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that? That could burn a whole block.
It won t. The roof s slate, and there s nothing to burn but the oils. Maybe
whatever was in the amphorae. Lorn pulls Ryalth to the side of the Way as a
the fire brigade wagon careens past. Aljak was ready to kill both of us.
That s why no one else was there-except he would have spent longer with you.
He offers a crooked smile as they walk swiftly uphill and then eastward along
the Lower Hill Road away from the warehouses. Not that I fault his taste.
You re frightening sometimes, Lorn.
Me? I m just a student. He grins disarmingly.
That s hard to believe at times. Without stopping, Ryalth looks down at the
wrapped cloth. This is heavy.
You ve got your five hundred golds, more or less.
I can t take all that.
You have to. I took what I dared. If I had more, my family would find out in
days, if not sooner.
At the corner of the Second Harbor Way and the Road of Benevolent Commerce,
the unofficial border to the merchanter quarter, they stop under a tall
feathering conifer, shielded from above by the spreading dark green branches
and by the afternoon mist. Lorn is breathing heavily, but the worst of his
headache has faded. He stands there silently for a moment, thinking. Abruptly,
he turns to Ryalth. Do you have any scent? A vial of what you use?
The redhead frowns. Why?
Just dab some on me.
She fumbles in her belt wallet, her arm still around the cloth-covered
strongbox. You know that the City Watch wouldn t be pleased with this.
They don t care about scent, Lorn jokes.
They care about people setting fires, she whispers as she dabs some of the
scent oil on his wrist.
Better fires than outland traders assaulting Cyadoran merchanters, he
counters, adding, More of the scent.
More? What s on you will cover any scent of smoke. Her eyebrows lift. You
want your family to know you ve been with someone?
It s better than having them ask what I ve really been doing, he points out.
Remember, when you live in a Magi i family, questions are dangerous.
People say that& is it true?
Only a handful of Magi i can truthread, but the Lectors can, and my father is
a Lector. Lorn gestures. Dab more on my skin, my neck, he suggests, as
much as you can spare.
You already reek. She wrinkles her nose.
Fine. Then, they ll all be ready to condemn me.
And me, Ryalth points out.
They don t know you, and they d have to know your name to ask a decent
question.
She shakes her head, then glances along the road. I think I m glad I m not
from the Magi i.
Lorn straightens the blue tunic. You said I could always retreat to my mighty
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house.
It sounds as bad as an inbred clan house.
It s not that bad. My sisters are nice. So are my parents.
I m sure they are. Ryalth pauses, then adds, I ll save your share of the
coins.
He shakes his head. They re yours. I took some, but you took most of the
risks, he exaggerates.
She frowns, but says nothing.
I ll need some favors before everything s done. Call the coins advance
payment. He smiles broadly.
I can t afford favors that expensive.
I won t ask for anything that big. He leans forward and touches the line of
her cheek. Use them to get yourself free. Then he squeezes her hand and
steps from under the conifer, hurrying uphill.
After a moment, Ryalth swallows and begins to walk eastward.
There is no one near the postern gate as Lorn quickly changes into his student
whites, leaving the blues and the blue boots in the basket tucked behind the
small tree. He readjusts the square of cloth in his belt wallet to ensure the
coins are muffled, and then walks briskly through the garden and up the steps.
You re late, Lorn. His father stands at the top of the steps. Your mother
is worried. It would be kinder if you let us know when you re going out.
Yes, ser. I m sorry. I know. I lost track of time. I didn t expect to be so
late. Lorn s statements are all true, and he makes sure he doesn t look
anywhere close to the billowing smoke that rises to the southwest of them.
His father s nose wrinkles, and he shakes his head. That s a merchanter
scent, isn t it?
Lorn tries to look bewildered.
Don t dignify it with a falsehood, Lorn.
Yes, ser. I mean it is. A merchanter fragrance.
Do you know what you re doing? What if& ? His father doesn t finish the
question.
I ve been careful about that. There won t be any child, Lorn says absolutely
truthfully.
Lorn& His father shakes his head again. I trust you have not attempted a
chaos compulsion with the girl.
No, ser. I wouldn t do such with her.
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