Page 14 (1/2)

Dawit spoke suddenly again "Before Medraut courted your hter Muna"

"Sir!" Queen Muna cried out

Dawit sniffed "It was not secret then Why should it be secret now you are both married, and not to each other?"

Whatever Tele fro by a dark , and now a curtain was pulled back so that he could see through to another world, full of a new kind of intrigue that it never occurred to him to watch for

Medraut’s eyes seethed He did not move or make a sound

"There is your reason the najashi did not want Gwalchstar," Dawit added "He looks too much like his cousin, your father, and lacked your father’s te libertine"

"Do not sharunted "The boy is the ie of his father Do you think the najashi will allow him to stay in this palace after his voice breaks?"

When the najashi returned to the roos Medraut sh hard with his fist as a wordless exclaain Athena scrambled to the door on all fours, lionlike She pulled herself up against the belly of a saluki The dog turned its head nervously and sniffed at her "Mine," Athena said "Athena’s dog, thank you, najashi"

That hed aloud

"I a down on her level as he always did to talk to children "But these dogs are for your brother I am sure he will share them"

Now Teleuardian in frozen disbelief

"For me?" He was sure the najashi star Your father bids ood intent toward you, and we all know you could use assistance in the hunt These will be easier for you to e than a falcon"

Teles? A pair! Two of the najashi’s gazelle hounds for ift for the e on?

They were a matched pair, an identical hound and bitch, not a year old and not quite full grown Their legs and bodies were the pearly golden white of old ivory, or new crea, silken ears and feathery tails were red as copper

"You cannot possibly …" Telemakos moved to kneel formally before Abreha, with his head turned aside in disbelief as ift for a king I do not deserve this" He drew a shaking breath, burning with shaift bareclose to treason "Never in a thousand years would I deserve such dogs"

"I do not doubt that you are right on both counts," Abreha replied dryly "But they are yours My gift to you is e to your father"

Medraut answered him with real warreat honor to gift hireat honor I accept this pledge"

The najashi strode across the roos followed loyally at his heels

"Touch thestar Let them smell you You are their master now"

Telemakos had always known he would sell his soul to call one of these dogs his own He could not restrain hiainst their feathery copper ears while his roughened fingertips snagged the white silk of their coats They warainst hi else