["but\twhat\thad\tshe\tdone\tthat\tmade\tit\tso\turgent\tto\tget\trid\tof\ther\tthat\the\u2019d\tdrug\ther and\t then\t dump\t her\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t the\t desert?\t She\t had\t five\t days\t left;\t he couldn\u2019t\thave\twaited\tfor\ther\tto\tleave? Her\t eyes\t burned\t as\t she\t sorted\t through\t the\t events\t of\t the\t past\t few\t days\t for ways\tshe\tmight\thave\toffended\tthe\tMaster.\tShe\tgot\tto\ther\tfeet\tand\trifled\tthrough the\tsaddlebags\tuntil\tshe\tpulled\tout\tthe\tletter\tof\tapproval.\tIt\twas\ta\tfolded\tsquare of\t paper,\t sealed\t with\t sea-green\t wax\u2014the\t color\t of\t the\t Master\u2019s\t eyes.\t A\t little vain,\tbut\t\u2026 Her\tfingers\thovered\tover\tthe\tseal.\tIf\tshe\tbroke\tit,\tthen\tArobynn\tmight\taccuse her\t of\t tampering\t with\t the\t letter.\t But\t what\t if\t it\t said\t horrid\t things\t about\t her? Ansel\tsaid\tit\twas\ta\tletter\tof\tapproval,\tso\tit\tcouldn\u2019t\tbe\tthat\tbad.\tCelaena\ttucked the\tletter\tback\tinto\tthe\tsaddlebag. Perhaps\tthe\tMaster\thad\talso\trealized\tthat\tshe\twas\tspoiled\tand\tselfish.\tMaybe everyone\t had\t just\t been\t tolerating\t her,\t and\t \u2026\t maybe\t they\u2019d\t heard\t of\t her\t fight with\tAnsel\tand\tdecided\tto\tsend\ther\tpacking.\tIt\twouldn\u2019t\tsurprise\ther.\tThey\twere looking\tout\tfor\ttheir\town,\tafter\tall.\tNever\tmind\tthat\tfor\ta\twhile,\tshe\thad\tfelt\tlike one\t of\t their\t own\u2014felt,\t for\t the\t first\t time\t in\t a\t long,\t long\t while,\t like\t she\t had\t a place\t where\t she\t belonged.\t Where\t she\t might\t learn\t something\t more\t than\t deceit and\thow\tto\tend\tlives. But\t she\u2019d\t been\t wrong.\t Somehow,\t realizing\t that\t hurt\t far\t worse\t than\t the beating\tArobynn\thad\tgiven\ther. Her\t lips\t trembled,\t but\t she\t squared\t her\t shoulders\t and\t scanned\t the\t night\t sky until\t she\t found\t the\t Stag\t and\t the\t crowning\t star\t that\t led\t north.\t Sighing,\t Celaena blew\tout\tthe\tlantern,\tmounted\tKasida,\tand\trode\tinto\tthe\tnight. She\t rode\t toward\t Xandria,\t opting\t to\t find\t a\t ship\t there\t instead\t of\t braving\t the northern\ttrek\tacross\tthe\tSinging\tSands\tto\tYurpa\u2014the\tport\tshe\u2019d\toriginally\tsailed into.\t Without\t a\t guide,\t she\t didn\u2019t\t really\t have\t much\t of\t a\t choice.\t She\t took\t her time,\t often\t walking\t instead\t of\t riding\t Kasida,\t who\t seemed\t as\t sad\t as\t she\t was\t to leave\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins\tand\ttheir\tluxurious\tstables. The\tnext\tday,\tshe\twas\ta\tfew\tmiles\tinto\ther\tlate\tafternoon\ttrek\twhen\tshe\theard the\t thump,\t thump,\t thump.\t It\t grew\t louder,\t the\t movements\t now\t edged\t with clashing\t and\t clattering\t and\t deep\t voices.\t She\t hopped\t onto\t Kasida\u2019s\t back\t and crested\ta\tdune. In\t the\t distance,\t at\t least\t two\t hundred\t men\t were\t marching\u2014straight\t into\t the desert.\tSome\tbore\tred\tand\tblack\tbanners.\tLord\tBerick\u2019s\tmen.\tThey\tmarched\tin\ta long\tcolumn,\twith\tmounted\tsoldiers\tgalloping\talong\tthe\tflanks.\tThough\tshe\thad","never\t seen\t Berick,\t a\t quick\t examination\t of\t the\t host\t showed\t no\t signs\t of\t a\t lord being\tpresent.\tHe\tmust\thave\tstayed\tbehind. But\tthere\twas\tnothing\tout\there.\tNothing\texcept\tfor\t\u2026 Celaena\u2019s\tmouth\twent\tdry.\tNothing\texcept\tfor\tthe\tassassins\u2019\tfortress. A\t mounted\t soldier\t paused\t his\t riding,\t his\t black\t mare\u2019s\t coat\t gleaming\t with sweat.\tHe\tstared\ttoward\ther.\tWith\ther\twhite\tclothes\tconcealing\tall\tof\ther\tbut\ther eyes,\the\thad\tno\tway\tof\tidentifying\ther,\tno\tway\tof\ttelling\twhat\tshe\twas. Even\tfrom\tthe\tdistance,\tshe\tcould\tsee\tthe\tbow\tand\tquiver\tof\tarrows\the\tbore. How\tgood\twas\this\taim? She\t didn\u2019t\t dare\t to\t move.\t The\t last\t thing\t she\t needed\t was\t the\t attention\t of\t all those\t soldiers\t on\t her.\t They\t all\t possessed\t broadswords,\t daggers,\t shields,\t and arrows.\t This\t definitely\t wasn\u2019t\t going\t to\t be\t a\t friendly\t visit,\t not\t with\t this\t many men. Was\t that\t why\t the\t Master\t had\t sent\t her\t away?\t Had\t he\t somehow\t known\t this would\thappen\tand\tdidn\u2019t\twant\ther\tcaught\tup\tin\tit? Celaena\t nodded\t to\t the\t soldier\t and\t continued\t riding\t toward\t Xandria.\t If\t the Master\t didn\u2019t\t want\t anything\t to\t do\t with\t her,\t then\t she\t certainly\t didn\u2019t\t need\t to warn\t them.\t Especially\t since\t he\t probably\t knew.\t And\t he\t had\t a\t fortress\t full\t of assassins.\t Two\t hundred\t soldiers\t were\t nothing\t compared\t to\t seventy\t or\t so\t of\t the sessiz\tsuikast. The\t assassins\t could\t handle\t themselves.\t They\t didn\u2019t\t need\t her.\t They\u2019d\t made that\tclear\tenough. Still,\t the\t muffled\t thump\t of\t Kasida\u2019s\t steps\t away\t from\t the\t fortress\t became more\tand\tmore\tdifficult\tto\tbear. The\tnext\tmorning,\tXandria\twas\tremarkably\tquiet.\tAt\tfirst,\tCelaena\tthought\tit was\t because\t the\t citizens\t were\t all\t waiting\t for\t news\t about\t the\t attack\t on\t the assassins,\t but\t she\t soon\t realized\t she\t found\t it\t quiet\t because\t she\t had\t only\t seen\t it on\t Market\t Day.\t The\t winding,\t narrow\t streets\t that\t had\t been\t crammed\t with vendors\twere\tnow\tempty,\tlittered\twith\terrant\tpalm\tfronds\tand\tpiles\tof\tsand\tthat slithered\tin\tthe\tfierce\twinds\tfrom\tthe\tsea. She\tbought\tpassage\ton\ta\tship\tthat\twould\tsail\tto\tAmier,\tthe\tport\tin\tMelisande across\t the\t Gulf\t of\t Oro.\t She\u2019d\t hoped\t for\t a\t ship\t to\t Innish,\t another\t port,\t so\t she could\tinquire\tafter\ta\tyoung\thealer\tshe\u2019d\tmet\ton\ther\tjourney\there,\tbut\tthere\twere none.\t And\t with\t the\t embargo\t on\t ships\t from\t Xandria\t going\t to\t other\t parts\t of Adarlan\u2019s\t empire,\t a\t distant,\t forgotten\t port\t like\t Amier\t would\t be\t her\t best\t bet. From\tthere,\tshe\u2019d\ttravel\ton\tKasida\tback\tto\tRifthold,\thopefully\tcatching\tanother","boat\tsomewhere\ton\tthe\tlong\tarm\tof\tthe\tAvery\tRiver\tthat\twould\ttake\ther\tthe\tlast leg\tto\tthe\tcapital. The\tship\tdidn\u2019t\tleave\tuntil\thigh\ttide\tthat\tafternoon,\twhich\tleft\tCelaena\twith\ta few\t hours\t to\t wander\t the\t city.\t The\t Spidersilk\t merchant\t was\t long\t gone,\t along with\tthe\tcobbler\tand\tthe\ttemple\tpriestesses. Nervous\t the\t mare\t would\t be\t identified\t in\t the\t city,\t but\t more\t worried\t that someone\t would\t steal\t Kasida\t if\t she\t left\t her\t unguarded,\t Celaena\t led\t the\t horse through\t back\t alleys\t until\t she\t found\t a\t near-private\t trough\t for\t Kasida.\t Celaena leaned\t against\t a\t sandstone\t wall\t as\t her\t horse\t drank\t her\t fill.\t Had\t Lord\t Berick\u2019s men\treached\tthe\tfortress\tyet?\tAt\tthe\trate\tthey\twere\tgoing,\tthey\twould\tprobably arrive\t this\t night\t or\t early\t tomorrow\t morning.\t She\t just\t hoped\t the\t Master\t was prepared\u2014and\tthat\the\thad\tat\tleast\trestocked\tthe\tflaming\twall\tafter\tthe\tlast\tattack from\t Berick.\t Had\t he\t sent\t her\t away\t for\t her\t own\t safety,\t or\t was\t he\t about\t to\t be blindsided? She\t glanced\t up\t at\t the\t palace\t towering\t over\t the\t city.\t Berick\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t with his\tmen.\tDelivering\tthe\tMute\tMaster\u2019s\thead\tto\tthe\tKing\tof\tAdarlan\twould\tsurely get\tthe\tembargo\tlifted\tfrom\this\tcity.\tWas\the\tdoing\tit\tfor\tthe\tsake\tof\this\tpeople, or\tfor\thimself? But\t the\t Red\t Desert\t also\t needed\t the\t assassins\u2014and\t the\t money\t and\t the\t trade the\tforeign\temissaries\tbrought\tin,\ttoo. Berick\t and\t the\t Master\t had\t certainly\t been\t communicating\t in\t the\t past\t few weeks.\t What\t had\t gone\t wrong?\t Ansel\t had\t made\t another\t trip\t a\t week\t ago\t to\t see him,\tand\thadn\u2019t\tmentioned\ttrouble.\tShe\u2019d\tseemed\tquite\tjovial,\tactually. Celaena\tdidn\u2019t\treally\tknow\twhy\ta\tchill\tsnaked\tdown\ther\tspine\tin\tthat\tmoment. Or\t why\t she\t found\t herself\t suddenly\t digging\t through\t the\t saddlebags\t until\t she pulled\tout\tthe\tMaster\u2019s\tletter\tof\tapproval,\talong\twith\tthe\tnote\tAnsel\thad\twritten her. If\t the\t Master\t had\t known\t about\t the\t attack,\t he\t would\t have\t been\t fortifying\t his defenses\t already;\t he\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t sent\t Celaena\t away.\t She\t was\t Adarlan\u2019s greatest\t assassin,\t and\t if\t two\t hundred\t men\t were\t marching\t on\t his\t fortress,\t he\u2019d need\t her.\t The\t Master\t wasn\u2019t\t proud\u2014not\t like\t Arobynn.\t He\t truly\t loved\t his disciples;\t he\t looked\t after\t and\t nurtured\t them.\t But\t he\u2019d\t never\t trained\t Ansel. Why? And\t with\t so\t many\t of\t his\t loved\t ones\t in\t the\t fortress,\t why\t send\t only\t Celaena away?\tWhy\tnot\tsend\tthem\tall? Her\theart\tbeat\tso\tfast\tit\tstumbled,\tand\tCelaena\ttore\topen\tthe\tletter\tof\tapproval. It\twas\tblank. She\tflipped\tthe\tpaper\tover.\tThe\tother\tside\twas\talso\tblank.\tHolding\tit\tup\tto\tthe","sun\trevealed\tno\thidden\tink,\tno\twatermark.\tBut\tit\thad\tbeen\tsealed\tby\thim,\thadn\u2019t it?\tThat\twas\this\tseal\ton\tthe\u2014 It\twas\teasy\tto\tsteal\ta\tsignet\tring.\tShe\u2019d\tdone\tit\twith\tCaptain\tRolfe.\tAnd\tshe\u2019d seen\tthe\twhite\tline\taround\tthe\tMaster\u2019s\tfinger\u2014his\tring\thad\tbeen\tmissing. But\t if\t Ansel\t had\t drugged\t her,\t and\t given\t her\t a\t document\t sealed\t with\t the Master\u2019s\tsignet\tring\t\u2026 No,\tit\twasn\u2019t\tpossible.\tAnd\tit\tdidn\u2019t\tmake\tsense.\tWhy\twould\tAnsel\tsend\ther away\tand\tpretend\tthe\tMaster\thad\tdone\tit?\tUnless\t\u2026 Celaena\tlooked\tup\tat\tLord\tBerick\u2019s\tpalace.\tUnless\tAnsel\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tvisiting Lord\t Berick\t on\t behalf\t of\t the\t Master\t at\t all.\t Or\t maybe\t she\t had\t at\t first,\t long enough\t to\t gain\t the\t Master\u2019s\t trust.\t But\t while\t the\t Master\t thought\t she\t was mending\t the\t relationships\t between\t them,\t Ansel\t was\t really\t doing\t quite\t the opposite.\t And\t that\t Spidersilk\t merchant\t had\t mentioned\t something\t about\t a\t spy among\tthe\tassassins\u2014a\tspy\tworking\tfor\tBerick.\tBut\twhy? Celaena\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ttime\tto\tponder\tit.\tNot\twith\ttwo\thundred\tmen\tso\tclose\tto the\t fortress.\t She\t might\t have\t questioned\t Lord\t Berick,\t but\t that,\t too,\t would\t take precious\ttime. One\t warrior\t might\t not\t make\t a\t difference\t against\t two\t hundred,\t but\t she\t was Celaena\t Sardothien.\t That\t had\t to\t count\t for\t something.\t That\t did\t count\t for something. She\tmounted\tKasida\tand\tturned\ther\ttoward\tthe\tcity\tgates. \u201cLet\u2019s\tsee\thow\tfast\tyou\tcan\trun,\u201d\tshe\twhispered\tinto\tthe\tmare\u2019s\tear,\tand\ttook off.","CHAPTER 11 Like\t a\t shooting\t star\t across\t a\t red\t sky,\t Kasida\t flew\t over\t the\t dunes,\t and\t made the\t jump\t across\t the\t Cleaver\t as\t if\t she\t were\t leaping\t over\t a\t brook.\t They\t paused only\tlong\tenough\tfor\tthe\thorse\tto\trest\tand\tfill\tup\ton\twater,\tand\tthough\tCelaena apologized\tto\tthe\tmare\tfor\tpushing\ther\tso\thard,\tKasida\tnever\tfaltered.\tShe,\ttoo, seemed\tto\tsense\tthe\turgency. They\trode\tthrough\tthe\tnight,\tuntil\tthe\tcrimson\tdawn\tbroke\tover\tthe\tdunes\tand smoke\tstained\tthe\tsky,\tand\tthe\tfortress\tspread\tbefore\tthem. Fires\t burned\t here\t and\t there,\t and\t shouts\t rang\t out,\t along\t with\t the\t clashing\t of weapons.\t The\t assassins\t hadn\u2019t\t yielded\t yet,\t though\t their\t walls\t had\t been breached.\t A\t few\t bodies\t littered\t the\t sand\t leading\t up\t to\t the\t gates,\t but\t the\t gates themselves\t showed\t no\t sign\t of\t a\t forced\t entry\u2014as\t if\t someone\t had\t left\t them unlocked. Celaena\t dismounted\t Kasida\t before\t the\t final\t dune,\t leaving\t the\t horse\t to\t either follow\t or\t find\t her\t own\t path,\t and\t crept\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t way\t into\t the\t fortress.\t She paused\t long\t enough\t to\t swipe\t a\t sword\t from\t a\t dead\t soldier\t and\t tuck\t it\t into\t her belt.\tIt\twas\tcheaply\tmade\tand\tunbalanced,\tbut\tthe\tpoint\twas\tsharp\tenough\tto\tdo the\tjob.\tFrom\tthe\tmuffled\tclopping\tof\thooves\tbehind\ther,\tshe\tknew\tKasida\thad followed.\tStill,\tCelaena\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\ttake\ther\teyes\taway\tfrom\tthe\tscene\tbefore\ther as\tshe\tdrew\ther\ttwo\tlong\tdaggers. Inside\t the\t walls,\t bodies\t were\t everywhere\u2014assassin\t and\t soldier\t alike. Otherwise,\t the\t main\t courtyard\t was\t empty,\t its\t little\t rivers\t now\t flowing\t red.\t She tried\ther\tbest\tnot\tto\tlook\ttoo\tclosely\tat\tthe\tfaces\tof\tthe\tfallen. Fires\tsmoldered,\tmost\tof\tthem\tjust\tsmoking\tpiles\tof\tash.\tCharred\tremnants\tof arrows\trevealed\tthat\tthey\u2019d\tprobably\tbeen\tablaze\twhen\tthey\thit.\tEvery\tstep\tinto the\t courtyard\t felt\t like\t a\t lifetime.\t The\t shouts\t and\t clanging\t weapons\t came\t from other\t parts\t of\t the\t fortress.\t Who\t was\t winning?\t If\t all\t the\t soldiers\t had\t gotten\t in with\tso\tfew\tdead\ton\tthe\tsand,\tthen\tsomeone\thad\tto\thave\tlet\tthem\tin\u2014probably in\t the\t dead\t of\t night.\t How\t long\t had\t it\t taken\t before\t the\t night\t watch\t spotted\t the soldiers\t creeping\t inside?\t \u2026\t Unless\t the\t night\t watch\t had\t been\t dispatched\t before","they\tcould\tsound\tthe\talarm. But,\tas\tCelaena\ttook\tstep\tafter\tstep,\tshe\trealized\tthat\tthe\tquestion\tshe\tshould be\tasking\twas\tfar\tworse.\tWhere\tis\tthe\tMaster? That\twas\twhat\tLord\tBerick\thad\twanted\u2014the\tMaster\u2019s\thead. And\tAnsel\t\u2026 Celaena\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tfinish\tthat\tthought.\tAnsel\thadn\u2019t\tsent\ther\taway\tbecause of\tthis.\tAnsel\tcouldn\u2019t\tbe\tbehind\tthis.\tBut\t\u2026 Celaena\t started\t sprinting\t for\t the\t Master\u2019s\t greeting\t room,\t heedless\t of\t the noise.\t Blood\t and\t destruction\t were\t everywhere.\t She\t passed\t courtyards\t full\t of soldiers\tand\tassassins,\tlocked\tin\tdeadly\tbattle. She\t was\t halfway\t up\t the\t stairs\t to\t the\t Master\u2019s\t room\t when\t a\t soldier\t came rushing\t down\t them,\t his\t blade\t drawn.\t She\t ducked\t the\t blow\t for\t her\t head\t and struck\t low\t and\t deep,\t her\t long\t dagger\t burying\t itself\t into\t his\t gut.\t With\t the\t heat, the\t soldiers\t had\t forgone\t metal\t armor\u2014and\t their\t leather\t armor\t couldn\u2019t\t turn\t a blade\tmade\twith\tAdarlanian\tsteel. She\t jumped\t aside\t as\t he\t groaned\t and\t tumbled\t down\t the\t steps.\t She\t didn\u2019t bother\tsparing\thim\ta\tfinal\tlook\tas\tshe\tcontinued\ther\tascent.\tThe\tupper\tlevel\twas completely\tsilent. Her\t breath\t sharp\t in\t her\t throat,\t she\t careened\t toward\t the\t open\t doors\t of\t the greeting\t room.\t The\t two\t hundred\t soldiers\t were\t meant\t to\t destroy\t the\t fortress\u2014 and\tprovide\ta\tdistraction.\tThe\tMaster\tcould\thave\tbeen\tunguarded\twith\teveryone focused\t on\t the\t attack.\t But\t he\t was\t still\t the\t Master.\t How\t could\t Ansel\t expect\t to best\thim? Unless\t she\t used\t that\t drug\t on\t him\t as\t well.\t How\t else\t would\t she\t be\t able\t to disarm\thim\tand\tcatch\thim\tunawares? Celaena\t hurled\t herself\t through\t the\t open\t wooden\t doors\t and\t nearly\t tripped\t on the\tbody\tprostrate\tbetween\tthem. Mikhail\t lay\t on\t his\t back,\t his\t throat\t slit,\t eyes\t staring\t up\t at\t the\t tiled\t ceiling. Dead.\tBeside\thim\twas\tIlias,\tstruggling\tto\trise\tas\the\tclutched\this\tbleeding\tbelly. Celaena\tbit\tback\ther\tcry,\tand\tIlias\traised\this\thead,\tblood\tdripping\tfrom\this\tlips. She\tmade\tto\tkneel\tbeside\thim,\tbut\the\tgrunted,\tpointing\tto\tthe\troom\tahead. To\this\tfather. The\t Master\t lay\t on\t his\t side\t atop\t the\t dais,\t his\t eyes\t open\t and\t his\t robes\t still unstained\t by\t blood.\t But\t he\t had\t the\t stillness\t of\t one\t drugged\u2014paralyzed\t by whatever\tAnsel\thad\tgiven\thim. The\t girl\t stood\t over\t him,\t her\t back\t to\t Celaena\t as\t she\t talked,\t swift\t and\t quiet. Babbling.\t She\t clenched\t her\t father\u2019s\t sword\t in\t one\t hand,\t the\t bloodied\t blade drooping\t toward\t the\t floor.\t The\t Master\u2019s\t eyes\t shifted\t to\t Celaena\u2019s\t face,\t then\t to","his\t son.\t They\t were\t filled\t with\t pain.\t Not\t for\t himself,\t but\t for\t Ilias\u2014for\t his bleeding\t boy.\t He\t looked\t back\t to\t Celaena\u2019s\t face,\t his\t sea-green\t eyes\t now pleading.\tSave\tmy\tson. Ansel\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath\tand\tthe\tsword\trose\tin\tthe\tair,\tmaking\tto\tslice\toff\tthe Master\u2019s\thead. Celaena\t had\t a\t heartbeat\t to\t flip\t the\t knife\t in\t her\t hands.\t She\t cocked\t her\t wrist and\tlet\tit\tfly. The\tdagger\tslammed\tinto\tAnsel\u2019s\tforearm,\texactly\twhere\tCelaena\thad\taimed. Ansel\t let\t out\t a\t cry,\t her\t fingers\t splaying.\t Her\t father\u2019s\t sword\t clattered\t to\t the ground.\t Her\t face\t went\t white\t with\t shock\t as\t she\t whirled,\t clutching\t the\t bleeding wound,\t but\t the\t expression\t shifted\t into\t something\t dark\t and\t unyielding\t as\t she beheld\tCelaena.\tAnsel\tscrambled\tfor\ther\tfallen\tblade. But\tCelaena\twas\talready\trunning. Ansel\t grabbed\t her\t sword,\t dashing\t back\t to\t the\t Master\t and\t lifting\t it\t high\t over her\thead.\tShe\tplunged\tthe\tsword\ttoward\tthe\tMaster\u2019s\tneck. Celaena\t managed\t to\t tackle\t her\t before\t the\t blade\t struck,\t sending\t them\t both crashing\tto\tthe\tfloor.\tCloth\tand\tsteel\tand\tbone,\ttwisting\tand\trolling.\tShe\tbrought her\tlegs\tup\thigh\tenough\tto\tkick\tAnsel.\tThe\tgirls\tsplit\tapart,\tand\tCelaena\twas\ton her\tfeet\tthe\tmoment\tshe\tstopped\tmoving. But\t Ansel\t was\t already\t standing,\t her\t sword\t still\t in\t her\t hands,\t still\t between Celaena\t and\t the\t paralyzed\t Master.\t The\t blood\t from\t Ansel\u2019s\t arm\t dripped\t to\t the floor. They\t panted,\t and\t Celaena\t steadied\t her\t reeling\t head.