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"That is not governance, but the lack of it I taught you that it precedes all governance Now list the seven sorts"

"Attachment to the person of the monarch Attachment to a bloodline or other sequence of succession Attach the governing state Attachreater or lesser board of electors, as framers of the law Attach the body of electors, other bodies giving rise to theely ideal"

"Tolerable Of these, which is the earliest forhest?"

"The developiven, Master," I said "But I do not recall that you ever asked before which was highest?"

Master Malrubius leaned forward, his eyes burning brighter than the coals of the fire "Which is highest, Severian?"

"The last, Master?"

"Youthe body of electors, other bodies giving rise to theely ideal?"

"Yes, Master"

"Of what kind, Severian, is your own attach It ; but if so, my mind was too ht Instead, I becas The sky above randeur seemed to have been made solely for my benefit, and to be presented for round as upon a wo as admirable as crystal and as fluid as wine

"Answer me, Severian"

"The first, if I have any"

"To the person of the monarch?"

"Yes, because there is no succession"

"The animal that rests beside you noould die for you Of what kind is his attachment to you?"

"The first?"

There was no one there I sat up Malrubius and Triskele had vanished, yet my side felt faintly warm

Chapter 34

MORNING

"You are awake," Dr Talos said "I trust you slept well?"

"I had a strange dream" I stood and looked about

"There's no one here but ourselves" As though he were reassuring a child, Dr Talos gestured toward Baldanders and the sleeping wo - he has been lost for years now - came back and lay beside me I could still feel the war beside a fire," Dr Talos pointed out "There has been no dog here"

"A man, dressed much as I am"

Dr Talos shook his head "I could not have failed to see hiht have dozed"

"Only earlier in the evening I have been awake for the past tatches"

"I'll guard the stage and properties for you," I said, "if you'd like to sleep now" The truth was that I was afraid to lie down again

Dr Talos seemed to hesitate, then said, "That's very kind of you," and stiffly lowered himself onto my no-soaked blanket

I took his chair, turning it so I could watch the fire For sohts, which were at first of hty relic chance had dropped into an to stir and at last rose and stretched her lush liainst the scarlet-shot sky "Is there water?" she asked "I want to wash"

I told her that I thought Baldanders had carried the water for our supper from the direction of the copse, and she nodded and went off to look for a streahts; I found ure to Dorcas's prone one Jolenta's beauty was perfect No other wo stateliness made her seem coarse and er and childlike as Valeria, the forgotten girl I had encountered in the Atrium of Time

Yet I was not attracted to Jolenta as I had been to Agia; I did not love her as I had loved Thecla; and I did not desire the inti up between Dorcas and me, or think it possible Like every man who ever saw her I desired her, but I wanted her as one wants a wo And even while I ade the night before) how cluraceful in repose Those round thighs chafed one another, that adhed her until she carried her voluptuousness as another woman would have carried a child in her belly When she returned fro in her lashes, and her face as pure and perfect as the curve of the rainbow, I felt still alh I were alone

"I said, there's fruit if you want it The doctor hadfor breakfast" Her voice was husky and slightly breathless One listened as if toYes, I'd like soet it for you, you'll have to fetch it yourself It's there, behind that stand of armor"

The armor to which she pointed was actually of cloth stretched over a wire frame and painted silver Behind it I found an old basket containing grapes, an apple, and a po too," Jolenta said "Those grapes, I think"

I gave her the grapes, and considering that Dorcas would probably prefer the apple, put it near her hand and took the porapes "Grown under glass by soardener - it's too soon for natural ones I don't think this strolling life's going to be too bad And I get a third of the money"

I asked if she had not trouped with the doctor and his giant before

"You don't rerape into her mouth and so far as I could see sed it whole "No, I haven't I did have a rehearsal, although with that girl thrust into the story so suddenly we had to change everything"

"I e much less"

"Yes, but you were supposed to be there Dr Talos took your roles e practiced as well as his own, and told me what you were supposed to say"