| Tomasso came in with the two lords whose names and lineage Devin had learned in The Paelion
The servants uncovered and laid out the food and then they left, Goch stumbling on the threshold and banging his shoulder pleasingly on the doorpostThe steward, last to go, shrugged a discreet apology, bowed, and closed the door behind him
"Wine, my lords?" said Tomasso d'Astibar in the voice Devin had heard from the secret closet"We will have three others joining us very shortly
And from then on they had said what they said and Devin heard what he heard, and so gradually became aware of the magnitude of what he had stumbled upon, the peril he was in
Then Alessan appeared at the window opposite the door
Devin couldn't, in fact, see that window but he knew the voice immediately and it was with disbelief bordering on stupefaction that he heard Menico's recruit of a fortnight ago deny being from Tregea at all and then name Brandin, King of Ygrath as 925 tiffany's necklace the everlasting target of his soul's hate
Rash, Devin certainly was, and he would not have denied that he carried more than his own due share of impulsive foolishness, but he had not ever been less than quick, or cleverIn Asoli, small boys had to be
So by the time Alessan named him, and invited him to come down, Devin's racing mind had put two more pieces of the puzzle together and he adroitly took the path offered him
"All quiet, since mid-afternoon," he called out, extricating himself from his corner and stepping past the corbin's antlers to the edge of the half-loft"Only the servants were here, but they didn't do much of a job when they chained the door, the lock was easy to pickTwo thieves and the Emperor of Barbadior could have been up here without seeing each other or anyone down there being the wiser
He said it as coolly as he couldThen he lowered himself, with a deliberately showy flip, to the groundHe registered the looks on the small chanel purse faces of five of the men there, all of whom most certainly recognized him, but his concentration, and his satisfaction, lay in the brief smile of approval he received from Alessan
For the moment his apprehension was gone, replaced by something entirely differentAlessan had claimed him, given him legitimacy hereHe was clearly linked to the man who was controlling events in the roomAnd the events were on a scale that spanned the PalmDevin had to fight hard to control his growing excitement
Tomasso went over to the sideboard and smoothly poured a glass of wine for himDevin was impressed with the composure of the manHe was also aware, from the exaggerated courtesy and the undeniable sparkle in bar Sandre's accentuated eyes, that although the fluting voice might be faked, Tomasso, in certain matters and propensities, was still very much what he was said to beDevin accepted the glass, careful not to let their fingers touch
"I wonder now," drawled prada bags cheap Lord Scalvaia in his magnificent voice, "are we to be treated to a recital here while we pass our vigil? There does seem to be a quantity of musicians here tonight
Devin said nothing, but following Alessan's example did not smile
"Shall I name you a provincial grower of grapes, my lord?" There was real anger in Alessan's voice"And call Nievole a grain-farmer from the southwestern distrada? What we do outside these walls has little to do with why we are here, save in two ways only
He held up a long finger"One: as musicians we have an excuse to cross back and forth across the Palm, which offers advantages I need not belabor A second finger shot up beside the first"Two: music trains the mind, like mathematics, or logic, to precision of detailThe sort of precision, my lords, that would have precluded the carelessness that has marked tonightIf Sandre d'Astibar were alive I would discuss it with him, and I might defer to his experience and his chanel mens watches long striving
He paused, looking from one to another of them, then said, much more softly: "I might, but I might notIt is a vanished tune, that one, never to be sungAs matters stand I can only say again that if we are to work together I must ask you to accept my lead
He spoke this last directly to Scalvaia who still lounged, elegant and expressionless, in his deep chairIt was Nievole who answered, though, blunt and direct
"I am not in the habit of delaying my judgment of menI think you mean what you say and that you are more versed in these things than we areI will follow your leadWith a single condition
"Which is?"
"That you tell us your name
Devin, watching with rapacious intensity, anxious not to miss a word or a nuance, saw Alessan's eyes close for an instant, as if to hold back something that might otherwise have shown through themThe others waited through the short silence
Then Alessan shook his head"It is a fair condition, my swiss rolex watches lord |