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Each was a monument likely to last forever. And there was nowhere one had to
walk more than a third of a mile to make a crossing. Above Castella dollas
Pontellas, as it turned out
The whole would have been immensely picturesque!. Without the swarms of
people and animals and vehicles clattering the picture.
Else settled himself on a stone block atop the embankment,
at a point where he could see Krois on its stone-faced island,
the Castella dollas Pontellas and its six little bridges arching
over an arm of the Teragi that served as its moat, andj farther
left, die immense, massive dignity of the Chiaro Palace, the
spiritual heart of the Episcopal strain of Chaldareanism. His
was a vantage sought by many. When Else sat down he did so
amongst a dozen fellow spectators who were besieged by street
vendors selling purported holy souvenirs, hot sausages, and
sweet cakes. ]
Sitting there, those three grand structures so close fye could make out die
streaks of pigeon droppings down tiieir dun flanks, Else first felt some awe
of western civilization. What were these buildings but the greatest ghosts of
die glbry that had been?
The fortress Krois, out in the midst of the flood, hid stood there for
twelve centuries. It began construction before me birth of the oldest of the
Chaldarean founders. It had been decreed by a Brodien emperor uninterested in
becoming h. victim of the mob, after that had befallen several of his most
immediate predecessors. A later emperor, in the end days of the Old Empire,
bequeadied Krois to me Church.
It was the first legacy of the thousands responsible for creating the mad
hodgepodge of states constituting today's Firaldia.
Else watched the boats and barges go up and down, enjoying the subtle
changes in the view as the sun limped westward and the light altered, growing
more golden.
"Piper Hecht?"
Else started, spun toward the unexpected voice, noting that the other
sightseers had disappeared.
"Sainted Eis," somebody growled. 'This asshole is jumpy."
Else faced four armed men, one of whom he recognized. "Sergeant Bechter? You
scared the shit out of me, sneaking up like that. So. You were lucky. You got
out with Drocker?"
"I'm a survivor. Evidently, you are, too."
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"I got out with Principate Doneto. Frying pan to the fire kind of thing. We
got snapped up by Hansel's men in Ormienden, somewhere up there. They kept us
locked up in Plemenza until Sublime decided to ransom his cousin. What's up?"
"Reports came in about a blond foreigner watching the Castella. They sent us
to check it out."
"I was just enjoying the view. I mean, look at that. What's going on? Why
the paranoia?"
"How long have you been here? In Brothe, not on the rock."
'Ten, twelve days. It kind of runs together. Today was my first chance to
get out on my own. I was just relaxing and watching the barges go by and
feeling homesick. What's up?"
"Did you hear about the Brothers getting murdered a while back?"
Else lifted himself back up onto the block of stone. "Join me in my parlor,
here. Swap lies with me about all the fun we had putting down the heretics in
the Connec."
Bechter got the idea. He came and sat. "You do know what's going on, don't
you?"
"Not really. Local politics are too twisted. I don't see much that makes
sense."
"Here's one for old time's sake, Hecht. Let's don't bullshit each other."
"Ouch! This doesn't sound good at all."
"Oh, it's gooder for you than it would've been if you were the guy we were
hoping you'd be."
Else glanced back. "Do they have to hover? Can't y/e talk, just you and me?"
After consideration, Bechter said, "I'll take a chance on you, HechL"....,
ELSE GOT PALUDAN BRUGLIONI AND GERVASE SALUDA TO SEE him when he returned to
the Bruglioni citadel. "I think I've managed a coup. I hope you weren't so set
on a war that you'll be angry with me."
'Talk to me," Paludan said. He was in a foul mood, }ris supposed natural
state.
"I ran into somebody I knew from the Connecten campaign. He belongs to the
Brotherhood of War. We talked. I mide him understand what the Bruglioni think
happened the night Ro-drigo Cologni was kidnapped."
Paludan seemed puzzled, Gervase, amazed. "Go on, miracle worker." Was he
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