59 Results in the "A Thread of Corruption" category
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Chapter
Chapter 33 – The Sight
The key didn't fit properly into the lock on the first try. Valentina jiggled it, turned it, tried to overcome resistance of the heavy, rusty iron key in the lock, and then there was a solid click, and the door swung open inward. Pinfeather Lane was a rather narrow street, barely wide enough for a cart and lined with modest but decent half-timbered houses. To the right of Valentina's new home was a bookbinder's workshop, and to the left lived a very elderly former professor from Bridgewater…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 55 – Old Debts
Johann shouted a command into his ring as he uncorked his vial of Corrupted Essence. "Narzoz! Help me neutralize their patterns, now!" Narzoz obeyed, guiding Johann's weaving so confidently that it almost appeared as if the demon himself were steering Johann's hands. Visible only to Valentina through the Sight, he formed from the Corrupted Essence a flawless yet geometrically unsettling pattern of terrifying elegance, which the demon fed into him and which, in the geometrically inverted logic of…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 56 – You Can Go to Hell
First, Valentina carefully helped Innogen up the stairs to the bedroom. Then she would deal with the ring. Upstairs, she gently covered Innogen and placed her mangled hand on a pillow. "I have to go back downstairs and take care of the ring," Valentina said. "Just for a moment. I'll be right back." Innogen nodded without saying a word, and Valentina brushed the sweaty strands of hair from her face and kissed her on the forehead, tasted the salt on her lips. Then she went back…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 34 – The New Crispin
A day later, there was a knock at the front door, and Valentina set aside the quill she'd been using to copy a summary of advanced healing methods before hurrying down the stairs, already full of anticipation. When she opened the door, Innogen was standing on the threshold, holding a huge jug of wine. Her blue eyes were shining. "I've brought a housewarming gift," she said. "Come in!" Valentina stepped aside and closed the door behind her. Innogen set the wine down on the small table in the…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 31 – A Marriage Proposal
"Valentina." He closed the door behind him. "This is a pleasant surprise." "I thought I'd save you the trip to my chamber," she said, rising to help him out of his doublet. "Besides, my room was cool." "Sensible as always." He willingly let her help him and sighed with relief as the heavy fabric slid from his shoulders. "By all the flames of the Martyr, that man has said more words about sheep than I have seen sheep in my entire life. I was afraid he was going to tell me about the birth of every…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 22 – Climbing a Tree
Valentina moved as quickly as the low visibility allowed through the alleys of Vandercourt, recalling Beatrice's directions over and over again. The fabric of her dark cloak swayed gently around her with every step, and her hood and cape hid her face from the few passersby who were still out at this late hour. Vandercourt was a beautiful and bustling city during the day, but at night it was not necessarily a place you wanted to be. The merchant district was quiet, the shops long since closed and their…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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"Let me," he said, "begin with a simple question." He made a brief, theatrical pause. "How many fundamental Essences are there?" He didn't get an answer for quite a while because everyone suspected a trick. The answer was far too obvious. Any child could have answered it. "Eight," someone called out from the back rows, and a soft chuckle rippled through the hall. "Eight," Von Agrippin confirmed cheerfully. "You learn that before you even set foot in the university, I'm sure. It's the answer…
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459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 30 – End of Parliament
"We thank Our loyal lords and the good representatives of the church, the cities and guilds for their service to Our realm," King Edmund said in his deep voice, sounding quite satisfied. "In the past few weeks, you have advised Us well and debated decisions that will secure Sommerland's strength for many years to come. We are delighted with these results." He let his gaze wander over the assembled crowd, and Valentina could have sworn that his brown eyes rested on Duke Cosimo for a moment. "Now…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 53 – Breaking
"Valentina?" Terror gripped Valentina's heart. What was Innogen doing here? "That complicates things." Johann's hand tightened around her shoulder. His grip wasn't brutal, just firm. He knew, after all, that his captive couldn't go anywhere. Valentina could feel him tense up, like a foxhound that had caught the scent of fresh game. "Damn it," said Vyxara. Innogen came down the stairs, barefoot, in her nightgown, holding a small essence lamp. "I fell asleep while waiting for you. I wanted…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 23 – Climbing a Tower
The Tower immediately spun around and his hand shot to his belt, where a knife hung. The speed with which he moved was frightening for a man of his size. For a heartbeat, he stood there, tense as a bowstring and ready to strike. Then she could see from his amazingly expressive eyebrows that he was making one realization after another about what he was seeing. A small woman. Alone. In a cloak, her hood still covering her face. His hand relaxed. He straightened up, and his expression changed from…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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