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"Of course I reet the boy Arrick brought back with hie?" The others looked at Rojer in surprise

"Still," Janson went on, his nose twitching again, "I would swear I read a report last year fro and presu a considerable unpaid debt to the Jongleurs’ Guild, as I recall"

"Rojer!" Leesha cried

Rojer put his Jongleur’sthe nose of Janson’s nephew, Jasin Goldentone Of course, Jasin had already taken payment in blood

"Did you coleur?" the Painted Man asked, iving hi even to those who knew him Prince Thamos put a hand to the short spear strapped to his back

Janson twitched nervously, his tiny eyes darting from one man to the other, but he recovered quickly "Indeed not," he agreed, turning his attention fronificant than exaer He shifted his feet as if he were ready to run and hide behind the prince if anyone made a sudden move

"You’d be…him, then?" he asked

The Painted Man pulled back his hood, showing his tattooed face to the prince and ave no other sign that they had seen anything out of the ordinary

Janson bowed deeply "It is an honor to meet you, Mr Flinn Allow me to present Prince Thaest brother to Duke Euchor, and third in line for the ivy throne His Highness is here as estured to the prince, who nodded politely, though his eyes lost none of their challenge

"Your Highness," the Painted Man said, bowing sierian custo Rojer knew the Painted Man had er days, but it was clear that even Janson, whose nize hiering in the doorway appeared "My son and assistant, Pawl," he noted The boy was no more than ten summers old, small like his father, with the same lank black hair and ferretlike face

The Painted Man nodded to the boy "An honor to meet you and your son as well, Lord Janson"

"Please, please, just Janson," the first minister said "I’ive me if I seem a bit aard at this The duke’s herald, , but as luck would have it, he’s out in the hamlets"

"Jasin Goldentone is the duke’s new herald?!" Rojer exclaimed

All eyes turned back to him, but Rojer hardly noticed Jasin Goldentone and his apprentices beat Rojer and his guild sponsor Jaycob a year ago, leaving theht fell Rojer had survived only because Leesha and a few brave city guardsmen had risked their lives for hies, however, pretending not to recall his assailants for fear Jasin ht use his uncle’s connections to escape punishain

Janson, however, seemed to know none of this He looked at Rojer curiously, his eyes flitting to the side, as if checking soer

"Ah, yes," he said after aof a rivalry once, didn’t they? I’m sure he won’t be pleased to hear about this"

"He won’t hear," Rojer said "He was cored on the road to Woodsend three years ago"