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Sollis rose, placing a hand on the mad master’s shoulder as he continued to mutter to himself “By assent of this conclave,” Sollis said “I speak for my Order until Aspect Arlyn is recovered or proved dead We will follow the queen’s course”
“As will the Fourth Order,” Brother Hollun stated
Aspect Dendrish slu a plump hand in either dis to regard thenorant But I have seen ht, to the bitterest end if need be Our Order, such as it is, will support this endeavour”
The Second Order was represented by a pair of sisters from their mission in Andurin, both tired from the journey and clearly overawed by the occasion They apparently had no knowledge of their Aspect’s fate though ru when their House burned to rubble They conferred for a second before the older of the two confirreement in a strained voice
“Aspect?” Sollis asked Elera
Her smile had faded coht as to defy signs of age, now told of a tired wo years with eyes that had seen too ether and face downcast “So ed so quickly,” she said eventually “So many certainties overthrown in the space of a few ht to speak of our past cririevous errors I htest pupil was taken to the Blackhold for speaking against the desert war There is blood on our hands But I fear what crimes await us should we take this course Every day people co with a hatred I have not seen in all the troubled years to beset this Realm When the queen takes them across the ocean, what manner of justice will she ordain?”
“I am Battle Lord of the Queen’s Host,” Vaelin said “And will allow no violence to be visited on those who do not raise ar at hi behind her eyes she hadn’t shown hiret I delivered you, she had told him once Perhaps she wonders what she pulled into the world? “I will trust your word, Vaelin, as I always have” She turned to the others, speaking fores to support the queen’s course”
• • •
He said farewell to Reva at the south gate, pulling her close to plant a kiss on the top of her head, finding himself both surprised and heartened when she returned the embrace “No doubts?” he asked her as she drew back “No hesitation in following the queen’s orders?”
“Doubts I have aplenty,” she replied “But that’s nothing new At Alltor I saw enough to convince ht is to the death They won’t stop, so neither can we”
“And will your people see it that way?”
Her expression grew sombre, her tone soft with reluctant admission “They hen they hear the Blessed Lady speak with the Father’s voice”
She mounted up and rode off with an escort of House Guards Watching her go, he was struck by a sudden sense of loss, a knowledge he ain
“My lord” He turned to find himself confronted with one of Lyrna’s ladies, the taller one with dark eyes, though her name escaped him “The queen requests your presence at the palace”
Her eyes flicked to the left, a slight frown of unease on her brow He followed her gaze to where the Gifted folk from the Reaches had established the Real their co the non-Gifted, the young y as Cara sht Vaelin’s eye and gave a weak s to a shadowed corner where he seely blinked out of existence
He turned back to the lady, finding her narrow gaze still fixed on the shadohere Lorkan had disappeared “Forgiveher attention “I don’t believe I know your naain “In truth, Lady Orena Al Vardrian, by the queen’s good graces”
“Vardrian? Frorandmother was from Haeversvale, my lord”
He was about to inform her that they most likely shared soave hi so close to the Gifted and there was a tenseness to her deed further conversation “These people are our allies,” he said, nodding to the wineshop “They offer no threat”
Her face took on a bland neutrality and she bowed “The queen waits upon your attendance,the part-completed marble relief carved by Master Benril A short way off the Lady Davoka stood alongside another Lonak woer woht of Vaelin, her face curious, as if voicing an unspoken question