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.Even his own thoughts weren't safe, Pinch knew.Those wizards could pry through his mind, dredging up his plans if he wasn't careful.Again, Maeve and hard experience had taught him some tricks for resisting, but they weren't sure by any means.The best of all things was not to plan, but to act by pure instinct.Instinct was something that couldn't be measured, plumbed, or dissected by the arcane powers."Well," he announced to no one, "let the committers make something of this." And then Pinch settled in and let his mind be filled thoughts as impure, vile, horrific, and vivid as he could imagine.And Pinch could imagine very, very well.*****The next morning, Pinch took his breakfast in his room, reveling in the luxury Cleedis was willing to bestow.Even a master regulator didn't live in princely comfort.That had been a hard adjustment when he'd first fled Manferic's court.It had been a long time since he'd had sweet porridge laced with fatty smoked meat and dried fruits.It was a childhood comfort, a memory of dawns spent hiding in the kitchen, nicking bowlfuls from the pot when the cooks weren't looking.Reverie ended with a knock at the door.Before Pinch could rise or say "Enter," the door swung open and Throdus sauntered into the salon as if the whole world were his privilege.The dark prince radiated a jaunty cheer.Without so much as a comment, he plopped into the chair opposite Pinch.The rogue glanced up and then buried himself in slurping spoonfuls of porridge as if Throdus weren't there.Throdus watched this until a wry smile curled his lips."Good cousin, I regret my brothers' behavior last night.It was a crude display." The prince stopped to examine some speck on the back of his hand."No doubt you would have done better," Pinch suggested between swallows, never once looking up."Of course.Marac did that just for our benefit.""I know."Throdus looked up from his digitary studies."One might question his motive.""Not me.He's just become more like his brother.""Vargo? Those two were always close.""Afraid they're plotting against you?""They're always plotting against me.And I plot against them.Remember, Janol, it's a game we've played since childhood.""I haven't forgotten."The prince went back to looking at his hands."I do find it interesting that you've chosen to come back now."Ah, so that's where my lord is casting his net.Let's play the game and string him along, Pinch decided."My other choices were less pleasant.""Ah, the wastrel's life—your exploits are known here."Pinch was surprised and not surprised.His adopted cousins certainly had the resources to learn about his past, but it surprised him that they bothered.He would have thought their own intrigues kept them busy enough."Father always had a curiosity about your fate." The prince brushed back his black hair and watched his adversary's reaction."Since he was curious, we had to be curious.""Always afraid that someone else was working the cheat.""Information is power." The words were sharp."So you know my life.What will you do, give me up to the constables?""I just want to know why you're here."Now it was Pinch's turn to be amused."Just that? Why I've come to pay my respects, my dear guardian dead and all.After that I'll make myself master of the trugging houses in the city.Maybe I'll even do a little brokering, not that you'd have anyone else's goods to sell.""Cheap lies only irritate me.You hated Manferic more than all the rest of us.""I had my cause.Try growing up like the household dog.""He was hard on us all, but we didn't run away.""You? You were all too afraid—afraid of him, afraid you'd lose your chance when he died."Suddenly the shadows fell across the prince's sunny facade."I, at least, have the right to be king.You, however, have no such claims.You're just an orphaned waif raised above his level by my father for the gods know what purpose, and then you come back here thinking you can be like one of the blood
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