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t do\t it,\u201d\t she breathed. Ansel\tlet\tout\ta\tlow\tlaugh.\t\u201cI\tthought\tI\ttold\tyou\tto\tgo\thome.\u201d Celaena\t drew\t the\t sword\t from\t her\t belt.\t If\t only\t she\t had\t a\t blade\t like\t Ansel\u2019s, not\t some\t bit\t of\t scrap\t metal.\t It\t shook\t in\t her\t hands\t as\t she\t realized\t who,\t exactly, stood\t between\t her\t and\t the\t Master.\t Not\t some\t nameless\t soldier,\t not\t some stranger,\tor\ta\tperson\tshe\u2019d\tbeen\thired\tto\tkill.\tBut\tAnsel. \u201cWhy?\u201d\tCelaena\twhispered. Ansel\t cocked\t her\t head,\t raising\t her\t sword\t a\t bit\t higher.\t \u201cWhy?\u201d\t Celaena\t had never\t seen\t anything\t more\t hideous\t than\t the\t hate\t that\t twisted\t Ansel\u2019s\t face. \u201cBecause\tLord\tBerick\tpromised\tme\ta\tthousand\tmen\tto\tmarch\tinto\tthe\tFlatlands, that\u2019s\t why.\t Stealing\t those\t horses\t was\t exactly\t the\t public\t excuse\t he\t needed\t to attack\tthis\tfortress.\tAnd\tall\tI\thad\tto\tdo\twas\ttake\tcare\tof\tthe\tguards\tand\tleave\tthe gate\t open\t last\t night.\t And\t bring\t him\t this.\u201d\t She\t gestured\t with\t her\t sword\t to\t the","Master\tbehind\ther.\t\u201cThe\tMaster\u2019s\thead.\u201d\tShe\tran\tan\teye\tup\tand\tdown\tCelaena\u2019s body,\t and\t Celaena\t hated\t herself\t for\t trembling\t further.\t \u201cPut\t down\t your\t sword, Celaena.\u201d Celaena\tdidn\u2019t\tmove.\t\u201cGo\tto\thell.\u201d Ansel\tchuckled.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tbeen\tto\thell.\tI\tspent\tsome\ttime\tthere\twhen\tI\twas\ttwelve, remember?\tAnd\twhen\tI\tmarch\tinto\tthe\tFlatlands\twith\tBerick\u2019s\ttroops,\tI\u2019ll\tsee\tto it\tthat\tHigh\tKing\tLoch\tsees\ta\tbit\tof\thell,\ttoo.\tBut\tfirst\t\u2026\u201d She\t turned\t to\t the\t Master\t and\t Celaena\t sucked\t in\t a\t breath.\t \u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d\t Celaena said.\t From\t this\t distance,\t Ansel\t would\t kill\t him\t before\t she\t could\t do\t anything\t to stop\ther. \u201cJust\tlook\tthe\tother\tway,\tCelaena.\u201d\tAnsel\tstepped\tcloser\tto\tthe\tman. \u201cIf\t you\t touch\t him,\t I\u2019ll\t put\t this\t sword\t through\t your\t neck,\u201d\t Celaena\t snarled. The\twords\tshook,\tand\tshe\tblinked\taway\tthe\tbuilding\tmoisture\tin\ther\teyes. Ansel\tlooked\tover\ther\tshoulder.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\twill.\u201d Ansel\t took\t another\t step\t closer\t to\t the\t Master,\t and\t Celaena\u2019s\t second\t dagger flew.\tIt\tgrazed\tthe\tside\tof\tAnsel\u2019s\tarmor,\tleaving\ta\tlong\tmark\tbefore\tit\tclattered to\ta\tstop\tat\tthe\tfoot\tof\tthe\tdais. Ansel\tpaused,\tgiving\tCelaena\ta\tfaint\tsmile.\t\u201cYou\tmissed.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\tdo\tit.\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d Celaena\t put\t a\t hand\t over\t her\t heart,\t tightly\t gripping\t her\t sword\t with\t the\t other. \u201cBecause\t I\t know\t what\t it\t feels\t like.\u201d\t She\t dared\t another\t step.\t \u201cBecause\t I\t know how\tit\tfeels\tto\thave\tthat\tkind\tof\thate,\tAnsel.\tI\tknow\thow\tit\tfeels.\tAnd\tthis\tisn\u2019t the\tway.\tThis,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tlouder,\tgesturing\tto\tthe\tfortress\tand\tall\tthe\tcorpses\tin\tit, all\tthe\tsoldiers\tand\tassassins\tstill\tfighting.\t\u201cThis\tis\tnot\tthe\tway.\u201d \u201cSays\tthe\tassassin,\u201d\tAnsel\tspat. \u201cI\u2019ve\t become\t an\t assassin\t because\t I\t had\t no\t choice.\t But\t you\t have\t a\t choice, Ansel.\tYou\u2019ve\talways\thad\ta\tchoice.\tPlease\tdon\u2019t\tkill\thim.\u201d Please\tdon\u2019t\tmake\tme\tkill\tyou\twas\twhat\tshe\ttruly\tmeant\tto\tsay. Ansel\t shut\t her\t eyes.\t Celaena\t steadied\t her\t wrist,\t testing\t the\t balance\t of\t her blade,\ttrying\tto\tget\ta\tsense\tof\tits\tweight.\tWhen\tAnsel\topened\ther\teyes,\tthere\twas little\tof\tthe\tgirl\tshe\u2019d\tgrown\tto\tcare\tfor\tover\tthe\tpast\tmonth. \u201cThese\t men,\u201d\t Ansel\t said,\t her\t sword\t rising\t higher.\t \u201cThese\t men\t destroy everything.\u201d \u201cI\tknow.\u201d \u201cYou\t know,\t and\t yet\t you\t do\t nothing!\t You\u2019re\t just\t a\t dog\t chained\t to\t your master.\u201d\t She\t closed\t the\t distance\t between\t them,\t her\t sword\t lowering.\t Celaena almost\tsagged\twith\trelief,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tlighten\ther\tgrip\ton\ther\town\tblade.\tAnsel\u2019s","breathing\twas\tragged.\t\u201cYou\tcould\tcome\twith\tme.\u201d\tShe\tbrushed\tback\ta\tstrand\tof Celaena\u2019s\t hair.\t \u201cThe\t two\t of\t us\t alone\t could\t conquer\t the\t Flatlands\u2014and\t with Lord\t Berick\u2019s\t troops\t \u2026\u201d\t Her\t hand\t grazed\t Celaena\u2019s\t cheek,\t and\t Celaena\t tried not\t to\t recoil\t at\t the\t touch\t and\t at\t the\t words\t that\t came\t out\t of\t Ansel\u2019s\t mouth.\t \u201cI would\tmake\tyou\tmy\tright\thand.\tWe\u2019d\ttake\tthe\tFlatlands\tback.\u201d \u201cI\t can\u2019t,\u201d\t Celaena\t answered,\t even\t though\t she\t could\t see\t Ansel\u2019s\t plan\t with perfect\tclarity\u2014even\tif\tit\twas\ttempting. Ansel\t stepped\t back.\t \u201cWhat\t does\t Rifthold\t have\t that\u2019s\t so\t special?\t How\t long will\tyou\tbow\tand\tscrape\tfor\tthat\tmonster?\u201d \u201cI\tcan\u2019t\tgo\twith\tyou,\tand\tyou\tknow\tit.\tSo\ttake\tyour\ttroops\tand\tleave,\tAnsel.\u201d She\twatched\tthe\texpressions\tflitter\tacross\tAnsel\u2019s\tface.\tHurt.\tDenial.\tRage. \u201cSo\tbe\tit,\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid. She\t struck,\t and\t Celaena\t only\t had\t time\t to\t tilt\t her\t head\t to\t dodge\t the\t hidden dagger\t that\t shot\t out\t of\t Ansel\u2019s\t wrist.\t The\t blade\t grazed\t her\t cheek,\t and\t blood warmed\ther\tface.\tHer\tface. Ansel\t swiped\t with\t her\t sword,\t so\t close\t that\t Celaena\t had\t to\t flip\t herself backward.\t She\t landed\t on\t her\t feet,\t but\t Ansel\t was\t fast\t and\t near\t enough\t that Celaena\tcould\tonly\tbring\tup\ther\tblade.\tTheir\tswords\tmet. Celaena\tspun,\tshoving\tAnsel\u2019s\tsword\tfrom\thers.\tAnsel\tstumbled,\tand\tCelaena used\t the\t moment\t to\t gain\t the\t advantage,\t striking\t again\t and\t again.\t Ansel\u2019s superior\tblade\twas\thardly\timpacted. They\tpassed\tthe\tprostrate\tMaster\tand\tthe\tdais.\tCelaena\tdropped\tto\tthe\tground, swiping\t at\t Ansel\t with\t a\t leg.\t Ansel\t leapt\t back,\t dodging\t the\t blow.\t Celaena\t used the\t precious\t seconds\t to\t snatch\t her\t fallen\t dagger\t from\t where\t it\t lay\t on\t the\t dais steps. When\tAnsel\tstruck\tagain,\tshe\tmet\tthe\tcrossed\tblades\tof\tCelaena\u2019s\tsword\tand dagger. Ansel\t let\t out\t a\t low\t laugh.\t \u201cHow\t do\t you\t imagine\t this\t ending?\u201d\t She\t pressed Celaena\u2019s\tblades.\t\u201cOr\tis\tit\ta\tfight\tto\tthe\tdeath?\u201d Celaena\t braced\t her\t feet\t against\t the\t floor.\t She\u2019d\t never\t known\t Ansel\t was\t so strong\u2014or\t so\t much\t taller\t than\t her.\t And\t Ansel\u2019s\t armor\u2014how\t would\t she\t get through\t that?\t There\t was\t a\t joint\t between\t the\t armpit\t and\t the\t ribs\u2014and\t then around\ther\tneck\t\u2026 \u201cYou\t tell\t me,\u201d\t Celaena\t said.\t The\t blood\t from\t her\t cheek\t slid\t down\t her\t throat. \u201cYou\tseem\tto\thave\teverything\tplanned.\u201d \u201cI\t tried\t to\t protect\t you.\u201d\t Ansel\t shoved\t hard\t against\t Celaena\u2019s\t blades,\t but\t not strongly\tenough\tto\tdislodge\tthem.\t\u201cAnd\tyou\tcame\tback\tanyway.\u201d \u201cYou\t call\t that\t protection?\t Drugging\t me\t and\t leaving\t me\t in\t the\t desert?\u201d","Celaena\tbared\ther\tteeth. But\tbefore\tshe\tcould\tlaunch\tanother\tassault,\tAnsel\tstruck\twith\ther\tfree\thand, right\tacross\tthe\tX\tmade\tby\ttheir\tweapons,\ther\tfist\tslamming\tbetween\tCelaena\u2019s eyes. Celaena\u2019s\thead\tsnapped\tback,\tthe\tworld\tflashing,\tand\tshe\tlanded\thard\ton\ther knees.\tHer\tsword\tand\tdagger\tclattered\tto\tthe\tfloor. Ansel\t was\t on\t her\t in\t a\t second,\t her\t bloodied\t arm\t across\t Celaena\u2019s\t chest,\t the other\thand\tpressing\tthe\tedge\tof\ther\tsword\tagainst\tCelaena\u2019s\tunmarred\tcheek. \u201cGive\tme\tone\treason\tnot\tto\tkill\tyou\tright\there,\u201d\tAnsel\twhispered\tinto\ther\tear, kicking\taway\tCelaena\u2019s\tsword.\tHer\tfallen\tdagger\tstill\tlay\tnear\tthem,\tjust\tout\tof reach. Celaena\tstruggled,\ttrying\tto\tput\tsome\tdistance\tbetween\tAnsel\u2019s\tsword\tand\ther face. \u201cOh,\thow\tvain\tcan\tyou\tbe?\u201d\tAnsel\tsaid,\tand\tCelaena\twinced\tas\tthe\tsword\tdug into\t her\t skin.\t \u201cAfraid\t I\u2019ll\t scar\t your\t face?\u201d\t Ansel\t angled\t the\t sword\t downward, the\tblade\tnow\tbiting\tinto\tCelaena\u2019s\tthroat.\t\u201cWhat\tabout\tyour\tneck?\u201d \u201cStop\tit.\u201d \u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tit\tto\tend\tthis\tway\tbetween\tus.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tyou\tto\tbe\ta\tpart\tof this.\u201d Celaena\t believed\t her.\t If\t Ansel\t wanted\t to\t kill\t her,\t she\t would\t have\t done\t it already.\tIf\tshe\twanted\tto\tkill\tthe\tMaster,\tshe\twould\thave\tdone\tthat\talready,\ttoo. And\tall\tof\tthis\twaffling\tbetween\tsadistic\thate\tand\tpassion\tand\tregret\t\u2026\t\u201cYou\u2019re insane,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid. Ansel\tsnorted. \u201cWho\t killed\t Mikhail?\u201d\t Celaena\t demanded.\t Anything\t to\t keep\t her\t talking,\t to keep\ther\tfocused\ton\therself.\tBecause\tjust\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway\tlay\ther\tdagger\t\u2026 \u201cI\t did,\u201d\t Ansel\t said.\t A\t little\t of\t the\t fierceness\t faded\t from\t her\t voice.\t Her\t back pressed\t against\t Ansel\u2019s\t chest,\t Celaena\t couldn\u2019t\t be\t sure\t without\t seeing\t Ansel\u2019s face,\t but\t she\t could\t have\t sworn\t the\t words\t were\t tinged\t with\t remorse.\t \u201cWhen Berick\u2019s\t men\t attacked,\t I\t made\t sure\t that\t I\t was\t the\t one\t who\t notified\t the\t Master; the\t fool\t didn\u2019t\t sniff\t once\t at\t the\t water\t jug\t he\t drank\t from\t before\t he\t went\t to\t the gates.\tBut\tthen\tMikhail\tfigured\tout\twhat\tI\twas\tdoing\tand\tburst\tin\there\u2014too\tlate to\tstop\tthe\tMaster\tfrom\tdrinking,\tthough.\tAnd\tthen\tIlias\tjust\t\u2026\tgot\tin\tthe\tway.\u201d Celaena\t looked\t at\t Ilias,\t who\t still\t lay\t on\t the\t ground\u2014still\t breathing.\t The Master\t watched\t his\t son,\t his\t eyes\t wide\t and\t pleading.\t If\t someone\t didn\u2019t\t staunch Ilias\u2019s\tbleeding,\the\u2019d\tdie\tsoon.\tThe\tMaster\u2019s\tfingers\ttwitched\tslightly,\tmaking\ta curving\tmotion. \u201cHow\t many\t others\t did\t you\t kill?\u201d\t Celaena\t asked,\t trying\t to\t keep\t Ansel","distracted\t as\t the\t Master\t made\t the\t motion\t again.\t A\t kind\t of\t slow,\t strange wriggling\t\u2026 \u201cOnly\tthem.\tAnd\tthe\tthree\ton\tthe\tnight\twatch.\tI\tlet\tthe\tsoldiers\tdo\tthe\trest.\u201d The\tMaster\u2019s\tfinger\ttwisted\tand\tslithered\t\u2026\tlike\ta\tsnake. One\tstrike\u2014that\twas\tall\tit\twould\ttake.\tJust\tlike\tthe\tasp. Ansel\twas\tfast.\tCelaena\thad\tto\tbe\tfaster. \u201cYou\t know\t what,\t Ansel?\u201d\t Celaena\t breathed,\t memorizing\t the\t motions\t she\u2019d have\t to\t make\t in\t the\t next\t few\t seconds,\t imagining\t her\t muscles\t moving,\t praying not\tto\tfalter,\tto\tstay\tfocused. Ansel\tpressed\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tblade\tinto\tCelaena\u2019s\tthroat.\t\u201cWhat,\tCelaena?\u201d \u201cYou\twant\tto\tknow\twhat\tthe\tMaster\ttaught\tme\tduring\tall\tthose\tlessons?\u201d She\t felt\t Ansel\t tense,\t felt\t the\t question\t distract\t her.\t It\t was\t all\t the\t opportunity she\tneeded. \u201cThis.\u201d\tCelaena\ttwisted,\tslamming\ther\tshoulder\tinto\tAnsel\u2019s\ttorso.\tHer\tbones connected\tagainst\tthe\tarmor\twith\ta\tjarring\tthud,\tand\tthe\tsword\tcut\tinto\tCelaena\u2019s neck,\t but\t Ansel\t lost\t her\t balance\t and\t teetered\t back.\t Celaena\t hit\t Ansel\u2019s\t fingers so\thard\tthey\tdropped\tthe\tsword\tright\tinto\tCelaena\u2019s\twaiting\thand. In\ta\tflash,\tlike\ta\tsnake\tturning\tin\ton\titself,\tCelaena\tpinned\tAnsel\tfacedown\ton the\tground,\ther\tfather\u2019s\tsword\tnow\tpressed\tagainst\tthe\tback\tof\ther\tneck. Celaena\thadn\u2019t\trealized\thow\tsilent\tthe\troom\twas\tuntil\tshe\twas\tkneeling\tthere, one\t knee\t holding\t Ansel\t to\t the\t ground,\t the\t other\t braced\t on\t the\t floor.\t Blood seeped\tfrom\twhere\tthe\tsword\ttip\trested\tagainst\tAnsel\u2019s\ttan\tneck,\tredder\tthan\ther hair.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t do\t it,\u201d\t Ansel\t whispered,\t in\t that\t voice\t that\t she\u2019d\t so\t often\t heard\u2014 that\tgirlish,\tcarefree\tvoice.\tBut\thad\tit\talways\tbeen\ta\tperformance? Celaena\tpushed\tharder\tand\tAnsel\tsucked\tin\ta\tbreath,\tclosing\ther\teyes. Celaena\t tightened\t her\t grip\t on\t the\t sword,\t willing\t steel\t into\t her\t veins.\t Ansel should\t die;\t for\t what\t she\u2019d\t done,\t she\t deserved\t to\t die.\t And\t not\t just\t for\t all\t those assassins\t lying\t dead\t around\t them,\t but\t also\t for\t the\t soldiers\t who\u2019d\t spent\t their lives\tfor\ther\tagenda.\tAnd\tfor\tCelaena\therself,\twho,\teven\tas\tshe\tknelt\tthere,\tfelt her\theart\tbreaking.\tEven\tif\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tput\tthe\tsword\tthrough\tAnsel\u2019s\tneck,\tshe\u2019d still\tlose\ther.\tShe\u2019d\talready\tlost\ther. But\tmaybe\tthe\tworld\thad\tlost\tAnsel\tlong\tbefore\ttoday. Celaena\t couldn\u2019t\t stop\t her\t lips\t from\t trembling\t as\t she\t asked,\t \u201cWas\t it\t ever real?\u201d Ansel\topened\tan\teye,\tstaring\tat\tthe\tfar\twall.\t\u201cThere\twere\tsome\tmoments\twhen it\twas.\tThe\tmoment\tI\tsent\tyou\taway,\tit\twas\treal.\u201d Celaena\treined\tin\ther\tsob\tand\ttook\ta\tlong,\tsteadying\tbreath.\tSlowly,\tshe\tlifted the\tsword\tfrom\tAnsel\u2019s\tneck\u2014only\ta\tfraction\tof\tan\tinch.","Ansel\tmade\tto\tmove,\tbut\tCelaena\tpressed\tthe\tsteel\tagainst\ther\tskin\tagain,\tand she\twent\tstill.\tFrom\toutside\tcame\tcries\tof\tvictory\u2014and\tconcern\u2014in\tvoices\tthat sounded\t hoarse\t from\t disuse.\t The\t assassins\t had\t won.\t How\t long\t before\t they\t got here?\tIf\tthey\tsaw\tAnsel,\tsaw\twhat\tshe\thad\tdone\t\u2026\tthey\u2019d\tkill\ther. \u201cYou\t have\t five\t minutes\t to\t pack\t your\t things\t and\t leave\t the\t fortress,\u201d\t Celaena said\t quietly.\t \u201cBecause\t in\t twenty\t minutes,\t I\u2019m\t going\t up\t to\t the\t battlements\t and I\u2019m\tgoing\tto\tfire\tan\tarrow\tat\tyou.\tAnd\tyou\u2019d\tbetter\thope\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tout\tof\trange by\tthen,\tbecause\tif\tyou\u2019re\tnot,\tthat\tarrow\tis\tgoing\tstraight\tthrough\tyour\tneck.\u201d Celaena\tlifted\tthe\tsword.\tAnsel\tslowly\tgot\tto\ther\tfeet,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tflee.\tIt\ttook Celaena\ta\theartbeat\tto\trealize\tshe\twas\twaiting\tfor\ther\tfather\u2019s\tsword. Celaena\t looked\t at\t the\t wolf-shaped\t hilt\t and\t the\t blood\t staining\t the\t steel.\t The one\t tie\t Ansel\t had\t left\t to\t her\t father,\t her\t family,\t and\t whatever\t twisted\t shred\t of hope\tburned\tin\ther\theart. Celaena\tturned\tthe\tblade\tand\thanded\tit\thilt-first\tto\tAnsel.\tThe\tgirl\u2019s\teyes\twere damp\tas\tshe\ttook\tthe\tsword.\tShe\topened\ther\tmouth,\tbut\tCelaena\tcut\ther\toff.\t\u201cGo home,\tAnsel.\u201d Ansel\u2019s\t face\t went\t white\t again.\t She\t sheathed\t the\t sword\t at\t her\t side.\t She glanced\t at\t Celaena\t only\t once\t before\t she\t took\t off\t at\t a\t sprint,\t leaping\t over Mikhail\u2019s\tcorpse\tas\tif\the\twere\tnothing\tmore\tthan\ta\tbit\tof\tdebris. Then\tshe\twas\tgone.","CHAPTER 12 Celaena\t rushed\t to\t Ilias,\t who\t moaned\t as\t she\t turned\t him\t over.\t The\t wound\t in his\t stomach\t was\t still\t bleeding.\t She\t ripped\t strips\t from\t her\t tunic,\t which\t was already\tsoaked\twith\tblood,\tand\tshouted\tfor\thelp\tas\tshe\tbound\thim\ttightly. There\twas\ta\tscrape\tof\tcloth\ton\tstone,\tand\tCelaena\tlooked\tover\ther\tshoulder\tto see\tthe\tMaster\ttrying\tto\tdrag\thimself\tacross\tthe\tstones\tto\this\tson.\tThe\tparalytic must\tbe\twearing\toff. Five\t bloodied\t assassins\t came\t rushing\t up\t the\t stairs,\t eyes\t wide\t and\t faces\t pale as\tthey\tbeheld\tMikhail\tand\tIlias.\tCelaena\tleft\tIlias\tin\ttheir\tcare\tas\tshe\tdashed\tto the\tMaster. \u201cDon\u2019t\tmove,\u201d\tshe\ttold\thim,\twincing\tas\tblood\tfrom\ther\tface\tdripped\tonto\this white\t clothes.\t \u201cYou\t might\t hurt\t yourself.\u201d\t She\t scanned\t the\t podium\t for\t any\t sign of\tthe\tpoison,\tand\trushed\tto\tthe\tfallen\tbronze\tgoblet.\tA\tfew\tsniffs\trevealed\tthat the\twine\thad\tbeen\tlaced\twith\ta\tsmall\tamount\tof\tgloriella,\tjust\tenough\tto\tparalyze him,\t not\t kill\t him.\t Ansel\t must\t have\t wanted\t him\t completely\t prone\t before\t she killed\t him\u2014she\t must\t have\t wanted\t him\t to\t know\t she\t was\t the\t one\t who\t had betrayed\t him.\t To\t have\t him\t conscious\t while\t she\t severed\t his\t head.\t How\t had\t he not\t noticed\t it\t before\t he\t drank?\t Perhaps\t he\t wasn\u2019t\t as\t humble\t as\t he\t seemed; perhaps\t he\u2019d\t been\t arrogant\t enough\t to\t believe\t that\t he\t was\t safe\t here.\t \u201cIt\u2019ll\t wear off\tsoon,\u201d\tshe\ttold\tthe\tMaster,\tbut\tshe\tstill\tcalled\tfor\tan\tantidote\tto\tspeed\tup\tthe process.\tOne\tof\tthe\tassassins\ttook\toff\tat\ta\trun. She\tsat\tby\tthe\tMaster,\tone\thand\tclutching\ther\tbleeding\tneck.\tThe\tassassins\tat the\t other\t end\t of\t the\t room\t carried\t Ilias\t out,\t stopping\t to\t reassure\t the\t Master\t that his\tson\twould\tbe\tfine. Celaena\tnearly\tgroaned\twith\trelief\tat\tthat,\tbut\tstraightened\tas\ta\tdry,\tcalloused hand\t wrapped\t around\t hers,\t squeezing\t faintly.\t She\t looked\t down\t into\t the\t face\t of the\t Master,\t whose\t eyes\t shifted\t to\t the\t open\t door.\t He\t was\t reminding\t her\t of\t the promise\tshe\u2019d\tmade.\tAnsel\thad\tbeen\tgiven\ttwenty\tminutes\tto\tclear\tfiring\trange. It\twas\ttime.","Ansel\t was\t already\t a\t dark\t blur\t in\t the\t distance,\t Hisli\t galloping\t as\t if\t demons were\tbiting\tat\ther\thooves.