several plump , overfed servants fainted dead away , and a few of the more theologically inclined began to contemplate revisions of several articles of the faith . aracia gasped . '' cover yourself , zelana ! '' she said sharply . '' what for , dear sister ? '' zelana said . '' i 'm immune to the weather , and i do n't have any defects that i want to
hide

the old man stared at the gold plating ; he stared at the iron chains . gregory reached out , and without asking permission he put his hands on the casket . then i did feel a shimmer , much as i loathed it , and i was stronger , instantly stronger . the old man stared right at gregory 's hands . then he sat back , sighing heavily as if for effect or punctuation , and he reached for a sheaf of papers-rather cheap and light paper , nothing as good as parchment-and he thrust this group of papers at gregory , holding them up above the
casket

that he found himself broke , friendless , without provisions and generally in a bind , this he had admitted . that he allowed himself be maneuvered into stealing for cort 's gang , yes that too . he 'd enumerated which thefts belong to him and which to others . he had even given names and descriptions ; he was through light-stepping for the likes of
cort