After that, and with such an obvious and capable rival to his succession, who would support Roper? What chance did a nineteen-year-old with no experience and no name other than that bequeathed to him by his father stand against the greatest warrior alive? He had no idea where to begin; no idea where he would find the allies to support his claim. But he knew where to find his enemies. They were right here; at this table. Uvoren’s war council. Roper memorised them all. He remembered their names, their stations, their countenances. He observed who was personally close to Uvoren, who merely a
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