5 ： Sadows of Betra
achedher，clearlyipressed“ynifit，”hesaid，hiseyesfilledwithadiration“i’veneverseensuchgradtalent”
sukiesiled，herheartpoundg“thankyou，ylordi’honoredbyyourpraise”
lordweitookherhand，hisgazetense“i’dliketospendtiwithyou，ifyou’rewillgihaveaprivaterooupstairs”
sukie’spulseiedthiswastheopportunityshehadbeenwaitgfor“i’dbedelighted，ylord”
theyasdedthegrandstaircase，andsukiefollowedlordweitoavishlyderatedrooastheysettledontoapshuch，lordweipouredthebothagsfe
“toyourcredibleperforance，”hetoasted，raisghisgss
sukiekedhergssagasthis，herdragwithpossibilities“thankyou，ylordit’sanhonortoeaoneasdistguishedasyourself”
theychattedforawhile，lordweiclearlyenjoygherpanysukielistenedily，subtlysteergtheversationtowardsthepadthedarklord’spnsshelearhatlordweiwasdeedwell－ectedandoftenattendedprivategathergsatthepace
astheevengprogressed，lordweigreworefortable，andsukiesawhercesheleaned，hervoiceftandvitg“ylord，i’veheardruorsaboutaneonbegdevelopedthepacedoyouknowanythgaboutit?”
lordweichuckled，clearlypleasedwithhercuriosity“ah，thedarklord’ssecretprojectyes，i’vehearditeabitit’ssupposedtobecrediblypowerful，thgthatuldtheurseofthewar”
sukie’sheartraced“thatundsfasatgdoyouthkthere’sanywayiuldseeit?”
lordweiraisedaneyebrow，triguedbyherboldness“you’reitethecurioone，aren’tyou?perhapsiuldarranthgbutiouldreireabitofpersuasion”
sukiesiled，leangcloser“i’sureweetoanarra，ylord”
thenighttihadelicatedanceofwordsandsubtlepersuasionbytheendoftheeveng，lordweiwasthhlyented，andsukiehadsecuredhisproisetotakehertothepace
thefollogdayswereabrofpreparationandanticipationsukiekepthertrueiionshidden，atagherroleasadedicatedurtesanhanfenglgandireaedclose，readyttoaifneeded
fally，thedayarriveddressedherfigown，sukieapaniedlordweitothepacethegrandhallswerefilledwithopulendsplendor，butsukie’sfocwantheissionsheolocatetheonandfdawaytodestroyit
astheywalkedthroughthepace，lordweitroducedhertovarionoblesandofficials，eateradeli