\tShe\twas\theading\tnorthwest\tover\tthe\tdunes,\ttoward\tthe Singing\t Sands,\t to\t the\t narrow\t bridge\t of\t feral\t jungle\t that\t separated\t the\t Deserted Land\t from\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t continent,\t and\t then\t the\t open\t expanse\t of\t the\t Western Wastes\tbeyond\tthem.\tToward\tBriarcliff. Atop\t the\t battlements,\t Celaena\t drew\t an\t arrow\t from\t her\t quiver\t and\t nocked\t it into\ther\tbow. The\t bowstring\t moaned\t as\t she\t pulled\t it\t back,\t farther\t and\t farther,\t her\t arm straining. Focusing\tupon\tthe\ttiny\tfigure\tatop\tthe\tdark\thorse,\tCelaena\ttook\taim. In\tthe\tsilence\tof\tthe\tfortress,\tthe\tbowstring\ttwanged\tlike\ta\tmournful\tharp. The\tarrow\tsoared,\tturning\trelentlessly.\tThe\tred\tdunes\tpassed\tbeneath\tin\ta\tblur, closing\t the\t distance.\t A\t sliver\t of\t winged\t darkness\t edged\t with\t steel.\t A\t quick, bloody\tdeath. Hisli\u2019s\ttail\tflicked\tto\tthe\tside\tas\tthe\tarrow\tburied\titself\tin\tthe\tsand\tjust\tinches behind\ther\trear\thooves. But\tAnsel\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\tlook\tover\ther\tshoulder.\tShe\tkept\triding,\tand\tshe\tdid\tnot stop. Celaena\t lowered\t her\t bow\t and\t watched\t until\t Ansel\t disappeared\t beyond\t the horizon.\tOne\tarrow,\tthat\thad\tbeen\ther\tpromise. But\t she\u2019d\t also\t promised\t Ansel\t that\t she\t had\t twenty\t minutes\t to\t get\t out\t of range. Celaena\thad\tfired\tafter\ttwenty-one. The\tMaster\tcalled\tCelaena\tto\this\tchamber\tthe\tfollowing\tmorning.\tIt\thad\tbeen a\t long\t night,\t but\t Ilias\t was\t on\t the\t mend,\t the\t wound\t having\t narrowly\t missed puncturing\tany\torgans.\tAll\tof\tLord\tBerick\u2019s\tsoldiers\twere\tdead,\tand\twere\tin\tthe process\tof\tbeing\tcarted\tback\tto\tXandria\tas\ta\treminder\tto\tBerick\tto\tseek\tthe\tKing of\t Adarlan\u2019s\t approval\t elsewhere.\t Twenty\t assassins\t had\t died,\t and\t a\t heavy, mourning\tsilence\tfilled\tthe\tfortress.","Celaena\t sat\t on\t an\t ornately\t carved\t wooden\t chair,\t watching\t the\t Master\t as\t he stared\tout\tthe\twindow\tat\tthe\tsky.\tShe\tnearly\tfell\tout\tof\ther\tseat\twhen\the\tbegan speaking. \u201cI\t am\t glad\t you\t did\t not\t kill\t Ansel.\u201d\t His\t voice\t was\t raw,\t and\t his\t accent\t thick with\t the\t clipped\t yet\t rolling\t sounds\t of\t some\t language\t she\u2019d\t never\t heard\t before. \u201cI\thave\tbeen\twondering\twhen\tshe\twould\tdecide\twhat\tto\tdo\twith\ther\tfate.\u201d \u201cSo\tyou\tknew\u2014\u201d The\tMaster\tturned\tfrom\tthe\twindow.\t\u201cI\thave\tknown\tfor\tyears.\tSeveral\tmonths after\tAnsel\u2019s\tarrival,\tI\tsent\tinquiries\tto\tthe\tFlatlands.\tHer\tfamily\thad\tnot\twritten her\tany\tletters,\tand\tI\twas\tworried\tthat\tsomething\tmight\thave\thappened.\u201d\tHe\ttook a\t seat\t in\t a\t chair\t across\t from\t Celaena.\t \u201cMy\t messenger\t returned\t to\t me\t some months\tlater,\tsaying\tthat\tthere\twas\tno\tBriarcliff.\tThe\tlord\tand\this\teldest\tdaughter had\t been\t murdered\t by\t the\t High\t King,\t and\t the\t youngest\t daughter\u2014Ansel\u2014was missing.\u201d \u201cWhy\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tever\t\u2026\tconfront\ther?\u201d\tCelaena\ttouched\tthe\tnarrow\tscab\ton her\tleft\tcheek.\tIt\twouldn\u2019t\tscar\tif\tshe\tlooked\tafter\tit\tproperly.\tAnd\tif\tit\tdid\tscar \u2026\tthen\tmaybe\tshe\u2019d\thunt\tdown\tAnsel\tand\treturn\tthe\tfavor. \u201cBecause\t I\t hoped\t she\t would\t eventually\t trust\t me\t enough\t to\t tell\t me.\t I\t had\t to give\ther\tthat\tchance,\teven\tthough\tit\twas\ta\trisk.\tI\thoped\tshe\twould\tlearn\tto\tface her\tpain\u2014that\tshe\u2019d\tlearn\tto\tendure\tit.\u201d\tHe\tsmiled\tsadly\tat\tCelaena.\t\u201cIf\tyou\tcan learn\tto\tendure\tpain,\tyou\tcan\tsurvive\tanything.\tSome\tpeople\tlearn\tto\tembrace\tit \u2014to\t love\t it.\t Some\t endure\t it\t through\t drowning\t it\t in\t sorrow,\t or\t by\t making themselves\tforget.\tOthers\tturn\tit\tinto\tanger.\tBut\tAnsel\tlet\ther\tpain\tbecome\thate, and\t let\t it\t consume\t her\t until\t she\t became\t something\t else\t entirely\u2014a\t person\t I don\u2019t\tthink\tshe\tever\twished\tto\tbe.\u201d Celaena\t absorbed\t his\t words,\t but\t set\t them\t aside\t for\t consideration\t at\t a\t later time.\t\u201cAre\tyou\tgoing\tto\ttell\teveryone\tabout\twhat\tshe\tdid?\u201d \u201cNo.\t I\t would\t spare\t them\t that\t anger.\t Many\t believed\t Ansel\t was\t their\t friend\u2014 and\tpart\tof\tme,\ttoo,\tbelieves\tthat\tat\ttimes\tshe\twas.\u201d Celaena\tlooked\tat\tthe\tfloor,\twondering\twhat\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tache\tin\ther\tchest. Would\tturning\tit\tinto\trage,\tas\the\tsaid,\thelp\ther\tendure\tit? \u201cFor\t what\t it\t is\t worth,\t Celaena,\u201d\t he\t rasped,\t \u201cI\t believe\t you\t were\t the\t closest thing\tto\ta\tfriend\tAnsel\thas\tever\tallowed\therself\tto\thave.\tAnd\tI\tthink\tshe\tsent\tyou away\tbecause\tshe\ttruly\tcared\tfor\tyou.\u201d She\thated\ther\tmouth\tfor\twobbling.\t\u201cThat\tdoesn\u2019t\tmake\tit\thurt\tany\tless.\u201d \u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tit\twould.\tBut\tI\tthink\tyou\twill\tleave\ta\tlasting\timprint\ton\tAnsel\u2019s heart.\t You\t spared\t her\t life,\t and\t returned\t her\t father\u2019s\t sword.\t She\t will\t not\t soon forget\t that.\t And\t maybe\t when\t she\t makes\t her\t next\t move\t to\t reclaim\t her\t title,\t she","will\tremember\tthe\tassassin\tfrom\tthe\tNorth\tand\tthe\tkindness\tyou\tshowed\ther,\tand try\tto\tleave\tfewer\tbodies\tin\ther\twake.\u201d He\t walked\t to\t a\t latticework\t hutch,\t as\t if\t he\t were\t giving\t her\t the\t time\t to\t regain her\tcomposure,\tand\tpulled\tout\ta\tletter.\tBy\tthe\ttime\the\treturned\tto\ther,\tCelaena\u2019s eyes\twere\tclear.\t\u201cWhen\tyou\tgive\tthis\tto\tyour\tmaster,\thold\tyour\thead\thigh.\u201d She\t took\t the\t letter.\t Her\t recommendation.\t It\t seemed\t inconsequential\t in\t the face\tof\teverything\tthat\thad\tjust\thappened.\t\u201cHow\tis\tit\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tspeaking\tto\tme now?\tI\tthought\tyour\tvow\tof\tsilence\twas\teternal.\u201d He\t shrugged.\t \u201cThe\t world\t seems\t to\t think\t so,\t but\t as\t far\t as\t my\t memory\t serves me,\t I\u2019ve\t never\t officially\t sworn\t to\t be\t silent.\t I\t choose\t to\t be\t silent\t most\t of\t the time,\t and\t I\u2019ve\t become\t so\t used\t to\t it\t that\t I\t often\t forget\t I\t have\t the\t capacity\t for speech,\tbut\tthere\tare\tsome\ttimes\twhen\twords\tare\tnecessary\u2014when\texplanations are\tneeded\tthat\tmere\tgestures\tcannot\tconvey.\u201d She\t nodded,\t trying\t her\t best\t to\t hide\t her\t surprise.\t After\t a\t pause,\t the\t Master said,\t\u201cIf\tyou\tever\twant\tto\tleave\tthe\tNorth,\tyou\twill\talways\thave\ta\thome\there.\tI promise\t you\t the\t winter\t months\t are\t far\t better\t than\t the\t summer.\t And\t I\t think\t my son\t would\t be\t rather\t happy\t if\t you\t decided\t to\t return,\t too.\u201d\t He\t chuckled,\t and Celaena\t blushed.\t He\t took\t her\t hand.\t \u201cWhen\t you\t leave\t tomorrow,\t you\u2019ll\t be accompanied\tby\ta\tfew\tof\tmy\tpeople.\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d \u201cBecause\tthey\twill\tbe\tneeded\tto\tdrive\tthe\twagon\tto\tXandria.\tI\tknow\tthat\tyou are\t indentured\t to\t your\t master\u2014that\t you\t still\t owe\t him\t a\t good\t deal\t of\t money before\t you\t are\t free\t to\t live\t your\t own\t life.\t He\u2019s\t making\t you\t pay\t back\t a\t fortune that\the\tforced\tyou\tto\tborrow.\u201d\tHe\tsqueezed\ther\thand\tbefore\tapproaching\tone\tof three\ttrunks\tpushed\tagainst\tthe\twall.\t\u201cFor\tsaving\tmy\tlife\u2014and\tsparing\thers.\u201d\tHe flipped\topen\tthe\tlid\tof\ta\ttrunk,\tthen\tanother,\tand\tanother. Sunlight\tgleamed\ton\tthe\tgold\tinside,\treflecting\tthrough\tthe\troom\tlike\tlight\ton water.\tAll\tthat\tgold\t\u2026\tand\tthe\tpiece\tof\tSpidersilk\tthe\tmerchant\thad\tgiven\ther\t\u2026 she\t couldn\u2019t\t think\t of\t the\t possibilities\t that\t wealth\t would\t open\t to\t her,\t not\t right now. \u201cWhen\tyou\tgive\tyour\tmaster\this\tletter,\talso\tgive\thim\tthis.\tAnd\ttell\thim\tthat\tin the\tRed\tDesert,\twe\tdo\tnot\tabuse\tour\tdisciples.\u201d Celaena\tsmiled\tslowly.\t\u201cI\tthink\tI\tcan\tmanage\tthat.\u201d She\t looked\t to\t the\t open\t window,\t to\t the\t world\t beyond.\t For\t the\t first\t time\t in\t a long\t while,\t she\t heard\t the\t song\t of\t a\t northern\t wind,\t calling\t her\t home.\t And\t she was\tnot\tafraid.","THE ASSASSIN AND\tTHE UNDERWORLD","CHAPTER 1 The\t cavernous\t entrance\t hall\t of\t the\t Assassins\u2019\t Keep\t was\t silent\t as\t Celaena Sardothien\tstalked\tacross\tthe\tmarble\tfloor,\ta\tletter\tclutched\tbetween\ther\tfingers. No\t one\t had\t greeted\t her\t at\t the\t towering\t oak\t doors\t save\t the\t housekeeper,\t who\u2019d taken\t her\t rain-sodden\t cloak\u2014and,\t after\t getting\t a\t look\t at\t the\t wicked\t grin\t on Celaena\u2019s\tface,\topted\tnot\tto\tsay\tanything. The\tdoors\tto\tArobynn\tHamel\u2019s\tstudy\tlay\tat\tthe\tother\tend\tof\tthe\thall,\tand\twere currently\t shut.\t But\t she\t knew\t he\t was\t in\t there.\t Wesley,\t his\t bodyguard,\t stood watch\t outside,\t dark\t eyes\t unreadable\t as\t Celaena\t strode\t toward\t him.\t Though Wesley\t wasn\u2019t\t officially\t an\t assassin,\t she\t had\t no\t doubt\t that\t he\t could\t wield\t the blades\tand\tdaggers\tstrapped\tto\this\tmassive\tbody\twith\tdeadly\tskill. She\t also\t had\t no\t doubt\t that\t Arobynn\t had\t eyes\t at\t every\t gate\t in\t this\t city.\t The moment\tshe\u2019d\tstepped\tinto\tRifthold,\the\u2019d\tbeen\talerted\tthat\tshe\u2019d\tat\tlast\treturned. She\ttrailed\tmud\tfrom\ther\twet,\tfilthy\tboots\tas\tshe\tmade\ther\tway\ttoward\tthe\tstudy doors\u2014and\tWesley. It\thad\tbeen\tthree\tmonths\tsince\tthe\tnight\tArobynn\thad\tbeaten\ther\tunconscious \u2014punishment\t for\t ruining\t his\t slave-trade\t agreement\t with\t the\t Pirate\t Lord, Captain\t Rolfe.\t It\t had\t been\t three\t months\t since\t he\u2019d\t shipped\t her\t off\t to\t the\t Red Desert\t to\t learn\t obedience\t and\t discipline\t and\t to\t earn\t the\t approval\t of\t the\t Mute Master\tof\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins. The\t letter\t clutched\t in\t her\t hand\t was\t proof\t that\t she\t had\t done\t it.\t Proof\t that Arobynn\thadn\u2019t\tbroken\ther\tthat\tnight. And\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\twait\tto\tsee\tthe\tlook\ton\this\tface\twhen\tshe\tgave\tit\tto\thim. Not\tto\tmention\twhen\tshe\ttold\thim\tabout\tthe\tthree\ttrunks\tof\tgold\tshe\u2019d\tbrought with\t her,\t which\t were\t on\t their\t way\t up\t to\t her\t room\t at\t this\t moment.\t With\t a\t few words,\tshe\u2019d\texplain\tthat\ther\tdebt\tto\thim\twas\tnow\trepaid,\tthat\tshe\twas\tgoing\tto walk\t out\t of\t the\t Keep\t and\t move\t into\t the\t new\t apartment\t she\u2019d\t purchased.\t That she\twas\tfree\tof\thim. Celaena\treached\tthe\tother\tend\tof\tthe\thall,\tand\tWesley\tstepped\tin\tfront\tof\tthe study\tdoors.\tHe\tlooked\tabout\tfive\tyears\tyounger\tthan\tArobynn,\tand\tthe\tslender","scars\ton\this\tface\tand\thands\tsuggested\tthat\tthe\tlife\the\u2019d\tspent\tserving\tthe\tKing\tof the\tAssassins\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\teasy.\tShe\tsuspected\tthere\twere\tmore\tscars\tbeneath\this dark\tclothing\u2014perhaps\tbrutal\tones. \u201cHe\u2019s\t busy,\u201d\t said\t Wesley,\t his\t hands\t hanging\t loosely\t at\t his\t sides,\t ready\t to reach\tfor\this\tweapons.\tShe\tmight\tbe\tArobynn\u2019s\tprot\u00e9g\u00e9e,\tbut\tWesley\thad\talways made\t it\t clear\t that\t if\t she\t became\t a\t threat\t to\t his\t master,\t he\t wouldn\u2019t\t hesitate\t to end\t her.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t need\t to\t see\t him\t in\t action\t to\t know\t he\u2019d\t be\t an\t interesting opponent.\t She\t supposed\t that\t was\t why\t he\t did\t his\t training\t in\t private\u2014and\t kept his\t personal\t history\t a\t secret,\t too.\t The\t less\t she\t knew\t about\t him,\t the\t more advantage\tWesley\twould\thave\tif\tthat\tfight\tever\tcame.\tClever,\tand\tflattering,\tshe supposed. \u201cNice\tto\tsee\tyou,\ttoo,\tWesley,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tflashing\thim\ta\tsmile.\tHe\ttensed,\tbut didn\u2019t\t stop\t her\t as\t she\t strode\t past\t him\t and\t flung\t open\t the\t doors\t of\t Arobynn\u2019s study. The\tKing\tof\tthe\tAssassins\twas\tseated\tat\this\tornate\tdesk,\tporing\tover\tthe\tstack of\tpapers\tbefore\thim.\tWithout\tso\tmuch\tas\ta\thello,\tCelaena\tstrode\tright\tup\tto\tthe desk\tand\ttossed\tthe\tletter\tonto\tthe\tshining\twooden\tsurface. She\t opened\t her\t mouth,\t the\t words\t near-bursting\t out\t of\t her.\t But\t Arobynn merely\t lifted\t a\t finger,\t smiling\t faintly,\t and\t returned\t to\t his\t papers.\t Wesley\t shut the\tdoors\tbehind\ther. Celaena\t froze.\t Arobynn\t flipped\t the\t page,\t rapidly\t scanning\t whatever document\twas\tin\tfront\tof\thim,\tand\tmade\ta\tvague\twave\twith\this\thand.\tSit. With\t his\t attention\t still\t on\t the\t document\t he\t was\t reading,\t Arobynn\t picked\t up the\t Mute\t Master\u2019s\t letter\t of\t approval\t and\t set\t it\t atop\t a\t nearby\t stack\t of\t papers. Celaena\t blinked.\t Once.\t Twice.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t look\t up\t at\t her.\t He\t just\t kept\t reading. The\t message\t was\t clear\t enough:\t she\t was\t to\t wait\t until\t he\t was\t ready.\t And\t until then,\t even\t if\t she\t screamed\t until\t her\t lungs\t burst,\t he\t wouldn\u2019t\t acknowledge\t her existence. So\tCelaena\tsat\tdown. Rain\tplinked\tagainst\tthe\twindows\tof\tthe\tstudy.\tSeconds\tpassed,\tthen\tminutes. Her\tplans\tfor\ta\tgrand\tspeech\twith\tsweeping\tgestures\tfaded\tinto\tsilence.\tArobynn read\tthree\tother\tdocuments\tbefore\the\teven\tpicked\tup\tthe\tMute\tMaster\u2019s\tletter. And\tas\the\tread\tit,\tshe\tcould\tonly\tthink\tof\tthe\tlast\ttime\tshe\u2019d\tsat\tin\tthis\tchair. She\t looked\t at\t the\t exquisite\t red\t carpet\t beneath\t her\t feet.\t Someone\t had\t done\t a splendid\t job\t of\t getting\t all\t the\t blood\t out.\t How\t much\t of\t the\t blood\t on\t the\t carpet had\tbeen\thers\u2014and\thow\tmuch\tof\tit\thad\tbelonged\tto\tSam\tCortland,\ther\trival\tand coconspirator\t in\t the\t destruction\t of\t Arobynn\u2019s\t slave\t agreement?\t She\t still\t didn\u2019t know\t what\t Arobynn\t had\t done\t to\t him\t that\t night.\t When\t she\u2019d\t arrived\t just\t now,","she\thadn\u2019t\tseen\tSam\tin\tthe\tentrance\thall.\tBut\tthen\tagain,\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tseen\tany\tof the\tother\tassassins\twho\tlived\there.\tSo\tmaybe\tSam\twas\tbusy.\tShe\thoped\the\twas busy,\tbecause\tthat\twould\tmean\the\twas\talive. Arobynn\t finally\t looked\t at\t her,\t setting\t aside\t the\t Mute\t Master\u2019s\t letter\t as\t if\t it were\tnothing\tmore\tthan\ta\tscrap\tof\tpaper.\tShe\tkept\ther\tback\tstraight\tand\ther\tchin upheld,\teven\tas\tArobynn\u2019s\tsilver\teyes\tscanned\tevery\tinch\tof\ther.\tThey\tlingered the\tlongest\ton\tthe\tnarrow\tpink\tscar\tacross\tthe\tside\tof\ther\tneck,\tinches\taway\tfrom her\tjaw\tand\tear.\t\u201cWell,\u201d\tArobynn\tsaid\tat\tlast,\t\u201cI\tthought\tyou\u2019d\tbe\ttanner.\u201d She\t almost\t laughed,\t but\t she\t kept\t a\t tight\t rein\t on\t her\t features.\t \u201cHead-to-toe clothes\tto\tavoid\tthe\tsun,\u201d\tshe\texplained.\tHer\twords\twere\tquieter\u2014weaker\u2014than she\t wanted.\t The\t first\t words\t she\u2019d\t spoken\t to\t him\t since\t he\u2019d\t beaten\t her\t into oblivion.\tThey\tweren\u2019t\texactly\tsatisfying. \u201cAh,\u201d\t he\t said,\t his\t long,\t elegant\t fingers\t twisting\t a\t golden\t ring\t around\t his forefinger. She\t sucked\t in\t a\t breath\t through\t her\t nose,\t remembering\t all\t that\t she\u2019d\t been burning\t to\t say\t to\t him\t these\t past\t few\t months\t and\t during\t the\t journey\t back\t to Rifthold.\tA\tfew\tsentences,\tand\tit\twould\tbe\tover.\tMore\tthan\teight\tyears\twith\thim, finished\twith\ta\tstring\tof\twords\tand\ta\tmountain\tof\tgold. She\tbraced\therself\tto\tbegin,\tbut\tArobynn\tspoke\tfirst. \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry,\u201d\the\tsaid. Yet\tagain,\tthe\twords\tvanished\tfrom\ther\tlips. His\teyes\twere\tintent\ton\thers,\tand\the\tstopped\ttoying\twith\this\tring.\t\u201cIf\tI\tcould take\tback\tthat\tnight,\tCelaena,\tI\twould.\u201d\tHe\tleaned\tover\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tdesk,\this hands\t now\t forming\t fists.\t The\t last\t time\t she\u2019d\t seen\t those\t hands,\t they\u2019d\t been smeared\twith\ther\tblood. \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry,\u201d\t Arobynn\t repeated.\t He\t was\t nearly\t twenty\t years\t her\t senior,\t and though\this\tred\thair\thad\ta\tfew\tstrands\tof\tsilver,\this\tface\tremained\tyoung.\tElegant, sharp\t features,\t blazingly\t clear\t gray\t eyes\t \u2026\t He\t might\t not\t have\t been\t the handsomest\tman\tshe\u2019d\tever\tseen,\tbut\the\twas\tone\tof\tthe\tmost\talluring. \u201cEvery\tday,\u201d\the\twent\ton.\t\u201cEvery\tday\tsince\tyou\tleft,\tI\u2019ve\tgone\tto\tthe\ttemple\tof Kiva\tto\tpray\tfor\tforgiveness.\u201d\tShe\tmight\thave\tsnorted\tat\tthe\tidea\tof\tthe\tKing\tof the\t Assassins\t kneeling\t before\t a\t statue\t of\t the\t God\t of\t Atonement,\t but\t his\t words were\tso\traw.\tWas\tit\tpossible\tthat\the\tactually\tregretted\twhat\the\thad\tdone? \u201cI\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tlet\tmy\ttemper\tget\tthe\tbetter\tof\tme.\tI\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tsent\tyou away.\u201d \u201cThen\t why\t didn\u2019t\t you\t retrieve\t me?\u201d\t It\t was\t out\t before\t she\t had\t a\t chance\t to control\tthe\tsnap\tin\ther\tvoice. Arobynn\u2019s\t eyes\t narrowed\t slightly,\t as\t close\t to\t a\t wince\t as\t he\u2019d\t let\t himself","come,\t she\t supposed.\t \u201cWith\t the\t time\t it\u2019d\t take\t for\t the\t messengers\t to\t track\t you down,\tyou\tprobably\twould\thave\tbeen\ton\tyour\tway\thome,\tanyway.\u201d She\tclenched\ther\tjaw.\tAn\teasy\texcuse. He\t read\t the\t ire\t in\t her\t eyes\u2014and\t her\t disbelief.\t \u201cAllow\t me\t to\t make\t it\t up\t to you.\u201d\tHe\t rose\t from\t his\t leather\t chair\t and\tstrode\t around\tthe\t desk.