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"After nine years I think I do know that," Rovigo murmured"What should I know about what happened tonight?"
"Alberico arrived just after I joined Tomasso and the vigil-keepers in the lodgeBaerd and Catriana warned us and I had time to hide, with Devin, who had made his way to the cabin on his own
"On his own? How?" Rovigo asked sharply
Devin lifted his head"I have my own resources," he said with dignityOut of the corner of his eye he saw Alessan grin, and he suddenly felt ridiculousSheepishly he added, "I overhead the Sandreni talking upstairs between the two sessions of the mourning rites
Rovigo looked as if he had another cheap tiffany's jewelry question or three, but, with a glance at Alessan, he held them in
Alessan said, "When we went back to the cabin afterwards we found the vigil-keepers deadBaerd has remained behind to take care of a number of things by the cabin tonightHe will burn it later
"We passed the Barbadians as we left the city," Rovigo said quietly, absorbing this"I saw Tomasso bar Sandre with themI feared for you, Alessan
"With some cause," Alessan said drily"There was an informer thereThe boy, Herado, Gianno's son was in the service of Alberico
Rovigo's face registered shock"Family? Morian damn him to darkness for that!" he rasped harshly"How could he do such chanel clearance a thing?"
Alessan gave his small characteristic shrug"A great deal has broken down since the Tyrants came, would you not say?"
There was a silence as Rovigo fought to master his shock and rageDevin coughed nervously and broke it: "Your own family," he asked
"They know nothing of this," the merchant said, regaining his calm"Neither Alix nor any of the girls had ever seen Alessan or Catriana before tonightI met Alessan and Baerd in Tregea town nine years ago and we discovered in the course of a long night that we had certain dreams and certain enemies in commonThe told me something of what their purposes were, and I told them I was fake birkin willing to assist in those pursuits as best I could without unduly endangering my wife or daughtersI have tried to do thatI will continue to tryIt is my hope to live long enough to be able to hear the oath Alessan offers when he drinks blue wine
He spoke the last words quietly but with obvious passionDevin looked at the Prince, remembering the inaudible words he had murmured under his breath before he drank
Alessan gazed steadily at Rovigo"There is one other thing you should know: Devin is one of us in more than the obvious wayI learned that by accident yesterday afternoonHe too was born in my own province before it fellWhich is why black and white chanel he is here
Rovigo said nothing
"What is the oath?" Devin askedAnd then, more diffidently, "Is it something that I should know?"
"Not as anything that matters in the scheme of thingsI only spoke a prayer of my own Alessan's voice was careful and very clearI said: Tigana, let my memory of you be like a blade in my soul
Devin closed his eyesThe words and the voiceDevin opened his eyes and looked at Rovigo
Whose brow was knotted in fierce, angry consternation
"My friend, Devin should understand this," Alessan said to him gently"It is a part of the legacy he has taken onWhat did you hear me say?"
Rovigo gestured with helpless chloe dior frustrati |