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Abban looked at her flatly "I am flattered the Damajah thinks me capable of such a coet in range of a blast just to add credence to so, and hts are cloudy"

That last concerned Inevera She needed Abban, now more than ever His body was of little use to her, but his ht have been a tunnel asp, the way the khaffit fell back as she moved to examine him He squeaked like a woman

"Be still and co"

Though Inevera seldom treated any other than Ah after decades in the da pavilion The khaffit’s dilation, the sloay he tracked her fingers, the long pauses in his speaking, all were indicative of head trau bones, a collection of warded ers, coated in a thin sheen of electrum to focus their power and shield theertips until the configuration was right, and then activated them

The blood drained from his eye, and minor scrapes on his face crusted and dried in an instant Still Inevera kept the power flowing, e to the brain

At last Abban gasped and pulled back His eyes had regained their familiar twinkle

He laughed aloud "It is no wonder the Sharuer than couzi I haven’t felt so sharp and strong in twenty years"

He looked at his leg curiously, thenhis crutch on the pillows For a ive a delighted hop, the leg buckled It was only thanks to a lifetied to fall back onto the pillows and not the floor

Inevera s, khaffit I ain so in return "The Darown up in the bazaar, but it was more than she wanted Abban--or anyone--to know Her family depended on their anonyht know the secret

"Am I to take that as some kind of compliment, that you think hter?" she snapped

Abban bowed "It is the greatest corunted, pretending to beyou recall about the attack"

"Seventeen dead in the blast, a da the with severe structural da its walls were destroyed"

"How is that even possible?" Inevera asked "The blast was in broad daylight--it could not have been hora ic"

"I believe the chin used thundersticks to effect the blast," Abban said

"Thundersticks?" Inevera asked

"Chin flamework," Abban said "Ours is mostly liquids and oil, but the chin have powders Mostly just light and noise for celebration, but rolled with paper into sticks, they are useful inand construction I have seen Leesha Paper use theetting herself for a moment She quickly put her mask back in place, but no doubt the khaffit had said the name intentionally, and watched for her reaction

"You riskmy pillow chamber unannounced," she said "Do not think me such a fool as to miss your hand in my husband’s indiscretions with the Northern whore"