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"The Aldermaston wishes to speak with her"

"He will But I paid you to allow me the first chance to speak with her Give us a moment before the Alderant reply The curtain of oblet in his hand, his shirt collar unbuttoned and open, exposing his chest, damp with sweat His unruly hair was just as she remembered it and she felt a spasm of dread The last time they had faced each other, she had tried to kill hi her

He seemed amused by the expression on her face "Come in, Lia"

The Dochte Mandar allowed her to pass the the roo her pass near him He seemed to smell her scent as she passed by It made her feel terrible

"Are you thirsty?" he asked and brought the goblet to his mouth and took a sip from it She could smell the cider on his breath

It was a bedchamber with no s It reminded her a little of the one in the Aldermaston’s manor, the one where Marciana and Hillel had slept There was a fireplace, an enore velvet curtains sprawled open, revealing a disheveled ainst a cushioned seat

"I will not drink the cider," Lia said, turning slightly to glance at hioblet down on a table after taking another s from it "How about a bath then? I was about to bathe when the knock sounded You are filthy, Lia Such a girl as you should be in a gown instead of that hunter garb Would you like ry by his impertinence "You want Marciana I knohere she is"

Dieyre s with pleasure "Of course you do I am sure she was headed to Muirhen you burned down my castle in Comoros Really, Lia, that was unfair I liked that castle" He sighed dramatically "The question is not where is Marciana now The question is where she will be going There is an Abbey in Pry-Ree where she and the others will be sent Which Abbey is it?"

Lia licked her lips "You think I will tell you?"

"I know that you will, sooner or later" He lifted the goblet again and took a sip His eyes ser "For your sake…I mean for Forshee’s sake I hope you relent sooner than later But relent you will Tell us everything you will You will even join us before this is over, my dear So why not skip the unpleasantness? You have been running a good long while But I arace to ad you do or say will deliver you froranted you the chance to join me at Muirwood, and you spurned the offer I extend it now on the reeable terms Join us, Lia One way or the other, you will"

"Join you?" Lia asked, nearly chuckling with airl Mud-spattered and filthy Weary fro across this land Look at the bath Does it not look inviting? We can talk while you bathe I promise you that I will not look At least we can discuss the teres you can barter for Come, Lia Take off your cloak"

She stared him in the face Her voice was low and full of hatred "Is this how you wooed Reome?"

There was dark fire in Dieyre’s eyes She had no idea howif you wish," he replied blandly "I do not have much time with you, so I best dash all your hopes quickly This is all part of the Queen Dowager’s plan Muirill fall by Twelfth Night She is still there, Lia She is plotting its overthrow All the pieces were in place when I was sent to Co?" He stepped closer to her, his eyes having lost all their acidic humor "There is a traitor at the Abbey, Lia The Aldermaston will be betrayed and he will be killed Demont is already dead Poisoned, actually Yes, I know it for a fact The Aldermaston will take the bla’s murder Another Aldermaston stands ready to fill the void It all happens by Twelfth Night The Abbeys have fallen, Lia All the mastons will be killed – except one Forshee lives But only if I get Marciana If she vanishes into the woods of Pry-Ree, then Forshee will die A terrible death, Lia, I assure you It willWhat is co to those who do not accept the water rite is really cruel I submitted myself already So will you But we do not just want the water rite for you, Lia No, you have a special destiny Do you understand s you have been sending about so urgently are a shaht, just as you predicted But it is the destruction of the mastons Their power has failed No one is left who believes that youand all that rubbish I choke on it, Lia" His face quivered with rage "I have choked on it since Billerbeck Abbey That will be the last Abbey to burn"