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“My lot didn’t even co over their list of rightful dehtful demands?”

“Yes, they want to choose their own officers, an end to land ownership and the right to appoint the queen’s councillors Can you iine? Faith save us from the newly freed”

Vaelin joined Reva at the stern as the ship h the narrow harbourpeople, their words less to him but she was able to discern a few “Livella is reborn,” shethe torrent of flowers arc into their wake “Perhaps Varulek will get his gods back after all”

“Varulek?” he asked

“A deadthrong as they dreay, the hel them into the Cut as the captain ordered the sails for a ard tack, towards the distant ocean “Not long agofor my death in the arena Now they rejoice at lanced at the young guardsaze rarely straying from the Blessed Lady “It seems you have your own Iltis”

“I offered Guardsave the youth a somewhat strained smile “All he asked was to stay at et ho troop-ships now pulling away from the quayside, each laden with Cuenerous pay the queen offered for experienced archers, but most chose to follow the Blessed Lady houn to quote from the Eleventh Book I hear”

“He has recovered much of his fervour since Alltor,” she said “Andhere I think I preferred hiht be a better place were it ruled by disappointed souls”

“Shouldn’t you write that down? The Blessed Lady’s wisdoh then lowered her gaze, her voice taking on a sorrowful pitch “I told Antesh it had all been a great lie Never once in e and not here He said, ‘You are the Father’s voice, ine on the starboard rail Apparently it could spit flame, with fearsome results if the accounts Vaelin had heard were true Alornis see the various plates to explore itselse

“I’d happily tip that thing into the sea,” he said “But these devices of hers are the only thing that brings any life to her eyes”

“Then let’s discover why” Reva went to crouch at Alornis’s side, watching her work for aa question Vaelin expected his sister to ignore her, as she often ignored hi with passionate ani each pipe and spigot in detail as Reva nodded encourage his sister relax, even voicing a laugh or two, then found his gaze drawn inexorably to the canvas-wrapped bulk lashed to theany aued him What do we do with it?

• • •

“I couldn’t save him, brother!”

He had been called fro about the deck, wine bottle in hand The swell had increased as night fell and they drew into what the sailors called “the Boraelin ion renowned for tall waves and vicious storale it stillrain

“Killed a dozen of those red bastards,” Nortah railed, “fought the Aspect himself, and still I couldn’t save hi towards the port rail and nearly tipping over “Stop this!” Vaelin caught hold of hi

“Killing” Nortah laughed, lifting his ar I was ever good for Just cos you hate a thing doesn’t h He still died”

“He died saving you,” Vaelin told hiht to break free “So you could see your wife again So you could hold your children again”

Nortah subsided at theas the wine bottle fell from his limp hand and rolled away “They killed o home without my cat”

“I know, brother” Vaelin patted his soaked head and tried to pull hi to his side to assist in lifting the now-passed-out Lord Marshal Together they took hi him in his cabin

“My thanks,” Vaelin offered to the cloaked figure

“Fro back his hood, “thisdrunk fro and sat together in a corner of the hold, Vaelin knowing he would gain scant rest tonight with the wind howling at such a pitch He watched as Erlin rubbed at the s a little “This will take quite a bit of getting used to,” he said

“Your first back-ache?”

“No doubt the first of es in his face The beating had left hih his eyes see man in fact

“Have you decided?” Vaelin asked