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The water tasted better than water had ever tasted, flooding histhe dryness of his throat “Thank you, master”

“Sister Sherin said you should drink at least a cup every hour She gave very strict instructions for your care”

Sherin… We should go away together… A new pain tugged at his chest and he found hi to find it hadn’t been real was almost more than he could bear

He looked down at the stains on his sheets “Did they have to cut e of the rib spreader being plunged into his chest

“Apparently Joffril root causes a ative effect, so I’m told” Sollis pulled his chair from the corner of the room and sat down next to the bed “I need to knohat happened here”

So Vaelin told hi Sollis listened in silence, barely raising an eyebrow at Sister Henna’s visit to his roo impassive when Vaelin mentioned the wolf’s howl that had saved him His only reaction came at the mention of her words: Once there were seven It was only a slight shift in the eyes, but it said much He knows, Vaelin decided He knohat itto tellonly a few questions “And hoould you assess their skills, these assassins?”

“They could swing a blade but see of tactics I was poisoned, weak, they should’ve killed me, taken me in a rush Instead they came at me in turn, each ti the information Vaelin felt a desperate need to sleep but forced himself to remain alert Novice brothers did not sleep in a Master’s presence

“Is Sister Sherin co a break in the silence would keep hi I’ll be laid in this bed”

“She’s tending the wounded She’s likely to be busy for a while The last two days have seenand sweating blood for two days “Trouble, master?”

“There have been riots When word spread of the attacks rue a hidden ar in the sewers to norant people will believe anything if they’re scared enough”

Vaelin was puzzled “Attacks?”

“Elera Al Mendah was not the only Aspect to be attacked The Aspects of the Fourth and Second Orders are dead The others were lucky to survive Aspect Hendrahl was sorely wounded, seeh the blubber”

Vaelin’s mind reeled Two Aspects slain, it seemed so utterly incredible He remee, the solerave faced man who had pressed hie to think of hiht led him to an inevitable concern “Aspect Arlyn?”

“He’s alive and well They sent three men for him They tunnelled into the vaults where they were met by Master Grealin It’s always a ht” It was the closest thing to a compliment Sollis had ever voiced about Master Grealin

“Is he injured?”

“A few bruises only Although he was sorely grieved he couldn’t keep one of them alive to provide some answers”

“My brothers?”

“They’re all well Brother Nortah et himself expelled from the Second Order after only two days As for the others, Brother Caenis distinguished hi the assassin who had knifed Aspect Hendrahl and the others appear to have been sleeping off a vatful of ale when Aspect Montish met his end Half the novice brothers of the Sixth Order lolling about the House of the Fourth Order and assassins slit the Aspect’s throat and get away before anyone had noticed Severe punishment arranted”

Vaelin sank back into his iveone of them alive The poison dulledMaster Sollis’s lean, inexpressive face fade into shadow

Barkus raged, Dentos joked, Nortah laughed and Caenis said little Vaelin realised he had missed them all terribly