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"My lord Ella Amida--"

The three soldiers spoke nearly as a unit

"Your per--"

"We are needed--"

Constantine cut thelanced at one another Then, by some internal decision of their own, one of them stepped forward determinedly and took the whip from Constantine The other two soldiers turned and saluted Priamos on their way out

Ityopis said politely, "You do not need an audience, lord," and turned on his heel also

"Ras Priamos," said Constantine

Pria He held out one hand, pal precious and invisible in its cup: as he had held out his hand to e to Aksum

"Peace to you, Priamos Anbessa," I said levelly in Ethiopic, and followed Ityopis

I heard the first swish and crack before I had left the Golden Court Abandoning dignity, I fled within the corridor He turned to me and offered me his arm: peacemaker, Priamos had called him

"I stand amazed that martinet finds any asped "Half the soldiers in this city fought under my brother in Himyar They’d cut out their own hearts to spare him Mother of God, to threaten hiin life on Debra Daiven such choices"

"Priamos told ave a hoarse bark of laughter, like a cough "Mikael’s! Ai! And did he tell you of his own? How he and Hector were fettered back to back for four nights, the tihts they lay in a pit with the ht constantly watch hi to break free Priamos still carries the marks left by the irons"

Ityopis’s words struck iven me no hint that he had taken part in Hector’s scheovernment of a rock slide," Ityopis uttered bitterly "‘Go send for a whip’! Small wonder ourout of the Golden Court

"Let us talk for a minute, Goewin"

He pulled my arhly by my wrists He held my hands up, imprisoned, as he spoke I was nearly as tall as he, but I was not as strong And I would not hu with hi

"Explain a thing to the princess for me, Ras Ityopis," Constantine said coldly "She has uess Tell her about the behavior of coalition lions"

Ityopis protested in a low voice, "My lord, I do not understand--"

"Explain to her why the brothers Anbessa are named a coalition"

I stood between therip, while Ityopis reluctantly obeyed the viceroy’s order and explained toallegiances Not with their mates, but with one another They may leave a pride, they may leave their lionesses and cubs, or a rival coalition ether, and hunts together, and fights together Coalition lions will defend their comrades to the death They are more faithful to the members of their coalition than to their mates or their kits"

"You have not yet explained the brothers Anbessa," Constantine reminded him

Ityopis sed "We are a coalition of lions," he said in a low voice, "because it is said that any one of us will defend another to the death, as do brotherhood lions Sir," he said, turning to Constantine with his head bowed, "my lord, Abreha was never one of us He is seventeen years e at al-Muza Abreha is not--"

"He slew the emperor Caleb’s eldest son, but he set Priamos free unscathed When a coalition takes over a pride, they drive out the existing coalition and kill their cubs"

Ityopis dared to protest, "Priamos is not Abreha!"

"You, Ras Ityopis, you tread a very narrow path, and my ministers and I can find no fault in you But Pria his nails into my wrists I clenched my teeth and did not flinch

"You did not want to see him whipped," he said toimperial catspaw, even Wazeb made an excuse!"

"Now listen, Goewin: I will not have you inciting Priaain"

"God help me, I won’t," I swore ardently