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Several of the others voiced agree hands with Vasher Vivenna re as they left

Eventually, the room was empty save for her and Vasher He sat down across from her

"Thanks," he said

"I didn’t do it for you," she whispered

"Get up," he said "Let’s go I want to meet with so, trying to s "Why should I do as you tellto me Like Denth did"

"You don’t know," Vasher said, recovering his sword from the corner "You’ll just have to do what I say"

"Alanced at her Then he walked over and squatted "Look," he said "We both agree that war is bad for Idris I’ to take you on raids or make you meet with slumlords All you have to do is tell people you don’t want a war"

"And if I’ to do that?" she said "Will you force me?"

He watched her for aHe pulled out a bag of so and tossed it at her It clinked as it hit her chest then fell to the floor

"Go," he said "Get back to Idris I’ll do it without you"

She just continued to sit, staring He began to walk away

"Denth used"And the worst part is, I still feel like thisI feel that he’s really o to him and find out why he did what he did Maybe we are all just confused"

She closed her eyes, resting her head on her knees "But then I res I saw him do My friend Parlin is dead Other soldiers sent by my father, stuffed in sacks I’m so confused"

The room fell silent "You’re not the first one he’s taken in, Princess," Vasher finally said "Denthhe’s a subtle one A man like him can be evil to the core, but if he is charis, people will listen to hi teary eyes

Vasher turned away "Me," he said "I’et frustrated I snap at people Doesn’t make me very popular But I promise you that I won’t lie to you" He met her eyes "I want to stop this war That’s all that really ht now I promise you"

She wasn’t sure if she believed hiht You’re just going to get taken in again

She hadn’t proven herself a very good judge of character Still, she didn’t pick up the bag of coins "I aothers that I wish to keep Idris froh"

She hesitated "Do you really think we can do it Stop the war?"

He shrugged "Maybe Assu the Colors out of all these Idrians for acting like idiots"

A pacifist with teht ruefully What a combination A little like a devout Idrian princess who holds enough BioChroe

"There are more places like this," Vasher said "I would show you to the people there"

"All right," she said, trying not to look at the blade as she stood Even now, it had a strange ability to make her feel sick

Vasher nodded "There won’t beI don’t have Denth’s connections, and I’m not friendly with io visit the dye vats, perhaps even some of the fields"

"I understand," she said

Without further co of coins, then led her out onto the street And so, she thought, I begin again

I can only hope that this tiht side

44

Siri watched Susebron with affection as he ate a third dessert Their night’s meal lay spread out on the table and floor, some dishes coht when Susebron had ordered a ht--though only after Siri did her act for the listening priests Susebron claih she noticed the curiosity in his eyes as he watched her

Susebron had proven to have quite a sweet tooth now that disapproving priests and their sense of etiquette were absent "You should probably watch out," she noted as he finished another pastry "If you eat too et fat"

He reached for his writing board No I won’t

"Yes you will," she said, sods, he wrote My mother explained it Some men become more bulky if they exercise a lot and become fat if they eat a lot That doesn’t happen to Returned We always look the same