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“Volar is not New Kethia,” Karavek said when the Meldenean made his formal request for alliance on behalf of Queen Lyrna He had arrived at the governor’seaponry and regarding Fleet Lord Ell-Nurin with a naked suspicion that bordered on hostility “This city is a village in coe there,” Frentis said “As you were”

“True enough, but I don’t know theranted all in this province a place in the Unified Realm,” Ell-Nurin said “You are now free subjects under her protection But freedom carries a price”

“Don’t lecture rowled “Half the slaves in this city died paying that price” He turned to Frentis, lowering his voice “Brother, you knoell as I how precarious our position is Any day now the southern garrisons will ht the in Volar”

Victory at Volar will end this empire, Frentis wanted to say but felt the words die on his tongue, knowing how hollow they would sound “I know,” he said “Butto join us”

“We rose because of you,” Karavek said “The Red Brother’s rebellion, the great crusade birthing hope in the hearts of those condemned to a life in chains Now it seems just a diversion so your queen faces fewer enemies on the road to Volar And if it falls, what then? Sail away leaving us to face the chaos of a fractured eardless of my queen’s intentions, when our business in Volar is colanced at Ell-Nurin “And the queen has given assurance that, should your position here prove untenable, her fleet will carry your people across the ocean where you will be granted land and full rights in the Unified Realaze at the Fleet Lord “He speaks true?”

Ell-Nurin maintained an adard for his life would dare to speak falsely in the queen’s nah the shaggy mess of his hair, brow knotted in consideration “I’ll speak to my people,” he said eventually “Should be able to o with you I trust your queen will appreciate the gesture”

“She is your queen now,” Frentis reets a debt”

• • •

The freed Varitai were encae nurey-clads who found the for company than the newly freed denizens of the city itself A few dozen had been chased into the ruins by a mob in the immediate aftermath of the city’s fall Their pursuers’ bloodlust abated soht of seven hundred Varitai drawn up in full battle order, Weaver standing at their head with his arms crossed and face set in stern disapproval Even so the ered for a tienerated further but for the arrival of Master Rensial’s ared Volarians hadin fro found life in the wilderness too great a trial

“Will the Varitai coether in what he assuular structure coe flat space The roof had vanished but the h standing at perhaps half their forht The floor was covered in a vast h to convey a sense of accoht low in the fury of war

“They have a new name now,” Weaver said “Politai, which means unchained in old Volarian And yes they’ll co so many more of their brothers to free in Volar I shall ask theh”

“I’ve obtained assurance from Karavek they’ll be left in peace, provided they don’t venture into New Kethia”

Weaver gave a slight nod, his eyes roving the ruin “Did you know, the people of this city would choose their own king? Every le black stone every four years A vase would be placed before each of the candidates ould stand there,” he pointed to the head of the chamber, “and eachhis fist closed whenever he drew it out, so none would know into which vase he had dropped his stone”

“What if you dropped two stones?” Frentis asked

“A great blasphemy punishable by death, for this was a rite as well as a custoods All shattered and lost when the Volarians ca From a historical perspective”