TheUncrowned

KingBy

MichelleWest

(Book02oftheSunSword)

Dedication:

Thisisformymotherandmyfather,

BecauseIdon'tsaythankyouoftenenough.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Sheila Gilbert has beenpatientaboveandbeyondthecall ofDuty for this book. ItwaslateandalthoughIpleadunusual circumstances, itcertainlywasn'therfault.

The usual suspectswere alsoextremely helpful--and I'dparticularlyliketothankKateElliott and Tanya Huffbecause it's always nice (my

penchant for understatementis showing here) to havesomeonetocallwhenI'vehitthemiddle-of-the-book-and-I-hate-every-wordstretchofthenovel.

Contents

DramatisPersonae

AIDAN:IAIDAN:II

CHAPTERONECHAPTERTWOCHAPTERTHREECHAPTERFOURCHAPTERFIVECHAPTERSIXCHAPTERSEVENCHAPTEREIGHTCHAPTERNINE

CHAPTERTENCHAPTERELEVENCHAPTERTWELVECHAPTERTHIRTEENCHAPTERFOURTEENCHAPTERFIFTEENCHAPTERSIXTEENCHAPTERSEVENTEENCHAPTEREIGHTEENCHAPTERNINETEENCHAPTERTWENTYCHAPTERTWENTY-ONECHAPTERTWENTY-TWOCHAPTERTWENTY-

THREECHAPTERTWENTY-FOURCHAPTERTWENTY-FIVECHAPTERTWENTY-SIXCHAPTERTWENTY-SEVENCHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHTCHAPTERTWENTY-NINECHAPTERTHIRTYCHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

EPILOGUEAIDAN

EPILOGUE:SERANTONDI'GUIVERA

AnnagarianRanks

Tyr'agar-RuleroftheDominionTyr'agnate-RulerofoneofthefiveTerreansoftheDominionTyr-TheTyr'agaroroneofthefourTyr'agnateTyran-Personalbodyguard(oathguard)ofaTyr

Tor'agar-AnobleinservicetoaTyr

Tor'agnateAnobleinservicetoaTor'agar;leastofnobleranks

Tor-ATor'agarorTor'agnateToran-Personalbodyguard(oathguard)ofaTorSer-AclansmanSerra-Theprimarywifeandlegitimatedaughtersofa

clansman

kaiTheholderorfirstinlinetotheclantitlepar-Thebrotherofthefirstinline;thedirectsonofthetitleholder

DramatisPersonae

ESSALIEYAN

AVANTARI(ThePalace)

TheRoyals

KingReymalyn:theJustice-bornKing

KingCormalyn:theWisdom-bomKing

QueenMarieyan(an'Cormalyn)

QueenSiodonayTheFair(an'Reymalyn)

PrinceReymar:sonoftheQueenSiodonay&Reymaris

PrinceCormar:sonoftheQueenMarieyan&Cormaris

PrincessMirialynACormaris:daughterofQueenMarieyan&KingCormalyn

TheNon-Royals

Duvari:theLordoftheCompact;leaderoftheAstari

DevonATerafin:

memberoftheAstariandofHouseTerafin

CommanderSivari:formerKing'sChampion(attheSummerGames)

TheHostages

SerValedankaidi'Leonne(Raverra):theheirtotheSwordofTheDominion

SerraMarlenaen'Leonne:Valedan'smother;bornaslave;grantedhonorific"Serra"becausehersonhasbeenrecognizedandclaimedaslegitimate

SerFillipopardi'Callesta(Averda):brothertotheTyr'agnateofAverda

SerraTaradi'Callesta:hisSerra

Michaeledi'Callesta:oldestson

Frederickdi'Callesta:youngestson

Andreaen'Callesta:hisconcubine

SerKyrodi'Lorenza(Sorgassa):theoldestofthehostages

SerraHelenadi'Lorenzo:theonlywifehehas;hehastakennoothers

SerGregoridi'Lorenzo:hisson

SerMaurodi'Garradi(Oerta)

SerraAlinadi'Lamberto(Mancorvo)

ImperialArmy

TheEagle:CommanderBruceAllen.CommandstheFirst

ArmyTheHawk:CommanderBerriliya.CommandstheSecond

ArmyTheKestrel:CommanderKalakar.CommandstheThirdArmy&theOspreys

THETEN:

Kalakar

Ellora:TheKalakar.

VerrusKoroma:herclosestfriendandcounselor

VerrusVernonLoris:friendandcounselor

TheOspreys:

PrimusDuarte:leader

Alexis(Sentrusor

Decarus)

Auralis(SentrusorDecarus)

Fiara(Sentrus)

Cook(Sentrus)

Sanderson(Decarus)

Berriliya

Devran:TheBerriliya

Terafin

Amarais:TheTerafin

Morretz:herDomicis

JewelATerafin:partofherHouseCouncil;alsoseer-born

Avandar:Jewel'sDomicis

THEORDEROFKNOWLEDGE

MeralonneAPhaniel:MemberoftheCounciloftheMagi;firstcirclemage

SigurneMellifas:

MemberoftheCounciloftheMagi;firstcirclemage

SENNIELCOLLEGE

SolranMarten:BardmasterofSennielCollege

Kallandras:MasterBardofSenniel

ANNAGAR

TheTorLeonne

GeneralAllessopardi'Marente-partoCorano;GeneraltotheformerTyr

GeneralBaredankaidi'Navarre:Generaltothe-formerTyr;loyalto

Leonne.

WidanCortanodi'Alexes:theSword'sEdge

LordIsladarofthekin:thelinkbetweentheShiningCourtandtheDominion

THECLANS

Callesta

Ramirokaidi'Callesta:theTyr

KarrodiCallesta:Tyran;half-brother(concubine'sson);theoldestoftheTyran

MikkodiCallesta:Tyran;half-brother(concubine'sson)

Garrardi

Eduardokaidi'Garrardi:theTyr'agnateoftheTerreanofOerta

Lamberto

Mareokaidi'Lamberto:theTyr'agnateofMancorvo

SerraDonnaen

'Lamberto:hisSerra

Galenkaidi'Lamberto:thekai(formerpar)

Leonne

Markasokaidi'Leonne:theTyr'agar

SerraAmanitaen'Leonne:theTyr'agar'sSerra

Illarakaidi'Leonne:theheir

SerraDioraen'Leonne:alsoSerraDioradi'Marano

SerIllara'sconcubines:

Faidaen'Leonne:OathwifetoDiora

Ruathaen'Leonne:OathwifetoDiora

Dierdreen'Leonne:OathwifetoDiora

Lorenza

Jarranikaidi'Lorenza:theTyr'agnateofSorgassa

Hectarekaidi'Lorenza:thekai

Marano

Adanokaidi'Marano:Tor'agartoMareokaidi'Lamberto

Sendaripardi'Marano:hisbrother;Widan

SerraFionaen'Marano:Sendari'swife

SerArtano:Sendari'soldestson

SerraDioradi'Marano:

Sendari'sonlychildbyhisfirstwife

Sendari'sconcubines:

Alanaen'Marano:theoldestofSendari'swives

Illanaen'Marano

Illiaen'Marano

Lissaen'Marano:

giventothehealer-born

SerraTeresadi'Marano:sistertoAdanoandSendari

Caveras

SerLaonisdi'Caveras:healer-born;hiswifeisLissaen'Caveras.

THERADANN

RadannFrederokaiel'Sol:theruleroftheRadann

Jevriel'Sol:hisloyalservitor

RadannSamielparel'Sol:youngestoftheHandofGod

RadannPederparel'Sol

Marakasparel'Sol:contemporaryofFredero

Samadarparel'Sol:theoldestoftheparel'Sol

THEVOYANI

Arkosa

EvallenoftheArkosaVoyani:thewomanwho

ruledtheVoyaniclan

MargretoftheArkosaVoyani:herchosen"heir"

Havalla

YollanaoftheHavallaVoyani:ruleroftheclan

AIDAN:I

8thofLattan,427AA

Averalaan,HundredHoldings

Menwerefightinginthedistance.

Itmadethepeoplewhotrudgedtheirwaytoandfrom

theCommon,ladenwithbasketsandawkwardpanniers,stopamomentbeneaththecoverofthetreesforwhichtheholdingswerefamous.Thosetreestoweredataheightgreatenoughtogivelittlerelieffromsun'slightthisearlyintheday,andtheywereasthickaroundthebaseasasmallknotofmen,whichmeanttheywereeasyenoughtohidebehind.Thatnoonedidsaidmoreabout

thedemandsofthefestivalseasonthananyone'sbravery.

Swordplaywassomethingtostayclearof,noquestion.

Anolderwomanshoutedintothethickofthecrowd.Aidanrecognizedher,althoughhedidn'tknowhername;heboughttheoddcuriosityfromherintheCommonwhenhehadmoney.Thesedays,though,thatwasnever.

Atallmanmadehiswaythroughthecrowdatthesoundofherhawkishvoice,andthisman,Aidandidknow;hewasPrimusTela-rusofthemagisterialguards,aregularmanwithslightlybroadershouldersandasquarerjawthanmost,butwithgrayhairthatgrewinafringearoundwhatwasotherwisealmostblack.Likehisdad,exceptforthehair.

"Overthere,"thewomansaid."Can'tyouhearit?There'sswordsbeingused!"

PrimusTelarusbentdown,saidsomethingtothewoman.Madeherangrier,fromthelookofit,butalotlessfrightened.

"Damnedforeigners,whodotheythinktheyare?Therearerulesinthiscity!"

Whoevertheywere,theykeptonfighting.

Magisterialguards,inthestreetsinsomewhatlargernumbersthanusualbecauseoftheapproachingFestivalseason,didn'tevenblinkaneye.Whatevertheswordplaywas,theyknewaboutit,andtheydidn'tmuchcare.TheCommon'sregularmerchantsweremadeskittishbytheinfluxofcartwheeling

hawkersandpeddlers,keentostakeclaimtogoodgroundasthetravelersandtheywerelegionmadetheirwaytoAveralaanfortheKings'Challenge.Themagisterianswereheretopreventtheskittishnessfromdevelopingintosomethinguglierandmorepermanent.Peopleweredecentwhenitwaseasytobedecent,andwhenitwashardwell,that'swhatguardswerefor.

Thattheydidn'tblinktwiceatthesoundofswordplayprobablymeantthatsomeonehadgottenapermitforit.Youhadtohavealotofmoneyforthat,butatthistimeofyear,therewasmoneyinplentytobefoundineveryone'spocketsbutAidan's.ItwastheChallengeseason.MerchantsfromasfarawayastheDominion'sdesertsononeside,thewinterprincipalitiesonthe

other,cameindroves,almostlikethecattlethatwassoldandtradedforintheCommon.

Youcouldseepeopletossingsharpdaggersinacirclethatstartedandendedwiththeirhands;youcouldseethemsword-dancing;youcouldseethemthrowingtorches,litwithorangefire;hells,youcouldseethemeatingfire,here.Offthethoroughfare,

whichwasaswideasanyinthehundredholdings,thereweretentsandwagonsoldwagons,fineasthebestcarpentersandwainwrightstogethercouldmakeandinthem,thefuturewaited,ifyouhadthecoin.'Course,ifyoudidn't,menwithbiggermusclesthanbrainswaitedinstead,andusuallyinabadtemper;Aidanstrayedcloseenoughtoadmirethewagons,butnotcloseenoughtobe

noticedandinthiscrowd,thatwasactuallyfairlyeasy.

TheChallengefestivalwasintheair,inthesmelloffoodandaleandsweat.Buttheaircarriedotherthingsaswell:voicesasperfectasthoseofthebardsofSennielCollege,andoftenMornielCollegeaswelltheMornielbardswereknowntobefondofaleoverfinewine,goodcompanyoverthegatheringsofthe

pretentiouspatriciate.

Youcouldhearalmostanythingifyoulistenedhardenough.Evenswords.Especiallyswords.

Aidanknewitwashighsummer,andheknewthatthechampionswouldsoonbehere,totrytheirluck,andthentheirskill,inatesttheKingsset.Heglancedattheshadowsontheground,then

slappedhimselfontheforehead;thereweren'tanythathecouldeasilysee.Noonecould,thereweretoomanyfeetintheway.Still,sunwaslowacrosstheeasternsky.Morning,mid-morningatthelatest.Tomorrowwaswhenthey'dstart.ThetentswereupintheCommonhecouldseethepolesandtheflags,buthewasn'tallowedanywherenearthetentsthemselves.Noone

was.

Kings'guardswereallovertheplace,securingthisandthatandbarkingoutordersasiftheyweresellingthem.Themagisteriansdidn'tmuchlikeit,andAidancouldn'tsayheblamedthem;havingabunchofpeoplewhoseonlyrealclaimtopowerseemedtobeanextraswordupeithersideofamagisterialcrestsuddenlybecometopdogin

yourholdingwell,hecouldn'tseelikingitallthatmucheither.

Buthewasn'tamagisterian;hewasjustAidan,andthiswasthebesttimeoftheyear,evenwiththeheat.Becausethere,thereinthedistancetherewasfighting.Clearerthanbard'ssong.

Ofcourse,hecouldn'tactuallyseethefight,notyet;

heapproachedit,breathheld,feetlightagainststoneandpackeddirt.Hedidn'tneedvisiontoknowitwassomethingtremendousaclashoflongsteelswords,slideofmetalagainstmetalthatdaggersweretooshortfor,asilencethatwasfreefromthesoundsofanger,ofugliness.Youcouldn'tdrinkandfightlikethat.Youcouldn'tjustswingalargefist,pickupaladleora

tureen,lashoutwithaheavyfoot.Swordslikethatmeantyouhadtobespecial.Heknewit.He'dseenitbefore.

