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At last the time would come, to men and women alike, when instead of a journey three or four journeyurator I wanted to preserve the Chatelaine Thecla fro Drotte's keys on their accustomed nail in the wall, and when I passed the cell in which he was noabbing blood from the floor told him that the chatelaine desired to speak with him

On the next day, I was summoned to Master Gurloes I had expected to stand, as we apprentices usually did, with hands behind back before his table; but he told old-traced mask, leaned toward

"A week ago, or a little less, I sent you to the archivist," he said I nodded

"When you brought the books, I take it you delivered theht?"

I explained what had happened

"Nothing wrong there I don't want you to think I'ues for what you did, much less have you bent over a chair You're nearly a journeye, they hadis, you see, Severian, the client is highly placed" His voice sank to a rough whisper "Quite highly connected"

I said that I understood that

"Not just an ar the disorderly shelves behind his chair produced a squat book "Have you any notion how many exulted faoing A couished ones would take an encyclopedia, I suppose I've extinguished a few of thehed with hie to each There are seven hundred and forty-six pages"

I nodded to show I understood

"Most of them have nobody at court - can't afford it, or are afraid of it Those are the sreater families must: the Autarch wants a concubine he can lay hands on if they startNow the Autarch can't play quadrille with five hundred women There are maybe twenty The rest talk to each other, and dance, and don't see him closer than a chain off once in ato hold my voice steady) if the Autarch actually bedded these concubines

Master Gurloes rolled his eyes and pulled at his jaith one huge hand "Well now, for decency's sake they have these khaibits, what they call the shadooirls that look like the chatelaines I don't knohere they get them, but they're supposed to stand in place of the others Of course they're not so tall" He chuckled "I said stand in place, but when they're laying down the tallness probably doesn't h, that oftentimes it works the other way than it's supposed to Instead of those shadow girls doing duty for their mistresses, the mistresses do it for them But the present Autarch, whose every deed, I may say, is sweeter than honey in the et it - in his case, I may say, from what I understand it is more than somewhat doubtful if he has the pleasure of any of them"

Relief flooded , Master"

Master Gurloes inclined his head to acknowledge that it was indeed, and laced his fingers over his belly "Souild yourself You'll need to know these things When I was your age - or a trifle younger, I suppose - I used to fancy I was of exulted blood Some have been, you know"

It struck me, and not for the first time, that Master Gurloes and Master Palaeer journeyinally

"Whether I am or no, I cannot say I have the physique of a rider, I think, and I aht despite a hard boyhood For it was harder, o, I'll tell you"

"So I have been told, Master"

He sighed, the kind of wheezing noise a leather pillow soe of ti forfor my benefit Doubtless I had acquired merit in a previous life, as I hope I have in this one"

Master Gurloes fell silent, looking (it seemed to me) at the jumble of papers on his table, the instructions of jurists and the dossiers of clients At last, when I was about to ask if he had anything further to tell me, he said, "In all uild put to torment Of them, several hundred, I suppose"

I ventured the co that it was better to be a toad hidden under a stone than a butterfly crushed beneath it

"We of the guild are h I have seen five hundred or more exultants in our cells, I have never, until now, had charge of a member of that inner circle of concubines closest to the Autarch"

"The Chatelaine Thecla belonged to it? You iloomily "It wouldn't be so bad if she were to be put to torment at once, but that isn't to be It may be years It may be never"

"You believe she may be released, Master?"

"She's a pawn in the Autarch's game with Vodalus - even I know that much Her sister, the Chatelaine Thea, has fled the House Absolute to becoain with Thecla for a tiood fare Yet not too good"

"I see," I said I was acutely unco what the Chatelaine Thecla had told Drotte, and what Drotte had told Master Gurloes

"She's asked for better food, and I've ements to supply it She's asked for company as well, and e told her visitors would not be pered that one of us, at least, should keep her co face with the edge of his cloak

I said, "I understand" I was fairly certain that I indeed understood as to come next

"Because she had seen your face, she asked for you I told her you'll sit with her while she eats I don't ask your agreement - not only because you're subject to my instructions, but because I know you're loyal What I do ask is that you be careful not to displease her, and not to please her too much"

"I will do my best" I was surprised to hear my own steady voice

Master Gurloes sood head, Severian, though it's a young one yet Have you been with a woman?"

When we apprentices talked, it was the custo apprentices now, and I shook my head