\tHis\t long\t legs and\t years\t of\t training\t made\t his\t movements\t effortlessly\t graceful,\t even\t as\t he swiped\ta\tbox\toff\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\ttable.\tHe\tsank\tto\tone\tknee\tbefore\ther,\this\tface near\tlevel\twith\thers.\tShe\u2019d\tforgotten\thow\ttall\the\twas. He\t extended\t the\t gift\t to\t her.\t The\t box\t in\t itself\t was\t a\t work\t of\t art,\t inlaid\t with mother-of-pearl,\tbut\tshe\tkept\ther\tface\tblank\tas\tshe\tflipped\topen\tthe\tlid. An\t emerald-and-gold\t brooch\t glittered\t in\t the\t gray\t afternoon\t light.\t It\t was stunning,\tthe\twork\tof\ta\tmaster\tcraftsman\u2014and\tshe\tinstantly\tknew\twhat\tdresses and\t tunics\t it\t would\t best\t complement.\t He\u2019d\t bought\t it\t because\t he\t also\t knew\t her wardrobe,\t her\t tastes,\t everything\t about\t her.\t Of\t all\t the\t people\t in\t the\t world,\t only Arobynn\tknew\tthe\tabsolute\ttruth. \u201cFor\tyou,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cThe\tfirst\tof\tmany.\u201d\tShe\twas\tkeenly\taware\tof\teach\tof\this movements,\t and\t braced\t herself\t as\t he\t lifted\t a\t hand,\t carefully\t bringing\t it\t to\t her face.\t He\t brushed\t a\t finger\t from\t her\t temple\t down\t to\t the\t arc\t of\t her\t cheekbones. \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry,\u201d\the\twhispered\tagain,\tand\tCelaena\traised\ther\teyes\tto\this. Father,\t brother,\t lover\u2014he\u2019d\t never\t really\t declared\t himself\t any\t of\t them. Certainly\tnot\tthe\tlover\tpart,\tthough\tif\tCelaena\thad\tbeen\tanother\tsort\tof\tgirl,\tand if\t Arobynn\t had\t raised\t her\t differently,\t perhaps\t it\t might\t have\t come\t to\t that.\t He loved\t her\t like\t family,\t yet\t he\t put\t her\t in\t the\t most\t dangerous\t positions.\t He nurtured\tand\teducated\ther,\tyet\the\u2019d\tobliterated\ther\tinnocence\tthe\tfirst\ttime\the\u2019d made\t her\t end\t a\t life.\t He\u2019d\t given\t her\t everything,\t but\t he\u2019d\t also\t taken\t everything away.\tShe\tcould\tno\tsooner\tsort\tout\ther\tfeelings\ttoward\tthe\tKing\tof\tthe\tAssassins than\tshe\tcould\tcount\tthe\tstars\tin\tthe\tsky. Celaena\tturned\ther\tface\taway,\tand\tArobynn\trose\tto\this\tfeet.\tHe\tleaned\tagainst the\tedge\tof\tthe\tdesk,\tsmiling\tfaintly\tat\ther.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tanother\tgift,\tif\tyou\u2019d\tlike\tit.\u201d All\tthose\tmonths\tof\tdaydreaming\tabout\tleaving,\tabout\tpaying\toff\ther\tdebts\t\u2026 Why\tcouldn\u2019t\tshe\topen\ther\tmouth\tand\tjust\ttell\thim? \u201cBenzo\t Doneval\t is\t coming\t to\t Rifthold,\u201d\t Arobynn\t said.\t Celaena\t cocked\t her head.\t She\u2019d\t heard\t of\t Doneval\u2014he\t was\t an\t immensely\t powerful\t businessman from\t Melisande,\t a\t country\t far\t to\t the\t southwest,\t and\t one\t of\t Adarlan\u2019s\t newer conquests. \u201cWhy?\u201d\tshe\tasked\tquietly\u2014carefully. Arobynn\u2019s\t eyes\t glittered.\t \u201cHe\u2019s\t a\t part\t of\t a\t large\t convoy\t that\t Leighfer Bardingale\t is\t leading\t to\t the\t Capital.\t Leighfer\t is\t good\t friends\t with\t the\t former","Queen\tof\tMelisande,\twho\tasked\ther\tto\tcome\there\tto\tplead\ttheir\tcase\tbefore\tthe King\t of\t Adarlan.\u201d\t Melisande,\t Celaena\t recalled,\t was\t one\t of\t the\t few\t kingdoms whose\t royal\t family\t had\t not\t been\t executed.\t Instead,\t they\u2019d\t handed\t over\t their crowns\t and\t sworn\t loyalty\t to\t the\t King\t of\t Adarlan\t and\t his\t conquering\t legions. She\tcouldn\u2019t\ttell\twhat\twas\tworse:\ta\tquick\tbeheading,\tor\tyielding\tto\tthe\tking. \u201cApparently,\u201d\t Arobynn\t went\t on,\t \u201cthe\t convoy\t will\t attempt\t to\t demonstrate\t all that\t Melisande\t has\t to\t offer\u2014culture,\t goods,\t wealth\u2014in\t order\t to\t convince\t the king\tto\tgrant\tthem\tthe\tpermission\tand\tresources\trequired\tto\tbuild\ta\troad.\tGiven that\tthe\tyoung\tQueen\tof\tMelisande\tis\tnow\ta\tmere\tfigurehead,\tI\u2019ll\tadmit\tthat\tI\u2019m impressed\tby\ther\tambition\u2014and\ther\tbrazenness\tin\tasking\tthe\tking.\u201d Celaena\tbit\ther\tlip,\tvisualizing\tthe\tmap\tof\ttheir\tcontinent.\t\u201cA\troad\tto\tconnect Melisande\t to\t Fenharrow\t and\t Adarlan?\u201d\t For\t years,\t trade\t with\t Melisande\t had been\t tricky\t due\t to\t its\t location.\t Bordered\t by\t near-impassable\t mountains\t and\t the Oakwald\tForest,\tmost\tof\ttheir\ttrade\thad\tbeen\treduced\tto\twhatever\tthey\tcould\tget out\tof\ttheir\tports.\tA\troad\tmight\tchange\tall\tof\tthat.\tA\troad\tcould\tmake\tMelisande rich\u2014and\tinfluential. Arobynn\tnodded.\t\u201cThe\tconvoy\twill\tbe\there\tfor\ta\tweek,\tand\tthey\thave\tparties and\t markets\t planned,\t including\t a\t gala\t three\t days\t from\t now\t to\t celebrate\t the Harvest\t Moon.\t Perhaps\t if\t the\t citizens\t of\t Rifthold\t fall\t in\t love\t with\t their\t goods, then\tthe\tking\twill\ttake\ttheir\tcase\tseriously.\u201d \u201cSo\twhat\tdoes\tDoneval\thave\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\troad?\u201d Arobynn\t shrugged.\t \u201cHe\u2019s\t here\t to\t discuss\t business\t arrangements\t in\t Rifthold. And\tprobably\talso\tto\tundermine\this\tformer\twife,\tLeighfer.\tAnd\tto\tcomplete\tone very\tspecific\tpiece\tof\tbusiness\tthat\tmade\tLeighfer\twant\tto\tdispatch\thim.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\tbrows\trose.\tA\tgift,\tArobynn\thad\tsaid. \u201cDoneval\t is\t traveling\t with\t some\t very\t sensitive\t documents,\u201d\t Arobynn\t said\t so quietly\tthat\tthe\train\tlashing\tthe\twindow\tnearly\tdrowned\tout\this\twords.\t\u201cNot\tonly would\t you\t need\t to\t dispatch\t him,\t but\t you\u2019d\t also\t be\t asked\t to\t retrieve\t the documents.\u201d \u201cWhat\tsort\tof\tdocuments?\u201d His\t silver\t eyes\t brightened.\t \u201cDoneval\t wants\t to\t set\t up\t a\t slave-trade\t business between\t himself\t and\t someone\t in\t Rifthold.\t If\t the\t road\t is\t approved\t and\t built,\t he wants\t to\t be\t the\t first\t in\t Melisande\t to\t profit\t off\t the\t import\t and\t export\t of\t slaves. The\tdocuments,\tapparently,\tcontain\tproof\tthat\tcertain\tinfluential\tMelisanders\tin Adarlan\t are\t opposed\t to\t the\t slave\t trade.\t Considering\t the\t lengths\t the\t King\t of Adarlan\t has\t already\t gone\t to\t punish\t those\t who\t speak\t against\t his\t policies\t \u2026 Well,\tknowing\twho\tstands\tagainst\thim\tregarding\tthe\tslaves\u2014especially\twhen\tit seems\t like\t they\u2019re\t taking\t steps\t to\t help\t free\t the\t slaves\t from\t his\t grasp\u2014is","information\tthat\tthe\tking\twould\tbe\textremely\tinterested\tin\tlearning.\tDoneval\tand his\t new\t business\t partner\t in\t Rifthold\t plan\t to\t use\t that\t list\t to\t blackmail\t those people\t into\t changing\t their\t minds\u2014into\t stopping\t their\t resistance\t and\t investing with\t him\t to\t build\t the\t slave\t trade\t in\t Melisande.\t Or,\t if\t they\t refuse,\t Leighfer believes\ther\tformer\thusband\twill\tmake\tsure\tthe\tking\tgets\tthat\tlist\tof\tnames.\u201d Celaena\t swallowed\t hard.\t Was\t this\t a\t peace\t offering,\t then?\t Some\t indication that\t Arobynn\t actually\t had\t changed\t his\t mind\t about\t the\t slave\t trade\t and\t forgiven her\tfor\tSkull\u2019s\tBay? But\tto\tget\ttangled\tup\tin\tthis\tsort\tof\tthing\tagain\t\u2026\t\u201cWhat\u2019s\tBardingale\u2019s\tstake in\tthis?\u201d\tshe\tasked\tcarefully.\t\u201cWhy\thire\tus\tto\tkill\thim?\u201d \u201cBecause\t Leighfer\t doesn\u2019t\t believe\t in\t slavery,\t and\t she\t wants\t to\t protect\t the people\t on\t that\t list\u2014people\t who\t are\t preparing\t to\t take\t the\t necessary\t steps\t to soften\t the\t blow\t of\t slavery\t in\t Melisande.\t And\t possibly\t even\t smuggle\t captured slaves\tto\tsafety.\u201d\tArobynn\tspoke\tlike\the\tknew\tBardingale\tpersonally\u2014like\tthey were\tmore\tthan\tbusiness\tpartners. \u201cAnd\t Doneval\u2019s\t partner\t in\t Rifthold?\t Who\t is\t it?\u201d\t She\t had\t to\t consider\t all\t the angles\tbefore\tshe\taccepted,\thad\tto\tthink\tit\tthrough. \u201cLeighfer\t doesn\u2019t\t know;\t her\t sources\t haven\u2019t\t been\t able\t to\t find\t a\t name\t in Doneval\u2019s\t coded\t correspondences\t with\t his\t partner.\t All\t she\u2019s\t gleaned\t is\t that Doneval\t will\t exchange\t the\t documents\t with\t his\t new\t business\t partner\t six\t days from\t now\t at\t his\t rented\t house,\t at\t some\t point\t in\t the\t day.\t She\u2019s\t uncertain\t what documents\this\tpartner\tis\tbringing\tto\tthe\ttable,\tbut\tshe\u2019s\tbetting\tthat\tit\tincludes\ta list\t of\t important\t people\t opposed\t to\t slavery\t in\t Adarlan.\t Leighfer\t says\t Doneval will\t probably\t have\t a\t private\t room\t in\t his\t house\t to\t do\t the\t swap\u2014perhaps\t an upstairs\tstudy\tor\tsomething\tof\tthe\tsort.\tShe\tknows\thim\twell\tenough\tto\tguarantee that.\u201d She\t was\t beginning\t to\t see\t where\t this\t was\t going.\t Doneval\t was\t practically wrapped\t in\t a\t ribbon\t for\t her.\t All\t she\t had\t to\t do\t was\t find\t out\t what\t time\t the meeting\twould\ttake\tplace,\tlearn\this\tdefenses,\tand\tfigure\tout\ta\tway\taround\tthem. \u201cSo\t I\u2019m\t not\t only\t to\t take\t out\t Doneval,\t but\t also\t to\t wait\t until\t he\u2019s\t done\t the exchange\tso\tI\tcan\tget\this\tdocuments\tand\twhatever\tdocuments\this\tpartner\tbrings to\t the\t table?\u201d\t Arobynn\t smiled\t slightly.\t \u201cWhat\t about\t his\t partner?\t Am\t I\t to dispatch\tthis\tperson\tas\twell?\u201d Arobynn\u2019s\t smile\t became\t a\t thin\t line.\t \u201cSince\t we\t don\u2019t\t know\t who\t he\u2019ll\t be dealing\t with,\t you\t haven\u2019t\t been\t contracted\t to\t eliminate\t them.\t But,\t it\u2019s\t been strongly\t hinted\t that\t Leighfer\t and\t her\t allies\t want\t the\t contact\t dead\t as\t well.\t They might\tgive\tyou\ta\tbonus\tfor\tit.\u201d She\tstudied\tthe\temerald\tbrooch\tin\ther\tlap.\t\u201cAnd\thow\twell\twill\tthis\tpay?\u201d","\u201cExtraordinarily\twell.\u201d\tShe\theard\tthe\tsmile\tin\this\tvoice,\tbut\tkept\ther\tattention on\tthe\tlovely\tgreen\tjewel.\t\u201cAnd\tI\twon\u2019t\ttake\ta\tcut\tof\tit.\tIt\u2019s\tall\tyours.\u201d She\t raised\t her\t head\t at\t that.\t There\t was\t a\t glimmer\t of\t pleading\t in\t his\t eyes. Perhaps\t he\t truly\t was\t sorry\t for\t what\t he\u2019d\t done.\t And\t perhaps\t he\u2019d\t picked\t this mission\t just\t for\t her\u2014to\t prove,\t in\t his\t way,\t that\t he\t understood\t why\t she\u2019d\t freed those\tslaves\tin\tSkull\u2019s\tBay.\t\u201cI\tcan\tassume\tDoneval\tis\twell-guarded?\u201d \u201cVery,\u201d\t Arobynn\t said,\t fishing\t a\t letter\t from\t the\t desk\t behind\t him.\t \u201cHe\u2019s waiting\t to\t do\t the\t deal\t until\t after\t the\t citywide\t celebrations,\t so\t he\t can\t run\t home the\tnext\tday.\u201d Celaena\t glanced\t toward\t the\t ceiling,\t as\t if\t she\t could\t see\t through\t the\t wood beams\t and\t into\t her\t room\t on\t the\t floor\t above,\t where\t her\t trunks\t of\t gold\t now\t sat. She\tdidn\u2019t\tneed\tthe\tmoney,\tbut\tif\tshe\twere\tgoing\tto\tpay\toff\ther\tdebt\tto\tArobynn, her\tfunds\twould\tbe\tseverely\tdepleted.\tAnd\tto\ttake\tthis\tmission\twouldn\u2019t\tjust\tbe about\tkilling\u2014it\twould\tbe\tabout\thelping\tothers,\ttoo.\tHow\tmany\tlives\twould\tbe destroyed\t if\t she\t didn\u2019t\t dispatch\t Doneval\t and\t his\t partner\t and\t retrieve\t those sensitive\tdocuments? Arobynn\t approached\t her\t again,\t and\t she\t rose\t from\t her\t chair.\t He\t brushed\t her hair\tback\tfrom\ther\tface.\t\u201cI\tmissed\tyou,\u201d\the\tsaid. He\t opened\t his\t arms\t to\t her,\t but\t didn\u2019t\t make\t a\t further\t move\t to\t embrace\t her. She\t studied\t his\t face.\t The\t Mute\t Master\t had\t told\t her\t that\t people\t dealt\t with\t their pain\tin\tdifferent\tways\u2014that\tsome\tchose\tto\tdrown\tit,\tsome\tchose\tto\tlove\tit,\tand some\tchose\tto\tlet\tit\tturn\tinto\trage.\tWhile\tshe\thad\tno\tregrets\tabout\tfreeing\tthose two\t hundred\t slaves\t from\t Skull\u2019s\t Bay,\t she\t had\t betrayed\t Arobynn\t in\t doing\t it. Perhaps\thurting\ther\thad\tbeen\this\tway\tof\tcoping\twith\tthe\tpain\tof\tthat. And\t even\t though\t there\t was\t no\t excuse\t in\t this\t world\t for\t what\t he\t had\t done, Arobynn\t was\t all\t she\t had.\t The\t history\t that\t lay\t between\t them,\t dark\t and\t twisted and\tfull\tof\tsecrets,\twas\tforged\tby\tmore\tthan\tjust\tgold.\tAnd\tif\tshe\tleft\thim,\tif\tshe paid\toff\ther\tdebts\tright\tnow\tand\tnever\tsaw\thim\tagain\t\u2026 She\ttook\ta\tstep\tback,\tand\tArobynn\tcasually\tlowered\this\tarms,\tnot\tat\tall\tfazed by\ther\trejection.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tthink\tabout\ttaking\ton\tDoneval.\u201d\tIt\twasn\u2019t\ta\tlie.\tShe\talways took\ttime\tto\tconsider\ther\tmissions\u2014Arobynn\thad\tencouraged\tthat\tfrom\tthe\tstart. \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry,\u201d\the\tsaid\tagain. Celaena\tgave\thim\tanother\tlong\tlook\tbefore\tshe\tleft. Her\t exhaustion\t hit\t her\t the\t moment\t she\t began\t climbing\t the\t polished\t marble steps\tof\tthe\tsweeping\tgrand\tstaircase.\tA\tmonth\tof\thard\ttravel\u2014after\ta\tmonth\tof grueling\t training\t and\t heartache.\t Every\t time\t she\t saw\t the\t scar\t on\t her\t neck,\t or","touched\tit,\tor\tfelt\ther\tclothes\tbrush\tagainst\tit,\ta\ttremor\tof\tpain\twent\tthrough\ther as\tshe\tremembered\tthe\tbetrayal\tthat\thad\tcaused\tit.\tShe\u2019d\tbelieved\tAnsel\twas\ther friend\u2014a\t life-friend,\t a\t friend\t of\t the\t heart.\t But\t Ansel\u2019s\t need\t for\t revenge\t had been\t greater\t than\t anything\t else.\t Still,\t wherever\t Ansel\t now\t was,\t Celaena\t hoped that\tshe\twas\tfinally\tfacing\twhat\thad\thaunted\ther\tfor\tso\tlong. A\t passing\t servant\t bowed\t his\t head,\t eyes\t averted.\t Everyone\t who\t worked\t here knew\t more\t or\t less\t who\t she\t was,\t and\t would\t keep\t her\t identity\t secret\t on\t pain\t of death.\tNot\tthat\tthere\twas\tmuch\tof\ta\tpoint\tto\tit\tnow,\tgiven\tthat\tevery\tsingle\tone of\tthe\tSilent\tAssassins\tcould\tidentify\ther. Celaena\t took\t a\t ragged\t breath,\t running\t a\t hand\t through\t her\t hair.\t Before entering\tthe\tcity\tthis\tmorning,\tshe\u2019d\tstopped\tat\ta\ttavern\tjust\toutside\tRifthold\tto bathe,\tto\twash\ther\tfilthy\tclothes,\tto\tput\ton\tsome\tcosmetics.\tShe\thadn\u2019t\twanted\tto stride\tinto\tthe\tKeep\tlooking\tlike\ta\tgutter\trat.\tBut\tshe\tstill\tfelt\tdirty. She\tpassed\tone\tof\tthe\tupstairs\tdrawing\trooms,\ther\tbrows\trising\tat\tthe\tsound\tof a\tpianoforte\tand\tlaughing\tpeople\tinside.\tIf\tArobynn\thad\tcompany,\tthen\twhy\thad he\tbeen\tin\this\tstudy,\tever\tso\tbusy,\twhen\tshe\tarrived? Celaena\t ground\t her\t teeth.\t So\t that\t nonsense\t where\t he\u2019d\t made\t her\t wait\t while he\tfinished\this\twork\t\u2026 She\tclenched\ther\thands\tinto\tfists\tand\twas\tabout\tto\twhirl\tand\tstomp\tback\tdown the\tstairs\tto\ttell\tArobynn\tthat\tshe\twas\tleaving\tand\tthat\the\tno\tlonger\towned\ther, when\tsomeone\tstepped\tinto\tthe\telegantly\tappointed\thall. Sam\tCortland. Sam\u2019s\tbrown\teyes\twere\twide,\this\tbody\trigid.\tAs\tif\tit\ttook\tsome\teffort\ton\this part,\t he\t shut\t the\t door\t to\t the\t hall\t washroom\t and\t strode\t toward\t her,\t past\t the\t teal velvet\t curtains\t hanging\t on\t the\t floor-to-ceiling\t windows,\t past\t the\t framed artwork,\tcloser\tand\tcloser.\tShe\tremained\tstill,\ttaking\tin\tevery\tinch\tof\thim\tbefore he\tstopped\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway. No\t missing\t limbs,\t no\t limp,\t no\t indication\t of\t anything\t haunting\t him.\t His chestnut\t hair\t had\t gotten\t a\t little\t longer,\t but\t it\t suited\t him.\t And\t he\t was\t tan\u2014 gloriously\t tan,\t as\t if\t he\u2019d\t spent\t the\t whole\t summer\t basking\t in\t the\t sun.\t Hadn\u2019t Arobynn\tpunished\thim\tat\tall? \u201cYou\u2019re\tback,\u201d\tSam\tsaid,\tas\tif\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tquite\tbelieve\tit. She\tlifted\ther\tchin,\tstuffing\ther\thands\tin\ther\tpockets.\t\u201cObviously.\u201d He\ttilted\this\thead\tslightly\tto\tthe\tside.\t\u201cHow\twas\tthe\tdesert?\u201d There\t wasn\u2019t\t a\t scratch\t on\t him.\t Of\t course,\t her\t face\t had\t healed,\t too,\t but\t \u2026 \u201cHot,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\tSam\tlet\tout\ta\tbreathy\tchuckle. It\twasn\u2019t\tthat\tshe\twas\tmad\tat\thim\tfor\tbeing\tuninjured.\tShe\twas\tso\trelieved\tshe could\t have\t vomited,\t actually.\t She\t just\t never\t imagined\t that\t seeing\t him\t today","would\t feel\t so\t \u2026\t strange.\t And\t after\t what\t had\t happened\t with\t Ansel,\t could\t she honestly\tsay\tthat\tshe\ttrusted\thim? In\tthe\tdrawing\troom\ta\tfew\tdoors\tdown,\ta\twoman\tlet\tout\ta\tshrill\tgiggle.\tHow was\tit\tpossible\tthat\tshe\tcould\thave\tso\tmany\tquestions\tand\tyet\tso\tlittle\tto\tsay? Sam\u2019s\teyes\tslipped\tfrom\ther\tface\tto\ther\tneck,\this\tbrows\tdrawing\ttogether\tfor a\theartbeat\tas\the\tsaw\tthe\tthin\tnew\tscar.\t\u201cWhat\thappened?\u201d \u201cSomeone\theld\ta\tsword\tto\tmy\tthroat.\u201d His\t eyes\t darkened,\t but\t she\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t explain\t the\t long,\t miserable\t story. She\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t talk\t about\t Ansel,\t and\t she\t certainly\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t talk\t about what\thad\thappened\twith\tArobynn\tthat\tnight\tthey\u2019d\treturned\tfrom\tSkull\u2019s\tBay. \u201cAre\tyou\thurt?\u201d\tSam\tasked\tquietly,\ttaking\tanother\tstep\tcloser. It\ttook\ther\ta\tmoment\tto\trealize\tthat\this\timagination\thad\tprobably\ttaken\thim\tto a\tfar,\tfar\tworse\tplace\twhen\tshe\tsaid\tsomeone\thad\theld\ta\tblade\tto\ther\tthroat. \u201cNo,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cNo,\tnot\tlike\tthat.\u201d \u201cThen\t like\t what?\u201d\t He\t was\t now\t looking\t more\t closely\t at\t her,\t at\t the\t almost invisible\t white\t line\t along\t her\t cheek\u2014another\t gift\t from\t Ansel\u2014at\t her\t hands,\t at everything.\tHis\tlean,\tmuscled\tbody\ttensed.\tHis\tchest\thad\tgotten\tbroader,\ttoo. \u201cLike\tnone\tof\tyour\tbusiness,\tthat\u2019s\twhat,\u201d\tshe\tretorted. \u201cTell\tme\twhat\thappened,\u201d\the\tgritted\tout. She\t gave\t him\t one\t of\t those\t simpering\t little\t smiles\t that\t she\t knew\t he\t hated. Things\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tbad\tbetween\tthem\tsince\tSkull\u2019s\tBay,\tbut\tafter\tso\tmany\tyears of\t treating\t him\t awfully,\t she\t didn\u2019t\t know\t how\t to\t slide\t back\t into\t that\t newfound respect\t and\t camaraderie\t they\u2019d\t discovered\t for\t each\t other.