Seenitwhenhewasyounger,beforehisfather'sfoothadgottentrappedbyaturningwheelinoneofthewainwright'swagonsandgottenalltwistedup.Hadtwistedhimallup.

Ithadn'tbeensolongthathe

couldn'trememberwhenhisfatherhadbeenawholeman,whenhisstrengthhadgoneintomovingthings,liftingthings,learningtomakethem.

Butithadbeenlongenoughthatthememoryoftheoneman,strongandcertainandsilent,madetherealityseemsomuchworse.Ifyoustartedoutatthebottom,thebottomwasallyouknew.Butifyou

fell,itwasdifferent.Hurtmore,forone.Andthingshadbeengood.Theyhad.

Iwon'tbelikethat.Somethingbadhappenstome,andIwon'tbelikethat.I'lljustdie.I'lldiefirst.Aidancouldn'tunderstandwhypeopleweresoafraidofdying.YouwenttoMandaros,isall.EveryonewhoeverlistenedtooneoftheMother'spriestessesknew

it.Hismotherhadknownit,too.Shehadn'tbeenafraidofdeath.

Probablywhyshe'ddied.

Heshookhisheadtoclearit;thesunwashot,andtherewasn'tenoughwindtocarryawaythesmellofsweatandfoodandhorsemanuresomeonewasgoingtogetitforthatandfire.Heheldhisbreathpasttheworstofit;

breathedthroughhismouthuntilhe'dgottenpastthethickofthecrowd.Thetents,withtheirlimpred-and-blueflags,wereathisback.Buttheswordswerecloser,hewasclosertothem;heonlywantedtocatchaglimpseofthem,ofthemandthemenwhowieldedthem.

Theynevershouted.Theyneverswore.Theyneverspokewhentheyheldtheir

swords.Andtheydidn'tswingwildwhentheyswung.Theyseemedtoknowwheretostrike,andwheretheotherwouldstrike.Magic,hethought.He'dneverseenmagic.

Andhewantedto.

Thisyear,hewantedto.

Hehadn'teatentoday.Wasn'tworthit,totrytocomeup

withsomethingtoeat.Hisfatherhadwokenearlierthanusualbecauseoftheheat,andhewasinafoulmood.Heatmadesomepeopleslower.Nothisdad.

Trytounderstandhim,Aidan,hisaunthadsaid.Helosthislivelihoodandhelostyourmotherinthesameyear.

Whataboutme?Aidanhadshoutedback.Ilostthem

both.

She'dnothingtosaytothat;that'swhatshedidwhenhe'dsaidsomethingtrueenoughthatshecouldn'tspeakoveritorpastit.Inthesilence,she'drunherhandsthroughhishairhiswhite,whitehair,thathadnothingofeitherhismotherorfatherinit.Andthat'sthewayhewantedit.Here,inthestreet,drawingcloserandclosertothesound

ofswordplay,ofamagicthatneitherhismothernorhisfatherhadhadtimetodreamof.

TheKing'sChallengewasalittleoveraweekaway.

Insixyears,hisaunttoldhim;insixyears,hemightbebigenoughtotry;he'dbeoldenough.Tofindasword,andmaybelearnhowtouseit.Toimpressthemenwhochose

amongthehundredsofsupplicants,andtobeoneofthechallengers.

Sixyearsago,he'dbelievedher.Sixyears,oneatatime,hadtakenthatbeliefawayinbitsandpieces,untiltheonlytimehehadanyofitleftatallwasnow,duringthechallengeseasonitself.Andhekeptittuckedaway,behindastillface,thewordstoexpressitlostwithhis

mother'sandfather'slives.

Heknewthatthesemenhadtrainers,teachers,weaponsthatcostmorethanhisfathermadewhenhe'ddonerealworkinthreeyears.Knewthatsixyearsfromnowtheonlywayhewasgoingtoevenhaveaswordwasifhewaslucky,therewasawar,andthearmywasstupidenoughtohavehim.

That'swhathewanted.Attwelve,itwasn'tgoingtodohimanygood.Butateighteenateighteen,itcouldchangehiswholelife.Sohewaited,andheprayed.

Andduringthechallengeseason,heloiteredaroundthefighters,whenhecouldfindthem.

Itwouldhavebeeneasyenoughtocatchaglimpseof

theminthestreets,butKalliarishadnevermadeanythinginAidan'slifeeasy.Hewasusedtohavingtoworkaroundher.Barelynoticedit,infact.Nowifsomethingwentright,heknewitwastimetoworry;youpaidforthegoodthingswithbad,anditwasalwaysmuchworse.

Hewasstupid,thoughheprayedtoKalliaris,sameas

anyone.Hewasprobablytheonlyboyinthecitytryingtofindmenusingswords.Butheknewthispartofthehundredholdingsfairlywellthereweren'tmanyplacestheycouldbeandstillbethatloud.Hestopped,asifheweretestingtheseawind,listeningtotheblades.

Theystopped,andhefrozeamomentinbitterdisappointment.Evenstarted

totrudgebackthewayhe'dcome,handsclenchedinloosefists,facesetintothescowlhisaunthated.Buthedidn'tgetfarbeforeheheardthemagain.

There.

Theydidn'tfightinthestreets,butcloseenoughtothem;thecourtyardofthebuildingthathousedsomanyforeignerswasopentothe

trafficofthelargemanse.Merchantscamewiththeproducethatthekitchensrequiredaswellasthefabricsthatweretobeusedintheroomsthemselves,ascurtainsandthrowsandbedspreadsworewithageanduse;carpenterscame,masons,womenfromthepoorerholdingswhowerecertaintofindworkduringtheChallengeseason.

Allthosepeople.Andbetweenthem,ifonewerecareful,aboytoosmallforhisagemightsneak,headbowedlikeaservantoranobedientextrason.Itwasbest,inAidan'sexperience,tocomeinwiththewagonsthatcarriedthefoodanddrink.Theywereoftencrowdedwithpeople,andthepeopleweretherightkind.Theclothmerchantsweremorerefined,andnomatterhowwellhe

washed,hisclothingwasstretchedtothepointofbreakingandhesoundedlikelikehisfather'sson,nothismother's.

Buihewasn'texpectedtospeak,andifaflusteredmerchantcuffedhimintheheadforgettingunderfootandtheydidtheblowwasalighttapcomparedtomanyhe'dreceivedanditservedtopushhimclosertothe

courtyard,tothemenwithswords.Howcouldhemindit?Hecursed,buthisheartwasn'tinit,andthemerchant,stillflustered,wasalreadybeyondhim.

Thesteelwasringingintheearlymorningair.Thecourtyarditselfwasdarkwithshadow,butthemenwereforcedintothesunwhentheyfought;theysquintedagainstthelight.SodidAidan.Itwas

castbypolishedsteel,andthesteelwasbrighterthansunlight,sharper,quicker.Youcouldlookawayfromthesun,butifyoulookedawayfromtheswords,youmissedthefight.

Hecountedtwelvemeninall,althoughhesawacouplesittingintheshadowscastbyawningsthatwereunfadedbysun,unstainedbyyearsofrainyseason.New,Aidan

thought,fortheFestival.Asifitmattered.

Whatmatteredwerethetwelvemen.Twopairsofsix,theyseemedtofillthecourtyardandthecourtyardherewaslargeenoughtohousetheweddingoftwochildrenoflarge,moneyedfamilies.Butthosepeoplewouldbevacantspectators,andthesemenwerethingsinmotion,slickwithsweat,

shinywitheffortandthegraceofeffort.Someworearmor,somedidnot;hecouldn'ttelliftherewasrhymeorreasontoit.Hewascertaintherewas,andthathewouldn'tunderstandit,andbesides,ifheaskedanyone,they'dnoticehewashereandkickhimout.

Theswordswereloudhere,louderthantheyhadbeenonthecitystreets.Andno

wonder.Twelvemen.Hisheaddartedsidetoside,likeabeenearaclusterofflowers,andlikethatbee,hisgazeeventuallycametorestupontwoofthetwelve.

Helostthecourtyard,theopensky,thesunlight;whatremainedwasshadow,sharpreflection,andthewaytheswordsspokewherenowordscould.

"They'reforeigners,youknow,"someonesaid.

Heduckedhischinintothehollowbetweenhiscollarbones.He'dlearnednottobeangry,oratleastnottoshowit;hedidn'thavethesizetogetawaywithit.Buthewasangry.Hewantedtobeleftalone.Justthat:tobeleftalonetowatch.TheChallengewouldstartsoonenough,andthenthefighters

wouldvanishacrossthebridgetotheisleitself,wherenoonewithoutmoneyorcausewasallowedtogo.

CertainlynotAidan,thewheelwright'sson.

Notnoone,thetreacherouslittlevoicesaid.Remember,the

witnesses.Theyeachchooseonewitness,fromthestreets,

onthefirstday.

Right.Ahandfuloutofthewholecity.Hehatedtodream.Morethanthat,hehatedthathecouldn'tstopit,becausehenevergotwhathewanted,heknewhewasn'tgoingtogetwhathewanted,anditstillhurtwheneventhechanceslowlyslippedaway,championbychampion.

This,thissitting,wasasclose

ashewasgoingtogettotherealfight.Itwascloserthanhehadgotteninfar,fartoolong.Hehadthis,andhedidn'twanttoloseit.

Buthistormentorwouldn'ttakethehint.

"Whydoyoucometowatchthem?Iftheywin,they'llbringhonortotheDominion,nottotheEmpire."

Aidanshrugged,staringattheswords.Atthemen.Atthisman'sshadow.

Theshadowshruggedinreply,themovementmoreelegantthanAidan's,perhapsbecauseitheldnoanger.Whenhespoke,hespokeloudly,thewordsmeanttocarryacrossthecourtyard'swidth.AndthelanguagehespokewasonlyfamiliartoAidanbecausehehearditin

theholdings,spokenbythedark-haired,dark-skinnedSouthernerswhosomehowescapedtheDominion'snet.

Thetwomenhewaswatchingsointentlyfrozeatonce.

Ittookhimamomenttounderstandtheconnectionbetweenforeignwordsandforeignswordsmen;theutterconvictionthecessationofall

movementheld.Thetwostoppedinmid-swing,frozeninplacemorecompletelythanthestatuesalongthecourtyard'swide,rectangularwalk.

Hescrambledtohisfeet,then,tryingtotakebackhissullensilence,histerriblelackofwords.Becausethetwomenlookedpasthimtotothemanwhohadaskedthequestion.Themanhehad

ignored.

Inarush,thewordscame,andhefelthischeeksdarken.Italmoststoppedhimfromspeakingatall.Butnotquite.Notquite.

"Itdoesn'tmatterwhowinsandloses,"hetoldtheman,whoappearedtobeignoringhimascompletelyasAidanhaddoneinhisturn."Iwon'tseeitanyway.Itdoesn't

matteriftheysaytheSouthwon.OrtheNorth.OrtheNorthernwolves,andtheywinmostof'em."

Withoutlookingdown,themanandhewasold,Aidansaw,olderthanhisDa,olderthanhisaunt,andyetsomehowwholeandstrongerthaneitherofthemsaid,"Yes,thefarNorthcarriesthewreathmostoften.TheQueen,SiodonaytheFair,is

fromtheNorth."Hespokewithanaccent.AidanhadheardstrongerinthecrowdedstallsoftheCommon.Buttherewassomethingaboutthewordsthemselvesthatwasdifferent.Better.

"TheSouthalmostneverwins,"hesaid,andthencursedhimself.Good.Insulthim.Getyourselfthrownout,idiot.Kalliaris'curse."IIjustliketoseethem,"Aidan

said."Theonesthatcometheonesthatarechosentheydon'tfightbecausethey'reangry.Theydon'tgetbloody.Theyjusttheyjustusetheswordsasifthat'salltheyknow."

"Yes."Thereseemedtobeaquestioninthedarkeyes,andAidanknewhewasbeingtested.Hehatedthat;healmostalwaysfailedtests.Buthe'dalreadyoffendedthe

manonce,andheknewthatifhedidn'tpassthisone,hewasbackoutinthestreetsagain.Thisman,thisman,wasthetrainer.Theteacher.Hewould'veknownifhe'dlookedup.Ifhe'djustbloodylooked.

"Andsometimessometimestheygetthatlookintheireyes,ontheirfaces,andyoujustknowyouknowwhothebestonesare.Youknow

theonesthatwon'tbreak.Theymeanit."

"Meanwhat?I'msorry;myunderstandingofyourlanguageisperhapsimperfect."

"I"Helookedaway."Idon'tknow.Theyjustlookliketheyhaveit."

"Youseethefire,"theoldermansaidsoftly."Wecallit

Lord'slight.Somemenwillburnwithit,andwillbeextinguishedbytheflametheycarry.Somewillburn,butinsteadofguttering,theywillbetempered.Youcannottellwhenyoufirstseethatflamewhetheryoudealwithwoodorsteel,butitbecomesclear,withtime."

"Youyou'reteachingthem."

"Itry,"themansaid,asmileturningupjustthecornerofhislips,andonlyforasecond.

"Doyoudoyouteachalot?"

"I?IntheDominion,Iamnotcalledateacher,"hesaid."Iamcalledamaster.Idonotteach,asyouputit,butrather,Ifind."Hissmilebroadened;theireyesmetfor

amoment,andAidanfelthisshouldersstraightenout,asifaburdenhadfallenfromthem.

Hespokeagain,intheforeigntongue,andoneofthetwomenlooked,quitedeliberately,atAidan.

