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“I have never doubted the loyalty of the Sixth Order, brother Though I wish I had ain at the group of co how they shifted under her scrutiny, every face tense and wary “These folk do not strike hness,” he said and she had a sense of ato another Order entirely”

CHAPTER TWO

Alucius

The Kuritai’s nah Alucius had yet to hear him say it In fact he had yet to hear the slave-elite say anything He reacted to instruction with instant obedience and was the perfect servant, fetching, carrying and cleaning with no sign of fatigue or even the faintest expression of coift to you,” Lord Darnel had said that day they had dragged Alucius fro in astonishment when they re him to his feet “A servant of peerless perfectitude,” Darnel went on, gesturing at the Kuritai “You know, I think I’ ways, little poet”

“Yes, I’,” Alucius told Twenty-Seven as he laid out the breakfast “How nice of you to ask”

They were on the veranda overlooking the harbour, the sun rising over the horizon to paint the ships a golden hue he kneould have sent Alornis scurrying to fetch her canvas and brushes He had chosen the house for the view, a merchant’s do with his family Varinshold was full of erow tired of this one, but he found himself too fond of the view, especially as it covered the entirety of the harbour

Fewer and fewer ships, he thought, counting the vessels with accustomed precision Ten slavers, five traders, four warships The slavers sat highest in the water, their copious holds ereat column of smoke had risen to blot the sun fro to write so about it, but found the words failed to flow every tiy for a forest?

Twenty-Seven placed the last plate on the table and stood back as Alucius reached for his cutlery, tasting thethearlic and butter “Excellent as always, my deadly friend”

Twenty-Seven stared out of theand said nothing

“Ah yes, it’s visiting day,” Alucius went on around ame Pack the salve and the new books, if you would”

Twenty-Seven instantly turned away and went about his instructions,to the bookcase first The house’s owner had ely, Alucius assumed, for appearance’s sake as few of the volu ever been read They were mostly popular romances and a few of the more well-known histories, none suited to his purposes, which obliged hier houses formaterial There was much to choose from; the Volarians were boundlessly enthusiastic looters but had little interest in books, save as kindling Yesterday had been particularly fruitful, netting a complete set of Marial’s Astronomical Observations and an inscribed volues in particular

Ten slavers, five traders, four warships, he counted again, turning to the harbour Two less than yesterdayHe paused as another vessel ca the headland to the south It seeh the water, only one sail raised and that, he saw as it ca of soot-blackened canvas The ship trailed sagging rope through the placidswell as it neared the harbour , sparse crewabout the deck with the stoop of exhausted hed anchor Alucius’s eyes picked out nu her hull and many dark brown stains on her untidy deck