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Mara sat alone, high in the corner Elbows on knees, hands on chin Plenty of free space all around him He looked as he had in Witswick, not as he did in the previous hallucinations

Silas shook his head Mara didn’t disappear He isn’t looking atlike he was before The look on Mara’s facethat rese part stirred in Silas, just as it had in Witswick Is it really him?

Silas felt sick to his stomach Favian

Favian sat next to Mara and took a swig fro to Mara, then turned to look at the fight The twohad slowed dra at thee’s direction Still has an awful temper too Why have they sent the boy to him of all people? Why notthe country were gone, like dust in the wind Mara had been placed with the devil of assassination Favian will corrupt the boy, not train him He will turn him into an animal that resembles himself

Favian’s head tipped sideways as Silas aze Favian smiled Silas looked back toward the two e floor No, hoould he recognise me? I’m stupid, why did I come here?

Silas needed to leave but couldn’t make it too obvious Play it cool, and he’ll think he’s mistaken He strained to not look back at the with the boy? He looked back Mara sat alone Shit Silas frantically scanned the crowd I can’t stay

Much to the annoyance of the crowd, he forced his way along the benches and outside With Favian nowhere to be seen on the street, he made haste for his room

Confident he hadn’t been followed, he paused in the tavern There was no way he could go to bed without another drink, and with a shaking hand, he downed the first ale in one go, then gulped half of the next

Do I try to take the boy with me? Save him from this life I have forced on him He did not choose this He did not choose Favian He deserves better Favian will have his goons scouring the city for h the city without being seen, day or night

He’d have to coht But what if the Gallinule leaves touzzled the rest of his ale and ordered another

Silas swayed, scratching at the door with his key Bloody things are always too small He found the hole eventually, turned the lock, and opened the door Candlelight shone through, and he quickly stepped backwards

“Not co to bed, love?” Favian said

Fuck Silas hung his head and sighed That didn’t take long

Silas entered the room to see Favian sat on the bed, his dirty boots up on the sheets, drinker’s nose hed hard, spat on his hand, and rubbed a line of sli too healthy there, Favian”

“Not looking too pretty yourself, Silas What’s it been? Four years? Five?”