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A night’s perspective hadn’t helped her much with her problems She still had all of that filthy Breath, and she still had no idea what she was going to do in Hallandren without Lemex At least with the Breath, she had an idea of what to do It could be given away

They were in Le room Like most places in Hallandren, the room ollen with colors; the walls were ht yellows and greens Vivenna couldn’t help but notice that she saw each color ely precise sense of color--she could divide its shades and hues, understanding instinctively how close each color was to the ideal It was like perfect pitch for the eyes

It was very, very difficult not to see beauty in the colors

Denth leaned against the far wall Tonk Fah lounged on a couch, yawning periodically, his colorful bird perched on his foot Parlin had gone to stand watch outside

"Give it away, Princess?" Denth asked

"The Breath," Vivenna said She sat on a kitchen stool instead of one of the overly plush chairs or couches "We will go out and find unfortunate people who have been raped by your culture, their Breath stolen, and I will give each one a Breath"

Denth shot a glace at Tonk Fah, who siive Breath away one at a tiive it all away at once"

"Including your own Breath," Tonk Fah said

Denth nodded "That would leave you as a Drab"

Vivenna’s sto the new beauty and color, but her own Breath, her soulwell, it was alh to turn her hair white "No," she said "That’s not an option, then"

The room fell silent

"She could Awaken stuff," Tonk Fah noted, wiggling his foot,his bird squawk "Stick the Breath inside of a pair of pants or soood point," Denth said

"Whatdoes that entail?" Vivenna asked

"You bring so to life, Princess," Denth said "An inanimate object That’ll draw out some of your Breath and leave the object kind of alive Most Awakeners do it temporarily, but I don’t see why you couldn’t just leave the Breath there"

Awakening Taking the souls ofmonstrosities Soreater sin than si her head The problem with the Breath was, in a way, just a distraction--one she feared she was using to keep herself fro to do?

Denth sat down in a chair beside her, resting his feet on the sitting table He kept hiroomed than Tonk Fah, his dark hair pulled back into a neat tail, his face clean-shaven "I hate being a mercenary," he said "You knohy?"

She raised an eyebrow

"No job security," Denth said, leaning back in his chair "The kinds of things we do, they tend to be dangerous and unpredictable Our eh usually not from the chills," Tonk Fah noted "Swords tend to be the method of choice"

"Take our current predicament," Denth said "No more employer That leaves us without any real direction"

Vivenna froze Does that mean their contract is over? They know I’m a princess of Idris What will they do with that inforht, rather than leaving? Are they planning to blackmail me?

Denth eyed her "You see that?" he asked, turning to Tonk Fah

"Yeah," Tonk Fah said "She’s thinking it"

Denth leaned back further in his chair "This is exactly what I’ about Why does everyone assume that when a mercenary’s contract is over, he’ll betray the people for the fun of it? Do you think a surgeon has this proble hih maniacally and cut off their toes?"

"I like cutting off toes," Tonk Fah noted

"That’s different," Denth said "You wouldn’t do it simply because your contract ran out, would you?"

"Nah," Tonk Fah said "Toes is toes"

Vivenna rolled her eyes "Is there a point to this?"

"The point is, Princess," Denth said, "you were just thinking that ere going to betray you Maybe rob you blind or sell you to slavery or so"

"Nonsense," Vivenna said "I was thinking nothing of the sort"

"I’m sure," Denth replied "Mercenary work is very respectable--it’s legal in aldom I know We’re just as er"

"Not that we pay the tax collectors," Tonk Fah added "We tend to stab them for the fun of it"

Vivenna just shook her head

Denth leaned forward, speaking in ato say, Princess, is that we’re not criminals We’re eure that our contract transfers to you now, if you want it"