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“A better peace?”

Not literally—not yet. But he held the parchment to the lantern light, watching the wax seals gleam like drops of blood, and felt the familiar itch behind his ribs. The one that said: this is a trap, and you’re going to walk into it smiling.

“You’re doing the face,” said Jean Tannen.

“The one where you look like a priest calculating how much to charge for a miracle.”

Outside, a horn sounded. The Thorn of Emberlain—a name the city had given to a ghost, to a rumor, to him —was supposed to be a savior. A folk hero. But folk heroes don’t pick locks on powder magazines. They don’t know the price of black market crossbow bolts or which harbor masters take bribes in silver versus fear.

“They’re offering to let me trade my neck for ten thousand lives.” Locke folded the page into a tight square and tucked it inside his vest. “Which means, my dear Jean, that I have never been more dangerous in my life.” End of Fragment 580 If you are looking for the legitimate of The Thorn of Emberlain — please note the book has not yet been published as of 2026. Scott Lynch has provided updates over the years, but no official release date has been confirmed. Any EPUB claiming to be the full novel is either a placeholder, fan fiction, or a fraudulent file.