SPRING CAME EARLY IN AStIBAR tON. It ALMOSt ALAYS did along t sered nortern side of trung-out islands of t and soutart of t ts close to she year.

    Senzio raders in Astibar ed, te blossoms of trees making t o come. Cill cold it  t imes in early spring on t  be long before tled the seas around her.

    Senzio and Chiara.

    Alberico of Barbadior lay do nig ter intense, agitated nigtle rest, s turbing dreams.

    If ter tling, rife s and rumors, ts of early spring irely. And tive about them.

    Everyto be  once. Coming doe, Alberico icipation of ed to him.

    to let t ime since it o do t and for mucumn and er tting on deats  conducive to opening . Necessary tive, after ion of tors lands. y and gain came toget didnt en but o Alberico of Barbadior to represent almost t pleasure to be found in power.

    trivial in scope, and troubles made ter seem like minor, epions—brief flurries of snow in a nig h now were rivers in flood, everywhere he looked.

    At tected using  tracker and ty-five men Siferval ely sent after ered in a pass by outlao t man. An act of arrogance and revolt almost impossible to believe.

    And  even properly exact retribution: ttered ted tla man abroad to see  a  Ortiz to  trace. Only long dead campfires in t y-five men s:   after all, and everyone knes. tribution.

    quot;o use nec; Sifervals ten report  tains to carry tidings nortreated quickly in  t er all, ty-five of its men to be killed, and  out anotents to do no m