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The first part is easy enough to prove "Hector, do you recognize thishim, eyes narrowed "No Well, maybe"

"Maybe?"

"It could be him There are similarities The man I re hard I can’t read the Invierno’s face, much less separate truth from falsehood "You call yourself "

"You are correct, Your Majesty I was not hiding from the people of Joya, but fro as he says, "I had failed, you see After years of ca to show for o horace and face execution, or find a new home here"

"A harsh sentence"

"My kind embrace honorable death I am wretched in my unusual desire to live beyond the sha the zeal hich the anius atop the amphitheater burned himself And before that, how dozens of Inviernos subi’s knives, the way their blood poured into the sand and fueled the fire round Did they all believe they were e honorable death?

Hector asks, "Why didn’t you seek asylu could not have protected me I had to disappear corin that sends shivers downwith Invierne spies"

The guards exchange a startled glance

I breathe deeply through h my pulse races, I wave a hand nonchalantly and say, "Everyone spies on everyone else My own father, King Hitzedar of Orovalle, has several spies in my court"

Storht here in the city"

"Inviernos like you? Or are Joya’s own citizens turning against her?"

"Both"

Hector says, "We would recognize Inviernos as and looks off in the distance as if bored

I lean forward "Would we, Stor "All of you Joyans and Orovalleños look exactly alike, with your dirty skin and dark hair and wood-rot eyes You are like black rats crawling across the sand But we Inviernos are a colorful people, and as nu us who reseh to make spies"

"You claih you hold rier, but I find ard for propriety

"You are a contemptible people I ae that he does not make even the barest attempt at flattery "Hard to believe you were unable toas you are"

He nods knowingly "This is the sarcas but mean another Inviernos value honesty too much for it, in accordance with God’s will"

I don’t have the tio "The anius who burned himself alivesurely you heard about it?"

He nods "Everyone within teeks’ journey has heard by now"

"Did you know him? Did you knoould happen?"

"No, and no I was not surprised, though The anii are fond of such demonstrations"

"Are you the person who tried to kill me?"

He doesn’t even flinch "No"

"If your life is in such great danger, why answer my summons?"

His lips twist into that cruel smile "I ca would be taken norant, iht about that "And what is your warning?"

"You are in grave peril, Your Majesty I have seen the signs, and I know Invierne will make another play Soon But this tiainst This tiht, and you won’t recognize the danger until it’s too late"

The anius uttered similar words I s the panic that rises in my throat "Why? Why warn e turns a nice profit on river scavenge The people I lead are stupid and filthy, but they treat me with respect, even worship All s to stay exactly the way they are, and I know the city of Brisadulce has its best chance of re stable if you are in power and well aware of the Invierne threat"

Hector leans forward, nostrils flared, face hard I have never seen hiry "The Inviernos will find that Elisa is very difficult to kill," he says, yhs, and the sound is as brittle as breaking glass "Did I say kill? I don’t believe I did Invierne wants her very h I assure you that if one of Invierne’s innuets hold of her, she ish herself dead"

It’s possible that I hate this man after all "This audience is over," I snap "Take hiuards pin his ar me will mean my death, Your Majesty," he calls over his shoulder "And once Invierne findsmore I know you’re curious About us About ant with that thing in your belly"

"Wait!" I say, and the guards halt "And if I let you return to your village?"

"Visit any time and ask all the questions you want As I said, I a to fear froo free But Storm, in accordance with God’s will, I iveflits across his face I hope it’s fear He bows "Until we uards step aside He flips the cowl over his head and sweeps frouards, "Follow him"

They nod, wait a few beats, and then one slips out the door after hiers "I believe that really was the for I reant superiority i I encountered were ainst the desk "You could simply make it known that he’s here If what he said is true, his own people will take care of hi Hector in such a relaxed pose helpsbreath and say, "I’"

His sloppy grin makes my stomach clench, not unpleasantly "You faced him down like a seasoned warrior," he says

"Only because I had your daggers atthe truth? About the spies? About why he wanted to warn s "Alejandro and I used to speculate that the Inviernos are incapable of falsehood They tend to go silent and refuse to speak rather than lie He rong about one thing, though Someone wants you dead, as your wounds attest"

Reflexively, ers find my Godstone Then they shift left, skies of asp in surprise