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He said Fitz was going to need a friend today.” “Did Alden tell you he wanted you to be here for moral support too?” she asked, stopping in the center of the hall as she realized she didn’t know which of the hundreds of seats were theirs.
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She blushed at the slight catch in his voice-and then wished she hadn’t when he flashed his trademark smirk. “What?” Sophie asked, wiping under her lashes when she noticed Keefe staring. She’d also used the gold-flecked eyeliner Biana had been telling her would bring out the glints in her brown eyes-even though she hated drawing more attention to their unique-for-an-elf color. Keefe looked dressier than usual, in a starched white shirt with a fitted black jerkin and an embroidered gray cape-and Sophie was relieved to see it, since she’d decided to show her support with a dusty-rose gown that was much more Biana’s fancy style than hers. And when she’d light leaped to Eternalia, she’d found Keefe and Ro already waiting. The Council was simply deciding how many years he’d have to stay there.īut Alden had stopped by Havenfield that morning and explained that he’d gotten permission for Sophie to attend. Alvar was already being held in the secret prison the Black Swan had designed specifically for him. The Tribunal was supposed to be restricted to members of the Vacker family, since it was only a sentencing hearing-and mostly a formality. Then again, she hadn’t expected to be invited either. “I still can’t believe the Council is allowing you into these proceedings.” “Believe me, I’d enjoy every second,” Sandor growled, gripping the hilt of his giant black sword. Ro flashed a pointy-toothed smile and patted the rows of daggers-a recent addition to her ogre arsenal-strapped to her toned thighs. But he backed it up by being a seven-foot-tall goblin warrior-and by folding his gray arms across his bare chest and flexing some seriously impressive muscles. The threat didn’t sound all that terrifying, thanks to Sandor’s squeaky voice. “No one will be smashing anything,” Sandor-Sophie’s bodyguard-warned. It’s basically begging me to smash something.”
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“Ugh, you guys have really out-sparkled yourselves with this place. Her pierced nose crinkled as she surveyed the empty auditorium, which was built entirely out of emeralds. “Me too!” Ro-Keefe’s bodyguard-jumped in. “Because I’d be happy to help you break a few laws if you’re feeling left out.” S O IS IT STRANGE COMING here and not being the one on trial?” Keefe asked, checking his expertly styled blond hair in a shiny facet on one of the jeweled walls before he followed Sophie into Tribunal Hall.
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