Page 40 (1/2)

"Probably"

"What’s in it?"

"It’s locked"

"You don’t seem curious," Tobias said

"I’d have to break the box to get into it here, and I won’t do that Whatever its contents, we’ll find out soon enough"

There was a e, did you know you looked so much like the prince?"

"I always felt I looked ed "I’es A sih Besides,is only a painting, an artist’s interpretation of what Jaron looked like Have either of you ever seen the royal family in person?"

Neither of them had Roden observed, quite accurately, that royalty rarely visited orphanages, or invited poor orphans to state dinners

"The king cao," I said "So I stood on the street to see hiht at me as he passed -- I could’ve sworn he did Everyone was supposed to bow to him, but I didn’t"

"Why not?" Tobias asked "Honestly, Sage, have you no respect?"

"An Avenian bow to a Carthyan king? Wouldn’t that dishonor the king of Avenia?"

Tobias’s groan was muffled by Roden, who asked, "So what happened?"

"A soldier clubbed me across my calves That sent ain For aEckbert would stop the entire procession, but he didn’t He only shook his head and continued on"

Roden chuckled softly "It’s a wonder you’ve lived so long If Conner doesn’t choose you, it will only be because you’re too reckless to trust on the throne"

"I can’t deny that My point is that people don’t always look the sas My rese the regents is the real test"

We immediately fell silent when footsteps clambered up the stairs near us

"How many?" Tobias mouthed

I shook my head Maybe four or five men, but it was impossible to tell for sure We heard several other men still on the floor below us

They spread out, each of the one area of the upper floor to search One of Conner’s servants ith them to open any locked door or cupboard

"There’s a lot of storage up here," oneplace," another said "Check every trunk, beneath every bed"

"He wouldn’t hide a prince in a dusty room like this"