appoint one of his senior centurions as the watch commander "
"All right," Amara said "What does that do for us'"
"It gets us a chance to talk to someone I know," Bernard said He rose, head tilted as he listened, and only a moment later the heavy door at the top of the cellar stairs rattled and banged open
Amara felt her heart race again "Will they let us out?"
"One way to know," Bernard said, and stood by the door
Amara came up to stand beside him "You wanted to kiss me'"
He cleared his throat "Yes "
"Why?"
"I like you," he said
"You like me "
Color crept up his cheeks "You're pretty, and you're brave as anyone I ever saw And I like you "
She felt her mouth creep up at the edges and fought the smile Then gave in to it, looking up at him, and rose onto her toes to plant a kiss on the roughness of his cheek
He glanced down at her, his gaze, for just a moment, showing that heated hunger that she had felt in his kiss "Sometime, I think I'm going to get you alone when there isn't some kind of life threatening situation to interrupt me "
Amara's tongue promptly stuck to the roof of her mouth, which had as abruptly gone dry She tried to gather up enough of her suddenly scattered wits to respond, but the sound of heavy boots on the stairs came first, and a key rattled in the door
The door opened, and Pluvus Pentius faced them with a vacuous expression
Or rather, that was Amara's first impression The truthfinder's head lolled forward on his neck, and a moment later he let out a distinct snore
The door opened farther, and Amara saw two men on either side of the snoozing truthfinder, supporting his limp weight One she recognized, the grizzled old healer from earlier in the day The other wore a centurion's breastplate and helmet, a round-faced man of middle years with dark, squinting eyes
"Bernard," said Harger cheerfully. "I was just asking Pluvus here if we shouldn't let you out, and he said 'yes.'" Harger seized Pluvus's hair and vigorously rocked his head back and forth. "See? The boy can't handle his drink, I'm afraid."
"Steadholder," said the centurion, his voice tense. "This could be worth my helm."
"Giraldi." Bernard stepped forward and clasped the man's shoulder. "Good to see you. How's Rosalia?"
"Worried," Giraldi said, his squinting eyes moving from Bernard back to Amara. "Bernard, what's going on?"
"The Marat are coming. Here. And we think they have the support of a company of mercenary Knights."
Giraldi stared at Bernard, his mouth dropping open. "Bernard. That's crazy. That couldn't happen. Alerans helping the Marat?"
"I was half killed by a Marat warrior near Garados two days ago," Bernard said. "Last night, a group of crafters stronger than me tried to kill my nephew, who had also seen them."
"Tavi? Great furies, Bernard."
"There isn't any time. I told Gram, and he believed me. He ordered a full arming and mobilization, scouts to be sent out, messengers to Riva for reinforcements, before we were attacked by more of the same at the gates to Garrison. Has it been done?"
"I've ordered my full century on watch and armed, Bernard, and I've sent runners to the watchtowers to make sure the balefires will be lit if there's trouble, but that's as much as I can do on my authority."
"Then do it on Gram's," Bernard said. "Get the Knights armed and ready and the rest of your Legion armed out. Bring the local folk inside the walls and get word to Riva. Without the support of the Rivan Legions, it might not matter if we are ready to fight."
With an irritated growl, Giraldi shoved Pluvus's weight onto Harger, who accepted it with a grunt. "Bernard," Giraldi said, "you don't understand. Pluvus is bringing charges against you. Treason, Bernard. He says you were a part of a plot to assassinate Gram."
"That's a load of slive droppings, and you know it."
"But I'm not a Citizen," Giraldi said, his tone quiet. "And off your steadholt, neither are you. With Gram down-"
"How bad is he?"
Harger grunted. "Not good, Bernard. Unconscious. The knife got him low in the back. He's not as young as he used to be, and he'd been drinking pretty heavy the past few weeks. I've done as much as I can for him, but we sent one of our Knights Aeris to bring a healer with more skill than me. I'm a workhorse, but this is delicate. Beyond