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I was fortunate a the new nobles’ sons in that I had nearby relatives willing to welcome me to their home for my free afternoons Trist, Gord, and myself were the only ones who could count on a dinner invitation The others most often stayed in the dore to pick me up and provided me with a hearty meal at his home I came to know my aunt and my cousins Hotorn and Purissa a bit better My Aunt Daraleen did not lose her stiffness toward me, but I perceived, aspersonal in it As long as I did not presume on our relationship, she felt unthreatened bytalks with my uncle in his study, in which he often asked how e and military history with me Sometimes Hotorn, his heir son, joined us there He was older than I by four years, and enrolled in a university Sometimes he spoke of his studies there, and I confess I so his subjects My younger girl cousin, Purissa, took enough of a fancy to overness’s help, she would bake little cakes and sweets, and pack up a basket of such treats for me to take back to irl cousin, was always absent whenever I visited In some ways, this was a relief for e one

Thinking to make polite conversation at the table one afternoon, I once observed to my aunt, "It is unfortunate that Epiny is always occupied elsewhere when I visit"

My aunt gave ard and said, "Unfortunate? I do not follow your thought Why would you think it unfortunate?"

I instantly felt unsure of round "Why, I meant only that it was unfortunate for me, of course I am certain that I would enjoy her coht those words would s

She stirred her cup of tea for a moment and then smiled atabout that, Nevare You andin common, and could scarcely be expected to enjoy one another’s co woht find to talk about I am sure it would be very aard for both of you"

I lowered my eyes to my plate and murmured, "Of course, I a in the world to cool the blood that flushed ht I had been forward to hint that I hter Just as obviously, it was no accident of scheduling that Epiny was never present in her father’s hohter apart frouest, I was always the sole guest The next thought that rushed into my mind was that perhaps my uncle, too, considered me too socially inept to associate with family friends I was sharply reminded of how my own father had kept h old scout had come to call Did my aunt see me in a similar way? Did hts, ht to disarree with your aunt, Nevare, but not for the reasons you rown, she behaves so childishly that I have not thought to expect the social duties of a young wo ed

"Childishly! Childishly? She is a sensitive, Sefert! Guide Porilet, the queen’s own reat potential in her But she must be allowed to unfold slowly, as a blossos, damp with the waters of her birth Force her too soon into the worldly duties a woman must bear, and that is what she will beco the yoke of insensitive ifts will be lost, not just to her, but also to all of us Childish! You do not see the difference between innocence and spiritual awakening and babyish behavior" Her voice seeet shriller with every word

My uncle abruptly pushed his chair back from the table "I am sure I do not see the difference between this ‘sensitivity’ and childish behavior And thus I am sure that Nevare cannot, either So I think I shall spare him exposure to it Nevare, will you join me in my study?"

I was mortified I had precipitated this barely concealed quarrel between theracefully as I could and bowed to Lady Burvelle as I left her table She turned her gaze away froave a disdainful sniff as I left It was thelife