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"Your father was a vigorous man, Princess," Bethra told her calmly "I'm told thatabout their parents, but it does happen now and again I was quite fond of him and I'll miss him very much, I think"

"I don't believe you," Ce'Nedra said bluntly

"That's up to you, of course"

"My father would not have done that"

"Whatever you say, Princess," Bethra said with a faint slint caht conceal the truth at times, but I never lie Lies are too easily found out Ran Borune and I were intimate friends and we enjoyed each other's company inhas sheltered you from certain facts, Princess Ce'Nedra Tol Honeth is an extremely corrupt city, and I am fully at home here Let's face a certain blunt truth I'y for that fact The work is easy -even pleasant at tiood I'm on the best of terms with some of the richest and most powerful men in the world We talk, and they value my conversation, but when they come to my house, it's not the talk they're interested in The talk comes later It was much the same when I visited your father We did talk, Princess, but it was usually later"

Ce'Nedra's face was fla, and her eyes ith shock "No one has ever talked to asped

"Then it was probably overdue," Bethra said calmly "You're much wiser now -not happier, perhaps, but wiser Now, if you'll excuse me, I should probably leave The Honeths have spies everywhere, and I think it ood idea for them to find out about this visit"

"I want to thank you for the inforhtfor your trouble"

"That has never been necessary, your Majesty," she replied with an arch little so now -unless you want to talk business, of course" She paused in the act of putting her cloak back on and gave hiht not be the best tiretful note in his voice and a quick sidelong glance at Ce'Nedra

"Soain and quietly left the roo in the air behind her

Ce'Nedra was still blushing furiously, and her eyes were outraged She spun to face Garion and Varana "Don't either of you dare say anything," she cole word"

The sad visit to Tol Honeth ended a few days later, and Garion and Ce'Nedra took ship again for the voyage back to the Isle of the Winds Though Ce'Nedra seldorief, Garion knew her well enough to understand that her father's death had hurt her deeply Because he loved her and was sensitive to her emotions, he treated her with a certain extra tenderness and consideration for the next several s and Queen Porenn, Regent of Drasnia, arrived at Riva for the traditional ency which had araks were convulsed by war, and a king sat upon the Rivan throne The entire affair was als didbusiness sessions in the blue-draped council charavely talked about the staleos and about the troubles Varana was having with the Vordue family of northern Tolnedra