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A line of servants had asseon A few quickly took control of the horses and one helped Conner out of the wagon, bowing to hiestured to us to leave the wagon, and e did, Conner presented us each with a servant "Follow your e of clean clothes" He cast an eye onthan usual, so stay in the bath as long as you must Once you are presentable, you may join me for a hot supper that I suspect will be the finest meal any of you have ever eaten"

Roden and Tobias followed their servants into the estate I followed mine behind them as we entered Farthenwood The entry was e chandelier directly above us The plaster walls were decorated with beautifulnear me depicted dozens of names and faces Probably Conner’s family tree

"What’s your name?" I asked the servant

He hesitated at first as if he wasn’t sure whether he should answer, and then said, "Errol, sir" Errol looked like the kind of young h facial hair to actually require a shave He had boyish features and a bit of curl in his light blond hair I suspected that if the fables about the existence of elves were true, Errol would turn out to be one of thee My companions on this trip will assure you I am no ‘sir’ Conner seems to think he owns me too, whichon a first-naive me, but I’ve been instructed to call you ‘sir,’" Errol said "So you should get used to hearing it"

I tugged on the rag that served as h a tear in the fabric near my hip "With ?"

Errol glanced sideways at me and smiled crookedly "It isn’t easy … sir"

When I asked, Errol told me that the rooms off to the left were for a few of the choice servants, such as Mott and Cregan They also housed a kitchen and other work areas To the right were rooured Errol’s was one of those roorand staircase rose up from the center of the entry It was lined with tall beeswax candles and was carpeted in a weave so fine I bent down and ran ers over it

Ahead of me, I heard Roden’s servant tell Roden that with my dirty hands, he’d have to scrub that area of carpet now Out of spite, I made sure I left a mark there

The second floor consisted of roo hallway

"I think several of es could fit in here," Roden said

"Conner’s a rich man, that’s for sure," Tobias added

"Why does he need so many rooms?" I asked

Errol sh cleaning for all of us to do"

I laughed loudly, which earned a glare from the other two servants In a quieter voice, Errol continued, "Master Conner often has guests He wishes to impress his wealth upon theent in the court Has the king ever been here?"

"The king has not, but the queen ca with her courtiers"

"I’ve heard she’s not very pretty," I said

Errol looked at ," he said, as if personally offended "Queen Erin is a strikingly beautiful woman Master Conner himself has often commented on that"

"Is Conner married?"

"No, sir He loved a woman once, but that didn’t work out"