44 Results in the "A Thread of Corruption" category
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Chapter
Chapter 19 – Intervention
Valentina awoke with a gasp, the sheets clinging damp to her skin, her heart racing as if she had just sprinted through the steep alleys of Bridgewater. The fragments of her dream reluctantly receded from her consciousness. Giant hands gripping her hips, the weight of a massive body pressing her into the mattress, and grey-blue eyes that regarded her with that fascinating indifference. "My goodness," Vyxara purred in her head, the demon's words dripping with amusement. "If your dreams get any more…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 41 – Man of Conviction
On Thursday, Valentina was back at Violet Delights. Today her client was Master Irlwin, a cloth and wool merchant from Southwatch who came to Bridgewater every two months to do business with the local guilds. He was a quiet man in his fifties, with a carefully groomed grey beard and the work-worn hands of someone who had learned the cloth-making trade from the ground up before he became rich enough to have others do the work. As always, he brought with him a lock of hair from the wife of his fiercest…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 42 – Unsettling
Valentina and Innogen turned onto Mill Gate Road, where the street vendors were packing up their stalls. "I'm starting to get a little scared of him," Innogen said quietly. Valentina shoved her hands into the pockets of her coat. "He's our friend." "Yes. And if he keeps this up, in two years he'll be an Illuminator who's one hundred percent convinced that any cruelty is an acceptable price for saving souls." Innogen looked at her, and there was a hardness in her eyes. "He doesn't know what we are…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 32 – Back in Bridgewater
The following days passed in a steady rhythm of travel and short stays with hospitable country nobles. The carriage followed the River Water southwest, and the landscape became more familiar with each passing hour. Cosimo's mood remained high. He chatted about the upcoming business in Dusktown, about the wedding preparations for Lorenzo and Innogen, about his plans for the hospital. The matter with the Earl was settled for him and they didn't talk much more about that. Instead, he enjoyed his time with…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 43 – Assault
That Thursday, Valentina arrived a good hour earlier than usual at Violet Delights. The little bell above the door to Gretta's tailor shop jingled softly as she entered. Outside, dusk had already fallen, and inside the workshop, all the Essence lamps were already lit and their warm light fell on the carefully draped fabrics. Gretta looked up from her work and smiled. "So early today?" "Madame asked me to come in before the others. We have to finish the quarterly accounts." "Oh, you poor thing."…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 3 – Getting Settled
Valentina's chamber was smaller than her suite in Dusktown, but still luxurious, especially compared to her tiny attic room in Bridgewater. A wide bed with dark green curtains dominated the room, flanked by a polished walnut desk and a spacious wardrobe. A private wash area lay behind a screen, and the window offered a view of the manicured courtyard. Two maids were already unpacking her baggage and carefully hanging her clothes in the wardrobe. When they came to the chest with the false bottom,…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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The university was bustling again and returning students and newcomers jostled in the hallways, chests were dragged across the cobblestones, and people stood crowded three rows deep in front of the board to read announcements and room changes. Professor Veilford's Advanced Planar Geometry course came as a shock. Not necessarily in terms of content, as Valentina had a solid grasp of the fundamentals, but the mathematical precision and work load Veilford demanded in her master's year was on an entirely…
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424.1 K • Ongoing
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Von Agrippin had just answered Professor Emberfell's second critical question when his gaze swept over the raised hands in the hall and lingered on Valentina. It was only a moment, but she knew that kind of look from men. A quick, almost involuntary registration, followed by a more conscious double take, and then, most often, an attempt to hide it. Some men hid it better than others, and Von Agrippin hid it very well. "The young lady in the fifth row, please." Valentina stood up and cleared her…
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424.1 K • Ongoing
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On Thursday evening, she became Lily again. In the dressing room at Violet Delights, Valentina put on her illusion artifact, the necklace with the violet stones, and placed a strand of golden-blonde hair, that Madame Dolorosa handed her into the designated compartment. Valentina activated the pattern in the largest of the violet stones, and the familiar warm tingling ran over her skin as the illusion enveloped her. In the mirror, she saw another woman, with golden, curly hair, full lips, and blue…
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424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 39 – Hoager
The Burning Quill was, as always, well-attended, but not exactly crowded. Because it was drizzling outside, Hobkin stood by the fireplace today, where the innkeeper had cleared a space for him between the tables. He was telling a story to a handful of listeners with great relish. It was a story that apparently involved the Scorchbishop, a pretty innkeeper, a donkey, and a fateful misunderstanding. A group of men at one of the front tables were already holding their sides with laughter, even though he…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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