The same way they did it back then Baerd has...
The same way they did it back then Baerd has shaved his beard againHe looks years younger, Devin finds himself thinking
"How do you know so much about it?" Sandre asks with lazy mockery"I thought all you knew was archery and how not to fall on your face when you were out alone in the dark"I was always going to be a builderI have my father's love of stone if not his giftI'm a craftsman though, and I knew how to look at things, even back thenI think I know as much as any man alive about how Orsaria built his towers and his palacesIncluding one in Astibar, SandreWould you like me to tell you where your secret passages are?"
Sandre laughs aloud"Don't boast, you presumptuous masonOn the other hand, it has been almost twenty years since I was in that palace, large gucci bag you may have to remind me of where they are
Grinning, Devin looks over at the DukeIt has taken him a long time to adjust to seeing Sandre without his dark Khardhu guise"You will be going back after the wedding, then?" he asks, feeling a sadness at the thought of another parting ahead
"I think I must, though I will say that I'm tornI feel too old for governing anyone nowAnd it isn't as if I have any heirs to groom
After a moment's stillness, Sandre takes them smoothly past the darkness of those memories: "To be honest, the thing that interests me most right now is what I've been doing here in TiganaThe mind-linking with Erlein and Sertino and the wizards we've managed to find
"And the Night Walkers?" Devin asks
"Indeed, Baerd's Carlozzini as wellI must say chanel classic flap bag replica I'm pleased that the four of them are coming with Alienor to the wedding
"Not as pleased as Baerd is, I'm sure," Devin adds slylyBaerd gives him a look, and pretends to be absorbed in scanning the distant line of the road south of them
"Well, hardly as pleased," Sandre agrees"Though I do hope he'll spare his Elena for a small part of the time she's hereIf we are going to change the attitude of this peninsula to magic there's no better time to start than now, wouldn't you say?"
"Oh, certainly," Devin says, grinning broadly
"She's not my Elena," Baerd murmurs, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the road
"She isn't?" Sandre asks in mock surprise"Then who's this Baerd person she keeps using me to relay messages to? Would you know the fellow?"
"Never heard of miu miu charm bag him," Baerd says laconicallyHe keeps a straight face for a moment longer, then gives way to laughter"I'm beginning to remember why I preferred keeping to myselfAnd what about Devin, if you're on that subject? You don't think Alais would be sending him messages if she could?"
"Devin," says the Duke airily, "is a mere child, far too young and innocent to be getting involved with women, especially the likes of that guileful, experienced creature from Astibar He attempts to look stern and fails; both of the others know his real opinion of Rovigo's daughter
"There are no inexperienced women in Astibar," Baerd retorts"And besides, he's old enoughHe even has a battle scar on his ribs to show her
"She's seen it already," Devin says, enjoying this enormously"She replica rolex ladies watch taped it up after Rinaldo healed me," he adds hastily as both of the others raise their eyebrows He tries and fails to conceive of Alais as guileful and deceptiveThe memory of her on the window-ledge in Senzio keeps coming back to him of late though; the particular smile on her face as he stumbled along the outside landing to his own room
"They are coming, aren't they?" the Duke asks"It occurs to me that I could sail home with Rovigo
"They'll be here," Devin confirms"They had a wedding of their own last week, or they'd have arrived by now
"I see you are intimately versed in their timing," Baerd says with a straight face"Just what do you plan to do after the wedding?"
"Actually," Devin says, "I wish I knewThere must be ten different things I've thought fake gucci handbags about