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She didn’t knohat her father’s reaction would be Perhaps he would covertly send soldiers to retrieve her Perhaps he’d leave her be She’d warned hi for her, she would sio to the Court of Gods, explain that there had been a mistake, and trade herself for her sister

She sincerely hoped she wouldn’t have to do that The God King was not to be trusted; hetwo princesses to provide pleasure instead of one

Don’t think about that, Vivenna told herself, pulling her shawl closer despite the heat

Better to find another way The first step was to find Lemex, her father’s chief spy in Hallandren Vivenna had corresponded with him on several occasions Her father had wanted her to be faent in T’Telir, and his foresight would work against him Lemex knew Vivenna, and had been told to take orders froer with multiple mounts to allow quick delivery--the day she’d left Idris Assue had arrived safely, the spy would meet her in the appointed restaurant

Her plan seeood She was prepared Why, then, did she feel so utterly daunted when she entered the market?

She stood quietly, a rock in the strea down the street It was such an enors, and people There were no cobblestones here, only sand and dirt with the occasional patch of grass, and there didn’t appear to be s The arbitrary streets had si Merchants yelled out what they sold, banners waved in the wind, and entertainers vied for attention It was an orgy of color and motion

"Wow," Parlin said quietly

Vivenna turned, shaking off her stupor "Weren’t you just here?"

"Yeah," Parlin said, eyes a little glazed over "Wow again"

Vivenna shook her head "Let’s go to the restaurant"

Parlin nodded "This way"

Vivenna followed him, annoyed This was Hallandren--she shouldn’t be awed by it She should be disgusted Yet she was so overwhelht sense of sickness She’d never realized how ranted

Parlin’s familiar presence elcohts tried to drown her In sorew so thick that they had to shove their way through On occasion, Vivenna found herself on the edge of panic, pressed in by dirty, repulsively colored bodies Blessedly, the restaurant wasn’t too far in, and they arrived just when she thought the sheer excess of the place would nboard out front, the restaurant had a picture of a boat sailingfrom inside were any indication, then the ship represented the restaurant’s cuisine: fish Vivenna barely kept herself fro She’d eaten fish several tirown to like it

Parlin walked in, i, almost like a wolf, as he let his eyes adjust to the diave the restaurant keeper the fake name Lemex knew to call her by The restaurant keeper eyed Parlin, then shrugged and led the two of them to one of the tables on the far side of the roo, she was a little uncertain what one did at a restaurant It seenificant to her that places like restaurants could exist in Hallandren--places meant to feed not travelers, but the locals who couldn’t be bothered to prepare their own food and dine at their own ho beside her chair, watching the room He looked as tense as she felt "Vivenna," he said softly, leaning down "Your hair"

She started, realizing that her hair had lightened froh the crowd It hadn’t bleached completely white--she was far too well trained for that--but it had grohiter, as if it had been powdered

Feeling a jolt of paranoia, Vivenna replaced the shawl on her head, looking away as the restaurant owner approached to take their order A short list of meals was scratched into the table, and Parlin finally sat down, drawing the restaurant owner’s attention away from Vivenna

You’re better than this, she told herself sternly You’ve studied Hallandren forto its brown The change was subtle enough that if soht it to be a trick of the light She kept the shawl up, feeling ashah the market, and she lost control?

Think of Siri, she told herself That gave her strength Her mission was iain, she put the shawl back down and waited while Parlin chose a dish--a seafood stew--and the innkeeper walked away

"Nohat?" Parlin asked

"We wait," Vivenna said "In my letter, I told Lemex to check the restaurant each day at noon We will sit here until he arrives"

Parlin nodded, fidgeting

"What is it?" Vivenna asked callanced toward the door "I don’t trust this place, Vivenna I can’t s but the chatter of people There’s no wind, no trees, no rivers, justpeople"

"I know"

"I want to go back outside," he said

"What?" she said "Why?"

"If you aren’t familiar with a place," he said aardly, "you need to becoave no other explanation

Vivenna felt a stab of fear at the thought of being left alone However, it wasn’t proper to demand Parlin stay and attend her "Do you promise to stay close?"

He nodded

"Then go"

He did, walking from the room He didn’t move like one of the Hallandren--hisbeast Perhaps I should have sent hi completely alone had been too much She needed someone to help her find Lereat a risk at entering the city with only one guard, even one as skilled as Parlin