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Her frame, tall and wide-shouldered, had h to wrestle Wonda Her hair was still gold with no signs of gray, but her face had none of the softness of youth She was the shady side of thirty-five, at the least Old for a political bride

Amanvah bowed, but it was shallow--an act of respect, but not equality "It is an honor to meet you, Lorain vah Euchor I ae city"

It was unclear if Lorain registered the slight The politics of Krasian boere a language all their own But her return bow mirrored Amanvah’s in depth and duration--a statee to Auard

"The honor is hter of Ah ie?"

Lorain smiled "Of course A properly educated lady can h none of us has ever had the chance to speak with a native I’m sure you will be flooded with invitations to tea froes?" Amanvah asked

"Ruskan, Lie is hardly dead," Aht bow "Of course But it’s been centuries since we’ve entertained one of your people at court Froer spoken"

"Your education will serve you well," Aence of Krasian speakers in the North"

Lorain’s serous "I wouldn’t be so sure of that"

Athe tension between the women

"Allowto Thesan as she indicated the lastcouard than escort, his eyes hard He bowed

"We’ll leave you to le," Lorain told Amanvah "I just wanted to et to know each other after dinner in the wo"

With that, the Milnese swept off as quickly as they had come

"Escort?" Amanvah asked

"Chaperone, h several wives, but none has been able to give him a child Lorain is the next hopeful"

"She will likely fare no better, if several have gone before her," Amanvah said "It sounds as if the probleest it in polite company," Rojer said "Lorain has two sons to prove her fertility at least"

Aing bride who is not even a virgin? What happened to her sons’ father?"

"Euchor divorced them, and sent her south," Rojer said

Aainst my father"