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"While I do love the artistry of your threats, Damajah, I’m afraid we have no time for them, if you wish to have my news before it reaches the ears of the Damaji"

Abban’s words were as flip as ever, but his clipped tone left no doubt that his neould put her fragile rule to the test at a time when Krasia could ill afford further instability

"What is it?" she said

"I auards outside, and cannot speak freely," the khaffit said, "and this news is best discussed in person Invite me in, please"

Invite him in To her private pillow chamber The one she shared with the Deliverer hiestion Si of the palace carried a hundred sentences far worse, if he should be seen Was he s, but mad was not one of them If he was here, it was only because he was certain the news could not wait, and was ave a quick dance, and a shadow flitted across the room A moment later, Ashia returned with the khaffit

"Speak," Inevera said

Abban glanced at Ashia, hovering disapprovingly at his side He looked back at Inevera and inclined his head slightly toward the door

"You forfeited your life the h that door, khaffit," Inevera said "If you do not pay me its worth in the next few seconds, Ashia will collect it"

Abban paled, the usual s demeanor fallen from his face Inevera could see the sudden fear that washed over his aura It was not a uardsI do not trust her with"

"The chin are in rebellion," Abban said

It took a reenlanders?

"Impossible," she said "Unthinkable The chin of Fort Rizon broke like slate to the haave up without a fight They would not dare oppose us"

"Slate may break easily," Abban said, "but it leaves behind a thousand shards that may cut those who do not take care"

Inevera felt her sto her center "What has happened?"

"The sharaji in seven of the chin villages are ablaze," Abban said "All at once, at the sounding of the horns ending alagai’sharak, while all the warriors and eldest nie’Sharum were afield"

"The children?" Inevera asked The eldest nie’Sharunal runners for the Watchers in alagai’sharak, but the younger boys, ranging from seven to eleven, should have been asleep in their barracks

"Taken before the fires were set," Abban said "Krasian children as well as chin The da over thehtened It all ca them for Hannu Pash had been the hardest demand the Krasians placed upon the chin after they surrendered and placed their foreheads on the ground before the daht She wondered how long they had beenthis More insidious was the h to have their wills broken Raised as chin, they would reenlanders

Seven fires Seven villages Not a fraction of the hundreds of villages throughout Everanificant number A sacred number It could not be coincidence