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Just one littletearfully to the dismounted dark horseman, as Jenna and Septiarden Theon to his horse with one hand and patting Sarah, who had thrown her arms around his neck, with the other

Sarah Heap looked small and alled down to her shoulders, and her long blue cotton tunic with the Palace gold edging on the sleeves and hem could not hide how thin Sarah had becoreen eyes were bright with relief as she looked up at the dark horsee to let me know you were safe," chided Sarah "That&039;s all I needed All we needed Your father has been worried sick too We thought ould never see you againgone for more than a year and not a word You really are a bad boy, Simon"

"I am not a boy, Mother I aotten" Simon Heap detached Sarah&039;s arms fro watched He swung around and did not look particularly pleased to see his youngest brother and adopted sister hanging back uncertainly by the kitchen garden door Simon turned back to his mother

"Anyway, you don&039;t need -lost seventh son back Particularly as he has done so well for hi my Apprenticeship"

"Simon, don&039;t," Sarah protested "Please don&039;t let&039;s argue over that again Septi from you You were never offered the Apprenticeship"

"Ah, but I would have been If that brat hadn&039;t turned up"

"Simon! I will not have you talk about Septimus like that He is your brother"

"If you believe what the old witch Zelda saw in a pool of dirty water was true Which I don&039;t, personally"

"And don&039;t talk about your great-aunt like that either, Siry "Anyway, I knohat I sae all saw-is true Septiot used to it, Simon"

Septimus retreated into the shadows of the doorway; he was upset by what he had heard, but not surprised He reht of his Apprentice Supper at Aunt Zelda&039;s cottage in the Marraht of Septimus&039;s life, for not only had he just become Marcia&039;s Apprentice, he had also found out who he really wasthe seventh son of Sarah and Silas Heap But, in the early hours of the , after the celebrations, Siument with his parents He had stor a canoe across the Marram Marshes, much to Sarah&039;s horror (and his brother Nicko&039;s, who had only just acquired the canoe) After that Sio and say hello, Sep?" whispered Jenna

Septio," he told Jenna "I don&039;t think he wants to see me"

Septimus stood in the shadows and watched Jenna as she walked into the kitchen garden and threaded her way through the lettuces that Simon&039;s horse had trampled flat

"Hello, Siht find you here, in your Palace Goodtone as Jenna approached

"I&039;m not called that yet, Si," said Jenna, a little uncertainly "Not until I&039;rand then? You won&039;t be speaking to the likes of us when you&039;re Queen, will you?"