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 The
Stoneholding - page
4lowland rogues. Now he had Cammas redirect their own wherry across the current towards the rugged heights along the water's edge. The splash of the oars echoed and grew louder as they turned aside from the broad reaches of the dark-flowing river and nosed the boat into the narrower channel of the watergate that cut through a beetling shelf of rock and angled its way to the King's Stairs, where the royal barge lay moored, below the gardens and grounds of the palace. Better to call the place the Mindal's Stairs, since it was the Royal Council that had a dire chokehold on the city, now that King Colurian lay dying. It was the Mindal's ironclad curfew they were violating by venturing forth on the river at such a late hour. And to make matters worse, they were almost within bowshot of the Silver Palace itself. These days there was no place in all of Dinas Antrum that was more strictly off-limits and more apt to be tightly guarded. Even before they reached the landing at the foot of the grey stone stairs, which were well-lit by becketed torches, Frysan could see the three archers whom the Mindal had posted as sentries stooping to span their crossbows. These were handpicked men, deadly earnest about their duties. That's how the Mindal always did its business -- with ruthless efficiency."Alright, you two in the boat, in the name of the Mindal, ease up on your
oars and state your names and what ... |
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