Whocursedeveryminutehe'dlistenedtoTorraandignoreditasforeignbabble."Whatwhatdidyousay?"

"Itoldthem,"wastheserenereply,"thatyouhavegoodsight.Vision.Youunderstandwhatyousee.Itisrare.Theywillsparforawhilelonger,"theoldmansaid."Youmaywatchasyoulike."Heturned,andthenturnedagain."ButImustaskasinglequestion.Therearealmosttwelvemengatheredherewhyareyouwatchingthesetwo?Notanyoftheothers?"

"Because,"Aidansaid,settlingbackdownintobentkneesandtheknownsafetyofawallathisback."They'retheoneswhogetthatlookthemost.Theyjustyouknowthatthey'reboththebest,ifyouwatch'em."

Theoldmansmiled."Yes,"hesaid."Ido."Heturnedaway."Theyareunusedtothehumidityofthiscity.Iwouldpreferthattheyfight

unobserved;theyoungermannotmuchyoungerinage,butyoungerincarriageandbearingistooawareofhisaudienceifitislarge."

Aidansaidnothingatall.

"AndIexplainmyselftoyou,aboyofAveralaan'smanystreets."Thewordswerenotsaidunkindly."Wewillbehereforthreedays;afterthat,I'mafraidtherewillbeno

furtheropportunityforyoutobearwitness."

Aidannodded,pressinghislipstogetherastightlyaspossibleincasesomethingstupidcameout.Hewasn'tgoodatspeaking.

"Imakewarriors,"themancontinued,"thewaysomemencraftsculptures.AndperhapsI,likethatyoungman,stilldesireanaudience

thatappreciatesthatwork.Evenbethey,"headdedwithaslightsmile,"asyounganduntutoredasyouappeartobe.Youseewell.Come,ifyouwill,andwatch."

Aidannodded.Andhestayed,shiftingpositiononlytocatchtheshadethewallsmade.Theoldmandidnotspeaktohimagainthatday.

"WhereintheHellshaveyou

been,boy?"

Hisfather'svoice.

Hisfather'srooms.Hestood,ashadowinthedoor,aboylookinginonalifethathebothwantedandloathed."TheCommon,"hesaidatlast.Tooktoolongtosayit,too;hecouldseehisfathershiftinhischair."Ibroughtfood."Itwastrue.He'dhelpedWidowHarriswith

hercartandhermuleandthatmulewasasdifficultashisfathergothimselfabruisethatwasalreadyturningbothpurpleandblack,andhadbeenofferedfoodasrecompense.Sheknew.

"Tellhimhe'shidingbehindhisleg,sameassomemenhidebehindtheirwives'skirts,"shesaid,saltyasthesea."YoutellhimIsaidthattellhimit'sashameto

makehisboybegwhenhe'sstillgotstrengthandabrain.Well,maybehalfabrain,butit'sbetterthannothing."

Hethankedherprofuselyforthebreadandthecheese,andherfrowngotconsiderablysharper."Neveryoumind,"shesaid."I'lljusttellhimmyself."

Andsheprobablywould,too.ThatwasWidowHarris.But

shewasbusy,andwouldbeuntilthethreedayaftertheChallengehadbeenwonandlost.Shewasalsoprettynoisy,sohe'dprobablyhavetimetogetoutofhisfather'swayandstayoutafterhervisit.

"Well,don'tjuststandthere.Bringitin."Hestood,bracinghimselfagainstthetable,abroadlybuiltmanwithabacksobentthathelookedafoot

shorterthanhisheight.Hedidn'tlikethecrutchhe'dbeengivenbyhisfriendsandhisdeadwife'sfamily,andithadcostAidanknewit,evenifhisfathercouldn'tacknowledgethetruthsohehobbledaroundthehouse,leavinghandprintsonthewalls,lopinglikeaone-footedgiant.Like,Aidanthought,althoughheneversaidit,amonsterthat'sbeeninjuredbyaherowhocan'tbe

botheredtofinishhimoff:

Intheoldhouse,hismotherwouldhavechasedhimaroundwithabroom,swattinghim,whichwouldhavebeeneasy.She'dmakehimlaugh,whichwouldn't.Thenshe'd'vemadehimusethecrutch.Atleastshe'd'vemadehimcleanupthehandprintsandthedirtonthewall.

Buthedidn'twanttothinkaboutitnow;hethoughtaboutiteveryotherdayoftheyear.

Aidanscurriedintotheroom,setthefooddownonthetable.Hegotaknifethatlookedlikeaknifeunlessyouexamineditsedgeandcuttheloafinhalf.Cutthecheeseaswell;itwasahardcheese,soittookabitofwork.

Hisfathersatdown,draggingthechairacrossthefloor.They'dhadcomplaintsaboutthatintheoldplacebutithadbeenalongtimesincethey'dbeenabletoaffordarealhome.Here,itdidn'tmattermuch.Hewentfromwalltochair,settlingdownwithathud,andhesatthereforamoment,staringatthebread,theknife,andhisson.

Whathisfathersaidnext

nearlykilledAidan.

"Gotsomework."

Trickysituation,that.

Healmostbelievedhisfather.Hedidbelievehisfather.Buthedidn'ttrusthisownbeliefsanymore.Hewantedtowalkalittleclosertohisdadtoseeifhe'dbeendrinking.Probablyhad,butitwasn'tsobadifhehadtowalkbyto

checkonit,andAidan'wasgratefulforthelittlethingslifeoffered.Especiallytoday,whenithadofferedsomuch.

"Doingwhat?"heasked,beforethesilencegotuncomfortable.Hisdadlikedtotakesilenceandbuildaccusationsoutofit.Especiallywhenhe'dbeendrinking.

Hisfathershrugged,deflated.

"Wainwrightneedssomehelp.Merchantsarecominginfromalloverthecontinentandthey'vewagonsthatneedrepair,wheelsthatneedeitherrightingoroutrightreplacement."

Whichwainwright?

"What'sthematter?Youdon'tthinkyouroldmancanbeusefularoundwheels?"Largehandsslappedflatoutagainst

thekitchentable;itteetered.Thefloorwasslopedbeneathoneofitslegs,andnoonewasgoingtofixit;awobblytablewasjustanotherfactoflife.Likeweather.Oranger.

"No,Da,Ididn'tsaythat."

"Youdidn'tsayanything."Hisfatherpickedupthebreadasifitwereaweapon.Ontheotherhand,itwasaprettyhardloaf.

"Iwaswaitingforyou.Tofinish,"Aidanadded."Tofinishtellingmeaboutit."

"Notmuchtotell.There'swork,andI'vegotexperience."Hegrimaced."Notmuchbutexperience.It'lldofornow."

"Whatwhathappensafter?"

Hisfathershrugged.ItwasthesinglegesturethatAidan

leastliked.

"Maybeifyoudoareallygoodjobmaybeif"

"Aidan,shutupandeat."

Kalliaris,Aidanthought,inthedarknessofanightpunctuatedbysnoringandmoonlight.GivemyDahislifeback,andI'llgiveyouanythingyouaskfor.Givehimbackhislife.Hewasthe

best.Hewasn'twhatheisnow.

Godswereatrickybusiness.That'swhathismotherusedtosay.Tricky.Theywerelikeacombinationofpowerfulmenandcrazydogs;theyheldallthecardsandyouneverknewwhentheywouldturnonyoubutwhentheydid,thatwasit.

Soyouweren'tsupposedto

askforanything,becauseiftheyfeltlikegivingittoyou,theyaskedforsomethingbiginreturn,andnoguaranteesthatwhattheyaskedforwouldn'tmakeitworseeither.

Aidan'sgodofchoicewasKalliarisbecauseyousawbothherfaces,andyouknewwhatshewas.Knewshe'dfrownifshefeltlikeitandshedid.godsknewknewthatyoucouldcoaxasmile

fromherwhenthingslookeddarkest.Smile.Frown.Factoflife.

Givehimbackhislife.I'llgiveyouanythingyouaskfor.

Herolledoveronthepatchymattress.Itwasfartoohotforblankets,althoughtheworstofsunlight'sbitehadbeendrivenbackforamomentbythenight'sgrip.Hefeltasifhe'dforgottensomething,

evensomethingimportant.

Oh.Right.Andthanksalotforlettingmefindthefighters.Formakingthatoldmanletmewatch.Thanks.Ioweyou.

Hereturnedtothehotel'sgrandcourtyardthenextday,slippinginonceagainwithharriedmerchants,andslidingoutfromtheirmovingmasswiththesamepracticed

ease.Better,becausethistimehedidn'tearnastrayswatacrossthebackoftheheadasheleft.He.wasworriedbecausehedidn'thearthesoundofswordplay.

No.Hesaidhe'dbeherethreedays.Hesaid1couldwatch.

Hedidn'tspeakoutloud;therewasn'tmuchpoint.Buthestoppedamoment,justa

moment,towonderifthiswasn'tananswertohisprayer.Weighedit:Da'sjob,andhislife,andthisdayortwoofswordsandmagic.

Wasn'taneasychoice,andhedidn'tmuchlikethatitwasmadeforhim.Butgodsweregodsashismotherhadsaid.Heturnedaroundtogobackthewayhe'dcome,andbecausehewaslookingathisfeethistoesclippingthe

groundbecausethey'dgrownoverthewornlipsofhissandalshewalkedintotheoldman.

Oldman.Notfair,notreally.Hishairwasstilldark,althoughthewhiteshadgottentoit,andhischindidn'thavethatsagthatsomeoldpeople'schinsdid.Hisarmsweredark,andhisface;andbothlookedhard,likefinished,polishedwood.And

heworeasword.

"You'reearly,"theoldmansaidwhenhespoke.

Aidanflushed."IthoughtIthought"

"Thattheydon'thavetoeat?Thattheydon'thavetoperformothertasks,otherexercises?ThisistheChallenge,boy,notaswordfight."Thewordswere

harsherthanhisexpression."Theyrun,inthestreetsofthehighcity;theywillrunforthebetterpartoftwohoursyet.Tomorrow,wewillride."Hesmiledthen,softly."But,yes,boy.IntheSouth,intheDominion,itisthetestoftheSwordthatdefinesaman.Evenhere,intheNorth,wheresomuchelseaboutpowerispoliticalandeffete,thecrowningtestoftheChallengeisalwaysthetest

oftheSword.They'llbeback,andthey'llspar."Hesmiled."Iam,myself,justnewlywakened.Wouldyoujoinmeinbreakingmyfast?"Hewaited,andthen,afteramoment,added,"Iamnotfamiliarwithallofyourlan-guage.Iamgoingtoeat,andIwouldlikeyourcompany."Aidannodded.Hedidn'ttrusthimselftospeak.

Thehotel'sroomswere

granderthananyroomsthatAidanhadeverlivedin,andthiswasnottheveryfinestofthehotelsthattheholdingsboastedalthoughhe'dheard,andwhohadn't,thattherewerehotelsontheislethatwerefinerbyfarthananyintheholdingscouldeverhopetobe.

Hecouldn'timagineit.Theclothmerchantshadfoundtheircustomersineverything

here:thechairswerecoveredinembroideredfabric,inplush,heavysilks,allofwhichwerevibrantly,brilliantlycolored;thecurtainsthathungaboutwindowstallerandwiderthaneventhejeweler'sintheCommon;theknottedthrowsandhangingsthatadornedthewalls.Thewallsthemselveswerepale,butthatwasfinewithAidan;hefoundthecolorssodistractinghe

almostforgotaboutthefood.

Wasn'tactuallythathardtodo.Therewashardlyanybread,andwhattherewasofthefoodwascoldandcoveredinsomethingthatlookedsortoflikesourmilk.Tastedallrighthehadtoeatit,heknewthatmuchaboutmannersbuthewouldn'thavepaidfortheprivilege.

Theactualdisheswerenice,though,andhethoughtaboutpocketingthesilver.Thoughtlongandhardaboutwhatwouldhappenifhegotcaught,andremindedhimselfthattobehereatallwassolucky,hewasdueforagooddoseofKalliaris'ill-favor.Heleftthespoonswheretheywere.

"Youdon'teatenough,'"theoldmansaid.

"Iateasmuchasyoudid,"Aidanshotbackbeforehecouldstophimself.Hefroze,butthemanlaughedgenially.

"Yes,youdid.Butyouareayoungalmost-man,andIamanoldone;IhavebuiltthebodyIlivewith,youhavenot.Come;I'vepaidingoodcoinforthemeal,andIwouldhatetoseeitwasted."

Aidanpickedupaspoon.

"Doyouwatchyourownfightersascarefullyasyouwatchours?"TheoldmanaskedthequestionbeforethespoonhadleftAidan'smouth.

"IfIcould,"hereplied,aroundamouthfulofsomethingthathadprobablyoncebeenegg.Breadwouldbenice.Andsomecheese.Somemeatthatlookedmeatlike.Hewonderedhowmuchmoneythemealcost.

Worried,foraminute,thathemightbeaskedtopayforpartofit.

"Ah.ButIbelievethatthereareImperialsoldierswhoarepracticingwithintheholdings."

"Probably.Probablyallover.Butyou'vegottogetapermit,andyoudon'tgetoneforaplacelikethiswithout"

"Money."

"Ummm,well.Yes."Aidanshrugged,self-conscious.Youdidn'ttalkaboutmoney,fortworeasons.Ifyouhaditandsomeonewhodidn'theardyou,youmightnothaveitforlongespeciallywithsomanystrangersfromsomanyplacesjustwaitingaroundandifyoudidn'thaveit,andsomeonewhodidheardyou,theywerelikeas

nottolookdowntheirnoseandtreatyoulikedirt.

