Page 70 (1/2)

"If all it takes to put sin in thea bit of silk," Leesha said, "perhaps the problem is with your serot a point," S on the cheap to cut into old in workers’ faces then paying thes we can do without or otten too used to being the only store in town, Smitt Inn," Leesha said Indeed, the Speaker of the Hollow had iers, and had grown steadily wealthier even as those around him suffered the depredations of the last year "I’ve seen what you charge hungry folk for a loaf of bread A little coh," Thaht now, but as of today there will be an ioods frorins at that, but the count checked theet used to a little silk and co my time with these petty complaints"

Leesha held back her own smile as the curve fell from the other men’s lips

"I trust the new cathedral is not a petty matter?" Hayes said testily

"Not at all, Inquisitor," Thamos said "In fact, it vexes Arther daily when he prepares the tallies You’ve barely broken ground, and by all accounts already exceeded your yearly budget and every line of credit available"

"There are no braver hness, but they are woodsmen," Hayes said, the derision in his tone almost undetectable "Canon--and wisdoiers, where stoneworkers are hed He was one of theon the Inquisitor for pay to add, Speaker?" Thahness’ pardon, and no disrespect to the Inquisitor," Smitt said, "but that just ent true De for us at new moon Stone is cheap in the Hollow, and so isin history in the shape of a ripping greatward"

"Ent the whole barony a greatward?" Gared asked

"Even the baron agrees it’s a redundant waste," Smitt said

Gared’s face took on the strained look it did when so he didn’t understand "A what?"

Child Franq ignored hi at Smitt "How dare you question the Inquisitor? Hollow Cathedral will be the last refuge if the corelings take the county, as they nearly did at new moon"

"A project that will take decades to finish properly," Erny said, "and leave you with irregularly shaped rooe A basic ould be cheaper and far more efficient"

"Demons make it all the way into the center of the Hollow," Gared said, "ent no wall or ward gonna stop ’em Better to use the place to pray for the Deliverer to return"

"Mr Bales himself denies he is the Deliverer," Hayes reminded him "By his oords We must continue to look to the Creator for true succor"

Gared’s hands curled into fists at the words He had become more pious of late, but it was due to his belief--shared by tens of thousands across Thesa--that Arlen Bales was the Deliverer, sent by the Creator to lead hus

The Inquisitor had been sent to the Hollow by the Tenders of the Creator in Angiers to study these clai Arlen as an iainst Arlen would turn the entire Hollow against him

"With all due respect, Inquisitor," Leesha said, "Arlen Bales never said any such thing He denies he is the Deliverer, true, but it was one another he told us to look to"