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Evvy obeyed She eased her horse back until she was next to Monster’s carry-basket She reached her fingers in and stroked the big aniive me, honored Rosethorn, friend of the elare "This … officer insists that you will not be allowed to pass until each ive the, the inconvenience You have ht the Mistress of Protocol could ever be so upset Just after their arrival this inti them in the ways of the court At the time Evvy had wondered if she was carved of the sas
"Inspect, then," Rosethorn said "Except for the three of us and our guide, everyone is palace staff The guide was approved by palace officials" She said nothing else as every member of their escort had been inspected top to toe by an are was poked, as if the soldiers expected theuards inspected the pack anied her mount over to that of the Mistress Quietly she asked, "Is it per inspection?"
The Mistress used her fan to hide her face for a moment, then lowered it and leaned very close to Rosethorn to whisper in her ear Evvy knew that noret an extra word from the older woman, but she had a bad case of arthritis A balm from Rosethorn, and its recipe, had ht, if she illing to give Rosethorn any infor; the too"
The men cleared away from the road The Mistress of Protocol, badly rattled, presented the travelers with the horses and their burdens, gifts personally chosen by the erateful phrases
Evvy ads, and she acted as any noble lady ht, but when she took a drink of tea from her belt flask, Evvy could see that Rosethorn’s hand was shaking Given Rosethorn’s nature, Evvy was fairly certain she wasn’t scared, but furious
Were they looking for Parahan? Evvy wondered, nibbling the inside of her cheek It’s early, but h the last gate out of the palace and were on the long avenue that led into the city, Evvy and Briar rode up to Rosethorn Their guide had drawn closer as well "In all my days of service to the iuests subjected to search upon their departure!" the guide said, indignant "Did the most honorable Mistress of Protocol hint as to the cause of such extraordinary behavior? The emperor will be furious to learn of this!"
"I don’t believe so," Rosethorn said, her voice very dry "He’s uest" She pursed her mouth, then said, "Apparently his captive Parahan of Kombanpur has escaped They don’t kno His chains -- locked -- and his cage -- also locked -- were discovered thiswhen they went to take him to his bath"
"Oh, that’s bad," Briar corave "His I her teacher hed, careful not to overdo it "He won’t get very far, not with the whole palace looking for him"
Rosethorn looked at them suspiciously "Very true If he’s lucky, once he’s recaptured, no one will say anything about it," she commented "No one ant the euide shook his head "That’s the kind of secret that always coht, they’ll catch him They have ways Now, if you will look ahead, you will see the Gate of Lowly Welco fro our glorious city We will be going around Dohan, though, so ill not pass through"
He trotted on ahead to ride with the leader of their guards Rosethorn rode for a while in silence, before she said, "We’re going to be in Yanjing two ood The imperial spy service will have eyes on us constantly to see if Parahan tries to get in touch There’s no reason why he should But brace yourselves, all the saet out of Yanjing soon
ON THE SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY OF DOHAN
The caravansary was the biggest Evvy had ever seen, with beautiful paintings of flowers and fish on the inside plaster walls, and a large square well in the middle There were two levels of rooer caravans and the upper for s parties This was a Trader place, very clean and in good repair
The ride leader of their caravan caate As soon as she and her people took charge of their group, the imperial escort bowed to Rosethorn and Briar and left them
The ride leader, who had introduced herself as Rajoni of Twenty-eighth Caravan Datta, frowned "That’s odd Usually some of them stay for tea and any nee care to pass on, but this year the imperials have been very … distant" She shook her head, as if shaking off bad thoughts "Dedicate Rosethorn, you and your coe before your departure fro, a day early, for Hanjian" She looked at their animals "You have more horses than your note said"