Theoldmanlaughedagain."YouareNorthern,boy,andIforgetmyself.IdidnotIdidnotalwaysoccupymypresentposition,andIhavehadtolearnmuchtoliveuptoit."Helaughedagain.Liftedhishand;pickedupastickonthetable,andstrucksomethingthatAidanhadassumeduntilthatvery

momentwasabowl.

Itresonatedintheairwiththesweet,clearnoteofabell,ofaperfectlycraftedbell.

Amanappearedoutofnowhere;thathewasstandingatallwastheonlythingthatmadehimappearnottobegroveling.

"BringussomethingNorthern.Bread,meat.Your

food."

"Atonce,sir."Hedisappeared.

"HowmanytimeshavetheNorthernImperialstakentheChallengeCrown?"

"Thewreath,youmean?"

"ItisformallycalledtheChallengeCrown,"theoldmansaidsoberly,"but,yes,

thatiswhatImeant."

Aidanthoughtaboutitforaminute.Thatwasallittook."Justoverthreehundred.Threehundredandtwotimes."

"Canyounameallofthemenwhoweresovictorious?"

"Notthemiddleones.Theearlyones,yes.TherewasEadwardWegnson;hewas

thefirst.HewasthefirstoftheChallengeChampions,andhewonthewreathandgaveitgaveittotheKingCormalyn'swife."

"Yes.Itcausedunrestinthecourt,Ibelieve.Hewasknownforhisadmirationofherbutyoungmenwithswordsandbrawnoftenadmirewomenofbeauty.Itwassaidshewasalsoknownforthefactthatshereturned

thatadmiration."HewassilentforalongwhileashestaredacrossthetableatAidan.Atlasthesaid,"IntheDominion,thatwouldhavebeenherdeath."

"What?Becausehegaveherthewreath?"

"Becausesheaccepteditwithcause,"theoldmansaidgravely."Awifehasonlyonehusband,andifthehusband

rulestheland,shemustbeseentobebothpureanduntouched."

Aidanshrugged."Doesn'tseemfair.Ahusbanddoesn'thavetohaveonlyonewifeintheSouth.Notlikehere."

Theoldmanwasquieterforamuchlongertime."No,"hesaidatlast."IntheSouthitiscommonforarichmantohavemanywives."

"Ifyouhavealotofwives,"Aidansaid,andhesaiditwithoutthinking,"maybeitdoesn'thurtasmuchwhenoneofthemdies."

Silence.

Helookedup,theoldman'sfacewaslikestone,likehisfather'sfacethedaythatWidowHarrishadcomein,comerunningfromtheCommon,totellhimthat

somethingbadhadhappenedtohiswife.He'dhadtohobble,he'dhadtoclingtowalls,justtogetaround,andhewouldn'tdoitinfrontof"thatHarriswoman."Sohe'dstoodthere,whilesheurgedhimtofollow,whilesheofferedhelp;stoodthere,beingaman.Likethat.Stone.Aidanhadrun,atWidowHarris'side.Becausehismotherneededsomeone.Buthe'dlefthisfatherbehind.

Whatlittlehungerwasleftinhimdiedtheminutehesawtheoldman'sface.Hedroppedthespoon,butitfellintohislap,makingnonoise.

Twice.Twicehe'dopenedhismouth,saidsomethingstupid.Butthistimeheknewthatexpression."Iit'smyfatherhemymother"

Theoldmansaidnothingatall.Aidanknewhewouldn't.

ButAidanwasn'tmadeofstoneyet.

"Shediedlastyear.Overayearago.AnaccidentintheCommon.Wecouldn'tgethertotheMother'sDaughterintime.Itdidn'thurtherthat'swhatshesaid,theMother'sDaughtershediedquickly,withoutpain."

"Thenshewasfortunate,"theoldmansaidcoldly."Todie

withoutpain."

Thesilencewasawkward.Onlywhentheman,forgottenuntilthismoment,camebearingbreadandmeatandcheeseandfruit!didtheoldmanspeakagain.

"YouknowalotabouttheChallengeforaboywhohasneverwitnessedit.Youmightaswelleatit,boy.Itisnotfoodthatisoverlymuchto

myliking."Butevenashesaidit,hepickeduponeoftheloavesandbrokeit,messily,inhalf.

"Iwentonce,"Aidansaid."WhenIwasyounger.WithmyDawithmyfather."

"Agoodfather,then,toexposeyoutothingsthatareasimportantastheChallenge."Hepickedupthemeatwithhishands,ignoring

theslenderforkthatrestedonthesilvertrayforjustthatpurpose.Aidanrelaxedthen,anddidthesame.

"Ithinkso."

"Howmanymenfromthefreetownshavetakenthewreath?'"

"Hardertosay."Hardtospeak,too,aroundamouthfulthesizethatAidanhadtaken.

Hechewedasquicklyashecouldandswallowed."Thefreetownsaremadeupmostlyofpeoplefromotherplaces.Mercsthatsettledown.Peoplethataretoopoorheretowanttostay.Thingslikethat."

"Spoken,"theoldmanreplied,"likeaboywhohasgrownupinAveralaan.Still,howmanymenwhohaveclaimedthefreetownsas

theirhomeshavetakenthewreath?"

"Eighteen,"Aidansaidpromptly."ButmyDasays"

"AndfromtheWesternKingdoms,asyoucallthem?"

"Twenty-three,althoughifyoubreakthatdown,thenmostofthemhavecomefromjustoneofthefive

Kingdoms."

"Letusnotbreakthemdownthatfar.HowmanymenhavecometothecrownfromthecentralEmpire?"

"Seventy-four."Hesaidthatwithoutpause.

"Iwouldnotbemistaken,Ithink,ifIassumedyoucouldnamethemall."

"Therewas"

"AndIdonotbelieveIhavetimetohearaboutseventy-foursuchillustriousmen."Hesmiled."WhatoftheSouth?"

"One."

"One?"

"Well,yeah.Buthewontwice.HewascalledAntonGuivera."

"IntheSouth,IbelieveitwouldbestyledAntondi'Guivera."

"Oh."Hechewedonthat,andonthemeat,thinkingheshouldprobablytellhisfatherthat,andthenthinkingbetterofit."Well,hecamefromtheSouth,andhewonthewreath.Shockedevery-body.Noonewasexpectingit.Isay,goodforhim.TheNorthgetstoocomplacent."

"Yourfather'swords?"

"Well,yeah,butIagreewithhim.Anyway,whenGuiveratookthewreath,hedidn'tgiveittoanyonetherehesaiditwasforMariannaen'Guivera.Ithinkthatwashiswife.Butshewasn'twithhim,youknow,"headded."Shediedinabanditraidacoupleofyearsbefore.Hehatedbanditsforeverafterthat.Theysay,ontheway

here,heclearedapathbetweenRaverraandAverdaallbyhimself."

"Ibelieve."theoldmansaidwryly,"thatanyonefromtheSouthknowsfullwellthestoryofAntondi'Guivera.Heachievedsomefamethereforhiseffort."

"Heretoo."Theyatetogetherinacompanionable,ifdelicatesilence."Doyou

thinkyou'vegotanotherGuiverahere?Di'Guivera,Imean?"

"Here?Amasterdoesnotdiscusshisstudentsandtheircapabilitieswithanybutthem."Theoldman'seyesnarrowedeversoslightly."You,however,arenosuchmaster.Tellmewhatyouthink."

Aidanhatedtobetested,and

hewasbeingtested.Buttheoldmanhadpaidforthemeal,andbesides,Aidanhadasensethathe'dknowalie,evenapoliteone."No."

"No?"

"No."

"Howcanyoujudgeifyouhaven'tseentherestofthefield?"

Aidanshrugged."Idon'tknow.Ithinkthattwoof'emarereallygood,butIdon'tthinkit'sasurething.IfamancanwintheChallengetwoyearsinarow,it'sasurething.ImeanthatisIthink."

"Goodenough.Idon'tknowwhoyouare,boy.Youdon'tknowwhoIam.Butwehaveaninterestincommon,andIaminaforeignland,farfrom

thecomfortsandfamiliarityofmyhomeandmyfamily.

"Thetestingbeginsthisafternoon,afterthemiddaymeal.Wewill,ofcourse,eatearlyandlatearoundthattest."

Aidanwassilent;hehopedthathislipsweren'tmovingintimetothefierce,desperateprayerhewasrepeatingoverandover.

"You,nodoubt,knowthatthissetoftests,incompletethoughitis,willresultinthechoosingofthehundredmendeemedmostsuitableascandidatesandallowedtopassovertotheisleascompetitors."

Aidannodded.

"Thereareprobablyathousand,possiblytwo;mostwillbepassedoverinstantly."

Henoddedagain;hishandshadfoundtheirwaytohislapwherehewasnowwringingthem.

"IwouldbemostamusedifyouwouldcaretotravelwithmypartywhenweattempttogainentrancetotheChallengeitself."

AIDAN:II

9thofLattan,427AA

Averalaan,MerchantHoldings

Thereweresomethingsyoudidn'tneedlanguagefor.

Aidancouldn'tunderstandawordtheoldman'sstudentsspokebutheknewfromthewideningandthenarrowingoftheireyesthattheyweren'tmuchpleasedthathewastocomealongwiththem.Therewasevenanargumentortwoamongsomeofthemenbutthatdiedtheminutetheoldmancameintoearshot.Atleastthat'swhatAidanwouldhavethoughtbutjudgingfromwhatfollowed,allofit

inwordsthatwerecompletelyforeigntohim,theoldman'searshotwasadamnedsightbetterthananyoftheirs.

Theywerehumbled.

Theyshutup.

TheyignoredAidanentirely.Andhe'dlearned,withtime,thattobeignoredbythebiggerandthestrongerwasat

worstamixedblessing.Atworst.Todayitwasjustablessing.

Theonlyuncomfortablemomentcamewhentheyleftthegrandbuildingbecauseinsteadofwalkingintothestreetsthemselves,theyheadedtowardthestables.

"Whatwhatareyoudoing?"

TheoldmanlookeddownhisshoulderatAidan."Weareretrievingourhorses."

"Why?"

Thecornersoftheman'smouthliftedamoment."Becauseweareridingtocombat,beitlimited,unsatisfying,orunchalleng-ing;wetreatitwiththerespectcombatisdue,andthereforegoasmen."

"Buttherearetherearemorethantenofyou!"

"Thereare,Ibelieve,thirteenatthemoment."

"Youthestreetsarereallycrowdedyou"

Theoldman'ssmiledeepened."Haveyouneverbeenonthebackofahorse?"

Aidanwentmute.Hewasn't

goingtolooklikeacompletefoolinfrontofeveryone.

Buttheman'svoicesoftenedslightly."Boy,youareyoung.Thereisnocrime,thereisneveracrime,inbeingwhatyouare,inbeingtruetowhatyouwerebornto.Somestruggleandstrivetosurpassthat,andthereisnocrimeorshameinambitionbuttobewhatyouareisthetestofanyman,beheseraforclansman,

warriororno.

"YoucomefromtheNorth.Yourtraditionsarenotourtraditions.YourbraveryisnotourbraverybutIhaveseentheNorthernwarriors,andIhaveseenthemexercisetheircontrolandtheirprowessdefendingthosethingsthatareconsideredamatterofmenintheEmpire.Iamnotafool;Irespecttherespectworthy,andIknowit

whenIseeit."

"WishIdid,"Aidanmuttered.

"Youhavegoodinstinct,"wastheoldman'sreply."Trustit."

Thehorseswerebrought.Theywerehuge.Farlargerthanthecarriagehorsesthattherichused,orthewagonhorsesandmulesthatthemerchantsdid.Oneofthem,

bigandblackandsharp-hooved,snappedatAidan,histeethclosingontheairaninchinfrontofAidan'sface.

Aidanleapedbehindtheoldman.

Theoldman'sstudentsburstintounpleasantlaughter.

Hespokesharply,theoldman,andoneofthemensaunteredforwardtograbat

thehorse'sreins.Aidandearlyhopedthehugebeastwouldsnapattheclosesthand,butnosuchluck;thedemonbeastsnortedandallowedhimselftobeledaway.

Anditwasn'tjusttheonehorsethatwasdangerous;itwasabouthalfof'em.Theyevensnappedateachother,movingrestivelyagainstdirtandcobbledstone.Therewasgoingtobedamagetothe

grounds,thatmuchwasclear,andthestablehandsalllookedqueasy.

Itwastheoldmanwhospokeagain,andAidanfoundthecadenceoftheforeigntonguealmostcomforting,althoughhewasgratefulthathewasn'tonthereceivingendoftheincomprehensiblewordsthemselves.Thehorseswereforcedapartbysullenmen,mounted,andriddenoutthe

gatesthatledfromthestableyardstothestreet.

"Dotheyknowwherethey'regoing?"Aidanasked.

"No.ButIthoughtyoumightwishtomountwithoutthebenefitofanaudience.Wewilljointhemwhenyouareready."

"Mount?"

"Yes.Youdonothaveahorse,buttheoneIhaveIcallherAbaniwillserveusbothverywell."Hesmiled."Iamanoldman,andIhaveprovedmyselftimeandagain.Thechoiceofamareoverastalliondoesnotseemtocausemeanylossofstatus."

"Theywereallstallions?"

"Notall,no.Therearesome

menforwhomthepatinaofsuccess,andnotnecessarilysuccessitself,isimportant:halfhereridestallionsthatwouldbeggarsmallfamilies.Theotherhalfridemares.Youdonotknowmytwobeststudents.Theyarestudiesinopposites.Thedesireforobviousglorydoesnot,sadly,precludesuccessandperhapsitdoesnotevenhinderit.Butcome;weareguestshere,andsupplicants

ofakind:wedonotwishtobelateforourgrantedappointment."

