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Errand felt soone out of their way to get theh about it There was no scolding, no acid cohter He definitely felt that this levity was out of place, an indication that she was not taking this thing as seriously as she ought He felt a trifle bitter about the whole thing He had earned the scolding she was denying him

"You boys will clean it up, won't you?" she asked theara," Kheva assured her quickly' "We were just about to do that"

"Splendid, your Highness," she said, the corners of her ather up all the feathers" And she turned and walked out of the ballroo in the air behind her

After that, the boys atched rather closely There was nothing really obvious about it; it was just that there always seeot completely out of hand

About a week later, when the rains had passed and the slush hadon the floor of a carpeted roo a fortress out of wooden blocks At a table near theSilk, splendidly dressed in rich black velvet, was carefully reading a dispatch he had received thatNadrak to tend the business About , a servant came into the room and spoke briefly with the rat-faced little man Silk nodded, rose, and caentlemen say to a breath of fresh air?" he asked the to his feet

"And you, cousin?" Silk asked Kheva

"Certainly, your Highness" Kheva said

Silk laughed "Must we be so formal, Kheva?"

"Mother says I should always use the proper foruess it's to help ,"

"Your ht to cheat a little"

Kheva looked around nervously "Do you really think we should?" he whispered

"I'ood for you It helps you to keep your perspective"

"Do you cheat often?"

"Me?" Silk was still laughing "All the time, cousin All the time Let's fetch cloaks and take a turn about the city I have to go by the headquarters of the intelligence service; and since I've been appointed your keeper for the day, the two of you had better co"

The air outside was cool and dah to whip their cloaks about their legs as they passed along the cobbled streets of Boktor The Drasnian capital was one of the major commercial centers of the world, and the streets teemed with men of all races Richly mantled Tolnedrans spoke on street corners with sober-faced Senders in sensible brown Flaled with leather-garbed Nadraks, and there were even a few black-robed Murgos striding along the blustery streets, with their broad-backed Thullish porters trailing behind the heavy packs filled with merchandise The porters, of course, were followed at a discreet distance by the ever present spies

"Dear, sneaky old Boktor," Silk declaiantly, "where at least every other man youat thehness" Silk laughed again