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"Warders and supplies sent to Riverbridge with your herald on the way to Angiers," the Painted Man said, "along with a royal decree accepting all refugees frouarantee of food, shelter, and succor through the winter"

"All that, for a book of wards? " Euchor deed "If you wish to buy those I sold Rhinebeck, you’d best treat with him soon, before the Krasians burn his city down"

"The Warders’ Guild will defray the costs to Your Grace, of course," Ragen said on cue

"The Messengers’ Guild, as well," Malcum added quickly

Euchor’s eyes narrowed at the men, and the Painted Man knew he had won Euchor knew that if he refused, the guildmasters would buy the wards thereatest advanceic since the First Deuilds," the duke said "The croill cover the expense After all," he nodded to the Painted Man, "the least Miln can do is take in any survivors who come so far north Provided, of course, that they take an oath of allegiance"

The Painted Man frowned, but he nodded, and at a signal from Euchor, Tender Ronnell hurried forward to take the book frorily

"Will you accept the shelter of the caravan back to Angiers?" the duke asked, trying to hide his eagerness for the Painted Man to be gone

The Painted Man shook his head "I thank you, Your Grace, but I a dismissed, turned and strode from the room

It was simple to lose thebustle, and the streets were crowded as the Painted Man headed for the Duke’s Library He seemed just another Tender as he ascended thein Thesa

As always, the Duke’s Library filled the Painted Man with both elation and sorrow In it, Euchor and his ancestors had collected copies of nearly every re book fro the libraries during the Return Science Medicine Magic History Everything The dukes of Miln had collected all that knowledge and locked it away, denying its benefits to all mankind

As a journeyman Warder, the Painted Man had warded the stacks and furniture of the Library, earning permanent placement in the book of access to the archives Of course, he had no desire to reveal his identity, even to some acolyte clerk, but his objective wasn’t in the stacks this tiht and headed down a side passage

He aiting in Tender Ronnell’s office when the librarian returned, clutching the grimoire of battle wards Ronnell didn’t notice hi quickly to lock the door behind hi the book out before hiive the book to you and not the head of his Warders’ Guild, ould be better able to decipher it," the Painted Man said

Ronnell yelped at the sound and stumbled back His eyes widened farther when he saho stood before him His hand sketched a quick ward in the air before him

When it became clear that the Painted Man intended no attack, the Tender straightened and regained his co is part of an acolyte’s studies The world may not be ready for what is contained within His Grace commanded that I assess it first"

"Is that your function, Tender? To decide what ht to deny s?"

Ronnell snorted "You speak, sir, as soiving them freely"

The Painted Man walked to Ronnell’s desk The surface was iany writing kit, and a brass stand holding the Tender’s personal copy of the Canon He lifted the book casually, and his sharp ears caught a possessive inhalation fro