Aidanclosedhiseyes,openedthem,closedthem.Theoldman'shandswereassureas,asstrongas,hisfather'shadeverbeenwhenAidanhadbeenyoungerandeasiertolift.Whenhismotherhadbeenalive.

Thehorsewaswide.He

thoughthisfeetwoulddangleovereithersideofthesaddle:hewasnotlargeforhisage.

"Iwillsitbehindyou;youwillhavetotrustthatIwillnotletyoufalloff."

Aidannodded.

Theoldman'smountwasgracefulandeasy;hehardlydisturbedthesaddlewhosebridgeAidanalmost

straddled.Theysettledintotheirplaceuponthehorse,andtheoldmanreachedroundAidantoeithersideandgraspedthereins.Asifitwereactuallysafetoride,thecreaturebegantomoveforwardatastately,almostsmooth,walk.

"Youtrust,"theoldmansaid,"farmoreeasilythanmanyaSouthernboy."

Aidanshrugged."Youtoldmetotrustmyinstincts."

Hewasrewardedbyalow,brieflaugh."Weareoftencaughtbyourownwords.Verywell,boy.TheChallenge."

Itwasalong,windingjourneyfromthehoteltothetestinggrounds,anduntiltheyweremiredintheheightandtheancientfacadesofthe

manybuildingsthatcomprisedtheMerchantholdings,Aidanwasn'tcertainwheretheyweregoing.HerarelyventuredthisfarintotheMerchantholdings;themerchantstendedtohiretheirownguards,andiftheguardsbrokethelawstheMagisteriumsetout,theywouldeventuallybeintroublebutyouhadtosurvivethem,andifthey

brokesomethinglikeanarm,leg,orajawyours,ofcourseyouusuallyjusthadtopraythatitturnedoutallrightintheend.

Healingcostmoney,afterall.Everythingdid.

Therearethingsthatmoneycan'tbuy,Aidan,hismotherhadsaid,andhecouldhearthelostsweetnessthathadbeenhervoice;itwasoneof

herfavoritethingstotellhim.Buthe'dlearnedthehardwaythatiftherewerethingsmoneycouldn'tbuy,theyweren'treallythingshewantedanyway.

HismotherwouldhavelovedtheMerchantholdings.Stonemasonshaddonetheirworkhere,andalthoughthetreesintheCommonwereherfavorite,shealsolovedthegreatcutstonebuildingsthat

signaledwealth,asifmoneycouldbuildafortressinthestreetsofthecity.Shelovedthegargoylesandthewaythatbothgargoylefacesandbuildingwallsseemedtostandunchangedwiththepassingofyears;nostainingandwearwithtime,notimberstobebowedbymoistureorworse.

Butshedidnotoftenwalkamongthosebuildings.

Certainlyshehadnevercometothemridingonthebackofabeastseveraltimesherweightandwithavastlypoorertemper.

Peoplestoppedtostare,andalthoughtheroadsherewerealmostaswideastheroadsintheCommonitself,theybecamecrowdedwithcuriosityseekers.Crowded,andhardtopassthrough.Therewerechildren

underfootitastonishedAidan,toseechildrenhere,inthestrongholdofthemerchants,andhewishedirritablythattheywouldgobacktotheirfathersormothersornursemaids.

Butevenwishingit,heknew,guiltily,thathadhebeenluckyenoughtobeinthestreetswhensomanyarmedmenwereridingby,hewouldhavestared,too.Fromasafer

distance.Maybe.

Itwashot.HeatwasoneofthetestsamanfacedwhenupholdingtheLord'shonor.Sotheoldmanhadsaid.TheheathadnevertroubledAidan.

"Thatisbecauseyou'veneverspentadayinarmor,letalonewhenyourlifedependedonthewearingofit."HeliftedahandbeforeAidancould

speak,althoughhowheknewAidanwasgoingtospeak,Aidandidn'tknow.Hecertainlycouldn'tseeitfromthebackofhishead."IntheDominion,therearetwokindsofarmorthatmenwear.ThemostobviousisthearmoryouseeonAndarothere;leather,metal,athinguponwhichlifedepends.Itcanbeboughtifyou'vethecoinforit,fashionedifyou'vetheskill.Itissecondtoonly

yourhorseorswordinimportance.Butarmorwears;itbreaksanditcanbestolen.Afoolwithmoneycanpurchasethebest.Ittakesnoskilltowearitandlittleenoughtolearnhowtoputiton.

"Therearemenwhodefinethemselvesbythethingstheyown,thethingstheybuy.Owningthesethings,theyputmuchoftheirwealthinto

hiringotherstoprotectthem."Histoneofvoicewasdeceptivelysoft.Aidanheardthesteelinit,thewinterchill."Buthiringothersguaranteesnothing.ThisisalessonthattheTyr'agarhimselftheking,ifyouwill,oftheDominionlearned,tohisregret.Wealllearnit,Aidan:therearetimeswhentheplansofothermenwillprevail."Hisvoicebecamesoft,andAidanheardinthat

softnessahintofhismother'sthoughtfuldistance.

Whatareyouthinking?hewouldaskherwhenhesawthatlook.Asayoungchild,he'daskednotbecausehewantedtheanswer,butbecauseansweringwouldbringherbacktohim,andhehatedwhenshewasfaraway.Butasshegotolder,shewouldsmile,sometimessadly,andtellhim,Iam

thinkingoffaraway.

Veryfar?

NotsofarthatIcan'treachitbymakingaquietspaceformyselfandtakingtimetothinkinit.AndnotsofarthatIcan'tbecalledbackbyyou.

Thatwashowshetoldhimshelovedhim.

Andnowshewastoofar.He

couldn'tbringherbackwithanythingassimpleasaquestionbecauseshecouldn'thearhimaskit.

Asifhecouldhearthesuddenghostofoldpain,theoldmancontinued,returningfromtheplacethathe'dbeen,justasAidan'smotherhad."Thereisarmorthatwewearintheserviceof,forthegloryof,theLord.Andthereisarmorwewearasprotection

againsthim,forhetestsus,always;hedestroysthethingsthatweakenus,andifweproveweak,hedestroysus.Hewillnotbeservedbytheinferior.

"ThissecondarmorIspeakof,nothingpierces,nothingdestroys.Itcannotbebought,haveyoumoremoneythanaTyr,anditcannotbemadebyanyhandotherthanyourown.Forgewell,boy,andthe

worldwillneverknowthatitcanhurtyou,anditwillfindsomeweakermantotormentinyourstead."

"Doyouhaveit,thisarmor?"

"Yes."Theoldmanchuckled."Itdoesnotstoppain,boy.Onlydeathdoesthat.Butitpreventsyoufromrevealingthethingsthatcauseyoupain.Iftheydonotknowthedifferencebetweenthethings

thathurtyouandthingsthatdonot,yourenemiescanmakemanymistakes."

Aidanwasquietforalongtime.Atlasthesaid,"Socanyourfriends,though."

Theoldman'sarmstightenedamoment;Aidanshouldhaveworriedaboutbeingtossedoffthehorse.Buthedidn't."Youareyoung,"theoldmansaidatlength."Youdon'tyet

realizethatintruth,wehavenofriends.ThereisthewilloftheLord.Thewillofpowerfulmen."

"Therehastobemorethanthat,"Aidansaid.

"Doesthere?"

"Yeah.WhyelsewouldyoucometotheChallenge?"

"WhatmakesyouthinkthatI

donottravelatthewillofother,morepowerfulmen?"Bitter,bitterwords.

"Because,"Aidansaid,"you'rethemaster."

Silence,punctuatedbytheclippedweightofshodhoovesonexposedstone."Youareveryobservant,boy.Ifyoustaywhereyouareinthelifethatyouhave,itwillbeacrimeintheLord's

eyes."

"TheLorddoesn'truletheselands."

"No,perhapshedoesnot."

"CanIaskaquestion?"

"Youhaveaskedmorequestionsinthislasthourthananyoneofmyacquaintancehasdaredtoaskinthelasttenyears,"he

replied.

Aidantookthatasayes."WhydoyouservetheLord?Youdon'tevensoundlikeyoulikehim."

"YoudonotparticularlycareforKalliaris,butifIhadtoguess,Iwouldsaythatyoupraytoherfarmoreoftenthanyoupraytoanyofyourothergods."

Aidanshrugged."Sheiswhatsheis.ButIliketheMother,andtheKings'fathers."

"Theyarenoneofthempowerfulenoughtostandalone,"theoldmanreplied,withthefaintesthintofscorn.

"Maybetheydon'tfeeltheyhaveto.Theydon'thavealottoprove."

Drychuckle."Yourpoint,

Aidan.PerhapsifIlivedintheNorth,Iwouldbelieveasyoubelieve,worshipasyouworship.ButtheLordistheDominion,andheshapesusall.IdonotfollowhimanymorethanyoufollowKalliaris.Heis.Iam.Butbeforethewindstakeme,Iwillstanduptohisheat;Iwillstand.AndifhedestroysthethingsIvalue,Iwillhavevengeance.

"Becausecreaturesofpoweronlyunderstandpower;everythingelseisinatonetoodelicate,anuancetosubtle,tocatchtheirattention,toforcetheiracknowledgment."

"Nobodylivesalone,"Aidansaid."Mymymotherusedtosaythat."

"ShewasawomanoftheNorth."

"Shewassmart."

"Wise,Ithink,wouldbethebetterword.Whatelsedidyourmothersay?"

"Alltheoldstuff.Standupforwhatyoubelievein.Dotherightthing,evenwhenit'seasiertodothewrongone.Givewhenyoucan.Takeonlywhatyouneed."Heshrugged,uncomfortablyclosetohimself,tothefact

thathewasslippingawayfromhismother'swordsbecausehecouldn'tfigureouthowtolivewithhisfather.She'd'vehatedthat."Stufflikethat.Girlstuff."

Theoldmansaid,softly,"Once,therewasawomaninmylifewhosaidverymuchwhatyourmothersaid.I,too,thoughtherveryfoolish.Very,veryfoolish."

AndAidan,whofoundhiseyesstingingamomentasmemoryblendingintothepresentbecamesharpandtwisted,understoodthatthismanhadlostsomeone,andthathe,too,wouldtakenocomfortatallinthetellingofit.

Onehundredmen.

Onehundredmenwouldbechosenoutofthisgathered,

hopefulcrowd.Aidanwasnotverygoodwithnumbers,buthewascertainthatthelong,thicklineofwaitingmen,onthisfirstdayofthetrials,faroutnumberedthat.Some,heknew,wouldbeturnedawayimmediately;theywereperhapsayearortwoolderthanhewas,andworse,lookedit.TheChallengehadrulesjustlikethearmy's;youhadtobeOldEnough.Aidanwasn'tthatmythicalage.He

wonderedifhewouldeverreachit.

"Whatdoyousee?"theoldmanasked.

"Thatwe'renottheonlypeoplehereonhorseback."

"Thatisunusual.ItisseldomthatweseeNorthernriders,andfortheNortherners,thehorsesarelargeandfine.Whoarethey?"Therewasan

awkwardpausebeforetheoldmansaid,"Forgiveme,boy.YouknowsomuchoftheChallenge'shistoryandritualthatIhadalmostforgottenthatsomeofthesethingshorses,mountedridersareforeigntoyourwayofliving.Iseethehorses.Idonotseetheriders."

Theoldmandidn'tsoundatallpleasedaboutiteither,whichistosaythathe

suddenlyceasedtospeakWestonatall.HadalottosayintheSoutherntongue,though.Aidanpromisedhimselfthathewouldlearntospeakthatlanguage.Hetriedtolistentothesoundstheoldman'swordsweremadeof,clingingtothemasifhecouldholdtheminmemoryforlongenoughtoeventuallyunlocktheirmeaning.Buttheonlywordshecouldsiftoutofthatfluidstreamofoddly

musicalsoundswere"tor"and"leonne";theyweresaidsometimestogetherandsometimesapart.

Thetoneoftheoldman'svoiceashespokewasallalleyshadow.Aidanwouldn'thavedaredtointerrupthimhadhislifedependedonit.Hewascertainthatifithad,hewouldbedead.

Theyjoinedtheline;the

horsesbroughtacombinationofthemagisterialguardsandtheCrownguards.Beforeeitherofthesegroupsofofficialscouldspeak,theoldmanhandedthemasetofcurledpapers.Themagisteriansreadthemoversocarefullyyoucouldalmostheartheireyesscrapingpaper.Buttheroyalguardshardlyglancedatthematall;itwasasifthey'dexpectedtoseeoveradozenhugehorses

inthetriallineups.

"CommanderSivari,"oneoftheKing'smensaid.Aidanfroze.Herecognizedthename.Sivari.Itwasn'tallthatcommon.

Theoldmansaid,quietly,"Itistimeformetodismount,boy."HeofferedAidanahanddown;CommanderSivarimethimhalfway.TheNorthernofficerlookedat

Aidan'swhitehairandsoontobeblisteringpaleskin,andraisedadarkbrow.Hedidnotspeak,however.

"CommanderSivari,"theoldmansaid.Hebowed,thegesturesounexpectedtoAidanthattheboyfrozeinsurprise."Iexpectedtobemet,butnotbyamanwhohasworntheChallengeCrown.Iamhonored."

Aidan'sjawdropped.ThismanthismanwasEffarinSivari.Kings'Champion.Ithadbeenalongtimesincehehadearnedtherighttothattitle,butashewasoneofthefewchampionswhohadbeenbornandbredintheEmpire'sheart,andnotitsNorthernremove,Aidanknewhisname,andevensomeofhishistory.

