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."The man in front of him cocked his head to one side, his jaw beginning to jut out in what Vambran could only believe was belligerent insult."Oh, a thinker, eh? Well, not that it's any concern of yours, pretty boy, but them two back there were running from us after we tried to question them about three dots on their foreheads." He stepped closer still, putting his face right up next to Vambran's, though the guard came up only to the lieutenant's nose."The same three dots that mark your head!"Vambran blinked, taken aback a little bit."What?" the mercenary asked."They were wizards?""No," the sergeant replied smugly, smiling for the first time and showing a mouth full of yellowed and blackened teeth."That's the whole point.They weren't wizards, but they were pretending to be.And you know what the penalty for pretending at sorcery is, right?"Vambran nodded, not liking where the discussion was going at all."I can assure you, my own markings are completely legitimate, and I'll be happy to—""Hey!" one of the other soldiers cried out, turning and scampering across the alley toward the exit."Someone's spying on us!"The guard sprinted across the cobblestones to a pile of wooden-slatted crates stacked haphazardly near the back door of one of the buildings.Vambran groaned as almost all the other soldiers either turned to peer at what their companion was chasing or wisely tightened their grips on their weapons as they surrounded him.He turned to look at what the guard was pursuing, too, already knowing what was about to happen.As the guard got closer to the stack of crates, there was a shrill squeak, and a figure flashed up and away, running awkwardly back in the direction of the end of the alley.But the mysterious spy was not fast enough and the guard quickly grabbed her, yanking her to a stop."Ow! Let me go, you big orc!" the figure cried out.It was Emriana, just as Vambran feared.The guard twisted her around and held her at arm's length for a moment, eyeing her critically.Then he reached out and pulled something free of her sash and proceeded to haul her back by her wrist toward the gathering in the courtyard."Stop yanking on my arm!" Emriana continued to complain as she was dragged against her will, digging in her heels.Her slippers skidded fruitlessly across the damp cobblestones, unable to keep the man from making progress.Vambran saw that the guard had confiscated a dagger from his sister, and indeed, he then recognized it as the very same one he had given to her for her birthday a year previous.The leader of the surly band of watchmen hissed in vexation as his underling towed Emriana into the lanternlight, still thrashing and yanking her arm, trying to pull free of her captor."Who the blazes is this?" the sergeant demanded, jerking his gaze back and forth between the girl and Vambran."My name is Emriana Matrell, of House Matrell, and you will let go of me immediately! My uncle—""Em! Enough," Vambran growled, staring hard at her."Didn't I tell you to wait in the carriage?" he asked, his voice hard-edged with anger."You know her?" the leader asked, forcing Vambran to turn his attention back to the guard.The lieutenant nodded and said, "Yes, she's my sister.We were on our way home when we heard the screams and I came running.She's out past her bedtime," he added, raising his voice and directing this last bit at Emriana, hoping to drive his point home, "and should not be here."The girl glared at him but said nothing."And why shouldn't I assume that you two are actually friends of my two deadens—" the sergeant jerked his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the pair of bodies lying in the courtyard behind him—"sneaking in here to help them?"At that, Vambran nearly laughed.The word of a lieutenant of the Sapphire Crescent should have been good enough for the soldier, but everything about the man just seemed wrong.Shaking his head and with disdain clear in his voice, Vambran said, "Well, of course you should suspect us.You wouldn't be doing your duty if you didn't insist that I demonstrate my ability right here and now." The lieutenant was just baiting the man, then, seeing how well the sergeant knew procedures."So, what do you say? Shall I prove to you that I have the right to mark myself thrice with the chalk?"He turned his palms up, waiting to see whether he should proceed or not.After a moment of eyeing him warily, the sergeant gave a nod to the soldier who was holding Emriana, and said, "Keep her close, and slip her own blade into her ribs if this one tries anything."Emriana squeaked again, and Vambran opened his mouth in anger, ready to argue with the sergeant, but the man held up his hand to indicate he would hear nothing from his prisoners."If you are who you say you are," the sergeant said, "then you've got nothing to hide, and if you aren't, then I'm not giving you a chance to charm us all with your stinking magic [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]