When it stretched, Devin looked back and saw...
When it stretched, Devin looked back and saw Alessan looking at him
"Do you want to come?" the Prince asked
Did he want to come? For half a year, from the moment Devin and Sandre had joined the other three, Alessan had been telling them that everything they wanted to achieve would point toward and wait upon a meeting in these southern highlands on the first of the Ember Days
Did he want to come?
Devin coughed, spilling some khav on the stone floor"Well," he said, "not if I'm in the way, naturallyOnly if you think I could be useful and if maybe I could
He trailed off because Alessan was laughing at him
Even Erlein had been roused from his sulk to a faint, reluctant snort of amusementThe gucci new bag two older men exchanged a glance
"You are a terrible liar," the wizard said to Devin
"He's right," Alessan said, still chucklingI don't actually think you can be useful, it isn't in the nature of what I have to doBut I'm certain you won't do any harm and you and Erlein can keep each other entertainedIt'll be a very long ride
"What? To the meeting?" Devin asked, startled
Alessan shook his head"Only two or three hours there, depending on the state of the pass this morningNo, Devin, I'm inviting you west with me
"Pigeon!" the balding, burly-chested man cried, though they were still some distance awayHe sat in a massive oak chair set squarely down in the middle of the Braccio PassThere had been chanel earrings early spring flowers blooming on the lower slopes but not very many this far upOn either side of the path piled rock and stone yielded to forestFurther up, to the south, there was only rock and snow
Carrying-poles were attached to the oak chair and six men stood behind it in burgundy liveryDevin thought they were servants, but when he came nearer he saw from their weapons that he was wrong: these were soldiers, and guards
"Pigeon," the man in the chair repeated loudly"You have risen in the world! You bring companions this time!"
It was with a genuine sense of disorientation that Devin realized that the childish name and the raucous, carrying words were addressed to Alessan
Who had the oddest small chanel purse look to his face all of a suddenHe said nothing by way of reply though as they rode up to the seven men in the passAlessan dismounted; behind him Devin and Erlein did the sameThe man in the chair did not rise to greet them, but his bright, small eyes followed every move that Alessan madeHis enormous hands were motionless on the carved arms of the chairHe wore at least six rings; they sparkled in the light of the morning sunHe had a hooked much-broken nose in a leathery, weather-beaten face that showed two livid scarsOne was an old wound, slanting down his right cheek in a white lineThe other, much more recent, raked redly across his forehead to the greying, receding hairline above his left prada handbag ear
"Company for the ride," Alessan said mildly"I wasn't sure if you'd comeCould have consoled me on the way backThe young one is Devin, the other is ErleinYou've grown monstrous fat in a year
"And why should I not grow fat?" the other roared in delight"And how dare you doubt that I would come! Have I ever not kept faith with you?" The tone was boisterous in the extreme, but Devin saw that the small eyes were alert and very watchful
"Not ever," Alessan agreed calmlyHis own febrile manner had gone, to be replaced by an almost preternatural calm"But things have changed since two years agoYou don't need me anymoreNot since last summer
"Not need you!" the big man cried"Pigeon, of course I need louis vuitton women's handbags you