\t \u201cWhy\t should\t I\t tell you\tanything?\u201d \u201cBecause,\u201d\t he\t hissed,\t taking\t another\t step,\t \u201cthe\t last\t time\t I\t saw\t you,\t Celaena, you\t were\t unconscious\t on\t Arobynn\u2019s\t carpet\t and\t so\t bloodied\t up\t that\t I\t couldn\u2019t see\tyour\tdamn\tface.\u201d He\t was\t close\t enough\t that\t she\t could\t touch\t him\t now.\t Rain\t continued\t beating against\t the\t hall\t windows,\t a\t distant\t reminder\t that\t there\t was\t still\t a\t world\t around them.\t\u201cTell\tme,\u201d\the\tsaid. I\u2019ll\t kill\t you!\t Sam\t had\t screamed\t it\t at\t Arobynn\t as\t the\t King\t of\t the\t Assassins beat\ther.\tHe\u2019d\troared\tit.\tIn\tthose\thorrible\tminutes,\twhatever\tbond\thad\tsprung\tup between\t her\t and\t Sam\t hadn\u2019t\t broken.\t He\u2019d\t switched\t loyalties\u2014he\u2019d\t chosen\t to stand\tby\ther,\tfight\tfor\ther.\tIf\tanything,\tthat\tmade\thim\tdifferent\tfrom\tAnsel.\tSam could\thave\thurt\tor\tbetrayed\ther\ta\tdozen\ttimes\tover,\tbut\the\u2019d\tnever\tjumped\tat\tthe opportunity. A\t half\t smile\t tugged\t at\t a\t corner\t of\t her\t lips.\t She\u2019d\t missed\t him.\t Seeing\t the expression\t on\t her\t face,\t he\t gave\t her\t a\t bewildered\t sort\t of\t grin.\t She\t swallowed,","feeling\t the\t words\t bubbling\t up\t through\t her\u2014I\t missed\t you\u2014but\t the\t door\t to\t the drawing\troom\topened. \u201cSam!\u201d\ta\tdark-haired,\tgreen-eyed\tyoung\twoman\tchided,\tlaughter\ton\ther\tlips. \u201cThere\t you\u2014\u201d\t The\t girl\u2019s\t eyes\t met\t Celaena\u2019s.\t Celaena\t stopped\t smiling\t as\t she recognized\ther. A\tfeline\tsort\tof\tsmirk\tspread\tacross\tthe\tyoung\twoman\u2019s\tstunning\tfeatures,\tand she\t slipped\t out\t of\t the\t doorway\t and\t slunk\t over\t to\t them.\t Celaena\t took\t in\t each swish\t of\t her\t hips,\t the\t elegant\t angle\t of\t her\t hand,\t the\t exquisite\t dress\t that\t dipped low\tenough\tto\treveal\ther\tgenerous\tbosom.\t\u201cCelaena,\u201d\tshe\tcooed,\tand\tSam\teyed the\ttwo\tgirls\twarily\tas\tshe\tstopped\tbeside\thim.\tToo\tclose\tbeside\thim\tfor\ta\tcasual acquaintance. \u201cLysandra,\u201d\t Celaena\t echoed.\t She\u2019d\t met\t Lysandra\t when\t they\t were\t both\t ten, and\t in\t the\t seven\t years\t that\t they\u2019d\t known\t each\t other,\t Celaena\t couldn\u2019t\t recall\t a time\t when\t she\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t beat\t in\t the\t girl\u2019s\t face\t with\t a\t brick.\t Or\t throw\t her out\ta\twindow.\tOr\tdo\tany\tof\ta\tnumber\tof\tthings\tshe\u2019d\tlearned\tfrom\tArobynn. It\tdidn\u2019t\thelp\tthat\tArobynn\thad\tspent\ta\tgood\tdeal\tof\tmoney\tassisting\tLysandra in\t her\t rise\t from\t street\t orphan\t to\t one\t of\t the\t most\t anticipated\t courtesans\t in Rifthold\u2019s\thistory.\tHe\twas\tgood\tfriends\twith\tLysandra\u2019s\tmadam\u2014and\thad\tbeen Lysandra\u2019s\t doting\t benefactor\t for\t years.\t Lysandra\t and\t her\t madam\t remained\t the only\t courtesans\t aware\t that\t the\t girl\t Arobynn\t called\t his\t \u201cniece\u201d\t was\t actually\t his prot\u00e9g\u00e9e.\tCelaena\thad\tnever\tlearned\twhy\tArobynn\thad\ttold\tthem,\tbut\twhenever she\t complained\t about\t the\t risk\t of\t Lysandra\t revealing\t her\t identity,\t he\t seemed certain\t she\t would\t not.\t Celaena,\t not\t surprisingly,\t had\t trouble\t believing\t it;\t but perhaps\t threats\t from\t the\t King\t of\t the\t Assassins\t were\t enough\t to\t keep\t even\t the loud-mouthed\tLysandra\tsilent. \u201cI\t thought\t you\u2019d\t been\t packed\t off\t to\t the\t desert,\u201d\t Lysandra\t said,\t running\t a shrewd\teye\tover\tCelaena\u2019s\tclothes.\tThank\tthe\tWyrd\tshe\u2019d\tbothered\tto\tchange\tat that\ttavern.\t\u201cIs\tit\tpossible\tthe\tsummer\tpassed\tthat\tquickly?\tI\tguess\twhen\tyou\u2019re having\tso\tmuch\tfun\t\u2026\u201d A\t deadly,\t vicious\t sort\t of\t calm\t filled\t Celaena\u2019s\t veins.\t She\u2019d\t snapped\t once\t at Lysandra\u2014when\tthey\twere\tthirteen\tand\tLysandra\thad\tsnatched\ta\tlovely\tlace\tfan right\tout\tof\tCelaena\u2019s\thands.\tThe\tensuing\tfight\thad\tsent\tthem\ttumbling\tdown\ta flight\t of\t stairs.\t Celaena\t had\t spent\t a\t night\t in\t the\t Keep\u2019s\t dungeon\t for\t the\t welts she\u2019d\tleft\ton\tLysandra\u2019s\tface\tby\tbeating\ther\twith\tthe\tfan\titself. She\ttried\tto\tignore\thow\tclose\tthe\tgirl\tstood\tto\tSam.\tHe\u2019d\talways\tbeen\tkind\tto the\t courtesans,\t and\t they\t all\t adored\t him.\t His\t mother\t had\t been\t one\t of\t them,\t and had\tasked\tArobynn\u2014a\tpatron\tof\thers\u2014to\tlook\tafter\ther\tson.\tSam\thad\tonly\tbeen six\t when\t she\t was\t murdered\t by\t a\t jealous\t client.\t Celaena\t crossed\t her\t arms.","\u201cShould\tI\tbother\tto\task\twhat\tyou\u2019re\tdoing\there?\u201d Lysandra\t gave\t her\t a\t knowing\t smile.\t \u201cOh,\t Arobynn\u201d\u2014she\t purred\t his\t name like\t they\t were\t the\t most\t intimate\t of\t friends\u2014\u201cthrew\t me\t a\t luncheon\t in\t honor\t of my\tupcoming\tBidding.\u201d Of\tcourse\the\tdid.\t\u201cHe\tinvited\tyour\tfuture\tclients\there?\u201d \u201cOh,\t no.\u201d\t Lysandra\t giggled.\t \u201cThis\t is\t just\t for\t me\t and\t the\t girls.\t And\t Clarisse, of\t course.\u201d\t She\t used\t her\t madam\u2019s\t name,\t too,\t like\t a\t weapon,\t a\t word\t meant\t to crush\t and\t dominate\u2014a\t word\t that\t whispered:\t I\t am\t more\t important\t than\t you;\t I have\tmore\tinfluence\tthan\tyou;\tI\tam\teverything\tand\tyou\tare\tnothing. \u201cLovely,\u201d\tCelaena\treplied.\tSam\tstill\thadn\u2019t\tsaid\tanything. Lysandra\t lifted\t her\t chin,\t looking\t down\t her\t delicately\t freckled\t nose\t at Celaena.\t\u201cMy\tBidding\tis\tin\tsix\tdays.\tThey\texpect\tme\tto\tbreak\tall\tthe\trecords.\u201d Celaena\thad\tseen\ta\tfew\tyoung\tcourtesans\t go\tthrough\tthe\tBidding\tprocess\u2014 girls\t trained\t until\t they\t were\t seventeen,\t when\t their\t virginity\t was\t sold\t to\t the highest\tbidder. \u201cSam,\u201d\t Lysandra\t went\t on,\t putting\t a\t slender\t hand\t on\t his\t arm,\t \u201chas\t been\t so helpful\twith\tmaking\tsure\tall\tthe\tpreparations\tare\tready\tfor\tmy\tBidding\tparty.\u201d Celaena\t was\t surprised\t at\t the\t swiftness\t of\t her\t desire\t to\t rip\t that\t hand\t right\t off Lysandra\u2019s\t wrist.\t Just\t because\t he\t sympathized\t with\t the\t courtesans\t didn\u2019t\t mean he\thad\tto\tbe\tso\t\u2026\tfriendly\twith\tthem. Sam\t cleared\t his\t throat,\t straightening.\t \u201cNot\t that\t helpful.\t Arobynn\t wanted\t to make\tsure\tthat\tthe\tvendors\tand\tlocation\twere\tsecure.\u201d \u201cImportant\tclientele\tmust\tbe\tgiven\tthe\tbest\ttreatment,\u201d\tLysandra\ttrilled.\t\u201cI\tdo wish\tI\tcould\ttell\tyou\twho\twill\tbe\tin\tattendance,\tbut\tClarisse\twould\tkill\tme.\tIt\u2019s extraordinarily\thush-hush\tand\tneed-to-know.\u201d It\twas\tenough.\tOne\tmore\tword\tout\tof\tthe\tcourtesan\u2019s\tmouth,\tand\tCelaena\twas fairly\tcertain\tshe\u2019d\tpunch\tLysandra\u2019s\tteeth\tdown\ther\tthroat.\tCelaena\tangled\ther head,\t her\t fingers\t curling\t into\t a\t fist.\t Sam\t saw\t the\t familiar\t gesture\t and\t pried Lysandra\u2019s\thand\toff\this\tarm.\t\u201cGo\tback\tto\tthe\tluncheon,\u201d\the\ttold\ther. Lysandra\tgave\tCelaena\tanother\tone\tof\tthose\tsmiles,\twhich\tshe\tthen\tturned\ton Sam.\t\u201cWhen\tare\tyou\tcoming\tback\tin?\u201d\tHer\tfull,\tred\tlips\tformed\ta\tpout. Enough,\tenough,\tenough. Celaena\tturned\ton\ther\theel.\t\u201cEnjoy\tyour\tquality\tcompany,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tover\ther shoulder. \u201cCelaena,\u201d\tSam\tsaid. But\t she\t wouldn\u2019t\t turn\t around,\t not\t even\t when\t she\t heard\t Lysandra\t giggle\t and whisper\tsomething,\tnot\teven\twhen\tall\tshe\twanted\tin\tthe\tentire\tworld\twas\tto\tgrab her\tdagger\tand\tthrow,\tas\thard\tas\tshe\tcould,\tright\ttoward\tLysandra\u2019s\timpossibly","beautiful\tface. She\u2019d\talways\thated\tLysandra,\tshe\ttold\therself.\tAlways\thated\ther.\tHer\ttouching Sam\tlike\tthat,\tspeaking\tto\tSam\tlike\tthat,\tit\tdidn\u2019t\tchange\tthings.\tBut\t\u2026 Though\t Lysandra\u2019s\t virginity\t was\t unquestionable\u2014it\t had\t to\t be\u2014there\t were plenty\t of\t other\t things\t that\t she\t could\t still\t do.\t Things\t that\t she\t might\t have\t done with\tSam\t\u2026 Feeling\t sick\t and\t furious\t and\t small,\t Celaena\t reached\t her\t bedroom\t and slammed\tthe\tdoor\thard\tenough\tto\trattle\tthe\train-splattered\twindows.","CHAPTER 2 The\train\tdidn\u2019t\tstop\tthe\tnext\tday,\tand\tCelaena\tawoke\tto\ta\tgrumble\tof\tthunder and\ta\tservant\tsetting\ta\tlong,\tbeautifully\twrapped\tbox\ton\ther\tdresser.\tShe\topened the\t gift\t as\t she\t drank\t her\t morning\t cup\t of\t tea,\t taking\t her\t time\t with\t the\t turquoise ribbon,\tdoing\ther\tbest\tto\tpretend\tthat\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tthat\tinterested\tin\twhat\tArobynn had\t sent\t her.\t None\t of\t these\t presents\t came\t close\t to\t earning\t any\t sort\t of forgiveness.\t But\t she\t couldn\u2019t\t contain\t her\t squeal\t when\t she\t opened\t the\t box\t and found\t two\t gold\t hair\t combs\t glinting\t at\t her.\t They\t were\t exquisite,\t formed\t like sharp\tfish\tfins,\teach\tpoint\taccentuated\twith\ta\tsliver\tof\tsapphire. She\tnearly\tupset\ther\tbreakfast\ttray\tas\tshe\trushed\tfrom\tthe\ttable\tby\tthe\twindow to\tthe\trosewood\tvanity.\tWith\tdeft\thands,\tshe\tdragged\tone\tof\tthe\tcombs\tthrough her\t hair,\t sweeping\t it\t back\t before\t she\t nimbly\t flipped\t it\t into\t place.\t She\t quickly repeated\tit\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\ther\thead,\tand\twhen\tshe\thad\tfinished,\tshe\tbeamed at\ther\treflection.\tExotic,\tbeguiling,\timperious. Arobynn\tmight\tbe\ta\tbastard,\tand\the\tmight\tassociate\twith\tLysandra,\tbut\the\thad damn\tgood\ttaste.\tOh,\tit\twas\tso\tnice\tto\tbe\tback\tin\tcivilization,\twith\ther\tbeautiful clothes\t and\t shoes\t and\t jewels\t and\t cosmetics\t and\t all\t the\t luxuries\t she\u2019d\t had\t to spend\tthe\tsummer\twithout! Celaena\t examined\t the\t ends\t of\t her\t hair\t and\t frowned.\t The\t frown\t deepened when\t her\t attention\t shifted\t to\t her\t hands\u2014to\t her\t shredded\t cuticles\t and\t jagged nails.\t She\t let\t out\t a\t low\t hiss,\t facing\t the\t windows\t along\t one\t wall\t of\t her\t ornate bedroom.\tIt\twas\tearly\tautumn\u2014that\tmeant\train\tusually\thung\taround\tRifthold\tfor a\tgood\tcouple\tof\tweeks. Through\t the\t low-hanging\t clouds\t and\t the\t slashing\t rain,\t she\t could\t see\t the\t rest of\t the\t capital\t city\t gleaming\t in\t the\t gray\t light.\t Pale\t stone\t houses\t stood\t tucked together,\t linked\t by\t broad\t avenues\t that\t stretched\t from\t the\t alabaster\t walls\t to\t the docks\t along\t the\t eastern\t quarter\t of\t the\t city,\t from\t the\t teeming\t city\t center\t to\t the jumble\t of\t crumbling\t buildings\t in\t the\t slums\t at\t the\t southern\t edge,\t where\t the Avery\tRiver\tcurved\tinland.\tEven\tthe\temerald\troofs\ton\teach\tbuilding\tseemed\tcast in\t silver.\t The\t glass\t castle\t towered\t over\t them\t all,\t its\t upper\t turrets\t shrouded\t in","mist. The\tconvoy\tfrom\tMelisande\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tpicked\ta\tworse\ttime\tto\tvisit.\tIf\tthey wanted\tto\thave\tstreet\tfestivals,\tthey\u2019d\tfind\tfew\tparticipants\twilling\tto\tbrave\tthe merciless\tdownpour. Celaena\t slowly\t removed\t the\t combs\t from\t her\t hair.\t The\t convoy\t would\t arrive today,\t Arobynn\t had\t told\t her\t last\t night\t over\t a\t private\t dinner.\t She\t still\t hadn\u2019t given\t him\t an\t answer\t about\t whether\t she\u2019d\t take\t down\t Doneval\t in\t five\t days,\t and he\thadn\u2019t\tpushed\ther\tabout\tit.\tHe\thad\tbeen\tkind\tand\tgracious,\tserving\ther\tfood himself,\tspeaking\tsoftly\tto\ther\tlike\tshe\twas\tsome\tfrightened\tpet. She\tglanced\tagain\tat\ther\thair\tand\tnails.\tA\tvery\tunkempt,\twild-looking\tpet. She\tstrode\tinto\ther\tdressing\troom.\tShe\u2019d\tdecide\twhat\tto\tdo\tabout\tDoneval\tand his\t agenda\t later.\t For\t now,\t not\t even\t the\t rain\t would\t keep\t her\t from\t a\t little pampering. The\t shop\t she\t favored\t for\t her\t upkeep\t was\t ecstatic\t to\t see\t her\u2014and\t utterly horrified\tat\tthe\tstate\tof\ther\thair.\tAnd\tnails.\tAnd\ther\teyebrows!\tShe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave bothered\tto\tpluck\ther\teyebrows\twhile\tshe\twas\taway?\tHalf\ta\tday\tlater\u2014her\thair cut\t and\t shining,\t her\t nails\t soft\t and\t gleaming\u2014Celaena\t braved\t the\t sodden\t city streets. Even\t with\t the\t rain,\t people\t found\t excuses\t to\t be\t out\t and\t about\t as\t the\t giant convoy\tfrom\tMelisande\tarrived.\tShe\tpaused\tbeneath\tthe\tawning\tof\ta\tflower\tshop where\t the\t owner\t was\t standing\t on\t the\t threshold\t to\t watch\t the\t grand\t procession. The\tMelisanders\tsnaked\talong\tthe\tbroad\tavenue\tthat\tstretched\tfrom\tthe\twestern gate\tof\tthe\tcity\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tthe\tcastle\tdoors. There\twere\tthe\tusual\tjugglers\tand\tfire-eaters,\twhose\tjobs\twere\tmade\tinfinitely harder\t by\t the\t confounded\t rain;\t the\t dance\t girls\t whose\t billowing\t pants\t were sodden\t up\t to\t the\t knees;\t and\t then\t the\t line\t of\t Very\t Important,\t Very\t Wealthy People,\t who\t were\t bundled\t under\t cloaks\t and\t didn\u2019t\t sit\t quite\t as\t tall\t as\t they\u2019d probably\timagined\tthey\twould. Celaena\t tucked\t her\t numbed\t fingers\t into\t her\t tunic\t pockets.\t Brightly\t painted covered\twagons\tambled\tpast.\tTheir\thatches\thad\tall\tbeen\tshut\tagainst\tthe\tweather \u2014and\tthat\tmeant\tCelaena\twould\tstart\tback\tto\tthe\tKeep\timmediately. Melisande\t was\t known\t for\t its\t tinkerers,\t for\t clever\t hands\t that\t created\t clever little\t devices.\t Clockwork\t so\t fine\t you\t could\t swear\t it\t was\t alive,\t musical instruments\t so\t clear\t and\t lovely\t they\t could\t shatter\t your\t heart,\t toys\t so\t charming you\u2019d\t believe\t magic\t hadn\u2019t\t vanished\t from\t the\t continent.\t If\t the\t wagons\t that contained\t those\t things\t were\t shut,\t then\t she\t had\t no\t interest\t in\t watching\t a\t parade","of\tsoaked,\tmiserable\tpeople. Crowds\t were\t still\t flocking\t toward\t the\t main\t avenue,\t so\t Celaena\t took\t to narrow,\twinding\talleys\tto\tavoid\tthem.\tShe\twondered\tif\tSam\twas\tmaking\this\tway to\t see\t the\t procession\u2014and\t if\t Lysandra\t was\t with\t him.\t So\t much\t for\t Sam\u2019s unwavering\tloyalty.\tHow\tlong\thad\tit\ttaken\tafter\tshe\u2019d\tgone\tto\tthe\tdesert\tbefore he\tand\tLysandra\thad\tbecome\tdear,\tdear\tfriends? Things\t had\t been\t better\t when\t she\t relished\t the\t thought\t of\t gutting\t him. Apparently,\t Sam\t was\t just\t as\t susceptible\t to\t a\t pretty\t face\t as\t Arobynn\t was.\t She didn\u2019t\tknow\twhy\tshe\u2019d\tthought\the\twould\tbe\tdifferent.\tShe\tscowled\tand\twalked faster,\t her\t freezing\t arms\t crossed\t over\t her\t chest\t as\t she\t hunched\t her\t shoulders against\tthe\train. Twenty\tminutes\tlater,\tshe\twas\tdripping\twater\tall\tover\tthe\tmarble\tfloor\tof\tthe Keep\u2019s\tentranceway.\tAnd\tone\tminute\tafter\tthat,\tshe\twas\tdripping\twater\tall\tover Arobynn\u2019s\t study\t carpet\t as\t she\t told\t him\t that\t she\t would\t take\t on\t Doneval,\t his slave-trade\tblackmail\tdocuments,\tand\twhoever\this\tco-conspirator\tmight\tbe. The\tnext\tmorning,\tCelaena\tlooked\tdown\tat\therself,\ther\tmouth\tcaught\tbetween a\t smile\t and\t a\t frown.\t The\t neck-to-toe\t black\t outfit\t was\t all\t made\t from\t the\t same, dark\t fabric\u2014as\t thick\t as\t leather,\t but\t without\t the\t sheen.\t It\t was\t like\t a\t suit\t of armor,\t only\t skintight\t and\t made\t from\t some\t strange\t cloth,\t not\t metal.\t She\t could feel\tthe\tweight\tof\ther\tweapons\twhere\tthey\twere\tconcealed\u2014so\tneatly\tthat\teven someone\t patting\t her\t down\t might\t think\t they\t were\t merely\t ribbing\u2014and\t she swung\ther\tarms\texperimentally. \u201cCareful,\u201d\tthe\tshort\tman\tin\tfront\tof\ther\tsaid,\this\teyes\twide.\t\u201cYou\tmight\ttake off\tmy\thead.\u201d Behind\t them,\t Arobynn\t chuckled\t from\t where\t he\t leaned\t against\t the\t paneled wall\tof\tthe\ttraining\troom.\tShe\thadn\u2019t\tasked\tquestions\twhen\the\u2019d\tsummoned\ther, then\t told\t her\t to\t put\t on\t the\t black\t suit\t and\t matching\t boots\t that\t were\t lined\t with fleece. \u201cWhen\t you\t want\t to\t unsheathe\t the\t blades,\u201d\t the\t inventor\t said,\t taking\t a\t large step\t back,\t \u201cit\u2019s\t a\t downward\t sweep,\t and\t an\t extra\t flick\t of\t the\t wrist.\u201d\t He demonstrated\tthe\tmotion\twith\this\town\tscrawny\tarm,\tand\tCelaena\techoed\tit. She\t grinned\t as\t a\t narrow\t blade\t shot\t out\t of\t a\t concealed\t flap\t in\t her\t forearm. Permanently\tattached\tto\tthe\tsuit,\tit\twas\tlike\thaving\ta\tshort\tsword\twelded\tto\ther arm.\t She\t made\t the\t same\t motion\t with\t the\t other\t wrist,\t and\t the\t twin\t blade appeared.\tSome\tinternal\tmechanism\thad\tto\tbe\tresponsible\tfor\tit\u2014some\tbrilliant contraption\tof\tsprings\tand\tgears.\tShe\tgave\ta\tfew\tdeadly\tswings\tin\tthe\tair\tin\tfront","of\t her,\t reveling\t in\t the\t whoosh-whoosh-whoosh\t of\t the\t swords.\t They\t were\t finely made,\ttoo.\tShe\traised\ther\tbrows\tin\tadmiration.\t\u201cHow\tdo\tthey\tgo\tback?\u201d \u201cAh,\ta\tlittle\tmore\tdifficult,\u201d\tthe\tinventor\tsaid.\t\u201cWrist\tangled\tup,\tand\tpress\tthis little\tbutton\there.\tIt\tshould\ttrigger\tthe\tmechanism\u2014there\tyou\tgo.\u201d\tShe\twatched the\t blade\t slide\t back\t into\t the\t suit,\t then\t released\t and\t returned\t the\t blade\t several times. The\tdeal\twith\tDoneval\tand\this\tpartner\twas\tin\tfour\tdays,\tjust\tlong\tenough\tfor her\t to\t try\t using\t the\t new\t suit.\t Four\t days\t was\t plenty\t to\t figure\t out\t his\t house\u2019s defenses\tand\tlearn\twhat\ttime\tthe\tmeeting\twould\ttake\tplace,\tespecially\tsince\tshe already\tknew\tthat\tit\twas\toccurring\tin\tsome\tprivate\tstudy. At\tlast\tshe\tlooked\tat\tArobynn.