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"You think this is out?" Kylar snarled "I’ll be dead inside a week!" He pulled the ka’kari to his skin and sent a jolt of blue fire through it The kids threw up their hands to shield their eyes, and when they looked again, Kylar was gone

35

Followed by generals, bodyguards, Lord Agon, and a bluff Ceuran naan and Lantano Garuwashi strode into the throne rooan knelt before the throne, as did the other Cenarians; the Ceurans bowed low; Lantano Garuwashi inclined his head, rings clacking in his long red hair

"Arise," Queen Graesin said She ar jewels at her ears and throat She descended the seven steps to where Garuwashi and Logan stood "Duke Gyre," she said, s, "you have served us excellently We shall reward you as richly as you deserve" She turned to Lantano Garuwashi "Your Highness, it is an honor Be welcoh of relief So she had gotten his letters after all There had been so odd in her replies, a lack of the expected sneer Perhaps she had decided that with her rule secure, she should start acting , yet," Lantano Garuwashi said, with a little s more besides The traditional Ceuran doubled silk half robes over loose trousers tended to hide a man’s build, but Garuwashi could have dressed in a pile of old sheets and still oozed old, pulled back in a pony tail and interwoven with dozens of other strands, like a tiger’s stripes His jaas pronounced, his face lean and clean shaven, shoulders broad, waist small, sleeves cut shorter than usual either for freedom of an saw, appreciated thelances boldly

"Nor areatly if you would be uest at my coronation"

"I would be honored And perhaps by this tiuest at mine"

"May I show you aroundher hand to Garuwashi and disan expected Lantano Garuwashi would bethe ramparts in no time

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Her name was Pricia She was the fourteen-year-old concubine who had wept for her friends and not for herself when Garoth died She’d hanged herself with a silk belt She was naked, her clothing folded neatly in a pile to one side, all her beauty gone Her face was discolored, eyes open and bulging, tongue protruding, shit running down her fair legs Dorian touched her and found her body only slightly cooled Frohtly It was obscene Dorian rubbed his face

He should have known The concubines had probably learned that Garoth’s body had been recovered even before Dorian had For the Godking’s bodyguards, the recovery meant a small reclamation of honor To the concubines, it ’s wives would be expected to join hiins and the concubines the next Godking desired would be spared Dorian had said he was claiht they would all be burned

"When did you figure it out, Hopper?"

"Your Holiness?" Hopper asked "I’ain"

Hopper cleared his throat, fearful "I ith the rest of the concubines Pricia ca I had no idea--"

"Try Again," Dorian said coldly

Hopper searched Dorian’s face, his eyes wide, panicky Hethat satisfied him, because he said, "Ah" The mask of fear dissolved and he bowed "I knew you were an Ursuul after I told you that you seemed different An eccentric slave would continue as before A pretender would redouble his efforts to appear servile"