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CHAPTER ONE

Her Majesty, Queen Porenn of Drasnia, was in a pensiveroo her son Kheva and Unrak, the son of Barak of Trellheiht The boys had reached that age where so, and their voices wavered uncertainly between boyish soprano andthe front of her black gown The Queen of Drasnia had worn black since the death of her husband "You would be proud of hiht knock at her door "Yes?" she replied, not turning

"There's a Nadrak here to see you, your Majesty," the aged butler at the door reported "He says you know him"

"Oh?"

"He says his name is Yarblek"

"Oh, yes Prince Kheldar's associate Show him in, please"

"There's a woman with hi expression "She uses language your Majesty ht prefer not to hear"

Porenn smiled warmly "That must be Vella," she said "I've heard her swear before I don't know that she's really all that serious about it Show them both in, if you would, please"

"At once, your Majesty"

Yarblek was as shabby as ever At soiven way and had been rudi His beard was coarse and black and scraggly, his hair was unkeood "Your Majesty," he said grandly, atte a bohich was marred a bit by an unsteady lurch

"Drunk already, Master Yarblek?" Porenn asked him archly

"No, not really, Porenn," he replied, unabashed "It's just a little carry-over froht"

The queen was not offended by the Nadrak's use of her first narip on formality had never been very firly beautiful Nadrak with blue-black hair and s leather trousers and a black leather vest A silver-hilled dagger protruded from each of her boot tops, and two more were tucked under the wide leather belt about her waist She boith infinite grace "You're looking tired, Porenn," she observed "I think you need hed "Tell that to the people who bring me stacks of parcho," Yarblek said, sprawling uninvited in a chair "Never put anything down in writing It saves ti me out of trouble' ‘

"It see"

Yarblek shrugged "Silk's got a good grip on reality"

"I haven't seen you two for quite so

"We've been in Mallorea," Vella told her, wandering around the roos