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Chapter 1

“There were unexpected difficulties,” said the dark gray blur That blur sat in a pale-blue cushioned chair, no , in an identical chair

Or apparently so, anyway Ingray knew that if she reached much more than a meter past her knees, she would touch smooth, solid wall The same to her left, where apparently the Facilitator sat, bony fraold, and purple silk, hair braided sleekly back, dark eyes expressionless, watching the conversation Listening Only the beige walls behind and to the right of Ingray were really as they appeared The table beside Ingray’s chair with the gilded decanter of serbat and the delicate glass tray of tiny rose-petaled cakes was certainly real—the Facilitator had invited her to try the one

“Unexpected difficulties,” continued the dark gray blur, “that led to unanticipated expenses We will require a larger payreed”

That other anonyray where she sat—saw her as the saray blur she herself faced Sat in an identical sray’s expression, if she let her dismay and despair show itself on her face But the Facilitator could see theray’s smallest reaction, she was sure Still “Unexpected difficulties are not e “The price was agreed beforehand” The price was everything she owned, not counting the clothes she wore, or passage home—already paid

“The unexpected expenses were considerable, and e will not be delivered unless the payment is increased”

“Then do not deliver it,” replied Ingray, trying to sound careless Holding her hands very still in her lap She wanted to clutch the green and blue silk of her full skirts, to have so solid and safe, a childish habit she thought she’d lost years ago “You will not receive any payment at all, as a result Certainly your expenses ardless, but that is no concern of mine”

She waited The Facilitator said nothing Ingray reray blur had more to lose than she did, if this deal didn’t happen She could take as left of the payht, after the Facilitator’s coe She could go hoood deal less than she’d started with, true, and maybe she would have to settle for that, invest what she had left If she lost her job she could probably use what connections reined her foster-hskold did not waste tiy on unambitious or unsuccessful children

And Ingray i triuray’s plans succeeded, she would never replace Danach as Netano’s favorite, but she could walk away froant brother, and made all of them, Netano included, take notice And plenty of other people with power and influence would take notice as well If this deal didn’t go through, she wouldn’t have that, wouldn’t have even the smallest of victories over her brother

Silence still froray blur, from the Facilitator The spicy smell of the serbat fro to happen

Andto do anyway? This plan was ridiculous It was i, even if this trade went ahead, were next to nothing What was she even doing here? For an instant she felt as though she had stepped off the edge of a precipice, and this was that barest ed doard

Ingray could end it now Announce that the deal was off, give the Facilitator eir fee, and go home hat she had left

The blur across froh “Very well, then The deal goes forward But noe knohat to think of the much-vaunted impartiality and equitable practice of the Tyr”

“The terms were plain from the start,” said the Facilitator in an even tone “The payment was accurately described to you, and if you did not consider it adequate, you had only to deht This is our inflexible rule in order to prevent e of the proceedings I explained this to you at the tireee to go forward To do otherould daray blur did not reply “I have examined the payment and the merchandise,” said the Facilitator, still calm and even “They are both as promised”

Noas Ingray’s chance She should escape this while she still could She opened her mouth “Very well,” she said