Clearwater Dawn Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ilvani threat.
    One year later, Chanist had slain the Valnirata warlord Caradar and pushed his armies back across the Locanwater. He had forged the treaty with the other Ilmar nations that saw the Ilvani sue for peace. Few people had doubted him since.
    Look to the princess , the voice had said, and Chriani tried not to think about how much of the fear he felt now might have come just from the thought of that. Having to look at Lauresa one last time.
    They were Barien’s orders, though. Chriani composed himself. He would check her safe in her quarters, apologize for waking her. He would wait outside for Barien’s eventual arrival, or for someone else sent on the warrior’s further orders with an explanation of what was going on.
    He felt the sword bump his leg again, tried to adjust the belt as he listened carefully, still no sound or movement from either side. The three younger heirs had been away most of the summer, gone north with their mother. Returned just a week ago, they were preparing now to see Lauresa off, though it had already been decided that they wouldn’t sail with her for Aerach. None of the family in attendance at the wedding, Barien had said. Political discretion. Lauresa was bound to some duke, marrying down because that was the importance of it all. Peran would probably lay claim to this chamber at the tower corner before Lauresa had even left the harbor, Chriani thought.
    “By your leave, princess.” He heard the bitter edge in his voice swallowed by the silence, carefully tapping the door with the heel of his hand. He was practically within sight of the throne room, the doors that marked the private entrance hall from the prince high’s own quarters standing some thirty strides away down the northern corridor. He waited for what seemed like a long while, called again, knocked a little louder. Still no sound or movement from within.
    He could call someone, he thought. It was late and she was sleeping, clearly, and to make enough noise to wake her would be enough to bring every guard within the prince’s quarter down on top of him.
    Summon none else till I get there.
    He felt the shiver thread through him, but it was just an echo this time.
    He looked around quickly, from instinct. Made sure he was alone.
    As he dropped to his knees, Chriani had the picks between his fingers even before he’d pressed himself to the keyhole, feeling his way across the pins with practiced ease. Chanist’s locksmiths were the best in Rheran, but they were too consistent in their construction, and Chriani had long years of practicing on the identical lock at Barien’s door that gave him an easy familiarity with this one. He’d opened more than a few of the Bastion’s locks in his day, sometimes at Barien’s request and sometimes of his own volition, but always with the very certain understanding of what would happen to him if he were ever caught.
    He’d never broken into a princess’s chamber before, though. He glanced both ways down the corridor again, felt the solid click of the bolt as he twisted and pressed.
    He was through the door without a sound, pushing it closed behind him. You had a better chance of being surprised outside than you did being expected inside, his mother had taught him. Figure out what you’re doing before you go in if you can. Don’t know what you’re doing, figure it out as you go.
    Inside, a small alcove opened up, Chriani’s eyes alive in the faint trace of light through gauze curtains. Evenlamps burned beyond. Listening, no sound. Inside the doorway, a pair of shoes sat, soft blue leather stitched with gold. Nothing else there.
    Slowly, he pushed the haze of white linen aside, found himself in a chamber twice the size of Barien’s. Larger than the others along the corridor by the look of it, the bulk of the space wrapping around from the alcove, centered on the balcony whose door was directly across from him now. Through that door, light flared in the distant darkness, the