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"Not when they're ridiculous," Kitai sniffed

The two sentences caht have been uttered by actors following a script or spoken by the same person Fidelias peered at their identically colored eyes as if for the first ti somewhat stupid "The way Marat operate in tandem with their clan animals It's more than just their custo "I scarcely understand it ives e given freely to another is not really knowledge at all, Aleran," Kitai replied "It is rumor One must learn for oneself"

"And this bond it allows her to furycraft as you do," Fidelias said

"Apparently," the Princeps said

Kitai rode for a er Better focused But I can s simultaneously"

The Princeps lifted his eyebrows "You think so?"

Kitai shrugged her shoulders

Fidelias frowned "Aates under a veil and try to craft them down?"

Kitai shot Fidelias an annoyed scowl - and said nothing

The Princeps looked back and forth between the pair of thehtful of you, Kitai"

"We want the gates down," she said "What s them down or when?"

Octavian nodded "Most considerate," the Princeps said

Kitai's scowl darkened "Do not say it"

"Say what? It's the thought that counts?"

She slapped his leg lightly with the ends of her reins

A Marat with furycraft in the saeneral vicinity as the Princeps of the Realm A Princeps who had never demonstrated his skills beyond the most basic, rudimentary uses of the craft - except when he had apparently executed furycraftings so large that they could hardly be recognized as such Fidelias himself, a proven and confessed traitor to the Crown, an assassin for the Princeps' ene openly at the Princeps' left hand, under an assu where he was Meanwhile, in the host behind the the Princeps' banner were thousands of the finest troops of Alera's oldest enemies - never mind another enereat deal more than affection with Octavian And all of them were about to assault an Aleran city overrun by a foe no one had even heard of ten years ago