Hewasspeechless.Agod

couldhavetappedhimontheshoulderanditwouldn'thavesurprisedhimmore.Hewasbeyondsurprise.

Orsohethought.

ButCommanderSivarireturnedthebow;ifpossible,itwaslower,moreformal."Whoelsewouldtheysend,"hesaidasherose,anexpressionthatAidandidn'tunderstandonhisface."Who

elsewouldproperlyhonortheonlymanlivingwhohaswornthatcrowntwice?"

Whydidn'thetellme?Aidanwasstillspeechless.Hewasalsomortified.Hehadspentthelasttwodayswithamanwhopracticallydefinedthewordchampion.Hehadevenoh,thehumiliationwasboundlesstoldhimthestoriesabouthimself,storiesheprobablysounded

completelystupid,atbest,repeating.

NoSouthernerknewsomuchabouttheNorthernChallenge;theyalmostneversenttheirbestNorth.Thefactthathe'dshowntheinterest,andknewsomanyoftheanswersthatshouldhavebeenadeadgiveaway.Dammit,heshouldhaveknownwhothatoldmanwas.

Hewonderediftheoldmanhadenjoyedlaughingathim.

"Youarequiet,boy."

Aidansaidnothing.

Theoldmanreturnedhissilencewithasilencethatwasshorterandlessawkward."Iwouldhavetoldyou,"hesaidatlast,"butbythetimeitbecamerelevant,itwouldhavebeenawkward.You

haveavisionandasimplicitythatnooneinvolvedintheChallengewithmewillhave.NotthisChallenge.Ifounditrefreshing.Iamnotapoliticalman."Helaughed."Andyet,lifeispolitics;thepoliticsofthesword,thepoliticsofpower,orposition.Iwishedareprieve,andyouwerethatreprieve.

"Forgivemyduplicity."Hebowed.

Aidanwasstunned."Butaren'tyoubutdidn'tyouthinkIwasstupidfornotrecognizingyou?Ishouldhave,"headded,speakingbecausetheoldmanhadspoken."Theyallpracticallyworshipyou.They'dstopbreathingandturnblueifyoutoldthemtoholdtheirbreaths.Hells,they'dprobablyparadearoundtheCommonswithoutanyclothing."

"Butnotwithouttheirswordssurely,"wastheoldman'ssoberreply."Youmistakethem."

"No,Idon't."Aidanshrugged.Balledhishandsintofistsandcrossedthembehindhisslightlybentback.'"BecauseI'ddothesamedamnthing,ifyoutoldmeto.Ifyou'dacceptmeasastudent.I'ddoit,too."

"Ithink,"theoldmansaidquietly,"thatIwouldnottakeastudentwhohadsolittlesenseofself.TheylistentomebecauseIspeakoftheswordandtheChallengewhenIspeaktothematall,andtheyknowthatmyknowledgeinthisregardissuperiortotheirs.WereItospeak,instead,ofwomen,IthinktheywouldhumormebecauseofthatknowledgebuttheyWouldtakeno

ordersofmine.TwoofthemarebetterridersnowthanIhaveeverbeen,andiftheyhadbeneaththemthemountthatIwasgivenfortheChallenge,theywouldbeunstoppablehere.Butwetwo,thathorseandI,wewerechosenforourstrengths;ridinghim,Iwontherace.Thatman,"hesaid,pointingtooneofhisstudents,"willwintherider'swreath."Therewasnodoubtwhateverinhis

voice."ButIdigress.Theylisten,buttheydonotworshipme,boy.IamnottheLord."

Aidanwouldhaveargued,butherealizedthatatleasttwoofthosestudentssuddenlylookedlessfriendlythantheyhadonlymomentsbeforewhichsaidalot,asthey'dneverlookedparticularlyfriendly.Ithadn'toccurredtohimthatanyoftheother

SouthernerscouldspeakWestonuntilthatmoment,anditmadehimfeelatadisadvantage.

Oneofthemen,theone,infact,thattheoldmanhadpointedout,openedhismouth.Spoketwowords.Theoldmanno,hehadtostopthinkingabouthimthatwaySerAntondi'Guiveraliftedahandandswattedthemawayasiftheywereflies.

Well,moreexactly,hecrushedthem.

Aidanwasdistinctlygladthatnopartofhislifedependeduponthegoodwillofthatstudent.Itwastoobad,though;hewasoneofthetworeallygoodones.

Talent,hismotherusedtosay,tellsyounothingatallabouttheman.Don'tjudgeanythingbyit.Itwastrue,but

itwasalwaysdisappointingwhensomeonewhowaslivinghisdreamdidn'tliveuptothedreamitself.

Heglancedtothesideandfoundthattheoldman'seyeswereuponhim."Hedoesn'tunderstandmostofwhatyousay,"hesaidwithawrysmile."Hemerelydislikesyouonprinciple.Hewishestobesurroundedbyhispeers,andhasenoughwittobe

suspiciousoftheunusualyou,inthiscasewithoutanyinstinctwhatsoevertofallbackuponfordiscretion'ssake.

"Heisalso,"SerAntonadded,"preparinginhisownwayforthetrials.Helikestoomanythings,toomuch:food,wine,thecompanyofyoungwomen.Buthehasasenseofrespectforhisart,andalthoughthereisno

questionatallthathewillbeacceptedasoneofthehundred,hewillgivethesetrialsthesamerespectastheChallengeitself.Thatalonesetshimapartfromthemanyratherunremarkableyoungmenheresembles.It'snotjustabouttalent,althoughtalentdoescount.Focus.Concentration.Ambition.Withoutthese,nomanamountstoanything."

"IntheeyesoftheLord,"Aidansaidquietly,thinkinguncomfortablyofhisfather.

Theoldmanraisedasolidbrow."Indeed,"hesaidsoftly."IntheeyesoftheLord."

Thetrialadministratorswereaboredgroupofmen.Theyresembled,morethananything;merchants,astheysatinhigh-backedchairs

behindtheirsolid,heavydesks.Theyevenhadpaperandslate,inkandchalk,beforethem.Namesweretaken,andnumbersgiven,numberswrittendown.

TheoldmanSerAntonsmiledalittlegrimly."This,"hesaid,"iswheremostofourdaywillsurelybespent."

"Dotheydothiswhereyoulive?"

"Theydo'this'asyoucallit,"SerAntonsaid,"ineverylandIhaveevervisited.Notforthesamethings,notprecisely.Butyes.IntheDominion,itismoregracefullyhidden.Afamilymustenterwithsmallfeethenameoftheirchosencontenderorcontenders.TheRadannperformtheofficethatthesemagistratesperformhere,andtheydoitwithintheconfinesoftheirtemples.

Theyalso,"headded,"havethegoodgracetodosowheretherestofusarenotforcedtobearwitness.

"Youmustexcuseme.FewofmystudentsspeakWestonwellenoughtoanswerthesequestionsandalmostallofthem,withoutexception,takepoorlytobeingaskedthem."

Aidanwasleftalone.

Noonechosetoquestionhisrighttobehere;heobviouslycarriednosword,sohewasn'ttryingtosneakinasacontender.Hestaredathisfeet,feelinghissizeandlackofweight,andalmostdespisingboth.

Andbecausehisvisionwassoturnedinward,andunpleasantlyatthat,therewasverylittletodistracthimfromoneofhisfavoritesounds.

Metal.Metal.Theclashofweapons.Heliftedhishead.Forthemostpartorsohehadbeentoldthemenwhohadcometotrialcametoprovetheyhadswords,buttheyweretestedinthisfirstround,withwoodenswords.Practiceblades.Theywererequiredtoweartheirarmor,toshowtheirbows,butsteelandsteelforsuchatestasthiswasrare.

He'dwonderedaboutit,becausetheoldman'sstudentscertainlyusedrealswords.AndperhapswhathisDasaidwasn'ttrue.Wouldn'tbethefirsttime,althoughitwouldbethefirsttimehe'dbeenwrongabouttheChallenge!

Hethoughtthesoundsoffightingwouldstop,buttheydidn't.

andhecouldn'thelphimself.Hewascarriedbythemasifbymusic;toAidan,theywere.Theyhadtheirowntiming,theirowndistinctfeel,andasheapproachedthem,asthesoundsgrewlouder,asthebodiesinfrontofhimbecamesparserandsparserstill,hefeltthehaironhisneckstandonend.

Thecoliseumitselfwashuge,anditwasmostlyempty

thoseweretherulesbutattendants,suchashe,wereallowedtositandbearwitnesstothefairnessofthetrial'smanyjudges.Hewasawareoftheseats,buthedidnottakeone;hewalkedacrosstheringedfloortotherailingthatseparatedhimfromthetwomenwhonowfoughtinthecircle'scenter.

Aflagwasflyingundertheopensky,andbeneathit,a

bannerhadbeendrivenintodirt.Hedidnotrecognizeitimmediatelybecausehewasnotfamiliarwithbannersthatdidn'thavesomethingcommon,likebread,akeg,oralutesewnacrossthem,butwhenhesawthegoldglintingoffthefullheightsun,whenhesawthegoldencurveoftheswordbeneathit,heknewthatthismanwasaforeigner.

Hecreptcloser,thenfroze.

Thereweretwomen.Herecognizedoneofthem.

CommanderSivari.

Theother,hehadneverseenbeforeinhislifebuthewouldrememberthegrimsetofhisface,thedark,straightflatofhairpulledbackandboundvery,verytight.Heworenohelm.HisDawouldhavesaidthatwasthelastactofayoungidiot,thelackof

helm.

ButAidanknew,watchinghim,thatitwasmorethanthat.Hemoved.Hedidnotfalter,notonce.Thesuncaughthisblade,hishair,thecurveofhisarmor;heandtheCommanderseemedtobe,inthisdance,inanotherplaceentirely.Aplacewhereheatandthesea-heavyaircouldonlywatch,asAidandid:withouttouching.

Hedidnothearthefootstepsathisback,althoughtheywereheavy,andthereweremanyofthem.Hedidnotseetheoldmanappearathisside.Butheheardtheoldman'svoicebecausetheoldmanwaswatchingthesetwothroughthesamewindowthatAidanwas.

"Whydoyouwatchhim,boy?"

Aidanfeltacuriousresentmentamutedechoofthesameresentmentthathehadfeltwhentheoldmanhadaskedasimilarquestionthedaybefore.Hewantedtoseethis.Heknewthathewouldnever,neverhavethischanceagain.Towatcheventheotherseventhetwobestoftheoldman'sstudentswasn'tquitethesame.

ButbecauseitwasSerAnton

di'Guiveraandnotjustanyoldmanwhoasked,heanswered."Because,SerAnton,Idon'tthinkI'lleverseeanyoneasasperfectasheisagain."

"Heisfarfromperfect,"theoldmansaid,hiseyethemorecritical,themoreintelligent,hisexperiencethemoretelling.

"Lookathiseyes,"Aidan

replied."Lookathisface.Theswordit'ssomuchapartofhim,Idon'teventhinkheknowsthattheswordisthere."

SerAntonsaidnothing;theywatchedtogether,inasilencebornofaweonAidan'spart,andofsomethingelseontheoldman's.AnothervoicespokeintheSoutherntongueandinit,Aidanheardahintofwhathe

himselffelt.

Theoldman'sreplywassharp.Noonespokeagain.

Theywatched;theywaited.

Intheend,thejudgesintervened;theycalledthehalt.CommanderSivariheardthemimmediately,butAidanwasn'tsocertainthattheyoungmandid.HestoppedonlywhenSivaristepped

acrossthethinstonecirclethathadcontainedthembothwithinthefightingground.

Theoldman'swordswereSouthern,foreign,andsoft.

Atonce,asifthatwereasignal,themenathisbackbegantospeak,theirwordsclashingandcollidinginacacophonyoftones.

"Doyouknowwhoheis?"

Aidanasked."Thatbannerit'sSouthern."

Theoldman'slaughwasabrief,angrybark."Iknowwellwhoseitis,"hesaidcurtly.Hestartedtosaysomethingelseandthenbecamecompletelystill.Hewasangry;thatmuchwascleartoAidan:perhapsthisyoungmanandhisownstudentsweresomehowrivals.

"HeisnotwhatIthoughthewouldbe."Theoldmanreachedoutwithbothhands,dwarfingtherailinginthem.ItwasonlythenthatAidanrealizedthattheoldmanwasactuallyverylarge."IcametotheEmpiretomakehisacquaintance.HeisValedankaidi'Leonne,thelastlivingmemberoftheclanthatonceruledtheDominionofAnnagar."Hespokeagain,somethingsoft,andraisedhis

facetothesun.

"Whatareyousaying?"Aidanaskedquietly.

"I?IamtellingtheLord,"theoldmanreplied,"thataworthyenemyisnotalwaysawarrior'sblessing.Nowcome;wehaveseenwhatwewereintendedtosee,andwearerequiredtoreadyourselvesforthejudges."

Heturned,theoldman,inaquietthatwasn'tquiet,andspokeinatonguethatAidanwasgrateful,justthisonce,thathecouldn'tunderstand.SerAntondi'Guiveraandhisstudentsbegantowalkaway,butAidanturnedtowatchthemanthattheoldmanhadcalledValedankaidi'Leonne.Thedistancebetweenthemwaslargerthanthelengthofthecrowdedcoliseum;itwasvastasthe

distancebetweentheharborandthemerchantshipsatthefarthestedgeofthehorizononthedayswhenhewatchedfortheseawinds.

Andashewatched,thisman,thisValedankaidi'Leonne,turnedtolookintotheemptyseatsthatsurroundedthefightingground.

