“Hey! Hey guardsdragon! Over here!” Digrif called.


    have seen a handful of dragons carting around loads like that,” the cliff-dweller said, brilles flashing clear, “and one of them was you. Were you robbed?”


    Adwyn? The military adviser Adwyn? Rhyfel-sofran’s second in command?” The guard scraped into a bow.


    four of us, not three!”


    Adwyn is the only one who knew exactly where the bodies were.”


    you aren’t the one colluding with the thieves?”


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    When Gwynt returned, he really needed to. Adwyn stood at the mouth of alleyway, and I didn’t like the curled-lip, clouded-eye glances he sent back at me. Hinte watched Digrif and me with burning scrutiny, eyes only ever half-clouded; but at least Digrif and I were able to talk about pleasant nothings with smiles and only a few cringes for Adwyn and Hinte’s suspicion.


    knew they were right and didn’t even need to explain themselves; the other was a bewildered cliff-dweller who reminded me of Digrif, if instead of carefree he simply had no idea what was going on. Each had chains running between their legs, and a rope around their muzzles.


    We were chasing some ashcloaked wivers who were talking about Aurisiuf making a move. You’ve heard the stories, Sofrani. Would you have us ignore something like that?”


    Yes. More directly, I’d have you avoid falling for obvious bait. Do you think it’s a coincidence that both of these things happened right in front of you while guarding something important?” Adwyn waved a wing toward the prefect. “Take them to the town hall. We’ll decide if they belong in Wydrllos later.” I saw both guards wince.


    frowning. He muttered, “This a just how I need to start my cycle: unraveling damn conspiracies.”


    smiled.


    * * *