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I was leaning over to blow out my candle when there was a soft tap-tap, si I expected perhaps a servant, but certainly not ain at erly

"So it would appear!" I replied uncoood! They kept you so long, I thought you would never get to your bed" With that she bounced into my bedchamber, shut the door behind her, and sat down on the foot of s up under her and then de?"

"Should I have?" I was completely taken aback by her peculiar behavior and had no idea what to expect next from her I had heard tales of hoardcity, but I had never expected to encounter such brazen behavior into be a ht robe and with her hair bundled up in a cap, it was difficult to guess her age I wasn’t accustoave a sh of disappointment and shook her head at me "Probably not Aunt Selethe sends us little presents froht one with you But if you haven’t, I shan’t be offended"

"Oh Are you Epiny Burvelle, ht encounter had becoer

She looked at ht be?"

"I’m sure I had no idea!"

She stared at er, perplexed, and then her mouth formed a scandalized O She leaned closer to me and spoke in a whisper, as if she feared to be overheard "You thought I was a wanton esse in advance Oh, Nevare, how depraved young s"

"I did not!" I denied hotly

She sat back "Oh, don’t lie You did so But forget that Now that you know that I’ er and tactless as a child

"No Well, not exactly My mother sent presents for you and your mother and sister But I don’t have thehed "Then I suppose I shall have to wait until ood journey co" I tried not to say the words too pointedly I was very tired and this bizarre reintroduction toet to ride on a jankship?"

"Yes Yes, we did"

"Oh!" She all but collapsed with jealousy "I never have My father says they are frivolous and dangerous and a hazard to sane navigation on the river Last week one collided with a coal barge Six people were lost and all the coal was spilled in the river He says they should be outlawed, and their reckless captains clapped in irons"

"Really" I made my voice flat with disinterest I felt that her co by jankship "I am really very tired, Cousin Epiny"

"Are you? Then I suppose I should let you go to sleep You’re a bit disappointing, Cousin Nevare I thought a boy cousin would have far ht sos to tell" She clambered off my bed

"Perhaps I do, when I’m not so tired," I said sharply

"I doubt it," she said sincerely "You look very ordinary And you sound as dull as nity, and I think that prevents hi life If I were a boy, and pernity at all"

"You don’t seeirl," I pointed out to her

"Well, yes, I’ve discarded it as being useless to irl also But that doesn’t h I do aspire to one I do Good night, Nevare" She leaned closer as if she would kissat the side of my head "Whatever did you do to your ear?"

"A Plains warrior cut it with his swanneck A swanneck is a long, curving blade" I was glad to say it Her re me sharply

"I knohat a swanneck is, cousin" She sounded very patronizing as she paused with her hand on the doorknob "And you are,you are So you needn’t e Plainsirl like reat deal about the Plainsentle folk who live in coave yet another sigh "Don’t tell lies totrait in a "