Theireyesmet;Aidanfeltashockofsomethingthathe

couldn'tevenname.Theystoodstaringinsilenceuntiltwomencametobreaktheirregard:SerAntondi'GuiveraandCommanderSivari.

Aidanwatchedtheoldman'sSerAnton,youidiotstudentsastheyperformedforthetrialjudges.Theywereuniformlybetterthanhehadeverseenthem,andhethoughtheknewwhy;theyhadseenarival,andthey

knewthattheyhadtoliveuptohisperformance.NotforthesakeofthejudgesevenAidanwouldn'thavebeenthatstupidbutforthesakeofthemanwhotaughtthem.Buttherewasaself-consciousnessaboutthemallthatday,andheknewthathecouldwatchtheentiretrial,andhewouldn'tseeValedankaidi'Leonneagain.

Andhewantedto.

Notmuch,hethought,ashefeltthefamiliarrefrainthatwastheprayertoKalliarisstartupinthebackofhismind.Iwouldn'thavetoseemuchjustalittle.Abit.Lethimridepastmeonthewaytotheisle.Justthatmuch.

Hepromisedhimselfthathewouldfindaspotbytheroadthatthechallengerswouldtravel;heknewthewholeroute.Anyonewhopaidany

attentionatalldid.Hewasgoingtoholdthatspot,sitinit,andkeepitforhimself,ashehadn'tdonesincehe'dbeeneightandhisfatherhadlethimselfbewheedledintoit.

Hewasgoingtowatchtheprocession.

AndmaybeKalliaris,pleaseifhewasvery,verylucky,hemight,onceinthis

lifetime,bechosenasChallenger'sWitness.Therewereahundredchallengers,afterall.Onehundredchances.

Outoftensofthousands.Getreal,Aidan.

Still,hemadehisplans.Andafterhemadethem,hewenttotalktoWidowHarrisaboutbothfoodanderrandrunningduringtheChallengeitself.

CHAPTERONE

Eveningof4thofLattan,427AA

Averalaan,TerafinManse

Heknew,bythequalityof

theyoungermen'ssilence,thathewouldarrivetoolate;thatdeathhadcomeandgoneandtakenwithitthepatientthattheysoughthiscarefor.Thislateintheeve,therewerethoseamongthesixwhostoodinthehall,weaponsdrawn,whocouldusehistimeandattentionbuttheHousememberforwhomtheyhadcomeatarun,tojudgebytheriseandfalloftheirmail-platedchestswas

beyondhim.

ButAlayra,semiretiredcaptainofthebestHouseGuardsintheEmpire,waitedjustbeyondtherankofsixbone-weary,bloodiedmen,andherfacewasanexpressionless,steelmask,savefortheslightwhiteningaroundtheedgesofoldscars.Shehadneverhadaprettyface;hadgoneoutofherwaytomakesurethatshenever

would.Aglimpseofheryoungerselfshonethroughamomentineyesthatsawlesswellwitheachpassingday;aglimpseofhisyoungerselfresponded.

Theyhadfoughtinawartogether,thehealer-bornAlowanwho,althoughhehadservedAmaraisHandernesseATerafin,hadneverchosentotakethenamesheofferedhimforhisservice,and

AlayraATerafin,trustedaboveallamongtheChosenhand-pickedbyTheTerafinatthetimeofherascension.

Sleeplefthimcompletely;hestraightenedhisback,reachforthecanethatsupportedhisweight,andsaidonly,"Amoment."Turning,heshoutedasinglename.Oneofhisyoungassistants,theonefirstrousedbythebangingofthemailedfists,

camepeeringoutfromaroundthehealerie'sfineplants."Terrisa,"hesaidsoftly,"waketheothers;havethembringthestretchersandmeetme"

"AkaATerafin'srooms,"CaptainAlayrasaidquietly.Sheturnedawaythen,thesteelofherfacecrackingasifundergreatorsuddenpressure.Helostsightofitamomentashiseyesclosed.

Terrisa'seyeswerestillroundandunblinkingwhenhisownopened."Terrisa,"hesaid,hisvoicethickandforeigntohisownears,"nowisnotthetime.Bequick."

Thecanewasnecessarytotakehimfromthenarrowerhallsthehealerieoccupiedtothegrandhallsthatseparatedthemanseintoitswings;heaskednoquestions.Sheofferednoinformation.Onall

sides,theheavy,evenstepsofmenwhowereusedtowalkingandworkinginunisonsetthetoneoftheirjourney:grim,certain.

He,whohadseenhisshareofdeaths,wasneverpreparedforit.Thehealer'sbloodcriedoutagainstit,anaccusationofatype,buttowhom,andofwhat,nohealerwaseverfullycertain.Theydefieddeathwhereanyhintoflife

remainedatalliftheydared.Thecostwashigh.

HealerAlowanhaddared,anddared,anddared.

Andhisbonesorsomethingakintothem,somethingburiedwithinthefleshandtheblood,buriedwithinthemovingbody-achedwiththememoryofallofthoselosthalf-selves;thehealed,thepeoplethathehadhadtolove

tobringbacktolightatall.

FouroftheChosenstoodguardoutsideofthecloseddoubledoors;herecognizedtwoofthematonce:Arrendas,stilldark-haired,stillunruffledbythepassageofadecadeandahalf,andTorvan,grayer,paler,butunfetteredandunbowed.Theystoppedhim;itwasperfunctory.Alayragavethemanodsharpasaknife's

edgeaknifethatshe'downandtheysteppedasideatonce.

Hepaused,handondoor,handondoorhandle.Itwascoldtothetouch,butasoothingcold,acomfortingcold;nothingaboutbrassandironwasmeanttomove,tobreathe,tospeakwiththerhythmsofmovementandbreath.Hisheadfoundthefine,heavydensityofwood

thatwasolderthananyonepresent:hepressedhisforeheadthereamoment.

Hethought,Iamtooold.

ThecaptainoftheChosentookherplacebesidehim,asiftooffercomfort,orreceiveit;hardtosay.Theyhadseenawartogether,andithadscarredthemirrevocably,butthey'dfoughtitsotheywouldneverhavetofightitagain.

Thusthehopeandthefireoftheyoung.

Alayrasaid,herlipsbarelymoving,herhandagainstthecloseddoor,"I'mtoodamnedoldforthis."

Theireyesmet.

Alowanstraightenedoutawhite-crestedhead,unbendingattheshoulder.Hepushedthedoorin,steeling

himself.Takingtheblow;absorbingtheshockofsight,ofvision.

Fivebodieslayintheroom.

Threefullyarmored,butallarmed.Hedidn'trecognizethethreearmoredmen,buttheyworethecrestoftheHouseGuard.Imposters,hethought,butnopartofhimbelievedit;theywouldtakethesethreedead,andwhen

theywerepresentedtoTheTera-finandthecaptainsoftheHouseGuards,theywouldbeidentifiedaspartoftheTerafinGuard,nomore,noless.

OneoftheChosenlaydeadaswell;hewasnotsowellarmoredasthethreemeninregularguarduniform,butbetterarmed.Hepausedashesteppedoverthebody,hisglanceenoughtotellhim

whathealreadyknew.

ItwasnotfortheirownthattheChosenhadmadethesummons.

AlowanthehealerkneltbythesideofthebloodybedwheretheremainsofAleaRoseATerafinhadbeenlaidtorest.Hereachedouthecouldnothelphimself,althoughtheanswerwaswritclearinthewaythattheneck

washalfsevered.

Ice,beneathskin;thecoldnessofaquestionaskedthatwillnever,neverbeanswered.

Hedidnotlookup,seeinginthetrademarkattempttoseparateheadfromshouldersfailedthoughitwasmorethananechoofanearlierwar.Itwastheharbinger.

"Alowan?"Alayra'svoice.Overhisshoulderandastepback.

"Sheshehastobecalled,"hesaidsoftly.

"Iknow."

Bleak,thesetwo.TheChosenwhoboreopenwounds,sweatyweapons,dentedarmortheyweresilent;thebattlehadexhaustedthem

andtemperedtheirsurprise.

ItwasArrendaswhowassenttowakeTheTerafin.

TheTerafinworetheblackandthegold.

Overtheyears,shehadbeenforcedtoitmanytimes,andtheywerecolorsthatshehadcometoloathebecauseofit:thecolorsofrespectfulmourning.

Thedresswasperfect;italwayswas.

Hesawtothat,whenthedetailsweretoopettyortoosmalltooccupyhertime.Itwasthelifehehadchosenwhenhehadreachedtheageofhismajority,althoughithadnotbeenthelifethathehadforeseenforhimselfinhisyouth:service,servitude,silence.

Ofthelatter,itwassilencethathehadachievedatthehighestprice,andsilencethathesetasidewhenservicedemandedit.

She'stoodinfrontofhermirror,andhe,behindher,sawonlyherback;herreflectionwastakenbythedarkfoldsofclothandtheperfectpositioningofherback.Not,heknew,anaccident.

"Terafin,"Morretzsaid.Hewasoneoftheveryfewmenwhocouldcome,unannounced,intoherpresence,andperhapstheonlymansheallowedtoapproachhervulnerableback.Especiallynow.Hewasawareofitasbothanhonorandaninevitability:hewasdomicis,shewasmaster.Nothingbuttrustcouldexistbetweenthemiftheyweretoholdthisrelationship.

Sheturned.

Thesilencebetweenthemwastautwithhisdisapproval.Strange,thatinheryouthatthehelmofthisgreatHouseshehadseensomuchofhisdisapproval,andinherprime,solittle.Shehadbecomeusedtoitslack.

Orperhapsshewastired.Forshewastired.Sheletitshow.

Thelinesofhisfrownsoftenedslightly;theywouldhavesmoothedawaycompletelyhadhenotbeenrequiredtoholdtheswordforher.Togirdherperfectdresswithitsungainlyweight.Sheknewhimthatwell.

Andhe,inhisfashion,knewher.Heknew,ofcourse,thatsheallowedhimsomehintofhervulnerabilitytoforestalltheargumenttofollow.But

healsoknewthatsuchatacticwasalmostbeneathherdignity,andusedsorarelythatitcouldnotbedisregarded.Notentirely.

Theswordwasheavyinhishands.TheTerafinsword.Itwasseenonlyduringtimeofwar,andherchoicetobringitnowtothefuneralofamemberofherHouse,nomoreandnolesswasastatementwhichhethoughtit

wise,attheveryleast,toavoid.

Justice,thearchaicWestonthatranthelengthofthebladesaid,shallnotsleep.TerafinTheFounderhadprovedthetruthofthatsayingduringahistoryinwhichthespillageofbloodcountedlorlessthanthespillageofcheapwine.Death.War.Triumph.

"Amarais,"hesaid,his

knuckleswhitenedashegrippedthesword'sdressscabbard."Whynow?Whythis?"

Sheturnedawayagain,becausetherewasonlysomuchvulnera-lulyshecouldexpose,tohimoranyone.Itwashernature;oneofthethingsthathebothadmiredanddisliked.WhatweaknessIlinewasinherwasburied,andburieddeeply;hewas

certainexistedonlybecausehehadbeensowelltrainedintheguildofthedomicisthatheknewallpowerhaditscomplementaryweakness.

"Whokilledher?"

Silence.

"Morretz?"

"Wehavenotbeenabletoascertainthatyet."Pause.

"Andifwehad,youwouldbethefirsttoknow."Thelastwasalmostchiding.

"Iknow,"shesaidsoftly."ButCourtneisdeadaswell."

AswasCornielATerafin,butitwastoCourtneandAleathatTheTerafinhadlookedforquietsupportandcounsel;theiropinionsthatshehadtrusted,always,tobeinthebestinterestoftheHouse

itself,andnotofpersonalpoliticalgain.

Sheliftedherarms,tobetterexposeherhipstothewidthofthesword'sbelt.

Courtne'sdeathhadbeenabitterblow.Hewastherewhenthenewsarrived;theretoseeitstiffenherspineandpalethealreadyclassicalcomplexionofherface;theretoseeherhandstightena

momentintoslenderfistsassheplacedthembehindherback,hidingthem,hidingthetruththatneededexpressioninsomegesture,beitasmallone.

CaptainAlayraoftheChosenhaddeliveredthenews;shewasstillbleedingfromthebattlethathadbroughtaboutCourtne'suntimelydeath,andhadbypassedagrufflyintemperateagrieving

healertodoso.Oldwolf,oldwinteredbattle-axeofawoman,sheunderstoodwhatthewordwouldmeantoAmaraisHander-nesseATerafin.ToTheTerafin.Andshe'ddelivereditinpersontospareherthecompanyofstrangers.

HerememberedthattheyhadstoodastheysooftendidininformalmattersofHousebusiness:TheTerafinbythe

long,emptylibrarytableatwhichshetookinformalmeetings,Alayra,reflectionasheenofblurredlightagainstfine,finewoodgrainacrossfromher,andMorretzonesteptotheside.

Silence,inthatroom,afterAlayra'sterseannouncement,brokenatlastbyTheTerafin'ssingleword.

"Who?"

Therehadneverbeenasatisfactoryanswer.Hadtherebeen,hadtherebeen,therewouldhavebeenatleasttwodeathsthatnight.

ButAlayrawasnotonetoshrugandturn;sheofferednamesinstead,thenamesthathehimselfwouldhaveofferedinprivacy.Haerrad.Rymark.Elonne.Marrick.Corniel.

Because,ofcourse,theywerethesurvivingcontendersintheeyesofHouseTerafin:themenandwomanwhostrovetosucceedtotheHousetitleandtaketheHousethrone.

"Notgoodenough,"TheTerafinhadreplied.

