wherever ere going that on seat while Mott drove and Cregan did vigil duty from the rear

He pointed out the various towns all over Carthya, gesturing their direction fro in detail the qualities of the different large cities

"Drylliad is that way," he said, pointing to the south "The capital of Carthya and home of the royal family Have any of you ever been there?"

Tobias spoke up "My father brought , but I don’t remember it"

"I’ve been there too, but it was so’s dovecote It didn’t work out so well"

They laughed, which was odd since I hadn’t ry at the ti detected Sprained my ankle in a fall as I ran that didn’t heal for a week

I’d been to many of the towns he spoke of It was clear that I was better traveled than either Roden or Tobias Roden said he’d been born somewhere in southern Carthya and left on the steps of the orphanage in Benton He had no idea who his parents were or anything about them He’d never left Benton until Conner came for him

Tobias said that he had been born in a town near Gelvins, but his mother died at birth and his father died of disease a few years later His grandmother had taken over his care afterward, but after she died two years ago, he’d been sent to the orphanage

"Who educated you?" Conner asked hirandmother She worked for a man who had a vast library and let her borrow a different book each week to read to me I miss the books almost as much as I miss her"

"Do you read?" Conner asked Roden, who shook his head

"I’ve alanted to, though," Roden said "I’’s army But to rise in rank, I’d be expected to read"

"So you’re a patriot," Conner said adly "Then we shall have to teach you to read What about you, Sage? Can you read?"

I shrugged "Didn’t you already ask me that?"