44 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…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
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…-
424.1 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…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
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…-
424.1 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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424.1 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…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 28 – Social Intelligence
One evening, when the house was quiet, Valentina sat down by the light of her Essence lamp and picked up her quill to finally write a few letters to her family. My dearest Adeline, she began the first one. After all, she had promised her sister she would write and tell her all about life in the capital. She described the tournament, the shining armor the knights wore with their imaginative helmet decorations and their fluttering banners. The ladies' dresses, the silk and brocade in every color…-
424.1 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…-
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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