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“I doubt that, Aspect,” Alucius said “It seeh in rather strange circumstances” He went on to relate the tale Darnel had told him, complete with the Dark powers attributed to the fallen Master of the Sixth Order
Dendrish’s response ift, i but a lie “Utter nonsense In fact I a could lend any credence to such lurid piffle”
“Quite so, Aspect” Alucius fished inside his sack and brought out a fresh volu it onto the bed One of his e of the Swift Wing He had intended to annoy the Aspect with an annotated copy of Lord Al Avern’s Complete and Unbiased History of the Church of the World Father, but felt the pluht be in need of a lift Dendrish, however, didn’t even glance at the book, sitting and staring at nothing as Alucius begged leave and departed the cell
Aspect Elera wasbriefly about her scant acquaintance with the lateher deep appreciation for the fresh medicine and new books Her tone, however, became markedly more intent when she asked him, “And the wine, Alucius?”
“I have yet to seek it out, Aspect”
She ly harsh whisper “Then be sure to slake your thirst soon, good sir”
• • •
With Darnel and one off to hunt down the elusive Red Brother, Varinshold was even arrison were Varitai, never particularly talkative, and the sent of Free Swords kept to themselves in the northern quarter mansion houses they had transformed into barracks The streets, such as they were, remained unpatrolled for the most part since there was hardly a soul left to police Most slaves had been shipped across the ocean weeks ago and those that rereat palace, one in particular providing the most valued labour, so valued in fact that Darnel had threatened to sever the hand of any overseer who touched hi Master Benril was not one of Alucius’s favourite obligations, a task to be undertaken as infrequently as his conscience allowed, usually when iest in his mind He found the old ed and burnt eyesore in the after the apex of the palace’s destruction, now covered in fresh marble fro slave, older than most but spared execution by virtue of his skill with stone, and his expert knowledge of where to find more He rarely spoke iven no injunction about applying the whip to his back, but revealed a highborn’s cultured vohen he did Alucius had yet to learn theso Slaves could never be relied upon to live long enough torather nicely, Master,” he greeted Benril, calling up to the second tier of the scaffolding where the sculptor laboured to craft the great relief depicting Darnel’s glorious victory over the Reallance over his shoulder He offered no greeting but gave an irritated flick of his hand, granting leave for Alucius to ascend the ladder Alucius always marvelled at the speed hich they worked, the portly slave guiding a rasp over recently coin stone Only one lorious project and it was a quarter co from the stone in accordance with the vast cartoon Benril had unrolled before the Fief Lord’s approving eye
Perhaps his greatest work, AluciusBenril chisel away at the heroic profile of a Renfaelin knight in co Realm Guard And it’s all a lie
“What is it?” Benril asked, leaving off fro for a nearby earthenware bottle
“Merely ular assurance that both Aspects remain alive and unmolested,” Alucius replied It had been the ed hi an eyebrow at Darnel’s pro compliant when his threats turned to the Aspects For all his disdain for custom and propriety, Benril re fro it to the slave Thea swift drink, returning to his ith deter the stopper and sniffing the contents Just water
“I hear tell of a hidden stock of wine,” he told Benril “If you would care for some”
“Wine dulls the senses and reat one” Benril spared hi to his work “A truism hich you are intireat pleasure, Master” Alucius gave an unheeded bow and returned to the ladder, pausing to cast an eye over Benril’s bony but still-strong back, his rope-thin,in expert rhyth,” he added “It seehters in the forest You recall Master Grealin? Great, fat felloho minded the Sixth Order’s stores”
“What of it?” Benril asked, continuing to chisel away
Alucius kept his eyes on Benril’s hands “He died”