TH

in the shop. Alondra's face cycled through shades of red and w

had burned him. To be publicly corrected on a matter of herbology by m

and said mildly, "It seems you're not very familiar with herbs, Alondra. It's probab

advice, but they landed l

m around her shoulders. He spoke in a loud, deliberate voice for everyone to hear. "The

urious goods. "Weren't you saying you wanted a vial of 'Amberg

Benson was trying to use a vulgar display of wealth to reassert his dominance an

nson? But it's so expensive..." she simpere

." He snapped his fingers at the shopkeeper, a shrewd-looki

ox's. "An excellent choice, Gamma. This particular via

. Five thousand gold coins. It was more than

hrough, pulling a black crystal card from his coat-the fami

the counter to S

ough a small, intricate alchemical de

. The device r

professional apology. "My apologies,

atched the card back. "

's assets were largely frozen due to a disastrous military investment. His father, Pack A

his payment failed in front of so many people-especiall

nned the crowd and f

commanding whisper. "Faith. Lend me whatever m

everything I had was

k-all the times he had taken my earnings with

ne of hurt and disbelief. I had to play the part of the wounded mat

hough I added a slight tremor to it, loud e

nson. I don't

nned that I would re

ce a path down my cheek to sell the performance, my voice sweet as poison,

s a failure." I used the word "failure" deliberately, a n

Benson Haynes, the great Gamma General, publicly refused a loa

ly nowhere for him