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“Do you really think Lord Velsus will share your gratitude, Governor?” Vaelin asked hihed “Perhaps not” He took a leather purse from his belt and handed it to Shoala “For her, when she wakes With lare at Vaelin then a tearful glance at the city, before turning and striding up the gangplank

Vaelin reached out to trace his fingers through Sherin’s hair, trying to burn the i face into his memory “Take care of her,” he told Ah would have it no other way” He turned to go then hesitated “My song holds no note of farewell, brother I can’t help but think that one day we’ll sing together again”

Vaelin nodded, stepping back as Ahm Lin carried Sherin onto the ship He stood with the Governor as the ship pulled away fro the tide to the harbourher away He waited and watched until the sail was a faint se on the horizon, until it had vanished completely and there was only the sea and the wind

He unbuckled his sword and held it out to Aruan “Governor, the city is yours I am commanded to wait for Lord Velsus beyond the walls”

Aruan looked at the sword but made no move to take it “I will speak for you, I have some influence at the Emperor’s court He is fa the eain, “Thank you for ain holding out the sword “I’d rather you than Lord Velsus”

“As you wish” The Governor took the sword in his plu I can do for you?”

“Actually, about …”

Verniers’ Account

“And?”

Al Sorna had fallen to silence after relating his final words to the Governor “And what?” he enquired

I bit down ly apparent that the North me “And what followed?”

“You knohat followed I waited outside the walls, in theLord Velsus came with a troop of Imperial Guards to take me into custody Prince Malcius was duly delivered to the Realm unharmed Janus died shortly after Your history was fulsome in its description of ht, insofar as recorded history could relate he had told reat deal of previously unknown inforins of the war and the nature of the Realm that had spawned it But I found myself possessed of a conviction that there was more, an unshakeable sense that his tale was incomplete I recalled h to assuretruths he had no desire to reveal Looking at the wealth of words adorning the sheets that now covered the deck around my bedroll mythis narrative, the extensive research that would be needed to corroborate such a story Where is the truth acare to keep them in order “This is the answer to the war? Simply the folly of a desperate old man?”

Al Sorna had settled onto his bedroll, hands clasped behind his head, eyes cast to the ceiling, his expression sombre and distant He yawned “That’s all I can tell you, my lord Now, if you’ll allow me some rest, I have to face certain death tomorrow and would prefer to es, es where I suspected he had been less than forthco To my dismay I found there were more than I would have liked, even a few contradictions "You said you never ain,” I said “Yet you say Princess Lyrna was present at the Su schereeting only I didn’t think it worthmy history of the war “What about the mason?”

It was only the briefest hesitation but it told reat deal “Mason?”