The smell of burned wax filled the room of the Watch House in Combe. It was so persistent, as if someone would have set fire to the whole Archive Stair quarters in Bree. Sergeant-at-Arms Saphrax wiped off a tear and stood up, cursing in both two languages that he knew. He turned around to see one of the clerks lighting another candle in his corner.
"Oi, kid! Put that out or crack the bloody door open, damn yer eyes!" shouted Saphrax, taking a menacing step forward. That always worked with youngsters, he thought.