\t\u201cHow\tmuch\tis\tit?\u201d He\t pushed\t off\t the\t wall.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t a\t gift.\t As\t are\t the\t boots.\u201d\t She\t knocked\t a\t toe against\tthe\ttiled\tfloor,\tfeeling\tthe\tjagged\tedges\tand\tgrooves\tof\tthe\tsoles.\tPerfect for\t climbing.\t The\t sheepskin\t interior\t would\t keep\t her\t feet\t at\t body\t temperature, the\t inventor\t had\t said,\t even\t if\t she\t got\t them\t utterly\t soaked.\t She\u2019d\t never\t even heard\tof\ta\tsuit\tlike\tthis.\tIt\twould\tcompletely\tchange\tthe\tway\tshe\tconducted\ther missions.\tNot\tthat\tshe\tneeded\tthe\tsuit\tto\tgive\ther\tan\tedge.\tBut\tshe\twas\tCelaena Sardothien,\t gods\t be\t damned,\t so\t didn\u2019t\t she\t deserve\t the\t very\t best\t equipment? With\tthis\tsuit,\tno\tone\twould\tquestion\ther\tplace\tas\tAdarlan\u2019s\tAssassin.\tEver.\tAnd if\tthey\tdid\t\u2026\tWyrd\thelp\tthem. The\tinventor\tasked\tto\ttake\ther\tfinal\tmeasurements,\tthough\tthe\tones\tArobynn had\t supplied\t were\t almost\t perfect.\t She\t lifted\t her\t arms\t out\t as\t he\t did\t the measuring,\t asking\t him\t bland\t questions\t about\t his\t trip\t from\t Melisande\t and\t what he\t planned\t to\t sell\t here.\t He\t was\t a\t master\t tinkerer,\t he\t said\u2014and\t specialized\t in crafting\t things\t that\t were\t believed\t to\t be\t impossible.\t Like\t a\t suit\t that\t was\t both armor\tand\tan\tarmory,\tand\tlightweight\tenough\tto\twear\tcomfortably. Celaena\t looked\t over\t her\t shoulder\t at\t Arobynn,\t who\t had\t watched\t her interrogation\twith\ta\tbemused\tsmile.\t\u201cAre\tyou\tgetting\tone\tmade?\u201d \u201cOf\t course.\t And\t Sam,\t too.\t Only\t the\t best\t for\t my\t best.\u201d\t She\t noticed\t that\t he didn\u2019t\t say\t \u201cassassin\u201d\u2014but\t whatever\t the\t tinkerer\t thought\t about\t who\t they\t were, his\tface\tyielded\tno\tsign. She\tcouldn\u2019t\thide\ther\tsurprise.\t\u201cYou\tnever\tgive\tSam\tgifts.\u201d Arobynn\tshrugged,\tpicking\tat\this\tnails.\t\u201cOh,\tSam\twill\tbe\tpaying\tfor\tthe\tsuit.\tI can\u2019t\thave\tmy\tsecond-best\tcompletely\tvulnerable,\tcan\tI?\u201d She\thid\ther\tshock\tbetter\tthis\ttime.\tA\tsuit\tlike\tthis\thad\tto\tcost\ta\tsmall\tfortune. Materials\t aside,\t just\t the\t hours\t it\t must\t have\t taken\t the\t tinkerer\t to\t create\t it\t \u2026 Arobynn\thad\tto\thave\tcommissioned\tthem\timmediately\tafter\the\u2019d\tsent\ther\tto\tthe Red\tDesert.\tPerhaps\the\ttruly\tfelt\tbad\tabout\twhat\thappened.\tBut\tto\tforce\tSam\tto","buy\tit\t\u2026 The\t clock\t chimed\t eleven,\t and\t Arobynn\t let\t out\t a\t long\t breath.\t \u201cI\t have\t a meeting.\u201d\t He\t waved\t a\t ringed\t hand\t to\t the\t tinkerer.\t \u201cGive\t the\t bill\t to\t my manservant\t when\t you\u2019re\t done.\u201d\t The\t master\t tinkerer\t nodded,\t still\t measuring Celaena. Arobynn\tapproached\ther,\teach\tstep\tas\tgraceful\tas\ta\tmovement\tof\ta\tdance.\tHe planted\ta\tkiss\ton\tthe\ttop\tof\ther\thead.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tglad\tto\thave\tyou\tback,\u201d\the\tmurmured onto\ther\thair.\tWith\tthat,\the\tstrolled\tfrom\tthe\troom,\twhistling\tto\thimself. The\t tinkerer\t knelt\t to\t measure\t the\t length\t between\t her\t knee\t and\t boot\t tip,\t for whatever\tpurpose\tthat\thad.\tCelaena\tcleared\ther\tthroat,\twaiting\tuntil\tshe\twas\tsure Arobynn\t was\t out\t of\t earshot.\t \u201cIf\t I\t were\t to\t give\t you\t a\t piece\t of\t Spidersilk,\t could you\t incorporate\t it\t into\t one\t of\t these\t uniforms?\t It\u2019s\t small,\t so\t I\u2019d\t just\t want\t it placed\taround\tthe\theart.\u201d\tShe\tused\ther\thands\tto\tshow\tthe\tsize\tof\tthe\tmaterial\tthat she\u2019d\tbeen\tgiven\tby\tthe\tmerchant\tin\tthe\tdesert\tcity\tof\tXandria. Spidersilk\t was\t a\t near-mythical\t material\t made\t by\t horse-sized\t stygian\t spiders \u2014so\t rare\t that\t you\t had\t to\t brave\t the\t spiders\t yourself\t to\t get\t it.\t And\t they\t didn\u2019t trade\tin\tgold.\tNo,\tthey\tcoveted\tthings\tlike\tdreams\tand\tmemories\tand\tsouls.\tThe merchant\tshe\u2019d\tmet\thad\ttraded\ttwenty\tyears\tof\this\tyouth\tfor\ta\thundred\tyards\tof it.\tAnd\tafter\ta\tlong,\tstrange\tconversation\twith\thim,\the\u2019d\tgiven\ther\ta\tfew\tsquare inches\tof\tSpidersilk.\tA\treminder,\the\u2019d\tsaid.\tThat\teverything\thas\ta\tprice. The\tmaster\ttinkerer\u2019s\tbushy\tbrows\trose.\t\u201cI\u2014I\tsuppose.\tTo\tthe\tinterior\tor\tthe exterior?\t I\t think\t the\t interior,\u201d\t he\t went\t on,\t answering\t his\t own\t question.\t \u201cIf\t I sewed\t it\t to\t the\t exterior,\t the\t iridescence\t might\t ruin\t the\t stealth\t of\t the\t black.\t But it\u2019d\tturn\tany\tblade,\tand\tit\u2019s\tjust\tbarely\tthe\tright\tsize\tto\tshield\tthe\theart.\tOh,\twhat I\u2019d\tgive\tfor\tten\tyards\tof\tSpidersilk!\tYou\u2019d\tbe\tinvincible,\tmy\tdear.\u201d She\tsmiled\tslowly.\t\u201cAs\tlong\tas\tit\tguards\tthe\theart.\u201d She\t left\t the\t tinkerer\t in\t the\t hall.\t Her\t suit\t would\t be\t ready\t the\t day\t after tomorrow. It\tdidn\u2019t\tsurprise\ther\twhen\tshe\tran\tinto\tSam\ton\ther\tway\tout.\tShe\u2019d\tspotted\tthe dummy\tthat\tbore\this\town\tsuit\twaiting\tfor\thim\tin\tthe\ttraining\thall.\tAlone\twith\ther in\tthe\thallway,\the\texamined\ther\tsuit.\tShe\tstill\thad\tto\tchange\tout\tof\tit\tand\tbring\tit back\t downstairs\t to\t the\t tinkerer\t so\t he\t could\t make\t his\t final\t adjustments\t in whatever\tshop\the\u2019d\tset\tup\twhile\the\twas\tstaying\tin\tRifthold. \u201cFancy,\u201d\tSam\tsaid.\tShe\tmade\tto\tput\ther\thands\ton\ther\thips,\tbut\tstopped.\tUntil she\t mastered\t the\t suit,\t she\t had\t to\t watch\t how\t she\t moved\u2014or\t else\t she\t might skewer\tsomeone.\t\u201cAnother\tgift?\u201d","\u201cIs\tthere\ta\tproblem\tif\tit\tis?\u201d She\thadn\u2019t\tseen\tSam\tat\tall\tyesterday,\tbut,\tthen\tagain,\tshe\u2019d\talso\tmade\therself pretty\t scarce.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t that\t she\t was\t avoiding\t him;\t she\t just\t didn\u2019t\t particularly want\tto\tsee\thim\tif\tit\tmeant\trunning\tinto\tLysandra,\ttoo.\tBut\tit\tseemed\tstrange\tthat he\twasn\u2019t\ton\tany\tmission.\tMost\tof\tthe\tother\tassassins\twere\taway\ton\tvarious\tjobs or\tso\tbusy\tthey\twere\thardly\tat\thome.\tBut\tSam\tseemed\tto\tbe\thanging\taround\tthe Keep,\tor\thelping\tLysandra\tand\ther\tmadam. Sam\tcrossed\this\tarms.\tHis\twhite\tshirt\twas\ttight\tenough\tthat\tshe\tcould\tsee\tthe muscles\t shifting\t beneath.\t \u201cNot\t at\t all.\t Though\t I\u2019m\t a\t little\t surprised\t that\t you\u2019re accepting\this\tgifts.\tHow\tcan\tyou\tforgive\thim\tafter\twhat\the\tdid?\u201d \u201cForgive\t him!\t I\u2019m\t not\t the\t one\t cavorting\t with\t Lysandra\t and\t attending luncheons\t and\t doing\t \u2026\t doing\t whatever\t in\t hell\t it\t is\t you\t spent\t the\t summer doing!\u201d Sam\tlet\tout\ta\tlow\tgrowl.\t\u201cYou\tthink\tI\tactually\tenjoy\tany\tof\tthat?\u201d \u201cYou\tweren\u2019t\tthe\tone\tsent\toff\tto\tthe\tRed\tDesert.\u201d \u201cBelieve\tme,\tI\twould\trather\thave\tbeen\tthousands\tof\tmiles\taway.\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tbelieve\tyou.\tHow\tcan\tI\tbelieve\tanything\tyou\tsay?\u201d His\tbrows\tfurrowed.\t\u201cWhat\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout?\u201d \u201cNothing.\tNone\tof\tyour\tbusiness.\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\ttalk\tabout\tthis.\tAnd\tI\tdon\u2019t particularly\twant\tto\ttalk\tto\tyou,\tSam\tCortland.\u201d \u201cThen\tgo\tahead,\u201d\the\tbreathed.\t\u201cGo\tcrawl\tback\tto\tArobynn\u2019s\tstudy\tand\ttalk\tto him.\t Let\t him\t buy\t you\t presents\t and\t pet\t your\t hair\t and\t offer\t you\t the\t best-paying missions\t we\t get.\t It\t won\u2019t\t take\t him\t long\t to\t figure\t out\t the\t price\t for\t your forgiveness,\tnot\twhen\u2014\u201d She\tshoved\thim.\t\u201cDon\u2019t\tyou\tdare\tjudge\tme.\tDon\u2019t\tyou\tsay\tone\tmore\tword.\u201d A\t muscle\t feathered\t in\t his\t jaw.\t \u201cThat\u2019s\t fine\t with\t me.\t You\t wouldn\u2019t\t listen anyway.\t Celaena\t Sardothien\t and\t Arobynn\t Hamel:\t just\t the\t two\t of\t you, inseparable,\tuntil\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tworld.\tThe\trest\tof\tus\tmight\tas\twell\tbe\tinvisible.\u201d \u201cThat\tsounds\tan\tawful\tlot\tlike\tjealousy.\tEspecially\tconsidering\tyou\thad\tthree uninterrupted\tmonths\twith\thim\tthis\tsummer.\tWhat\thappened,\thmm?\tYou\tfailed to\tconvince\thim\tto\tmake\tyou\this\tfavorite?\tFound\tyou\tlacking,\tdid\the?\u201d Sam\t was\t in\t her\t face\t so\t quickly\t that\t she\t fought\t the\t urge\t to\t jump\t back.\t \u201cYou know\tnothing\tabout\twhat\tthis\tsummer\twas\tlike\tfor\tme.\tNothing,\tCelaena.\u201d \u201cGood.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tparticularly\tcare.\u201d His\teyes\twere\tso\twide\tthat\tshe\twondered\tif\tshe\u2019d\tstruck\thim\twithout\trealizing it.\tAt\tlast\the\tstepped\taway,\tand\tshe\tstormed\tpast\thim.\tShe\thalted\twhen\the\tspoke again.\t\u201cYou\twant\tto\tknow\twhat\tprice\tI\tasked\tfor\tforgiving\tArobynn,\tCelaena?\u201d She\t slowly\t turned.\t With\t the\t ongoing\t rain,\t the\t hall\t was\t full\t of\t shadows\t and","light.\tSam\tstood\tso\tstill\tthat\the\tmight\thave\tbeen\ta\tstatue.\t\u201cMy\tprice\twas\this\toath that\the\u2019d\tnever\tlay\ta\thand\ton\tyou\tagain.\tI\ttold\thim\tI\u2019d\tforgive\thim\tin\texchange for\tthat.\u201d She\twished\the\u2019d\tpunched\ther\tin\tthe\tgut.\tIt\twould\thave\thurt\tless.\tNot\ttrusting herself\tto\tkeep\tfrom\tfalling\tto\ther\tknees\twith\tshame\tright\tthere,\tshe\tjust\tstalked down\tthe\thall. She\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t speak\t to\t Sam\t ever\t again.\t How\t could\t she\t look\t him\t in\t the eye?\tHe\u2019d\tmade\tArobynn\tswear\tthat\tfor\ther.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhat\twords\tcould convey\t the\t mixture\t of\t gratitude\t and\t guilt.\t Hating\t him\t had\t been\t so\t much\t easier \u2026\t And\t it\t would\t have\t been\t far\t simpler\t if\t he\u2019d\t blamed\t her\t for\t Arobynn\u2019s punishment.\tShe\thad\tsaid\tsuch\tcruel\tthings\tto\thim\tin\tthe\thallway;\thow\tcould\tshe ever\tbegin\tto\tapologize? Arobynn\t came\t to\t her\t room\t after\t lunch\t and\t told\t her\t to\t have\t a\t dress\t pressed. Doneval,\the\u2019d\theard,\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tat\tthe\ttheater\tthat\tnight,\tand\twith\tfour\tdays until\this\texchange,\tit\twould\tbe\tin\ther\tbest\tinterest\tto\tgo. She\u2019d\tformulated\ta\tplan\tfor\tstalking\tDoneval,\tbut\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tproud\tenough\tto refuse\t Arobynn\u2019s\t offer\t to\t use\t his\t box\t at\t the\t theater\t for\t spying\u2014to\t see\t who Doneval\t spoke\t to,\t who\t sat\t near\t him,\t who\t guarded\t him.\t And\t to\t see\t a\t classical dance\t performed\t with\t a\t full\t orchestra\t \u2026\t well,\t she\u2019d\t never\t turn\t that\t down.\t But Arobynn\tfailed\tto\tsay\twho\twould\tbe\tjoining\tthem. She\t found\t out\t the\t hard\t way\t when\t she\t climbed\t into\t Arobynn\u2019s\t carriage\t and discovered\t Lysandra\t and\t Sam\t waiting\t inside.\t With\t four\t days\t until\t her\t Bidding, the\t young\t courtesan\t needed\t all\t the\t exposure\t she\t could\t get,\t Arobynn\t calmly explained.\tAnd\tSam\twas\tthere\tto\tprovide\tadditional\tsecurity. Celaena\tdared\ta\tglance\tat\tSam\tas\tshe\tslumped\tonto\tthe\tbench\tbeside\thim.\tHe watched\t her,\t his\t eyes\t wary,\t shoulders\t tensed,\t as\t if\t he\t expected\t her\t to\t launch\t a verbal\tattack\tright\tthere.\tLike\tshe\u2019d\tmock\thim\tfor\twhat\the\u2019d\tdone.\tDid\the\treally think\t she\t was\t that\t cruel?\t Feeling\t a\t bit\t sick,\t she\t dropped\t Sam\u2019s\t stare.\t Lysandra just\t smiled\t at\t Celaena\t from\t across\t the\t carriage\t and\t linked\t her\t elbow\t through Arobynn\u2019s.","CHAPTER 3 Two\t attendants\t greeted\t them\t at\t Arobynn\u2019s\t private\t box,\t taking\t their\t sodden cloaks\t and\t exchanging\t them\t for\t glasses\t of\t sparkling\t wine.\t Immediately,\t one\t of Arobynn\u2019s\t acquaintances\t popped\t in\t from\t the\t hall\t to\t say\t hello,\t and\t Arobynn, Sam,\t and\t Lysandra\t remained\t in\t the\t velvet-lined\t antechamber\t as\t they\t chatted. Celaena,\t who\t had\t no\t interest\t in\t seeing\t Lysandra\t test\t out\t her\t flirting\t with Arobynn\u2019s\t friend,\t strode\t through\t the\t crimson\t curtain\t to\t take\t her\t usual\t seat closest\tto\tthe\tstage. Arobynn\u2019s\t box\t was\t on\t the\t side\t of\t the\t cavernous\t hall,\t near\t enough\t to\t the center\tso\tthat\tshe\thad\ta\tmostly\tunobstructed\tview\tof\tthe\tstage\tand\tthe\torchestra pit,\t but\t still\t angled\t enough\t to\t make\t her\t look\t longingly\t at\t the\t empty\t Royal Boxes.\t All\t of\t them\t occupied\t the\t coveted\t center\t position,\t and\t all\t of\t them\t were vacant.\tWhat\ta\twaste. She\t observed\t the\t floor\t seats\t and\t the\t other\t boxes,\t taking\t in\t the\t glittering jewels,\tthe\tsilk\tdresses,\tthe\tgolden\tglow\tof\tsparkling\twine\tin\tfluted\tglasses,\tthe rumbling\t murmur\t of\t the\t mingling\t crowd.\t If\t there\t was\t one\t place\t where\t she\t felt the\t most\t at\t home,\t a\t place\t where\t she\t felt\t happiest,\t it\t was\t here,\t in\t this\t theater, with\t the\t red\t velvet\t cushions\t and\t the\t glass\t chandeliers\t and\t the\t gilded\t domed ceiling\thigh,\thigh\tabove\tthem.\tHad\tit\tbeen\tcoincidence\tor\tplanning\tthat\thad\tled to\t the\t theater\t being\t constructed\t in\t the\t very\t heart\t of\t the\t city,\t a\t mere\t twenty- minute\t walk\t from\t the\t Assassins\u2019\t Keep?\t She\t knew\t it\t would\t be\t hard\t for\t her\t to adjust\t to\t her\t new\t apartment,\t which\t was\t nearly\t double\t the\t distance\t from\t the theater.\tA\tsacrifice\tshe\twas\twilling\tto\tmake\u2014if\tshe\tever\tfound\tthe\tright\tmoment to\t tell\t Arobynn\t she\t was\t paying\t her\t debt\t and\t moving\t out.\t Which\t she\t would. Soon. She\t felt\t Arobynn\u2019s\t easy,\t self-assured\t gait\t strutting\t across\t the\t carpet,\t and straightened\t as\t he\t leaned\t over\t her\t shoulder.\t \u201cDoneval\t is\t straight\t ahead,\u201d Arobynn\t whispered,\t his\t breath\t hot\t on\t her\t skin.\t \u201cThird\t box\t in\t from\t the\t stage, second\trow\tof\tseats.\u201d She\t immediately\t found\t the\t man\t she\u2019d\t been\t assigned\t to\t kill.\t He\t was\t tall\t and","middle-aged,\t with\t pale\t blond\t hair\t and\t tan\t skin.\t Not\t particularly\t handsome,\t but not\tan\teyesore,\teither.\tNot\theavy,\tbut\tnot\ttoned.\tAside\tfrom\this\tperiwinkle\ttunic \u2014which,\t even\t from\t this\t distance,\t looked\t expensive\u2014there\t was\t nothing remarkable\tabout\thim. There\twere\ta\tfew\tothers\tin\tthe\tbox.\tA\ttall,\telegant\twoman\tin\ther\tlate\ttwenties stood\tnear\tthe\tpartition\tcurtain,\ta\tcluster\tof\tmen\taround\ther.\tShe\theld\therself\tlike a\tnoble,\tthough\tno\tdiadem\tglittered\tin\ther\tlustrous,\tdark\thair. \u201cLeighfer\t Bardingale,\u201d\t Arobynn\t murmured,\t following\t her\t gaze.\t Doneval\u2019s former\t wife\u2014and\t the\t one\t who\u2019d\t hired\t her.\t \u201cIt\t was\t an\t arranged\t marriage.\t She wanted\t his\t wealth,\t and\t he\t wanted\t her\t youth.\t But\t when\t they\t failed\t to\t have children\t and\t some\t of\t his\t less\t \u2026\t desirable\t behavior\t was\t revealed,\t she\t managed to\tget\tout\tof\tthe\tmarriage,\tstill\tyoung,\tbut\tfar\tricher.\u201d It\t was\t smart\t of\t Bardingale,\t really.\t If\t she\t planned\t to\t have\t him\t assassinated, then\tpretending\tto\tbe\this\tfriend\twould\thelp\tkeep\tfingers\tfrom\tpointing\ther\tway. Though\tBardingale\tmight\thave\tlooked\tthe\tpart\tof\ta\tpolite,\telegant\tlady,\tCelaena knew\t there\t had\t to\t be\t some\t ice-cold\t steel\t running\t through\t her\t veins.\t And\t an unyielding\t sense\t of\t dedication\t to\t her\t friends\t and\t allies\u2014not\t to\t mention\t to\t the common\t rights\t of\t every\t human\t being.\t It\t was\t hard\t not\t to\t immediately\t admire her. \u201cAnd\t the\t people\t around\t them?\u201d\t Celaena\t asked.\t Through\t a\t small\t gap\t in\t the curtains\tbehind\tDoneval,\tshe\tcould\tglimpse\tthree\ttowering\tmen,\tall\tclad\tin\tdark gray\u2014all\tlooking\tlike\tbodyguards. \u201cTheir\t friends\t and\t investors.\t Bardingale\t and\t Doneval\t still\t have\t some\t joint businesses\ttogether.\tThe\tthree\tmen\tin\tthe\tback\tare\this\tguards.\u201d Celaena\t nodded,\t and\t might\t have\t asked\t him\t some\t other\t questions\t had\t Sam and\tLysandra\tnot\tfiled\tinto\tthe\tbox\tbehind\tthem,\tbidding\tfarewell\tto\tArobynn\u2019s friend.\t There\t were\t three\t seats\t along\t the\t balcony\t rail,\t and\t three\t seats\t behind them.\t Lysandra,\t to\t Celaena\u2019s\t dismay,\t sat\t next\t to\t her\t as\t Arobynn\t and\t Sam\t took the\trear\tseats. \u201cOh,\tlook\tat\thow\tmany\tpeople\tare\there,\u201d\tLysandra\tsaid.\tHer\tlow-cut\tice-blue dress\tdid\tlittle\tto\thide\ther\tcleavage\tas\tshe\tcraned\ther\tneck\tover\tthe\trail.\tCelaena blocked\t out\t Lysandra\u2019s\t prattling\t as\t the\t courtesan\t began\t tossing\t out\t important names. Celaena\tcould\tsense\tSam\tbehind\ther,\tfeel\this\tgaze\tfocused\tsolely\ton\tthe\tgold velvet\t curtains\t concealing\t the\t stage.\t She\t should\t say\t something\t to\t him\u2014 apologize\tor\tthank\thim\tor\tjust\t\u2026\tsay\tsomething\tkind.\tShe\tfelt\thim\ttensing,\tas\tif he,\t too,\t wanted\t to\t say\t something.\t Somewhere\t in\t the\t theater,\t a\t gong\t began signaling\tthe\taudience\tto\ttake\ttheir\tseats.","It\twas\tnow\tor\tnever.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhy\ther\theart\tthundered\tthe\tway\tit\tdid, but\t she\t didn\u2019t\t give\t herself\t a\t chance\t to\t second-guess\t as\t she\t twisted\t to\t look\t at him.\tShe\tglanced\tonce\tat\this\tclothes\tand\tthen\tsaid,\t\u201cYou\tlook\thandsome.\u201d His\tbrows\trose,\tand\tshe\tswiftly\tturned\tback\taround\tin\ther\tseat,\tfocusing\thard on\tthe\tcurtain.\tHe\tlooked\tbetter\tthan\thandsome,\tbut\t\u2026\tWell,\tat\tleast\tshe\u2019d\tsaid one\t nice\t thing.\t She\u2019d\t tried\t to\t be\t nice.\t Somehow,\t it\t didn\u2019t\t make\t her\t feel\t that much\tbetter. Celaena\tfolded\ther\thands\tin\tthe\tlap\tof\ther\tbloodred\tgown.