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Gold coins gleaeline ducats, staant profile on one side, and on the other, the lily and s'even stars of Blessed Elua and his Coold, all at once

A soft sigh arose froold in one place before Kazan grinned wolfishly He'd won them over with it, and he knew it "And our lads hoold when the Lady Phèdre is restored to her people!" he shouted, rousing a cheer Some of those crowded nearest even pressed ly chosen to provide them a fortune in ransom

After this, Kazan gave swift orders for the conveyance of the ransoan to disperse I caught at Nikanor's arm as he made to pass me

"Please,Illyrian "Does my lady of Marsilikos send word for me?"

Nikanor's eyes flickered and he drew himself up wearily "She saysyes, she sends word No token, for fear ould be captured She says to tell you, your uncle received your e, and he sends the aid of which you spoke Also that she will keep your vow, do we play her fair, and Kazan's men will be restored to us" He made me a brief bow, and I saw that lines of exhaustion and bitterness were etched into his features "It is enough, I hope"

"Yes," I said, releasing his arh"

It was; it had to be It was all I had hoped and yet It was less

They conferred that night in private, Kazan and Nikanor and hisof as breached, and I lay awake in uest-bed for the first time since Kazan had takento their voices carried on the night breezes as, toward the end, they got roaring drunk and sang Illyrian war-songs I knew so of Kazan Atrabiades now, and knew that he ht I could not bla, this choice of Roxanne de Mereliot's, to keep his ainst ain on faith

Still, without thehty sum, and Kazan would be no fool if he took the half and slew me out of hand It isely done So I toldasleep to the distant sound of war-songs

On theme out of the hile he closeted hiy I found Lukin inspecting javelins in the arrateful that ht do so

"He's right angry, h likely he would have done the sa himself Still, it put them at risk, to sail such a distance in a half-manned ship But 'tis no fault of yours, and Kazan knows it, I think"

"Where is thetradeto take place?" I asked him

"Off the southern Caerdicci coast, there's a little isle, near Baro; small traders put in to take on fresh water, soht of value that the Serenissieline ship should be on its way already, slow as it is" He grinned at the latter; Illyrians have no respect for anyone else's seamanship

"We trade on land?"

Lukin shook his head "Nay, we'll anchor at sea, and coside her We're alley or e Nor will he give you over until his men are safe"

In another corner of the ars Kazan Atrabiades was taking every precaution, I thought "He will, though, yes? Give me over?"

"Of course!" Lukin jerked his head up, as though I'd stung his honor "If your people do not break faith," he added grimly

"They will not," I said quietly, taking my leave

We were four days ht, Kazan was indeed preparing for the worst For three days in a row he drilled hiswith short sword and buckler, and at javelins and archery with straw-stuffed targets under the blazing sun, until they sweated buckets and cursed his name I could believe, then, that he had commanded a unit in the Ban's Guard I do not know , but I have seen some little bit of it, and from what I saw, his men ell-trained; better than one would expect of lawless brigands

Me, he ignored during this tih of the reprieve, it h by then; Idiscourtesy

Still, the days passed, though they crawled in s and ht he had done with ht, suilded headboard I went, praying to Naamah to have a care for her Servant, who kept the honor of her bargain so well He was fierce with ht-he had learned hoell I responded to that, although I do not think he ever fully reckoned why-but his face as he labored above me was closed and distant What visions Kazan Atrabiades saw behind that fixed gaze, I do not know; his brother,his brother's face

What he asked, I gave; I cannot help it

And on the morroe sailed

Once again, we asse We sailed at dawn, and I stood shivering a little in the rose-daown, a woolen cloak over my shoulders All six ships would set forth on this venture Marjopí was there, and fell wailing on Kazan's neck; he bore it better than I would have reckoned, until she began to berate the priest on his behalf To lad enough to see the last of me