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.Tris's senses and his magic were on high alert in the throng, and he noted the number of guards.The night was cold enough that his breath misted as they headed toward the large bonfire at the far end of the bailey.Some of the procession passed them by and continued into the town, costumed revelers in the guise of the four aspects of the Lady, drunk and ready to find entertainment this night.A smaller group carried single candles in a slow procession of dark, hooded figures.Those who sought special favors from the Lady often chose to spend the night of Haunts in silent reflection.Tris opened the king's private chapel to these penitents.All around them, the smell and noise of the feast pressed close in the cold air.For those not invited to dine with the king, vendors sold roasted meat pies from carts and hawked watered ale.Others sold trinkets for lovers, good luck charms, divinations of dubious veracity, and shiny baubles."This year, no one gets his fortune told," Carroway said as he slipped up behind Tris.A parade of mourners carrying mannequins and puppets to resemble the dead wound their way through the crowd with song and the jangle of bells."You made a better-looking corpse than that," Soterius said, nodding at the figures held by several of the robed celebrants, "but damn you were heavy!"Even now, Tris's memories of the escape were blurry, save for the piercing amber eyes of the Childe goddess whom he had glimpsed in the crowd, and whose murmured incantation had healed him.The fire in the bailey burned high and bright, and revelers danced around it.The fire crackled with aromatic herbs to scent the smoke.Well-wishers threw bits of colored rags into the blaze, symbols of their hopes for the new year, counting on their petitions to be heard when the glowing cinders rose on the wind and swirled into the night sky.The castle ghosts, as prominent this night as the soldiers, seemed determined to make up for their absence last year.Tris's dogs ambled about the celebration, snatching up fallen sausages and accepting treats from indulgent party-goers.The mastiff and the wolfhounds trotted up to greet Tris and waited for a pat on the head and a treat."Here, you greedy things!" Carroway laughed, tossing each a cracker from his pockets.Both dogs snapped up the treats in mid-air, then looked at their master for more.Tris smiled."Go beg," he said, patting the dogs affectionately."When you're too full to move and your bellies hurt, don't look for sympathy!" The dogs wagged their tails and bounded off through the crowd.Across the crowded courtyard was a young girl dressed in white.Tris met the girl's amber eyes and knew that she was the Childe.Even with my blessing, your path is not certain.Sorrow and hardship lie on your journey.Guard well your soul.Tris blinked and the girl was gone."Tris? Tris!" Carroway shook Tris by the arm."Don't tell me.I'll sleep better if I don't know.But you saw Her again, didn't you.The Lady.Like the night of the coup.""I don't think this time, good luck alone is going to be enough."CHAPTER EIGHTDuring most days at Sheketishet, the common room was empty.Between it and the kitchen was a smaller butler's pantry where Carroway and his musicians rehearsed.The room stayed warm due to the large kitchen fireplaces, and it was easy for the musicians to grab a pot of tea or a few hunks of bread and cheese during long rehearsals.The smells of a rich venison stew and freshly baked bread wafted in from the kitchen as Carroway struggled to tune an obstinate string on his lute."Need a fresh ear for that?" Macaria tossed her dark fringe out of her eyes as she slipped the lyre from over her shoulder and threw her cloak onto a chair."I'd love it."Macaria took the lute.She hummed and plucked at the strings, concentrating.The tuning knobs began to turn, ever-so-slightly, on their own, until the pitch of the vibrating string matched Macaria's voice.With a grin, she handed it back."No matter how many times I see you do that, I never get over being jealous.""Well, it's not much to be jealous of," Macaria cheeks reddened.'"It's the only magic I have."Carroway smiled and met her eyes."I wouldn't say that.""As usual, apologies for being late," said Helki.His blond hair, mussed by the Fall winds, fell in a tangle around his face.He dropped his burdens in a pile: a heavy cloak, a pouch of music, a wineskin, and the cases for his flute and dulcimer.With a grin, he reached into the kitchen and availed himself of a biscuit from the nearby counter, deftly missing a good-natured swat by the cook.His mouth stuffed with biscuit, he plunked down in a chair and unwrapped his dulcimer from the layers of cloth that protected it from the cold.Macaria rolled her eyes and reached over to take the dulcimer."Give me that.You'll break a string." The instrument glowed a bright blue for a moment, and then she handed the instrument back to Helki."Thanks.I never tune well when I'm in a hurry.""What's the rush?" Carroway set his lute aside as he rummaged through his pack."Couldn't help it.I was making fairly good time, actually, until I stopped to pick up a meat pie on the way here.I caught a snatch of a conversation, and it's got me worried."Helki had an excellent sense for intrigue, as good perhaps.even as Carroway's own."So.what did you hear?""I didn't know either of the two by name, although I've seen them at court.One of the men was dark-featured, like he might be from the border near Nargi.Had an outlands accent, too.The other one had red hair and looked like a Borderlander.Anyhow, the dark man wasn't comfortable at all with the vayash moru who've been at court lately."Carroway frowned."There've always been vayash moru in Margolan's court.That's not new.""But there are more now.They come often.And they don't just stay toward the back anymore.Used some pretty ugly language.Blood-suckers, child-eaters, that kind of thing.""We get the picture," Carroway said with distaste."Well, his companion, the redhead, said that it was just more of the other strange goings on since we got a mage for a king.The redhead seemed even more steamed up about getting a queen from Isencroft.Said we didn't need the burden of taking on Isencroft's troubles when we were hard-pressed to feed our own people.""And whose fault is that?" Macaria chimed in."No one but Jared's."Helki raised his hands in truce."Don't shoot the messenger! I'm just reporting, not taking sides.""Go on," Carroway said.Macaria scowled and folded her arms."The redhead went on to say that if we weren't careful, next we'd be getting Isencroft's Oracles and the.rest of their Chenne-worshippers.He was going on about the Sisterhood, how with a Summoner on the throne they'd have their 'shadowy claws' on Margolan.The dark man said it was almost enough to make him think about heading for Principality.But the redhead said, 'It isn't settled yet.Don't count us out.'"Carroway frowned."I don't like the way that sounds.""Neither did I.But just then, they got up and left.""What do you think it means?" Macaria asked.Carroway hesitated."I doubt that we've caught up with everyone who benefited when Jared was in power.Jared couldn't have done as much damage as he did without help.""What about something as simple as jealousy?" Helki ventured."I mean, ambitious fathers like to marry their daughters as high as they can.Maybe a couple of them have their noses out of joint because a foreign queen means no royal in-law for them, and no clout.""What worries me the most is the idea that 'it' isn't settled yet," Carroway said
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