and sisters. We share a bond unlike any other.
'Now the work can truly begin.'
'What about you?' said Silverdun. 'Aren't you going to put it on?'
'I put it on a long time ago,' said Paet.
Sela had hoped she'd get a chance to speak with Silverdun after the meeting, but he seemed preoccupied, and Sela was so torn by her own confusion that by the time she got up the courage to speak with him, she discovered that he'd already gone home.
As promised, Paet hired her a cab and she went home alone, confused, elated, worried. All of these emotions clung to her like one of the formal dresses that Everess liked for her to wear: awkward, ill fitting, oppressive.
Everess was in his study when she arrived at Boulevard Laurwelana.
'Quite an evening, eh?' he said, looking up from his work.
'It was, at that,' she answered.
'Well, go on up to bed,' he said. 'It's late, and I'm sure Paet has all sorts of things to hurl at you tomorrow. Both literally and figuratively, if I know him.'
'Of course, Lord Everess.'
After a moment Everess looked up and found her still there. 'Yes,' he said, annoyed, 'what is it?'
'You didn't tell us the whole truth,' she said.
Everess leaned back in his chair. 'You're right,' he said. 'I didn't. I'm sorry.'
'Apology accepted,' said Sela.
She went upstairs to her room and lay on the bed, fully clothed. Ecara came to undress her, but Sela sent her away. She tossed and turned but couldn't sleep.
About an hour later, there was a loud knock on the door downstairs. A few seconds passed, and then another. Sela heard footsteps, the opening door. She heard muffled voices. Quiet at first and then louder.
Sela crept out of her room and down the hallway. She stood on the landing and peered over the banister that overlooked Everess's parlor. Paet was here, pacing, while Everess sat in a wingback chair with a large goblet of wine, watching him.
'Angry?' said Paet. 'I'm furious!'
'Calm down, man,' said Everess. 'Have a seat. I'd offer you a drink, but you've clearly had some on your own.'
'You asked me for recommendations,' said Paet. 'I gave you a list. Twenty-five names. Excellent candidates, chosen from within the Ministry, the army, the Royal Guard. Any of those would have been perfect. But do I get any of those?'
'Now look here-'
'Of course not!' Paet interrupted. 'Instead you give me, what, a university professor! And a sarcastic monk! And that thing you've got locked upstairs!
'You expect me to do what I do, to work miracles, and yet it seems that in every instance, you do everything in your power to hinder me!'
'If I may speak for a moment,' said Everess coldly.
Paet ignored him. 'And then, as if that weren't bad enough, you lie to them, tell them that this will be something that it isn't. It's the first day, and I'm fairly certain that these brilliant new Shadows you've selected for me all want to quit.'
He paused. He took the decanter on the sideboard and poured himself a glass of whiskey.
'And I wish I could let them!'
He sat down in a chair opposite Everess and took a long drink from his glass.
Everess cleared his throat. 'Where to begin?'
He leaned forward. 'First, and most importantly, did Silverdun and Ironfoot return from Whitemount successfully? Or did they not?'
'They did.'
'Good. At least you're willing to admit it. Second, that university professor was a war hero in the Gnomics. He fought with valor and distinction and was awarded the Laurel four times over for excellence in combat. He's no mere scholar and we both know it.