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tcut\tnearly as\t low\t as\t Lysandra\u2019s,\t but\t with\t the\t slender\t sleeves\t and\t bare\t shoulders,\t she\t felt particularly\texposed\tto\tSam.\tShe\u2019d\tcurled\tand\tswept\ther\thair\tover\tone\tshoulder, certainly\tnot\tto\thide\tthe\tscar\ton\ther\tneck. Doneval\tlounged\tin\this\tseat,\teyes\ton\tthe\tstage.\tHow\tcould\ta\tman\twho\tlooked so\t bored\t and\t useless\t be\t responsible\t for\t not\t just\t the\t fate\t of\t several\t lives,\t but\t of his\t entire\t country?\t How\t could\t he\t sit\t in\t this\t theater\t and\t not\t hang\t his\t head\t in shame\t for\t what\t he\t was\t about\t to\t do\t to\t his\t fellow\t countrymen,\t and\t to\t whatever slaves\t would\t be\t caught\t up\t in\t it?\t The\t men\t around\t Bardingale\t kissed\t her\t cheeks and\tdeparted\tfor\ttheir\town\tboxes.\tDoneval\u2019s\tthree\tthugs\twatched\tthe\tmen\tvery, very\tclosely\tas\tthey\tleft.\tNot\tlazy,\tbored\tguards,\tthen.\tCelaena\tfrowned. But\tthen\tthe\tchandeliers\twere\thauled\tupward\tinto\tthe\tdome\tand\tdimmed,\tand the\t crowd\t quieted\t to\t hear\t the\t opening\t notes\t as\t the\t orchestra\t began\t playing.\t In the\tdark,\tit\twas\tnearly\timpossible\tto\tsee\tDoneval. Sam\u2019s\thand\tbrushed\ther\tshoulder,\tand\tshe\talmost\tjumped\tout\tof\ther\tskin\tas\the brought\this\tmouth\tclose\tto\ther\tear\tand\tmurmured,\t\u201cYou\tlook\tbeautiful.\tThough\tI bet\tyou\talready\tknow\tthat.\u201d\tShe\tmost\tcertainly\tdid. She\tgave\thim\ta\tsidelong\tglare\tand\tfound\thim\tgrinning\tas\the\tleaned\tback\tinto his\tseat. Suppressing\t her\t urge\t to\t smile,\t Celaena\t turned\t toward\t the\t stage\t as\t the\t music established\t the\t setting\t for\t them.\t A\t world\t of\t shadows\t and\t mist.\t A\t world\t where creatures\tand\tmyths\tdwelled\tin\tthe\tdark\tmoments\tbefore\tdawn. Celaena\twent\tstill\tas\tthe\tgold\tcurtain\tdrew\tback,\tand\teverything\tshe\tknew\tand everything\tshe\twas\tfaded\taway\tto\tnothing. The\tmusic\tannihilated\ther. The\tdancing\twas\tbreathtaking,\tyes,\tand\tthe\tstory\tit\ttold\twas\tcertainly\tlovely\u2014 a\tlegend\tof\ta\tprince\tseeking\tto\trescue\this\tbride,\tand\tthe\tcunning\tbird\the\tcaptured to\thelp\thim\tto\tdo\tit\u2014but\tthe\tmusic. Had\t there\t ever\t been\t anything\t more\t beautiful,\t more\t exquisitely\t painful?\t She","clenched\t the\t arms\t of\t the\t seat,\t her\t fingers\t digging\t into\t the\t velvet\t as\t the\t music hurtled\ttoward\tits\tfinale,\tsweeping\ther\taway\tin\ta\tflood. With\t each\t beat\t of\t the\t drum,\t each\t trill\t of\t the\t flute\t and\t blare\t of\t the\t horn,\t she felt\tall\tof\tit\talong\ther\tskin,\talong\ther\tbones.\tThe\tmusic\tbroke\ther\tapart\tand\tput her\tback\ttogether,\tonly\tto\trend\ther\tasunder\tagain\tand\tagain. And\t then\t the\t climax,\t the\t compilation\t of\t all\t the\t sounds\t she\t had\t loved\t best, amplified\tuntil\tthey\techoed\tinto\teternity.\tAs\tthe\tfinal\tnote\tswelled,\ta\tgasp\tbroke from\t her,\t setting\t the\t tears\t in\t her\t eyes\t spilling\t down\t her\t face.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t care who\tsaw. Then,\tsilence. The\t silence\t was\t the\t worst\t thing\t she\u2019d\t ever\t heard.\t The\t silence\t brought\t back everything\taround\ther.\tApplause\terupted,\tand\tshe\twas\ton\ther\tfeet,\tcrying\tstill\tas she\tclapped\tuntil\ther\thands\tached. \u201cCelaena,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tyou\thad\ta\tshred\tof\thuman\temotion\tin\tyou,\u201d\tLysandra leaned\tin\tto\twhisper.\t\u201cAnd\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tthe\tperformance\twas\tthat\tgood.\u201d Sam\tgripped\tthe\tback\tof\tLysandra\u2019s\tchair.\t\u201cShut\tup,\tLysandra.\u201d Arobynn\tclicked\this\ttongue\tin\twarning,\tbut\tCelaena\tremained\tclapping,\teven as\t Sam\u2019s\t defense\t sent\t a\t faint\t trickle\t of\t pleasure\t through\t her.\t The\t ovation continued\t for\t a\t while,\t with\t the\t dancers\t emerging\t from\t the\t curtain\t again\t and again\tto\tbow\tand\tbe\tshowered\twith\tflowers.\tCelaena\tclapped\tthrough\tit\tall,\teven as\ther\ttears\tdried,\teven\tas\tthe\tcrowd\tbegan\tshuffling\tout. When\tshe\tremembered\tto\tglance\tat\tDoneval,\this\tbox\twas\tempty. Arobynn,\tSam,\tand\tLysandra\tleft\ttheir\tbox,\ttoo,\tlong\tbefore\tshe\twas\tready\tto end\t her\t applause.\t But\t after\t she\t finished\t clapping,\t Celaena\t remained,\t staring toward\t the\t curtained\t stage,\t watching\t the\t orchestra\t begin\t to\t pack\t up\t their instruments. She\twas\tthe\tlast\tperson\tto\tleave\tthe\ttheater. There\twas\tanother\tparty\tat\tthe\tKeep\tthat\tnight\u2014a\tparty\tfor\tLysandra\tand\ther madam\t and\t whatever\t artists\t and\t philosophers\t and\t writers\t Arobynn\t favored\t at that\t moment.\t Mercifully,\t it\t was\t confined\t to\t one\t of\t the\t drawing\t rooms,\t but laughter\t and\t music\t still\t filled\t the\t entirety\t of\t the\t second\t floor.\t On\t the\t carriage ride\t home,\t Arobynn\t had\t asked\t Celaena\t to\t join\t them,\t but\t the\t last\t thing\t she wanted\tto\tsee\twas\tLysandra\tbeing\tfawned\tover\tby\tArobynn,\tSam,\tand\teveryone else.\tSo\tshe\ttold\thim\tthat\tshe\twas\ttired\tand\tneeded\tto\tsleep. She\twasn\u2019t\ttired\tin\tthe\tleast,\tthough.\tEmotionally\tdrained,\tperhaps,\tbut\tit\twas only\t ten\t thirty,\t and\t the\t thought\t of\t taking\t off\t her\t gown\t and\t climbing\t into\t bed","made\t her\t feel\t rather\t pathetic.\t She\t was\t Adarlan\u2019s\t Assassin;\t she\u2019d\t freed\t slaves and\t stolen\t Asterion\t horses\t and\t won\t the\t respect\t of\t the\t Mute\t Master.\t Surely\t she could\tdo\tsomething\tbetter\tthan\tgo\tto\tbed\tearly. So\t she\t slipped\t into\t one\t of\t the\t music\t rooms,\t where\t it\t was\t quiet\t enough\t that she\tcould\tonly\thear\ta\tburst\tof\tlaughter\tevery\tnow\tand\tthen.\tThe\tother\tassassins were\teither\tat\tthe\tparty\tor\toff\ton\tsome\tmission\tor\tother.\tHer\trustling\tdress\twas the\t only\t sound\t as\t she\t folded\t back\t the\t cover\t of\t the\t pianoforte.\t She\u2019d\t learned\t to play\t when\t she\t was\t ten\u2014under\t Arobynn\u2019s\t orders\t that\t she\t find\t at\t least\t one refined\t skill\t other\t than\t ending\t lives\u2014and\t had\t fallen\t in\t love\t immediately. Though\tshe\tno\tlonger\ttook\tlessons,\tshe\tplayed\twhenever\tshe\tcould\tspare\ta\tfew minutes. The\t music\t from\t the\t theater\t still\t echoed\t in\t her\t mind.\t Again\t and\t again,\t the same\t cluster\t of\t notes\t and\t harmonies.\t She\t could\t feel\t them\t humming\t under\t the surface\t of\t her\t skin,\t beating\t in\t time\t with\t her\t heart.\t What\t she\t wouldn\u2019t\t give\t to hear\tthe\tmusic\tonce\tmore! She\tplayed\ta\tfew\tnotes\twith\tone\thand,\tfrowned,\tadjusted\ther\tfingers,\tand\ttried again,\t clinging\t to\t the\t music\t in\t her\t mind.\t Slowly,\t the\t familiar\t melody\t began\t to sound\tright. But\t it\t was\t only\t a\t few\t notes,\t and\t it\t was\t the\t pianoforte,\t not\t an\t orchestra;\t she pounded\tthe\tkeys\tharder,\tworking\tout\tthe\triffs.\tIt\twas\talmost\tthere,\tbut\tnot\tquite right.\tShe\tcouldn\u2019t\tremember\tthe\tnotes\tas\tperfectly\tas\tthey\tsounded\tin\ther\thead. She\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tthem\tthe\tway\tshe\u2019d\tfelt\tthem\tonly\tan\thour\tago. She\t tried\t again\t for\t a\t few\t minutes,\t but\t eventually\t slammed\t the\t lid\t shut\t and stalked\t from\t the\t room.\t She\t found\t Sam\t lounging\t against\t a\t wall\t in\t the\t hallway. Had\the\tbeen\tlistening\tto\ther\tfumble\twith\tthe\tpianoforte\tthis\twhole\ttime? \u201cClose,\tbut\tnot\tquite\tthe\tsame,\tis\tit?\u201d\the\tsaid.\tShe\tgave\thim\ta\twithering\tlook and\tstarted\ttoward\ther\tbedroom,\teven\tthough\tshe\thad\tno\tdesire\tto\tspend\tthe\trest of\tthe\tnight\tsitting\tin\tthere\tby\therself.\t\u201cIt\tmust\tdrive\tyou\tmad,\tnot\tbeing\table\tto get\tit\texactly\tthe\tway\tyou\tremember\tit.\u201d\tHe\tkept\tpace\tbeside\ther.\tHis\tmidnight- blue\ttunic\tbrought\tout\tthe\tgolden\thues\tin\this\tskin. \u201cI\t was\t just\t fooling\t around,\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cI\t can\u2019t\t be\t the\t best\t at\t everything,\t you know.\tIt\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tfair\tto\tthe\trest\tof\tyou,\twould\tit?\u201d\tDown\tthe\thall,\tsomeone had\tstarted\ta\tmerry\ttune\ton\tthe\tinstruments\tin\tthe\tgaming\troom. Sam\tchewed\ton\this\tlip.\t\u201cWhy\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\ttrail\tDoneval\tafter\tthe\ttheater?\tDon\u2019t you\t have\t only\t four\t days\t left?\u201d\t She\t wasn\u2019t\t surprised\t he\t knew;\t her\t missions weren\u2019t\tusually\tthat\tsecret. She\tpaused,\tstill\titching\tto\thear\tthe\tmusic\tonce\tmore.\t\u201cSome\tthings\tare\tmore important\tthan\tdeath.\u201d","Sam\u2019s\teyes\tflickered.\t\u201cI\tknow.\u201d She\ttried\tnot\tto\tsquirm\tas\the\trefused\tto\tdrop\ther\tstare.\t\u201cWhy\tare\tyou\thelping Lysandra?\u201d\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhy\tshe\tasked\tit. Sam\tfrowned.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\tnot\tall\tthat\tbad,\tyou\tknow.\tWhen\tshe\u2019s\taway\tfrom\tother people,\tshe\u2019s\t\u2026\tbetter.\tDon\u2019t\tbite\toff\tmy\thead\tfor\tsaying\tit,\tbut\teven\tthough\tyou taunt\ther\tabout\tit,\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tchoose\tthis\tpath\tfor\therself\u2014like\tus.\u201d\tHe\tshook\this head.\t\u201cShe\tjust\twants\tyour\tattention\u2014and\tacknowledgment\tof\ther\texistence.\u201d She\t clenched\t her\t jaw.\t Of\t course\t he\u2019d\t spent\t plenty\t of\t time\t alone\t with Lysandra.\t And\t of\t course\t he\u2019d\t find\t her\t sympathetic.\t \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t particularly\t care what\t she\t wants.\t You\t still\t haven\u2019t\t answered\t my\t question.\t Why\t are\t you\t helping her?\u201d He\t shrugged.\t \u201cBecause\t Arobynn\t told\t me\t to.\t And\t since\t I\t have\t no\t desire\t to have\tmy\tface\tbeaten\tto\ta\tpulp\tagain,\tI\u2019m\tnot\tgoing\tto\tquestion\thim.\u201d \u201cHe\u2014he\thurt\tyou\tthat\tbadly,\ttoo?\u201d Sam\t let\t out\t a\t low\t laugh,\t but\t didn\u2019t\t reply\t until\t after\t a\t servant\t bustled\t past, carrying\t a\t tray\t full\t of\t wine\t bottles.\t They\t were\t probably\t better\t off\t talking\t in\t a room\t where\t they\u2019d\t be\t less\t likely\t to\t be\t overheard,\t but\t the\t idea\t of\t being\t utterly alone\twith\thim\tmade\ther\tpulse\tpound. \u201cI\twas\tunconscious\tfor\ta\tday,\tand\tdozed\ton\tand\toff\tfor\tthree\tmore\tafter\tthat,\u201d Sam\tsaid. Celaena\thissed\ta\tviolent\tcurse. \u201cHe\tsent\tyou\tto\tthe\tRed\tDesert,\u201d\tSam\twent\ton,\this\twords\tsoft\tand\tlow.\t\u201cBut my\tpunishment\twas\thaving\tto\twatch\thim\tbeat\tyou\tthat\tnight.\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d\tAnother\tquestion\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tmean\tto\task. He\t closed\t the\t distance\t between\t them,\t standing\t near\t enough\t now\t that\t she could\t see\t the\t fine\t gold-thread\t detailing\t on\t his\t tunic.\t \u201cAfter\t what\t we\t went through\tin\tSkull\u2019s\tBay,\tyou\tshould\tknow\tthe\tanswer.\u201d She\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tknow\tthe\tanswer,\tnow\tthat\tshe\tthought\tabout\tit.\t\u201cAre\tyou going\tto\tmake\ta\tBid\tfor\tLysandra?\u201d Sam\t burst\t out\t laughing.\t \u201cBid?\t Celaena,\t I\t don\u2019t\t have\t any\t money.\t And\t the money\tthat\tI\tdo\thave\tis\tgoing\ttoward\tpaying\tback\tArobynn.\tEven\tif\tI\twanted\tto \u2014\u201d \u201cDo\tyou\twant\tto?\u201d He\tgave\ther\ta\tlazy\tgrin.\t\u201cWhy\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tknow?\u201d \u201cBecause\t I\u2019m\t curious\t whether\t Arobynn\u2019s\t beating\t damaged\t your\t brain,\t that\u2019s why.\u201d \u201cAfraid\t she\t and\t I\t had\t a\t summer\t romance?\u201d\t That\t insufferable\t grin\t was\t still there.","She\t could\t have\t raked\t her\t nails\t down\t his\t face.\t Instead,\t she\t picked\t another weapon.\t\u201cI\thope\tyou\tdid.\tI\tcertainly\tenjoyed\tmyself\tthis\tsummer.\u201d The\tsmile\tfaded\tat\tthat.\t\u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u201d She\tbrushed\tan\tinvisible\tfleck\tof\tdust\toff\ther\tred\tgown.\t\u201cLet\u2019s\tjust\tsay\tthat\tthe son\t of\t the\t Mute\t Master\t was\t far\t more\t welcoming\t than\t the\t other\t Silent Assassins.\u201d\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tquite\ta\tlie.\tIlias\thad\ttried\tto\tkiss\ther,\tand\tshe\thad\tbasked\tin his\tattention,\tbut\tshe\thadn\u2019t\twanted\tto\tstart\tanything\tbetween\tthem. Sam\u2019s\t face\t paled.\t Her\t words\t had\t struck\t home,\t but\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t as\t satisfying\t as she\tthought\tit\twould\tbe.\tInstead,\tthe\tmere\tfact\tthat\tit\thad\taffected\thim\tmade\ther feel\t\u2026\tfeel\t\u2026\tOh,\twhy\thad\tshe\teven\tsaid\tanything\tabout\tIlias? Well,\t she\t knew\t precisely\t why.\t Sam\t began\t to\t turn\t away,\t but\t she\t grabbed\t his arm.\t \u201cHelp\t me\t with\t Doneval,\u201d\t she\t blurted.\t Not\t that\t she\t needed\t it,\t but\t this\t was the\t best\t she\t could\t offer\t him\t in\t exchange\t for\t what\t he\u2019d\t done\t for\t her.\t \u201cI\u2019ll\u2014I\u2019ll give\tyou\thalf\tof\tthe\tmoney.\u201d He\t snorted.\t \u201cKeep\t your\t money.\t I\t don\u2019t\t need\t it.\t Ruining\t yet\t another\t slave- trade\tagreement\twill\tbe\tenough\tfor\tme.\u201d\tHe\tstudied\ther\tfor\ta\tmoment,\this\tmouth quirking\tto\tthe\tside.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tsure\tyou\twant\tmy\thelp?\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\tIt\tcame\tout\ta\tbit\tstrangled.\tHe\tsearched\ther\teyes\tfor\tany\tsign of\tmockery.\tShe\thated\therself\tfor\tmaking\thim\tdistrust\ther\tthat\tmuch. But\the\tnodded\tat\tlast.\t\u201cThen\twe\u2019ll\tstart\ttomorrow.\tWe\u2019ll\tscope\tout\this\thouse. Unless\tyou\u2019ve\talready\tdone\tthat?\u201d\tShe\tshook\ther\thead.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tcome\tby\tyour\troom after\tbreakfast.\u201d She\t nodded.\t There\t was\t more\t she\t wanted\t to\t say\t to\t him,\t and\t she\t didn\u2019t\t want him\tto\tgo,\tbut\ther\tthroat\thad\tclosed\tup,\ttoo\tfull\tof\tall\tthose\tunspoken\twords.\tShe made\tto\tturn\taway. \u201cCelaena.\u201d\t She\t looked\t back\t at\t him,\t her\t red\t gown\t sweeping\t around\t her.\t His eyes\tshone\tas\the\tflashed\ther\ta\tcrooked\tgrin.\t\u201cI\tmissed\tyou\tthis\tsummer.\u201d She\t met\t his\t stare\t unflinchingly,\t returning\t the\t smile\t as\t she\t said,\t \u201cI\t hate\t to admit\tit,\tSam\tCortland,\tbut\tI\tmissed\tyour\tsorry\tass,\ttoo.\u201d He\t merely\t chuckled\t before\t he\t strode\t toward\t the\t party,\t his\t hands\t in\t his pockets.","CHAPTER 4 Crouched\t in\t the\t shadows\t of\t a\t gargoyle\t the\t following\t afternoon,\t Celaena shifted\ther\tnumb\tlegs\tand\tgroaned\tsoftly.\tShe\tusually\topted\tto\twear\ta\tmask,\tbut with\t the\t rain,\t it\t would\t have\t limited\t her\t vision\t even\t further.\t Going\t without, though,\tmade\ther\tfeel\tsomewhat\texposed. The\train\talso\tmade\tthe\tstone\tslick,\tand\tshe\ttook\textra\tcare\twhile\tadjusting\ther position.\t Six\t hours.\t Six\t hours\t spent\t on\t this\t rooftop,\t staring\t across\t the\t street\t at the\t two-story\t house\t Doneval\t had\t rented\t for\t the\t duration\t of\t his\t stay.\t It\t was\t just off\t the\t most\t fashionable\t avenue\t in\t the\t city,\t and\t was\t enormous,\t as\t far\t as\t city homes\t went.\t Made\t of\t solid\t white\t stone\t and\t capped\t with\t green\t clay\t shingles,\t it looked\tjust\tlike\tany\tother\twealthy\thome\tin\tthe\tcity,\tright\tdown\tto\tits\tintricately carved\twindowsills\tand\t doorways.\tThe\tfront\t lawn\twas\tmanicured,\tand\teven\t in the\t rain,\t servants\t bustled\t around\t the\t property,\t bringing\t in\t food,\t flowers,\t and other\tsupplies. That\twas\tthe\tfirst\tthing\tshe\tnoticed\u2014that\tpeople\tcame\tand\twent\tall\tday.\tAnd there\t were\t guards\t everywhere.\t They\t looked\t closely\t at\t the\t faces\t of\t the\t servants who\tentered,\tscaring\tthe\tdaylights\tout\tof\tsome\tof\tthem. There\twas\ta\twhisper\tof\tboots\tagainst\tthe\tledge,\tand\tSam\tnimbly\tslipped\tinto the\tshadows\tof\tthe\tgargoyle,\treturning\tfrom\tscouting\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\thouse. \u201cA\t guard\t on\t every\t corner,\u201d\t Celaena\t murmured\t as\t Sam\t settled\t down\t beside her.\t \u201cThree\t at\t the\t front\t door,\t two\t at\t the\t gate.\t How\t many\t did\t you\t spot\t in\t the back?\u201d \u201cOne\t on\t either\t side\t of\t the\t house,\t three\t more\t by\t the\t stables.\t And\t they\t don\u2019t look\tlike\tcheap\thands\tfor\thire,\teither.\tWill\twe\ttake\tthem\tout,\tor\tslip\tpast\tthem?\u201d \u201cI\u2019d\t prefer\t not\t to\t kill\t them,\u201d\t she\t admitted.\t \u201cBut\t we\u2019ll\t see\t if\t we\t can\t slip\t past when\tthe\ttime\tcomes.\tSeems\tlike\tthey\u2019re\trotating\tevery\ttwo\thours.\tThe\toff-duty guards\tgo\tinto\tthe\thouse.\u201d \u201cDoneval\u2019s\tstill\taway?\u201d She\tnodded,\tinching\tnearer\tto\thim.\tOf\tcourse,\tit\twas\tjust\tto\tabsorb\this\twarmth against\t the\t freezing\t rain.\t She\t tried\t not\t to\t notice\t when\t he\t pressed\t closer\t to\t her,","too.\t\u201cHe\thasn\u2019t\treturned.\u201d Doneval\t had\t left\t nearly\t an\t hour\t ago,\t closely\t flanked\t by\t a\t hulking\t brute\t of\t a man\t who\t looked\t hewn\t from\t granite.\t The\t bodyguard\t inspected\t the\t carriage, examined\t the\t coachman\t and\t the\t footman,\t held\t the\t door\t until\t Doneval\t was ensconced\tinside,\tand\tthen\tslipped\tin\thimself.\tIt\tseemed\tlike\tDoneval\tknew\tvery well\t just\t how\t coveted\t and\t delicate\t his\t list\t of\t slave\t sympathizers\t was.\t She\u2019d seldom\tseen\tthis\tkind\tof\tsecurity. They\u2019d\t already\t surveyed\t the\t house\t and\t grounds,\t noting\t everything\t from\t the stones\tof\tthe\tbuilding\tto\twhat\tsort\tof\tlatches\tsealed\tthe\twindows\tto\tthe\tdistance between\tthe\tnearby\trooftops\tand\tthe\troof\tof\tthe\thouse\titself.\tEven\twith\tthe\train, she\t could\t see\t well\t enough\t into\t the\t second-story\t window\t to\t make\t out\t a\t long hallway.\t Some\t servants\t came\t out\t of\t rooms\t bearing\t sheets\t and\t blankets\u2014 bedrooms,\tthen.