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Between the seventh and eighth books there's

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a short story called Auberon.

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Laconia has taken the gates,

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and now it has to rule more

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than a thousand worlds.

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Auberon is one of the richest

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of them, and its new governor

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is about to learn how hard

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that job really is.

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Spoilers ahead!

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Biryar Rittenaur is a Laconian officer,

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and a true believer.

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Duarte sends him to govern Auberon,

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a busy trading world full of ships,

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money, and crime.

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He brings his wife Mona,

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a soil scientist,

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and a simple plan:

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clean the place up.

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No bribes, no smuggling,

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and Laconian law for everyone.

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But Auberon already has its own rulers.

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A hidden crime boss runs the docks,

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the police, and half the government.

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He's Erich, Amos's old friend from Baltimore,

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the forger who once gave Amos

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his new name.

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The governor's crackdown goes nowhere.

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Erich doesn't fight him head on.

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He finds the one thing

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the governor can't protect:

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the woman he loves.

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In the end,

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the governor keeps his title,

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but he rules on Erich's terms.

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Laconia's reports say Auberon is calm and loyal.

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Underneath, it runs the way it always has.

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Laconia can conquer a world

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in a day.

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Ruling one is something else.

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That is the crack in Laconia's empire.

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Its colonies obey on the surface,

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and keep their own rules underneath.

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Naomi will remember that.

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When she needs a place to rebuild

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the resistance, she goes to Auberon.

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Next up: book eight, Tiamat's Wrath.