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"We need not talk of such things, Chatelaine, if you would rather we not"
She stood and thrust her face into the center of the bouquet I had picked for her "Flowers are better theology than folios, Severian Is it beautiful in the necropolis where you got these? You aren't bringing ht?"
"No These were planted long ago They come up every year"
At the slot in the door, Drotte said, "Tio," and I stood up
"Do you think you ain? The Chatelaine Thea, my sister?"
"I don't think so, Chatelaine"
"If you should, Severian, will you tell her about me? They may not have been able to communicate with her There will be no treason in that - you'll be doing the Autarch's work"
"I will, Chatelaine" I was stepping through the doorway
"She won't betray Vodalus, I know, but there may be some compromise" Drotte closed the door and turned the key It had not escaped me that Thecla had not asked how her sister and Vodalus had come to be in our ancient - and by such people as theotten - necropolis The corridor, with its lines ofwalls, seean to talk of an expedition he and Roche had made to a lion pit across Gyoll; over the sound of his voice I heard Thecla calling faintly, "Remind her of the time ed Josepha's doll"
The lilies faded as lilies do, and the dark death roses carescent purple flecked with scarlet She smiled and recited:
"Here Rose the Graced, not Rose the Chaste, reposes The scent that rises is no scent of roses"
"If their odor offends you, Chatelaine"
"Not at all, it is very sweet I was only quoting sorandirl, or so she told me, and all the children chanted that rhyme when she died Actually I suspect it is ood and bad things Men are said to desire women, Severian Why do they despise the women they obtain?"
"I don't believe all do, Chatelaine"
"That beautiful Rose gave herself, and suffered such o turned to dust with her smooth flesh Come here and sit by me"
I did as I was told, and she slipped her hands under the frayed bottom of my shirt and drew it over my head I protested, but found myself unable to resist
"What are you ashamed of? You who have no breasts to hide I've never seen such white skin coupled with dark hairDo you think my own skin white?"
"Very white, Chatelaine"
"So do others, but it is dun next to yours You must flee the sun when you're a torturer, Severian You'll burn terribly"
Her hair, which she often let fall free, today was bound about her head in a dark aureole She had never more closely resembled her half-sister Thea, and I felt such desire for her that I see weaker and fainter with each contraction ofon o"
"You'd better put your shirt back on before you leave - you wouldn't want your friend to see you like that"
That night, though I kneas in vain, I went to the necropolis and spent several watches in wandering aht I returned, and the next, but on the fourth Roche tookden I heard someone who see a kafilas
Days passed Thecla was certain now, since she had been held in safety so long, that she would never be put to tor and drawing, hich she planned a villa she meant to build on the southern shore of Lake Diuturna, which is said to be the most remote part of the Commonwealth, as well as the most beautiful I took parties of apprentices to swih I could never dive in deep water without fear
Then, suddenly as it see there was sparkling frost on the worn flagstones of the Old Yard, and fresh pork appeared on our plates at dinner, a sure sign that the cold had reached the hills below the city Master Gurloes and Master Palaemon summoned me
Master Gurloes said, "Froood reports of you, Severian, and now your apprenticeship is nearly served"