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"Trust e Couldn’t you have stopped hi my shirt downby spitting at hi for more?"

I answered with an "ow" as Mott pushed ized and est fool of a boy I’ve ever known," Mott said Then his tone softened "But you will serve Carthya well"

"I wish I felt ready to do this," I said "The closer we come to the moment, the more I see every defect in my character that caused my parents to send me away in the first place"

"From all I’m told, the prince they sent aas selfish, eous, noble, and strong"

"And a fool," I added

Mott chuckled "You are that too"

Getting dressed in the outfit Conner had planned for me took quite a while It was fancier than the usual clothes we had at Farthenwood, and i I’d never old satin ribbon running from my chest to the bottoathered at ht onfroold chain that was heavier than it looked

"Real gold?" I asked Mott nodded and offered me a pair of new leather boots and a ridiculous hat that had a long white feather in it I took the boots and ignored the hat

I sat in front of a mirror as Mott combed my hair smooth and tied it back with a ribbon "Your cheek is still red from where he slapped you," he said "But it should fade before we reach the castle"

"I hope it stays Let it reht Mott’s eyes in the mirror "Do I have your loyalty?"

Mott nodded "You havedown the collar of my jacket, then said, "What do you think of yourself now?"

"It’s as good as I ht expect to look"

There was a knock at our door Mott opened it and Ien walked in with a tray of food Her eyes were red but dry I wanted to ask Mott to leave so that I could speak with her, but I knew he had to obey Conner’s order to stay Besides, there was really nothing en than had already been said She would be the greatest casualty in this plan, which was entirely ize to her, I didn’t kno

She set the tray on the small table in the center of the roo the tray over to et the food Shedifferent in the pained way I walked, because she furrowed her eyebrows and looked questioningly at me I smiled in return, but I don’t think she believed it

"Do you want her to leave while you eat?" Mott asked

Ignoring Mott, I asked her, "Have you eaten yet today?" She cast a sideways glance at Mott, but I said, "Ien, it was my question, not his"

She slowly shook her head I uncovered the lid to my tray and found a deep-dish h for both of us" She mouthed the word no to me, but I pretended not to see it and with my spoon dished her out a sizable portion, which I set on the plate where the bread had been I handed it to her with the spoon and said I’d eatthe utensil

"Have you eaten, Mott?" I asked

"I’d better have, because that meal won’t split a third ti, she devoured the food as if it were the first she’d eaten in days She finished her meat pie and then found the napkin and carefully wiped the spoon clean before handing it back to ry"

She shook her head and stood, backing away from the table with a bowed head