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"That’s Lady A her head "She’s the wife of the richest banker in Risan"

Risan was a southern duchy on the coast; Rokan’s father had ruthlessly curtailed its trading privileges in favor of Gionvar, a rival duchy with a river harbor The Duke of Risan had promised soldiers and money to Owain and had delivered the money but not the soldiers Kaer wondered how much of that Isabel knew Most of it, he hoped, if she orth her own myth, and he would tell her the rest later For now he ainst the dais to keep himself still

"My lady," he said with careful courtesy as the tomen drew close to the throne Lady A the floor

"Your Highness," Lady Aether "I wanted to thank you for your gracious hospitality This is my first visit to the capital, and truly, the reports I’ve heard are not overexaggerated The splendor of the castle, the tranquility of the clihtly to Isabel Isabel inclined her head politely Clarisse snorted

"Thank you," Kaer said He waited for her to get to the point

He didn’t have to wait long "I must adht wasBut I found the food a bit bland"

Ah "I’m sorry to hear that," Kaer said "I must have someone speak to the head cook"

"It may not be the poor man’s fault," Lady Amri said "I understand that the price of spices has nearly tripled in the past couple of years The Gionvarian ships have not been faring well of late, have they?"

They had not been faring well because they had been attacked by Risanian-subsidized pirates, but that was none of his concern "They have been quite unfortunate, it is true"

The Shifter was gazing at the crowd, unconcerned by the spice trade Kaer kept his face impassive as Lady Amri put a slippered foot on the dais and lifted one arm There were three small brown nuts in her upturned pal, the most expensive and hard-to-obtain spice in the knoorld We offer you soift Ground into powder, these are worth--"

The Shifterover the throne A moment later Kaer saw a red and brown head flick out from Lady Amri’s sleeve, so fast it was no more than a blur The Shifter knocked his hand out of the way, bending his fingers back, and the fangs sank into the back of her hand instead of into his palm

For a split second the world froze Kaer focused on the snake’s head,He could see the tops of its fangs, thin and white, sunk deep into the Shifter’s slim hand Then, just as fast, the snake hissed and drew back into the woman’s sleeve

Lady A, but by then two guards were already there Elsewhere in the throne roo out; they hadn’t seen the snake, but they saw the guards with their swords drawn on the Risanian banker’s wife

Kaer started to rise, but Isabel hissed, "Sit," and he sat Her hand elling up; already it was almost twice its nore of terror and guilt "Are you all right?"

"I have to…" She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw After a few seconds she opened her eyes Her face was calain

"Why did you let it bite you?" Clarisse asked in a tone of mild curiosity

"Why not?" The Shifter lifted her hand, revealing sers

Clarisse carefully arranged a curl over her forehead, re witnessed an up-close assassination attempt "If you sensed the snake--"

"I didn’t sense it" Isabel turned her head sharply, scanning the crowd "I didn’t sense it because it wasn’t there until the moment before it attacked Summon Albin--"

But it was too late The assassin sment and lifted her chin Her face blurred, cheekbones sharpening, chin narrowing Kaer didn’t recognize the wo from her blank expression, neither did the Shifter

"Don’t bother," the woh sorcerer"