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Even though she deserves to know? the nagging voice in his head asked

The question pained hi on the real reason he had coe He presented hiuards were not welcoarowled as they saw him approach in his hood and robes

"He’ll see er pouch bearing Rhinebeck’s seal The guards’ eyes widened, but then they turned back to hier I uard said, "and I oes around in Tender’s robes, anyway?" the other asked

The Painted Man, hisfrom the encounter with Elissa, had no patience for the petty posturing of minor functionaries "The kind ill crack your skull if you don’t open that gate and announce uards both took a step back as they saw his tattooed face He ges tured to the gate, and they stumbled over each other in their haste to open it One scrambled ahead to the palace

The Painted Man pulled his hood back up, hiding a s a freak, at least

He walked toward the palace at a steady pace, drawing eyes from all in the courtyard as their whispers reached his sharp ears Before long the duke’s chaate guard Gaunt the last tio, Jone had become almost desiccated in the years since, her skin translucent and pale, thinly stretched over blue veins and liver spots But her back was still straight, and her stride quick Ragen had likened the cha, and none of his encounters with her had given him cause to doubt that assessuards followed discreetly

"That’s hiuard with a wave He atehouse, but the Painted Man could see ossip

"You are the one they call the Painted Man, are you not?" Jone asked

The Painted Man nodded "I cos from Duke Rhinebeck, and an offer of my own"

Jone raised an eyebrow at that "There are ain How come you to be in the service of Duke Rhinebeck?"

"I serve no e because his interests and mine intersect The Krasian attack on Rizon affects us all"

Jone nodded "His Grace agrees, and so he will grant you audience…"

The Painted Man nodded and began to er "…tomorrow," she finished

The Painted Man scowled It was custoers wait for short periods of tirave tidings delayed a full day when the sun had yet to reach its zenith? Unheard of

"Perhaps you mistake the importance of my news," the Painted Man said carefully