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The Hollow had grown so large that a full day’s ride from Cutter’s Hollow barely had them to the border But there was an inn at least The next few nights would be spent sleeping in tents, so Rojer had never cared for Amanvah’s tent was more a pavilion, with half a dozen servants to tend their every need, but for bedding down, Rojer would trade it for a broom closet if the walls were solid and kept the sounds of corelings at bay

The inn had been cleared in expectation of the royal caravan, but the count took dinner in his roo that spoke voluierian tea politics

Jasin, too, was absent froh that was no surprise He seemed to want to avoid Rojer as much as Rojer did him

Amanvah, too, would have been pleased to retire, but Rojer did not allow it, loudly inviting Leesha, Gared, and Wonda to join the when Krasian customs worked in his favor, for his jiwah could not refuse an invitation oncethe staff and putting A their table Creator forbid so way

Jizell and Vika took another table with a few apprentices, all of them more than happy to have Hollowers serve theid as a hitching post Rojer had never seen the man eat

"Tell us of this Duke Rhinebeck, husband," Amanvah said between courses "You knew him, did you not?"

"Ay, a bit," Rojer said "Back when Master Arrick was royal herald I learned to read in the palace library"

"That hed wistfully

Rojer shrugged "Suppose you’d think so Forand tu But Mistress Jessa insisted I learn reed"

"Mistress Jessa was Royal Gatherer?" Leesha asked

"Not exactly," Rojer said

Leesha’s eyes narrowed "Weed Gatherer" Rojer nodded

"What is a Weed Gatherer?" A well" Leesha did an i venom to her voice She was really quite a natural "A Weed Gatherer is the royal poisoner"

Ah honor for a trusted servant"

"There’s no honor in poison," Leesha said

"It’s ht Leesha’s eye "And I’ll not sit and listen to you talk about Mistress Jessa like that She was the closest thing I had to a ue about Elona"

Leesha snorted "Fair and true"

"So I saw the duke here and there in the palace," Rojer said, "usually stu to or from the royal brothel He and his brothers have their own private tunnel there, so they can visit unseen"

"Of course they do" Leesha sawed at thea limb

"This is common in Krasia as well," Amanvah said "Men of power must have many children"

"Creator, not a chance," Rojer said "All Jessa’s girls take po all over the city" Leesha glared at hihed

"They …" A for the right word in Thesan "These Jiwah Sen take herbs to prevent children?"