When the eighth long ring chimed, it didn’t stop on the sixth note. The timbre turned from the bells of the highest carillon to the raw or piercing double trumpets you only heard in the cliffs???—??because of course the cliffs lacked the restraint and poise of sky music. And yet, the sound closed in like a coming doom.


    felt it, even away from the road, all the way by the cliff. That chord hung in the air, vibrating and fading glacier-like. The long release of the sound hinted at some unseen, resonating chamber.


    losing, necessarily) and he said, “This can’t bode well.”


    surprise. Had they expected this?


    watched, despite her ever-clouded brilles. It was as if all of her reactions were kept to herself, and she offered up nothing to the world.


    felt; it was time hanging in the air. Like that, Bariaeth’s beatific smile became small and ambient; and even Cynfe’s scowl faded. The faer continued to watch, cloudily, and the moment dragged even further on.


    intense in her gaze for a glance that wasn’t there before or after. Whatever it was, she kept it from her face, which relaxed and waited, and her tone, which simply asked:


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    Mlaen had returned to her neutral, cloudy-eyed watching. With her mouth set in a thin line, you knew she wouldn’t be the one to clear the silence. And whoever did would have the attention and judgment of the all the guards. Mlaen had crafted the delivery of her question, giving the words a sense of deep, officious importance, and whoever dared respond would be thrust to that same standard.


    Adwyn was laughing. I was clicking a little, but not so much that I missed the calm glare that leapt from Bariaeth’s face right at the high guard.


    you doing here?”


    subtle.


    yawned.


    I remain faer. I was notified of the thieves’ escape less than two rings ago. On my orders, the inquirers recovered another ape corpse and captured the remaining thief. Two inquirers did what one???—??two???—??three???—??four skeins of my guards could not. This is a disgrace.”


    succeed.”


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    “Mlaen is taking this far more seriously today. I wonder what changed.”


    act.”


    do have investment! My friends are in this???—??they might get hurt.”


    right beside us and we still couldn’t stop them. Maybe we really don’t belong here.”


    Used to be. They fought with a bunch of humans and???—??lost.”


    gray season? It don’t fledge sense.”


    twenty-two gyras old!”


    * * *