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“To do so would be against the gods’ will?”

“No, the law We are an Ereatest of us The Eiven”

“Then it seems I have no choice but to trust it I request it be noted that Governor Aruan gave no assistance toour tenure here He has rehout”

“The Governor will give his own testimony, I’m sure”

Vaelin nodded “Very well” He rose from the table “Toate I assu your word It would be best if you spent the night with theht until…”

“Do you wantyou from this city?” His tone was mild but he knew the Alpiran could hear its sincerity

Velsus’s features quivered with a e? When you are mine…”

“I have to trust your Emperor’s word You’ll have to trust mine” Vaelin turned to the door “There is a Captain of the Imperial Guard in our custody I’ll ask him to act as your escort Please be out of the city within the hour And feel free to take Lord Al Telnar with you”

He had the hts and squires, Cumbraelin archers, Nilsaelins and Real his word His dislike of speech- was still undimmed and he saw little point in prea atop a cart and casting his voice towards the rear ranks so they all heard clearly “His Highness King Janus agreed a treaty with the Alpiran Eo We are ordered to quit the city and return to the Real in the harbour to take us ho only your packs and weapons No Alpiran property is to be removed on pain of execution” He scanned the ranks briefly There were no cheers, no rejoicing, just surprised relief on nearly every face “On behalf of King Janus, I thank you for your service Stand at ease and await orders”

“It’s really over?” Barkus asked as he stepped down from the cart

“All over,” he assured hiive it up?”

“Prince Malcius lies dead in Untesh, the bulk of the army was destroyed at Marbellis and trouble brews in the Realm I assume he wants to preserve asnearby, possibly the onlyhis voice to the massed babble of relief His brother’s slender face showed a rief “It seems there’s to be no Greater Unified Realaze was distant, as if deep in shock “He does not make mistakes,” he said softly “He neverho him a shake “You’ll be back at the Order House in a couple of weeks”

“Bugger the Order House,” Barkus said “I’ll befor the nearest dockside tavern where I intend to stay until this whole bloody farce has become a bad dream”

Vaelin clasped hands with them both “Caenis, your company will take the first ship Barkus, take the second I’ll keep order while the rest of the men embark”

Lord Al Telnar opted to take the first ship home rather than wait for the climax of this moment in history, his face stiff with resentplank “Tellof the treaty until you reach the Reallanced over at where Caenis stood on the prow of the ship, his bearing still so forlorn They had all lost more than they should in this war, friends and brothers, but Caenis had lost his delusion, his dreareatness He wondered if his desolation would turn to hate when he heard the full details of the treaty

“As you wish,” Al Telnar replied shortly “Anything further, ive hi to say As he could feel no guilt over killing the Hope he was surprised to discover he also had no er towards her

He stood aside to let Al Telnar board and waved to Caenis as the gangplank was hauled aboard and the ship began to pull away from the quay Caenis answered with a brief and distracted wave of his own before turning away “Goodbye brother,” Vaelin whispered

Barkus was next to go, urging his men aboard with a hearty bluster that failed to mask the haunted look his eyes had taken on since his return from Marbellis “Come on, step faster you lot Whores and inn keepers won’t wait forever” His mask almost slipped coht to suppress tears “You’re not co are you?”

Vaelin smiled and shook his head “I can’t, brother”