\tFour\tof\tthem.\tThere\twas\ta\tsupply\tcloset\tnear\tthe\tstairwell\tat\tthe center\tof\tthe\thall.\tFrom\tthe\tlight\tthat\tspilled\tinto\tthe\thallway,\tshe\tknew\tthat\tthe main\tstairwell\thad\tto\tbe\topen\tand\tgrand,\tjust\tlike\tthe\tone\tin\tthe\tAssassins\u2019\tKeep. Not\ta\tchance\tof\thiding,\tunless\tthey\tfound\tthe\tservants\u2019\tpassages. They\t got\t lucky,\t though,\t when\t she\t spied\t a\t servant\t going\t into\t the\t one\t of\t the second-floor\trooms,\tcarrying\ta\tpile\tof\tthe\tafternoon\tpapers.\tA\tfew\tminutes\tlater, a\t maid\t lugged\t in\t a\t bucket\t and\t tools\t for\t sweeping\t out\t a\t fireplace,\t and\t then\t a manservant\tbrought\tin\twhat\tlooked\tlike\ta\tbottle\tof\twine.\tShe\thadn\u2019t\tseen\tanyone changing\tthe\tlinens\tin\tthat\troom,\tand\tso\tthey\ttook\tspecial\tnotice\tof\tthe\tservants who\tentered\tand\texited. It\thad\tto\tbe\tthe\tprivate\tstudy\tthat\tArobynn\thad\tmentioned.\tDoneval\tprobably maintained\ta\tformal\tstudy\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor,\tbut\tif\the\twere\tdoing\tdark\tdealings, then\tmoving\this\treal\tbusiness\tto\ta\tmore\thidden\tquarter\tof\tthe\thouse\twould\tmake sense.\t But\t they\t still\t needed\t to\t figure\t out\t what\t time\t the\t meeting\t would\t take place.\tRight\tnow,\tit\tcould\tbe\tat\tany\tpoint\ton\tthe\tarranged\tday. \u201cThere\t he\t is,\u201d\t Sam\t hissed.\t Doneval\u2019s\t carriage\t pulled\t up,\t and\t the\t hulking bodyguard\tgot\tout,\tscouring\tthe\tstreet\tfor\ta\tmoment\tbefore\the\tmotioned\tfor\tthe businessman\tto\temerge.\tCelaena\thad\ta\tfeeling\tthat\tDoneval\u2019s\trush\tto\tget\tinto\tthe house\twasn\u2019t\tjust\tabout\tthe\tdownpour. They\tducked\tback\tinto\tthe\tshadows\tagain.\t\u201cWhere\tdo\tyou\tsuppose\the\twent?\u201d Sam\tasked. She\t shrugged.\t His\t former\t wife\u2019s\t Harvest\t Moon\t party\t was\t tonight;\t perhaps that\thad\tsomething\tto\tdo\twith\tit,\tor\tthe\tstreet\tfestival\tthat\tMelisande\twas\thosting in\t the\t center\t of\t the\t city\t today.\t She\t and\t Sam\t were\t now\t crouching\t so\t close together\tthat\ta\ttoasty\twarmth\twas\tspreading\tup\tone\tside\tof\ther.\t\u201cNowhere\tgood, I\u2019m\tsure.\u201d","Sam\tlet\tout\ta\tbreathy\tlaugh,\this\teyes\tstill\ton\tthe\thouse.\tThey\twere\tsilent\tfor\ta few\tminutes.\tAt\tlast,\the\tsaid,\t\u201cSo,\tthe\tMute\tMaster\u2019s\tson\t\u2026\u201d She\talmost\tgroaned. \u201cHow\tclose\twere\tyou,\texactly?\u201d\tHe\tfocused\ton\tthe\thouse,\tthough\tshe\tnoticed that\the\u2019d\tfisted\this\thands. Just\ttell\thim\tthe\ttruth,\tidiot! \u201cNothing\t happened\t with\t Ilias.\t It\t was\t only\t a\t bit\t of\t flirtation,\t but\t \u2026\t nothing happened,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tagain. \u201cWell,\u201d\t he\t said\t after\t a\t moment,\t \u201cnothing\t happened\t with\t Lysandra.\t And nothing\tis\tgoing\tto.\tEver.\u201d \u201cAnd\twhy,\texactly,\tdo\tyou\tthink\tI\tcare?\u201d\tIt\twas\ther\tturn\tto\tkeep\ther\teyes\tfixed on\tthe\thouse. He\tnudged\ther\twith\this\tshoulder.\t\u201cSince\twe\u2019re\tfriends\tnow,\tI\tassumed\tyou\u2019d want\tto\tknow.\u201d She\t was\t grateful\t that\t her\t hood\t concealed\t most\t of\t her\t burning-hot\t face.\t \u201cI think\tI\tpreferred\tit\twhen\tyou\twanted\tto\tkill\tme.\u201d \u201cSometimes\t I\t think\t so,\t too.\t Certainly\t made\t my\t life\t more\t interesting.\t I wonder,\tthough\u2014if\tI\u2019m\thelping\tyou,\tdoes\tit\tmean\tI\tget\tto\tbe\tyour\tSecond\twhen you\t run\t the\t Assassins\u2019\t Guild?\t Or\t does\t it\t just\t mean\t that\t I\t can\t boast\t that\t the famed\tCelaena\tSardothien\tfinally\tfinds\tme\tworthy?\u201d She\t jabbed\t him\t with\t an\t elbow.\t \u201cIt\t means\t you\t should\t shut\t up\t and\t pay attention.\u201d\t They\t grinned\t at\t each\t other,\t and\t then\t they\t waited.\t Around\t sunset\u2014 which\tfelt\tespecially\tearly\tthat\tday,\tgiven\tthe\theavy\tcloud\tcover\u2014the\tbodyguard emerged.\t Doneval\t was\t nowhere\t in\t sight,\t and\t the\t bodyguard\t motioned\t to\t the guards,\t speaking\t quietly\t to\t them\t before\t he\t strode\t down\t the\t street.\t \u201cOff\t on\t an errand?\u201d\t Celaena\t pondered.\t Sam\t inclined\t his\t head\t after\t the\t bodyguard,\t a suggestion\tthat\tthey\tfollow.\t\u201cGood\tidea.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\t stiff\t limbs\t ached\t in\t protest\t as\t she\t slowly,\t carefully\t inched\t away from\t the\t gargoyle.\t She\t kept\t her\t eyes\t on\t the\t nearby\t guards,\t not\t once\t looking away\tas\tshe\tgrabbed\tthe\troof\tledge\tand\thauled\therself\tup\tit,\tSam\tfollowing\tsuit. She\t wished\t she\t had\t the\t boots\t the\t master\t tinkerer\t was\t adjusting\t for\t her,\t but they\t wouldn\u2019t\t arrive\t until\t tomorrow.\t Her\t black\t leather\t boots,\t while\t supple\t and supportive,\tfelt\ta\tbit\ttraitorous\ton\tthe\train-slick\tgutter\tof\tthe\troof.\tStill,\tshe\tand Sam\t kept\t low\t and\t fast\t as\t they\t dashed\t along\t the\t roof\t edge,\t tracking\t the\t hulking man\t in\t the\t street\t below.\t Luckily,\t he\t turned\t down\t a\t back\t alley,\t and\t the\t next house\t was\t close\t enough\t that\t she\t could\t nimbly\t leap\t onto\t the\t adjacent\t roof.\t Her boots\t slid,\t but\t her\t gloved\t fingers\t grappled\t onto\t the\t green\t stone\t shingles.\t Sam landed\t flawlessly\t beside\t her,\t and,\t to\t her\t surprise,\t she\t didn\u2019t\t bite\t his\t head\t off","when\the\tgrabbed\tthe\tback\tof\ther\tcloak\tto\thelp\ther\tstand. The\t bodyguard\t continued\t along\t the\t alley,\t and\t they\t trailed\t on\t the\t rooftops, shadows\tagainst\tthe\tgrowing\tdark.\tAt\tlast,\the\tcame\tto\ta\tbroader\tstreet\twhere\tthe gaps\t between\t houses\t were\t too\t big\t to\t jump,\t and\t Celaena\t and\t Sam\t shimmied down\ta\tdrainpipe.\tTheir\tboots\twere\tsoft\tas\tthey\thit\tthe\tground.\tThey\tpicked\tup\ta casual\t pace\t behind\t their\t quarry,\t arms\t linked,\t just\t two\t citizens\t of\t the\t capital\t on their\tway\tto\tsomewhere,\teager\tto\tget\tout\tof\tthe\train. It\twas\teasy\tto\tspot\thim\tin\tthe\tcrowd,\teven\tas\tthey\treached\tthe\tmain\tavenue\tof the\t city.\t People\t jumped\t out\t of\t his\t way,\t actually.\t Melisande\u2019s\t street\t festival\t in honor\tof\tthe\tHarvest\tMoon\twas\tin\tfull\tswing,\tand\tpeople\tflocked\tto\tit\tdespite\tthe rain.\t Celaena\t and\t Sam\t followed\t the\t bodyguard\t for\t a\t few\t more\t blocks,\t down\t a few\t more\t alleys.\t The\t bodyguard\t turned\t to\t look\t behind\t him\t only\t once,\t but\t he found\tthem\tleaning\tcasually\tagainst\tan\talley\twall,\tmerely\tcloaked\tfigures\ttaking shelter\tfrom\tthe\train. With\tall\tthe\twaste\tbrought\tin\tby\tthe\tMelisande\tconvoy,\tand\tthe\tsmaller\tstreet festivals\t that\t had\t already\t occurred,\t the\t streets\t and\t sewers\t were\t nearly overflowing\twith\tgarbage.\tAs\tthey\tstalked\tthe\tbodyguard,\tCelaena\theard\tpeople talking\t about\t how\t the\t city\t wardens\t had\t dammed\t up\t parts\t of\t the\t sewers\t to\t let them\t fill\t with\t rainwater.\t Tomorrow\t night\t they\t were\t going\t to\t unleash\t them, causing\t a\t torrent\t in\t the\t sewers\t wild\t enough\t to\t sweep\t all\t the\t clinging\t trash\t into the\t Avery\t River.\t They\u2019d\t done\t it\t before,\t apparently\u2014if\t the\t sewers\t weren\u2019t flushed\t out\t every\t now\t and\t then,\t the\t filth\t would\t grow\t stagnant\t and\t reek\t even more.\t Still,\t Celaena\t planned\t to\t be\t high,\t high\t above\t the\t streets\t by\t the\t time\t they unleashed\t those\t dams.\t There\t was\t sure\t to\t be\t some\t in-street\t flooding\t before\t it subsided,\tand\tshe\thad\tno\tdesire\tto\twalk\tthrough\tany\tof\tit. The\t bodyguard\t eventually\t went\t into\t a\t tavern\t on\t the\t cusp\t of\t the\t crumbling slums,\tand\tthey\twaited\tfor\thim\tacross\tthe\tstreet.\tThrough\tthe\tcracked\twindows, they\t could\t see\t him\t sitting\t at\t the\t bar,\t drinking\t mug\t after\t mug\t of\t ale.\t Celaena began\tto\twish\tfervently\tthat\tshe\tcould\tbe\tat\tthe\tstreet\tfestival\tinstead. \u201cWell,\t if\t he\t has\t a\t weakness\t for\t alcohol,\t then\t perhaps\t that\t could\t be\t our\t way around\t him,\u201d\t Sam\t observed.\t She\t nodded,\t but\t didn\u2019t\t say\t anything.\t Sam\t looked toward\tthe\tglass\tcastle,\tits\ttowers\twreathed\tin\tmist.\t\u201cI\twonder\tif\tBardingale\tand the\tothers\tare\thaving\tany\tluck\tconvincing\tthe\tking\tto\tfund\ttheir\troad,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cI wonder\twhy\tshe\twould\teven\twant\tit\tbuilt,\tsince\tshe\tseems\tso\teager\tto\tmake\tsure the\tslave\ttrade\tstays\tout\tof\tMelisande\tfor\tas\tlong\tas\tpossible.\u201d \u201cIf\tanything,\tit\tmeans\tshe\thas\tabsolute\tfaith\tthat\twe\twon\u2019t\tfail,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid. When\t she\t didn\u2019t\t say\t anything\t else,\t Sam\t fell\t silent.\t An\t hour\t passed,\t and\t the bodyguard\tspoke\tto\tno\tone,\tpaid\tthe\tentire\ttab\twith\ta\tpiece\tof\tsilver,\tand\theaded","back\tto\tDoneval\u2019s\thouse.\tDespite\tthe\tale\the\u2019d\tconsumed,\this\tsteps\twere\tsteady, and\t by\t the\t time\t Sam\t and\t Celaena\t reached\t the\t house,\t she\t was\t almost\t bored\t to tears\u2014not\t to\t mention\t shivering\t with\t cold\t and\t unsure\t if\t her\t numbed\t toes\t had fallen\toff\tinside\ther\tboots. They\twatched\tfrom\ta\tnearby\tstreet\tcorner\tas\tthe\tbodyguard\twent\tup\tthe\tfront steps.\tHe\theld\ta\tposition\tof\trespect,\tthen,\tif\the\twasn\u2019t\tmade\tto\tenter\tthrough\tthe back.\tBut\teven\twith\tthe\tbits\tof\tinformation\tthey\u2019d\tgathered\tthat\tday,\twhen\tthey made\t the\t twenty-minute\t trek\t across\t the\t city\t to\t the\t Keep,\t Celaena\t couldn\u2019t\t help feeling\t rather\t useless\t and\t miserable.\t Even\t Sam\t was\t quiet\t as\t they\t reached\t their home,\tand\tmerely\ttold\ther\tthat\the\u2019d\tsee\ther\tin\ta\tfew\thours. The\t Harvest\t Moon\t party\t was\t that\t night\u2014and\t the\t deal\t with\t Doneval\t three days\t away.\t Considering\t how\t little\t they\u2019d\t been\t able\t to\t actually\t glean\t that\t day, perhaps\t she\u2019d\t have\t to\t work\t harder\t than\t she\u2019d\t thought\t to\t find\t a\t way\t to\t take\t out her\tquarry.\tMaybe\tArobynn\u2019s\t\u201cgift\u201d\thad\tbeen\tmore\tof\ta\tcurse. What\ta\twaste. She\tspent\tan\thour\tsoaking\tin\ther\tbathtub,\trunning\tthe\thot\twater\tuntil\tshe\twas fairly\tcertain\tthere\twasn\u2019t\tany\tleft\tfor\tanyone\telse\tin\tthe\tKeep.\tArobynn\thimself had\tcommissioned\tthe\trunning\twater\toutfit\tfor\tthe\tKeep,\tand\tit\thad\tcost\tas\tmuch as\tthe\tbuilding\tdid,\tbut\tshe\twas\tforever\tgrateful\tfor\tit. Once\tthe\tice\thad\tmelted\taway\tfrom\ther\tbones,\tshe\tslipped\tinto\tthe\tblack\tsilk dressing\trobe\tArobynn\thad\tgiven\ther\tthat\tmorning\u2014another\tof\this\tpresents,\tbut still\t not\t enough\t that\t she\u2019d\t forgive\t him\t anytime\t soon.\t She\t padded\t into\t her bedroom.\t A\t servant\t had\t started\t a\t fire,\t and\t she\t was\t about\t to\t begin\t dressing\t for the\tHarvest\tMoon\tparty\twhen\tshe\tspotted\tthe\tpile\tof\tpapers\ton\ther\tbed. They\t were\t tied\t with\t a\t red\t string,\t and\t her\t stomach\t fluttered\t as\t she\t pulled\t out the\tnote\tplaced\ton\ttop. She\tmight\thave\trolled\ther\teyes\thad\tshe\tnot\tseen\twhat\tlay\tbefore\ther. Sheet\t music.\t For\t the\t performance\t she\u2019d\t seen\t last\t night.\t For\t the\t notes\t she couldn\u2019t\t get\t out\t of\t her\t mind,\t even\t a\t day\t later.\t She\t glanced\t again\t at\t the\t note.\t It wasn\u2019t\tArobynn\u2019s\telegant\tscript,\tbut\tSam\u2019s\thurried\tscrawl.\tWhen\tin\thell\thad\the found\t the\t time\t today\t to\t get\t these?\t He\t must\t have\t gone\t out\t right\t after\t they\u2019d returned.","She\tsank\tonto\tthe\tbed,\tflipping\tthrough\tthe\tpages.\tThe\tshow\thad\tonly\tdebuted a\tfew\tweeks\tago;\tsheet\tmusic\tfor\tit\twasn\u2019t\teven\tin\tcirculation\tyet.\tNor\twould\tit be,\tuntil\tit\tproved\titself\tto\tbe\ta\tsuccess.\tThat\tcould\tbe\tmonths,\teven\tyears,\tfrom now. She\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\ther\tsmile. Despite\t the\t ongoing\t rain\t that\t night,\t the\t Harvest\t Moon\t party\t at\t Leighfer Bardingale\u2019s\t riverfront\t house\t was\t so\t packed\t that\t Celaena\t hardly\t had\t room\t to show\t off\t her\t exquisite\t gold-and-blue\t dress,\t or\t the\t fish-fin\t combs\t she\u2019d\t had positioned\t along\t the\t sides\t of\t her\t upswept\t hair.\t Everyone\t who\t was\t anyone\t in Rifthold\twas\there.\tThat\tis,\teveryone\twithout\troyal\tblood,\tthough\tshe\tcould\thave sworn\t she\t saw\t a\t few\t members\t of\t the\t nobility\t mingling\t with\t the\t bejeweled crowd. The\tballroom\twas\tenormous,\tits\ttowering\tceiling\tstrung\twith\tpaper\tlanterns\tof all\t colors\t and\t shapes\t and\t sizes.\t Garlands\t had\t been\t woven\t around\t the\t pillars lining\t one\t side\t of\t the\t room,\t and\t on\t the\t many\t tables,\t cornucopias\t overflowed with\t food\t and\t flowers.\t Young\t women\t in\t nothing\t more\t than\t corsets\t and\t lacy lingerie\t dangled\t from\t swings\t attached\t to\t the\t filigreed\t ceiling,\t and\t bare-chested young\tmen\twith\tornate\tivory\tcollars\thanded\tout\twine. Celaena\t had\t attended\t dozens\t of\t extravagant\t parties\t while\t growing\t up\t in Rifthold;\t she\u2019d\t infiltrated\t functions\t hosted\t by\t foreign\t dignitaries\t and\t local nobility;\t she\u2019d\t seen\t everything\t and\t anything\t until\t she\t thought\t nothing\t could surprise\ther\tanymore.\tBut\tthis\tparty\tblew\tthem\tall\taway. There\twas\ta\tsmall\torchestra\taccompanied\tby\ttwo\tidentical-twin\tsingers\u2014both young\twomen,\tboth\tdark-haired,\tand\tboth\tequipped\twith\tutterly\tethereal\tvoices. They\t had\t people\t swaying\t where\t they\t stood,\t their\t voices\t tugging\t everyone toward\tthe\tpacked\tdance\tfloor. With\t Sam\t flanking\t her,\t Celaena\t stepped\t from\t the\t stairs\t at\t the\t top\t of\t the ballroom.\t Arobynn\t kept\t on\t her\t left,\t his\t silver\t eyes\t scanning\t the\t crowd.\t They crinkled\t with\t pleasure\t when\t their\t hostess\t greeted\t them\t at\t the\t bottom\t of\t the steps.\t In\t his\t pewter\t tunic,\t Arobynn\t cut\t a\t dashing\t figure\t as\t he\t bowed\t over Bardingale\u2019s\thand\tand\tpressed\ta\tkiss\tto\tit. The\twoman\twatched\thim\twith\tdark,\tcunning\teyes,\ta\tgracious\tsmile\ton\ther\tred lips.\t \u201cLeighfer,\u201d\t Arobynn\t crooned,\t half-turning\t to\t beckon\t to\t Celaena.\t \u201cAllow me\tto\tintroduce\tmy\tniece,\tDianna,\tand\tmy\tward,\tSam.\u201d His\tniece.\tThat\twas\talways\tthe\tstory,\talways\tthe\truse\twhenever\tthey\tattended events\ttogether.\tSam\tbowed,\tand\tCelaena\tcurtsied.\tThe\tglimmer\tin\tBardingale\u2019s","gaze\t said\t that\t she\t knew\t very\t well\t that\t Celaena\t was\t not\t Arobynn\u2019s\t niece. Celaena\ttried\tnot\tto\tfrown.\tShe\u2019d\tnever\tliked\tmeeting\tclients\tface-to-face;\tit\twas better\tif\tthey\twent\tthrough\tArobynn. \u201cCharmed,\u201d\t Bardingale\t said\t to\t her,\t then\t curtsied\t to\t Sam.\t \u201cBoth\t of\t them\t are delightful,\t Arobynn.\u201d\t A\t pretty,\t nonsense\t statement,\t said\t by\t someone\t used\t to wielding\t pretty,\t nonsense\t words\t to\t get\t what\t she\t wanted.\t \u201cWalk\t with\t me?\u201d\t she asked\tthe\tKing\tof\tthe\tAssassins,\tand\tArobynn\textended\tan\telbow. Just\t before\t they\t slipped\t into\t the\t crowd,\t Arobynn\t glanced\t over\t his\t shoulder and\t gave\t Celaena\t a\t rakish\t smile.\t \u201cTry\t not\t to\t get\t into\t too\t much\t trouble.\u201d\t Then Arobynn\tand\tthe\tlady\twere\tswallowed\tup\tby\tthe\tthrong\tof\tpeople,\tleaving\tSam and\tCelaena\tat\tthe\tfoot\tof\tthe\tstairs. \u201cWhat\t now?\u201d\t Sam\t murmured,\t staring\t after\t Bardingale.\t His\t dark\t green\t tunic brought\t up\t the\t faint\t flecks\t of\t emerald\t in\t his\t brown\t eyes.\t \u201cDid\t you\t spot Doneval?\u201d They\u2019d\t come\t here\t to\t see\t with\t whom\t Doneval\t associated,\t how\t many\t guards were\t waiting\t outside,\t and\t if\t he\t looked\t nervous.\t The\t exchange\t would\t happen three\t nights\t from\t now,\t in\t his\t upstairs\t study.\t But\t at\t what\t time?\t That\t was\t what she\t needed\t to\t find\t out\t more\t than\t anything.\t And\t tonight\t was\t the\t only\t chance she\u2019d\thave\tto\tget\tclose\tenough\tto\thim\tto\tdo\tit. \u201cHe\u2019s\t by\t the\t third\t pillar,\u201d\t she\t said,\t keeping\t her\t gaze\t on\t the\t crowd.\t In\t the shadows\t of\t the\t pillars\t lining\t one\t half\t of\t the\t room,\t little\t seating\t areas\t had\t been erected\t on\t raised\t platforms.\t They\t were\t separated\t by\t black\t velvet\t curtains\u2014 private\tlounges\tfor\tBardingale\u2019s\tmost\tdistinguished\tguests.\tIt\twas\tto\tone\tof\tthese alcoves\t that\t she\t spotted\t Doneval\t making\t his\t way,\t his\t hulking\t bodyguard\t close behind.\tAs\tsoon\tas\tDoneval\tplopped\tinto\tthe\tplush\tcushions,\tfour\tof\tthe\tcorset- clad\tgirls\tslid\tinto\tplace\tbeside\thim,\tsmiles\tplastered\ton\ttheir\tfaces. \u201cDoesn\u2019t\the\tlook\tcozy,\u201d\tSam\tmused.\t\u201cI\twonder\thow\tmuch\tClarisse\tstands\tto make\t off\t this\t party.\u201d\t That\t explained\t where\t the\t girls\t came\t from.\t Celaena\t just hoped\tLysandra\twasn\u2019t\there. One\tof\tthe\tbeautiful\tserving\tboys\toffered\tDoneval\tand\tthe\tcourtesans\tglasses of\tsparkling\twine.\tThe\tbodyguard,\twho\tstood\tby\tthe\tcurtains,\tsipped\tfirst\tbefore nodding\t to\t Doneval\t to\t take\t it.\t Doneval,\t one\t hand\t already\t wrapped\t around\t the bare\t shoulders\t of\t the\t girl\t beside\t him,\t didn\u2019t\t thank\t either\t his\t bodyguard\t or\t the serving\t boy.\t Celaena\t felt\t her\t lip\t curl\t as\t Doneval\t pressed\t his\t lips\t to\t the\t neck\t of the\t courtesan.\t The\t girl\t couldn\u2019t\t have\t been\t older\t than\t twenty.\t It\t didn\u2019t\t surprise her\tat\tall\tthat\tthis\tman\tfound\tthe\tgrowing\tslave\ttrade\tappealing\u2014and\tthat\the\twas willing\tto\tdestroy\this\topponents\tto\tmake\this\tbusiness\tarrangement\ta\tsuccess. \u201cI\thave\ta\tfeeling\the\u2019s\tnot\tgoing\tto\tget\tup\tfor\ta\twhile,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid,\tand\twhen"]
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