Page 86 (1/2)

Leesha frowned, wanting nothing more than to pull her arm away and bury herself in the heavy, leather-bound toe This was not her ho the books with us e leave," the Painted Man said "I have other copies Those will be yours to keep"

Rojer looked to the Painted Man "Everyone gets a gift but " He moved over to the blocked corridor The keystone that had collapsed froh hundreds of pounds, but he lifted it away easily, leading them to a heavy, locked door that had been hidden in the darkness

He produced another key fro the door and stepping inside He touched a taper to a huge stand lae e chaasped collectively

Carpets, rich and thick, woven in faded design fro with dozens of paintings of forgotten people and events,with metal-framed mirrors and polished furniture Treasures lay piled in rain barrels around the rooems, and jewelry Machines of unknown purpose lay partially disassereat marble statues and busts, musical instruments, and countless other riches There were bookshelves everywhere

"How is this possible?" Leesha asked

"Corelings care little for riches," the Painted Man said "Messengers picked the easily accessible ruins clean, but there are countless places they’ve never been, whole cities lost to demons and sed up by the land I’ve tried to preserve whatever survived the elements"

"You’re richer than all the dukes coed "I have little use for it Take whatever you like"

Rojer gave a whoop and ran through the rooh piles of coins and jewelry, picking up statuettes and ancient weapons He played a tune on a brass horn, then gave a cry and ducked behind a broken statue, reappearing with a fiddle in his hands The strings had rotted away, but the as still strong and polished He laughed aloud, holding the prize up in delight

Gared looked around the room "Liked the other rooree the day?" Rojer asked in surprise "They’re usually open wide for the loggers and their carts" He sat now in the driver’s seat of the cart from the Painted Man’s keep, pulled by Leesha’s horse She sat beside his of books and other iteuise the cart’s false bottom The hidden hold was filled arded weapons andthe Krasian threat ht," Leesha said Indeed, as they drew closer to the city, they saw guards ar the walltop, and orkers carving arrow slits at the lower levels of the wall Where the gate had once had a single pair of guards, now there were several, standing alert with their spears at the ready

"Marick’s tale likely set things in a frenzy," the Painted Man agreed, "but I’ll wager those guards are thereinto the city than they are to ward off any Krasian attack"

"The duke couldn’t possibly refuse all those people succor," Leesha said

"Why not?" the Painted Man said "Duke Euchor lets the Beggars of Miln sleep on the unwarded streets every night"

"Ay, state your business!" a guard called as they approached The Painted Man pulled his hood lower and drifted toward the back of the group

"We corip, licensed to the Jongleurs’ Guild, and these are uard asked "The fiddler?"

"The sa fiddle the Painted Man had given hirunted "Who are the others?"