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Alberico had chosen to let his eyes show just a...

Alberico had chosen to let his eyes show just a little of what he felt Sooner would let whichever of us you choose have time to see to the proper handling of the land before spring planting, Grancial explained hastilyA little ruffled, as he should be Perhaps it is so, Alberico had said, noncommittallyI will give thought to this "By the way," he added, as they reached the door"Karalius, would you be good enough to send me that very competent young captain of yours? The one with the forked black beardI have a special, confidential task that needs a man of his evident qualities Karalius had blinked, and nodded It was important, very important, not to let them grow too confident, he reflected after they had gone and he'd managed to calm himselfAt the same time, only a genuine fool antagonized his troopsThe more so, if he had ultimate plans to lead them homeBy invitation of the Emperor, preferably, but not coco chanel earrings necessarilyNot, to be sure, necessarily On further reflection, triggered by that line of thought, he did raise taxes in Tregea, Certando, and Ferraut to match the new levels in AstibarHe also sent a courier to Siferval of the Third in the Certandan highlands, praising his recent work in keeping that province quiet You lashed them, then enticed themYou made them fear you, and know that their fortunes could be made if you liked them enoughIt was all a matter of balance Unfortunately, small things continued to go wrong with the balancing of the Eastern Palm as autumn turned into winter in the unusually cold weeks that followed Some cursed poet in Astibar chose that dank and rainy season to begin posting a series of elegies to the dead Duke of AstibarThe Duke had died in exile, the head of a scheming family, most of whom had been executed by thenVerses lauding him were manifestly treasonous It was difficult thoughEvery single fashion d

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