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Every victory procession parades along the wide boulevard called the Avenue of Triumphs Mother and Amaya and I wait at the side of the avenue in the faainst the blistering sun and bead curtains to conceal us froht of running the Fives to care about the procession, but when Ah I scoot up beside her, realizing that I a

"Look! Here they coh toso we can tell Maraya all about it!"

"Bett, too!"

Amaya sniffs "As if she cares"

Mother sits cal the beads to one side so she can see

First the horse guards sashay past Everyone cheers and whistles as the horses prance and the proud cavalryold silk and red leather boots tri purple banners e of the royal house Blasts from their curved true

Cheers fade into a sullen quiet

The royal carriage is open for all to see, and today both the king’s and the queen’s seats are ee leads the way in every victory, festival, and funeral procession whether anyone sits in it or not Perhaps it is for the best The crowd’s harshand queen have become

Abruptly shouts of praise and triuain as people see Prince Nikonos The king and queen’s younger brother sits in a se He wears forold His hair is cut short in the fashion of soldiers because he is a soldier too He stares straight ahead as people press their right hands to their hearts and offer the bow of gratitude

Mother and Ah no one can see us When we straighten, the royal stewards’ carriage is passing They fling coins into the crowd