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"I am also a wizard," Sandre added matter-of-factly"Which is how you were known: by the thin spell you use to mask your hand
Erlein closed his mouthHe stared fixedly at the Duke as if seeking to penetrate his disguise or find confirmation in the deep-hooded eyesThen he glanced downwards, almost against his will
Sandre already had the fingers of his left hand spread wide
"I never made the final binding," he said"I was twelve years old when my magic found meI was also the son and heir of Tellani, Duke of AstibarI made my choice: I turned my back on magic and embraced the rule of menI used my very small power perhaps five times in my life
"Then there was a conspiracy against the Barbadian," Erlein murmured, his rage temporarily set aside as he wrestled with thisWhat did you do? chanel replica handbag Kill your son in the dungeon?"
"I did The voice was level, giving nothing away at all
"You could have cut two fingers and brought him out
Devin looked over sharply at that, startledI made my choice long ago, Erlein di Senzio And with those quiet words another shape of pain seemed to enter the clearing, almost visible at the edges of the firelight
Erlein forced a corrosive laugh"And a fine choice it was!" he mocked"Now your Dukedom is gone and your family as well, and you've been bound as a slave wizard to an arrogant TiganeseHow happy you must be!"
"Not so," said Alessan quickly from by the river
"I am here by my own choice," Sandre said softly"Because Tigana's cause is Astibar's and Senzio's and Chiara's, it is the same for all of usDo we die as willing victims or while trying chanel flap bag lambskin to be free? Do we skulk as you have done all these years, hiding from the sorcerers? Or can we not join palm to palm, for once in this folly-ridden peninsula of warring provinces locked into their pride, and drive the two of them away?"
Devin was deeply stirredThe Duke's words rang in the firelit dark like a challenge to the nightBut when he ended, the sound they heard was Erlein di Senzio clapping sardonically
"Wonderful," he said contemptuously"You really must remember that for when you find an army of simpletons to rallyYou will forgive me if I remain unmoved by speeches about freedom tonightBefore the sun went down I was a free man on an open road
"You were not free," Devin burst out
"And I say I was!" Erlein snapped, rounding fiercely on him"There may have been laws that chanel purses constrained me, and one government ruling where I might have wished for anotherBut the roads are safer now than they ever were when this man ruled in Astibar or that one's father in Tigana, and I carried my life where I wanted to goYou will all have to forgive my insensitivity if I say that Brandin of Ygrath's spell on the name of Tigana was not the first and last thought of my days!"
"We will," Alessan said then in an unnaturally flat voice"We will all forgive you for thatNor will we seek to persuade you to change your views nowI will tell you this, though: the freedom you speak of will be yours again when Tigana's name is heard in the world once moreIt is my hope, vain, perhaps, that you will work with us willingly in time, but until then I can say that the compulsion of Adaon's dolce and gabbana knock off gift will suffice meMy father died, and my brothers died by the Deisa, and the flower of a generation with them, fighting for freedomI have not lived so bitterly or striven so long to hear a coward belittle the shattering of a people and their heritage
"Coward!" Erlein exclaimed"Rot you, you arrogant princeling! What would you know about it?"
"Only what you have told us yourself," Alessan replied, grimly now"Safer roads, you saidOne government where you might have wished for another He took a step toward Erlein as if he would strike the man, his composure finally beginning to break"You have been the worst thing I know, a willing subject of two tyrantsYour idea of freedom is exactly what has let them conquer us, and then hold usYou called yourself free? You were only free to hide d |
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