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Re behind her desk, Hedda clutched her knife Her infor pup brandished a sharp dagger Valek would have been i

"If the Co this conversation," he said, showing her his empty hands

She didn’t relax "Then why are you here?"

"I followed yourhe planned to warn the Storm Thieves about my presence"

"I didn’t see him," the man said in his defense

"Of course you wouldn’t, you idiot Valek was my best student The only person to coazed at Valek "You killed her" It wasn’t a question

"Actually, no Do you still keep a bottle of blackberry brandy in your desk?"

Hedda’s knife disappeared "I do"

Valek turned to the idiot "Report back to the garrison before you’re missed"

"Yes, sir" Theto discipline you?"

He nodded, and his Adauess You’ve been exchanging inforrip on the knob tightened in surprise "Yes, sir"

"Do you wish to become an assassin?"

"Oh, no, sir I just wanted to iarrison’s master of arms isold, sir"

"I’est you work on spotting a tail"

"Yes, sir" He bolted

Hedda settled behind her desk and produced a bottle of brandy She poured the deep red liquid into two glasses as Valek sat in the chair facing her

"You’ve changed," Hedda said, handing hilass

"Oh?"

"The old Valek would haveto find out if you’d infor officer or leave him one of your infaulp, then poured herself another "The old Valek would have killed Onora for getting so close to the Coet rid of my competition, but she’s proven to be quite the puzzle And you know ed"