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"They’re unimportant now that Vahr is dead," the priest said with a wave of his hand "Nobody knoho killed him, by the way Probably the rebels the hi

"Is that all you want?" Bebid said impatiently

"I need to contact the factions you ainst Idris"

"I won’t help you enrage the--"

"Do not presuive me the information you promised, and you can be free of all this"

"Vasher," Bebid said, leaning in even further "I can’t help My lady isn’t interested in these kinds of politics, and Icircles"

Vasher ate soht Who, then?"

Bebid relaxed, using his napkin to wipe his brow "I don’t know," he said "Maybe one of Mercystar’s priests? You could also try Bluefingers, I suppose"

"Bluefingers? That’s an odd naod," Bebid said, chuckling "That’s just a nicknah Place steward, head of the scribes He prettyabout this faction, it will be hiht, you’ll have a hard ti hi the last bit of rice into his ot you, didn’t I?"

"I suppose"

Vasher stood "Pay the waiter when you leave," he said, grabbing his cloak off its peg and wandering out He could feel adarkness to his right He walked down the street, then turned down an alley, where he found Nightblood--still sheathed--sticking from the chest of the thief who had stolen him Another cutpurse lay dead on the alley floor

Vasher pulled the sword free, then snapped the sheath closed--it had only been opened a fraction of an inch--and did up the clasp

You lost your te tone I thought you were going to work on that

Guess I’htblood paused I don’t think you ever really unlapsed in the first place

That’s not a word, Vasher said, leaving the alley

So? Nightblood said You’re too worried about words That priest--you spent all those words on hio It’s not really hoould have handled the situation

Yes, I know, Vasher said Your ould have involvedseveral htblood said with a ood at

LIGHTSONG SAT ON HIS PATIO, watching his new queen’s carriage pull up to the palace "Well, this has been a pleasant day," he re with so about children deprived of their Breath--and he was beginning to feel more like his usual self

"You’re that happy to have a queen?" Llarimar asked

"I’m that happy to have avoided petitions for the day thanks to her arrival What do we know about her?"

"Not ’s chair and looking toward the God King’s palace "The Idrians surprised us by not sending the eldest daughter as planned They sent the youngest in her stead"

"Interesting," Lightsong said, accepting another cup of wine from one of his servants

"She’s only seventeen years old," Llari at her age"

"I can’t ie, Scoot," Lightsong said Then he pointedly cringed "Actually, yes I can iant on you Make a note to haveht"

"I’ll put it in line right behind your sense of decorum, Your Grace," Llari said, taking a sip of wine "I haven’t had one of those in years"

He leaned back, trying to decide what the Idrians were signaling by sending the wrong princess Two potted pal was distracted by the scent of salt on the incoht A man of the ocean? Is that how I died? Is that why I dreauely remember that drea, and battle He was shocked as he suddenly remembered his dream in starker, more vivid detail The sea had been red as it reflected the ulfed in fla out in pain, he could nearly hearwhat? Soldiersin the streets?