"Thenkillthemallandhavedone,"theoldcaptainhadsaidwearily.ShehadseenHouseWaronce,andthe

bloodoffiveofitsmostprizedmemberstroubledherverylittlecomparedtothebloodthattheywouldspill.

IthadsurprisedneitherMorretznorAlayrawhenTheTerafintenderednoreply.Butitsurprisedthembothwhenshedismissedthem.

Thatnight,shewatcheddawnfromtheroofofthegreatmanse,inthesolitarycomfort

oftheoldestpieceofclothingsheowned.Andthedayafter,shepreparedasshedidtodayforafuneral.Aleave-taking.Hadshecried?

Hewascertainofit.Shesharedhertearswithnoone,notMorretzandnotthemenandwomeninwhosehandssheplacedherlife.Butsheshedthem;hewascertainshemustshedthem,andshewasgivenroominwhichto

chooseprideoverpublicdisplay.Darktimes,thosefewdays.

TheywerenothingcomparedtoAlea;shewas,hadbeeninherfashion,theclosestthingtoachildTheTerafinhadallowedherselftohave.AmaraishadgivenherlifetotheHouse,andtheHousehadbecomeentirelyhersforthesacrifice;forcompanionshipshehadherChosen,her

domicis,andherCouncil.

Onlyoneotherdeath,Morretzknew,wouldbecouldbeaspainfulasthisone.

JewelATerafin's.

ButJewelwasnotconsideredbytheCounciltobeacontender.Herpastasastreeturchinathief,ifthetruthwerebaldlystatedandthe

speedwithwhichshereluctantlylearnedtotreatthepatriciateasequalsontheirowngroundslowprecludedher.Ifthisbotheredheratall,sheshoweditasoftenasTheTerafinshowedtears.

Shewasreliableinherfashion,butpronetoacertainimpatience,acertainwildness,thatneverharmedtheHousebutalways

hoveredontheedgeofdoingso.Amaraistrustedherinspiteof,orperhapsbecauseof,herpast.TherewasaffectionbetweenthemthatwasononelevelcompletelydifferentfromtheaffectionshehadofferedAlea,andontheother,absolutelythesame.

Asifshecouldheareverywordhewasthinking,shelookedup,hereyeshitting

thesurfaceofperfectlysilveredglasstomeethis."Thesword,"shesaidsoftly.

Jewelwasinafury.

Theyallknewit.Theycouldhearherclatteringaboutthekitcheninisolation;she'dpurgeditentirelyinonesweepingcurseofbothherden-matesandtheoneortwoservantsshegrudginglyallowedtocleanandtendit.

Carverhadn'tmovedfastenough,whichishowthey'dlearnedthatfurywastherightword:she'dsentatureenanemptyone,butnothinginTerafinwascheapandlightflyingintothewallfourinchestotherightofhisheadjusttocatchhisattention.

Caughtit,too.Heleft.Theyallleft.Noonestayedtoaskquestions.

Luckilyinamannerofspeakingshe'dthrownAvandaroutaswell.First,ofcourse.Hewasn'tthedenfavoritehehadneverbecomepartofthedeninanysignificantwaybutthey'ddevelopedasneakingadmirationforhisabilitytodealwithhergracelesstemper;hewasn'tamanwholookedlikehewasusedtohearingasingleangryword,letalonewhatJewelusually

saidintheheatofthemoment.

"Whathappened?"Angelsaid,straighteningoutaspireofhairandlookingatthecloseddoorbeyondwhichasmallarmy'sworthofnoisecouldbeheard.

AvandarGallaislookedbackoverhisshoulderbeforeheshrugged.Hewasolderthananyof'em,dressedbetter,

spokebetter,andknewhowtoreadeverylanguagethey'deverencounteredevenbetterthanJeweldid.Theysuspectedthathecouldactuallyusemagic;hesureashellsrecognizeditwhenhesawitcoming.Theydidn'tknow,though;noonehadeveraskedhimdirectly.Hewasn'tamanwhousuallyanswereddirectquestionsevenJay's,whichreallypissedheroff.

Avandarwas,ashemostoftenwas,silentandthin-lipped.Thismeanthewasbothangryandresigned.Angelhadalreadyturnedaway,andalmostmissedtheanswer;itwascurtandtothepoint.

"AleaATerafin."

"Oh."

Theyknewwhatitwas,then.

AleaATerafinhadbeenabouttheonlymemberoftheupperechelonsofTerafinthatJewelMark-essATerafinhadactuallyliked.Quietwoman,inherownway,andinFinch'sopinionalittleonthewateryside,butshewasprobablybetterthananyoftherestof'em.

AndJewel,seer-born,hadneverlearnedtoacceptthattheonlylifehergiftwould

everlethersaveforcertainwasherown.Theyallhad,andtheyalldid.Butnother.

Carvershookhishead."GladI'mnotyou,"hesaid,ashepulledawayfromthekitchendoor."Funeral'sintwohours,andyou'regoingtohavetodigheroutofthereandgetherready."

Thephrase"iflookscouldkill"tookonsignificant

meaningonlyifoneknewAvandarGallaiswellenoughtounderstandthesubtlesournessofhisexpression.

Itwasn'tarainyday;itwasn'tadarkone.Itwasthetypeofdaythatwassomildandsobeautifulitmadetoilofanysortseemalmostaninsulttothebenevolenceoftheweathergodswhichevergodsthosewereatthemoment.Changedabit,with

time.

Jewelhatedit.

Thereshouldhavebeenrain,storm,somethingthatshowedthedispleasureoftheheavensattheunjust,theunfair,theunacceptablepassingofadecentwoman.Thereshouldhavebeenmourning,andifnotthat,thanatleastweatherdrizzlyandgrayenoughtokeeppeoplefromgoodcheer

andease.Pettythought,that.ButAleawasdead,andthedeathshouldmeansomething.

Shehatedblack.Shehatedgold.SheworethembothforAleabecauseAleawouldhaveinsistedonit.ForthegoodoftheHouse,ofcourse.Forthesakeofsolidarity.

Whatshe'dchosennottowearspokevolumes,and

indeedvolumeshadbeenspokenbyAvandarallthewayfromherroomstotheedgeofthegrounds.

"YoucannotleaveyourHouseRing;itisthemarkofyourstatusaspartoftheHouseCouncil."

"TheHousebloodyCouncil,"she'dreplied,"canchoosetogostraighttoAllasakarforallIcare."

Thatsilencedhimforamoment.ThenameoftheLordoftheHellswasrarely,ifever,spoken.Inmattersofprotocol,however,hewasrarelysilencedforlong.

Soshetriedadifferenttack."Look,"shesaid,"you'renotanidiot.I'mnotanidiot.We'restandingoncontestedturfrightnow,andAlea'sdeathwasjustlikeCourtne'spartofaturfwar.Thereare

twodensformingup.Maybemore."

Hewasquietanotherminutewhichallowedhertogetfromherroomtothegreathallbeforehespokeagain."Four."

"Four.Orfive.Idon'tknow.ButIdoknowthis.Idon'thavethefundsorthesoldierstothrowawayinaturfwaroveraHousethat'snoteven

upforgrabs.TheTerafin'snotdead,Avandar."

"Butthe"

"AndtheHouseCouncilisthecollectionofdenleaderswhoaresharpeningtheirknives.Who'vealreadybloodedthem.Aleaisdeadbecausethey'vestartedtheirskirmishing.Who'sleftthat'sworthrespecting?Courtne'sdead,andhewasconsidered

theunimpeachableheirtothetitle.Gabriel?Rymark'shisbloodson.AndI'vealreadysaidenoughaboutRymark.

"Look,I'veseenitbefore.IthoughtbecauseIwasanidiotthatI'dneverseeitagain.YouthinkIwanttobepartofthemrightnow?Thinkagain.Youwantthering?"

"Youdon'tinsultthem,"he'dsaid,"Youinsulther."

AvandarspokeofTheTerafin,notthedead,andJewelknewit."Youareherchoice,asyouwellknow,andyourinclusiononCouncilwasamatterofharshwordsandpolitics."

Thatalmostworked.

Almost.

ButsheachedwhenshethoughtofAlea,andshe

couldthinkofnothingelsetoofferher.Shewantedtomakeagesture.Soitwaschildish.Soitwasawasteoftime.Itdidn'tmatter.Shewantedto,andthiswastheonlyoneshecouldthinkof.

"Ifshe'sinsulted,"shetoldthedomicisgruffly,"I'llgrovelinprivatelater.ButIhavetosaysomething,andifIcan'tsayitthisway,I'llactuallysayit."

Hedidn'tsurrendergracefully.Neverdid.Butheshutup,whichwasthebestshecouldaskfor.

Theymadeittothegroundsintherelativechillofhisangerandtherelativeheatofhers;herdenweresmarterthanhewasandwalkedaboutfiveyardsbehindhertemper,lettinghercoolofftheonlywaysheknewhow.

Shewasgladofthem.Gladthattheyunderstoodwhatshejustdidn'twanttoputinwords.Notnow,notever.Lossitwastheworstthing.Thethingshehatedmost.Evenspeakingaboutitwassomehowlettingitin.

Butshediscoveredthatthestrengthofherlosswasselfish,centeredaroundherownfearandherownrage;discovered,tohersurprise

andherdismay,thatshewasnottheonlymemberofTerafinthatsomehowfeltagesturemustbemade.

Thatshewasbynomeansthemostpowerfulmembereither.

Itshouldhavecomfortedher,toseeit,toseetheactofdefi-anceandangerandtoknowthatevenTheTerafincouldbepushedtoohard,toofar.

Butwhenshesawthesword,herheartfroze.She'dthoughttherewasn'tanythingleftinherhearttofreeze;shewasJay,andshewasstupidsometimes,andsheconstantlyunderestimatedherabilitytobesurprised.Beingaseerdidthat.

Butthisswordshe'donlyseengirdedoncebefore,andthattimewasonetimetoomany.Itstillcamebackto

herinnightmare:darknessanddeath,themadnessofthemage-born,thegod-bornandtheAllasakari.ThedeathsoftoomanyoftheChosen.

Justiceshallnotsleep.

SheknewMorretzjustwellenoughtoknowthathedisapprovedofthesword,butitbarelyregistered;hereyeswerecaught,everywhere,bythefacesofthemenand

womenwholinedthewalkinpreparationforhercoming:theChosen.ThemenandwomenhandpickedandtrustedabsolutelybyTheTerafin.Themenandwomenwhohadeachseenthatswordatleastonceintheirtenure:Itwasthesworduponwhichtheiroathsweretaken,andtowhichaceremonialamountoftheirbloodwasgiven.Aswordofwar,yes,butmuch,muchmore.

Itchilledher.

"Yousee?"Avandarsaidsoftly,quietly."Agesturehasbeenmade.Howdoesitcomfortthedead?"

Later,she'dremembertokeepherfacecompletelyrigidinAvandar'scompany;sheusuallymanagedit,butthesonofabitchcouldseesodamnedclearlyitonlytookatwitch.

Thephrase"coldcomfort"tookonawholenewmeaning.I'mnotsixteenanymore,Jewelthought.AndshelookedacrossthegroundstoseethatTheTerafin'sgazehadstoppedamomenttomeethers.Sawherselfinthoseeyes.

Jewelliftedaringlesshandinsalute.

10thofLattan,427AA

Kalakar,AveralaanAramarelas

TheBlackOspreyswerethelonecompanythathadnotbeengivenleaveindeed,givenspecificorderstothecontrarytoexpandtheirnumber.Duartehadexpectednoless,andwasresignedtothelackbeforerecruitmentstarted.Secretly,itdidnot

displeasehim;theOspreyswereahandfulatthebestoftimes,andanincreaseintheirnumbersusuallycalledforapruningthathefound,overtime,hehadloststomachfor.Dangerousthat.

AnOspreywas,afterall,abirdofpreyyoucouldflyit,huntit,giveitfreedominwhichtotakeitskill,andevenforceittofeedfromyourhand,butthe

relationshipwasadelicatebalanceofwillandmastery,asubtleacknowledgmentthat,attherighttime,thebird'sflightwasthebird'sflight,andallthemorebreathtakingfortheuncertaintyitinspired.

ButtheBlackOspreysweremorethanjustcaptivekillers;theyhadtheirpride.

Duartewasnofool.WhenFiaraburstintotheroom,her

eyesnarrowandcoolenoughtofreezewaterwhereitstoodinthepitcheronhisdesk,heknewexactlywhatwascoming,andwonderedbrieflyifholdingbothhalvesoftheconversationifsuchanencountercouldbegracedwiththatwordwouldmakehispoint.Hedoubtedit.

"Sentrus."Awarning,ofsorts.

Shesnorted."Duarte,"shebegan.

"Sentrus."

Itstoppedher,butnotcold."PrimusDuarte."

"Better."

"Duarte"

Hesighed."What?"

"EverycompanyinKalakarisrecruitinginthestreetsofthiscity.EverycompanyinKalakarisgoingtoberecruitingintheWestandintheNorthaftertheKing'sChallenge."Fiara,dark-hairedanddark-eyed,wasananomaly;shecamefromtheNorthernkingdomswhereaswordservedaswellasmostspeeches,andthepeoplewereaspaleastheiceandsnowthatsurroundedthemforso

muchofthegods-cursedyear.DuartehaddonehistimeintheNorth,andhadnodesiretoreturntoit;theicehadcreptintohishairthere,andthewindhadfrozenlinesintohisskin.

/amnotayoungman,hethought,acceptingitastruthalthoughittroubledmorethanhisvanity.Warwascoming.

"Iamawareofthat,Fiara.Itmaysurpriseyou,buta