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perfectly align
the pots hanging from her wall. It was only when she moved to clean up the
casting materials that she seemed to realise – or assume – that I was still
there. “Where are you?” she demanded a little sharply.
    I scrubbed the
powder of butterfly wing off my forehead.
    Browne’s gaze
settled directly on me. “I have to say, that last bit is disturbing.”
    “And I have to
say,” I responded. “I still can’t believe that works. It seems too fantastic.”
    “It does have
its limitations. I could hear you walking beside me. And your indulgence in
other sounds.” She glared at me.
    I tried to layer
a solemn expression over my lack of repentance.
    Someone banged
loudly and frantically on the door. I jumped at the sound. Browne didn’t. I
suspected she was used to it. “Healer Browne!”
    “Enter.”
    Carson Bench,
Browne’s assistant, opened the door, his gaze falling on me. “Shield
Mallorough,” he gasped, having apparently been running. “A Pair has arrived.
They asked to see you immediately.”
    Damn.
    The appearance
of other members of the Triple S was never – never – a good sign. Usually it
meant Taro and I were going to be grilled for hours or even days about
everything we’d ever done that the Triple S considered odd or inappropriate.
Five years with no such interference had made me hope we’d been forgotten, as
unrealistic as such a desire was.
    What the hell
did they want now?

 
    Chapter Two
    Fiona’s butler,
whom I adored, was looking out for my arrival. “Lord Shintaro and the Pair are
in Lady Westsea’s private office,” he said, escorting me through the foyer.
    Fiona had
offered up her office for our use many times. It and her bedchamber were the
only rooms the servants wouldn’t just stroll into whenever they felt like it.
    Taro didn’t like
dealing with the interference of the Triple S council, either, but no one would
know it from his manner as he addressed the other Pair. “Are you sure?” he was
asking, his posture relaxed, a smile on his face. “Her Ladyship has a truly
beautiful selection of reds. And believe it or not, this fish oil liquor is
unexpectedly tasty.”
    Fish oil liquor.
A collection of words that should never be strung together.
    The Pair swiftly
rose to their feet as I entered. The first thing I noticed was that they were
very young – much younger than had I expected – much younger than any other Pair
that had been sent to us before. If I had to guess, I would say they were
freshly Bonded.
    “Shield
Mallorough,” said the Shield. “This is Source Zelan Ming. I am Shield Sanna
Kebit.” I clasped his forearm, and then that of his Source. “We have come to replace
you.”
    I was, for a
moment, shocked speechless. It wasn’t as though Pairs weren’t transferred: it
happened all the time. It was just that the Triple S had decided to leave us in
Flown Raven – they had told us so – and the Emperor had lost all interest in us
since Taro’s mother died. I’d truly begun to think we were going to spend the
rest of our lives in Flown Raven, and that possibility didn’t disturb me. I’d
come to like it there.
    Kebit took a
letter from his purse and held it out to me. It was sealed with the Triple S
stamp. I broke it open. The message was short.
    Greetings Shield Mallorough:
    The bearer of this missive, Shield Sanna Kebit, and
his Source, Zelan
    Ming, will be assuming the position of Pair of
Westsea.
    Who had ordered the transfer? Our last transfer had been imposed
upon us by the Emperor. He’d told us in person, at his coronation. He hadn’t
had the authority to do so – placing Pairs was under the purview of the Triple
S council – but the Triple S had chosen, for their own reasons, to let the
violation slide. Had they now chosen to defy him? And if so, why?
    You and Source Karish are to return to Shidonee’s Gap.
    I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. Called back to Shidonee’s
Gap. Where the Source and Shield Academies