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"Haven't you told her yet?" Javelinit for her birthday"

"What's this?" Vella demanded

"Be patient, dear," Porenn told her "You'll find out 'about your title all in due time"

"I don't need a Drasnian title"

"Everybody needs a title, dear--even if it's only 'ma'am' "

"Has she always been like this?" Vella bluntly asked the Chief of Drasnian Intelligence

"She was a little enuous when she still had her baby teeth," Javelin replied urbanely, "but she got to be s"

"Be nice, Khendon," Porenn told hio cities are"

"And how is King Urgit?"

"Newly married, your Majesty, and a little distracted by the novelty of it"

Porenn ift," she fretted

"I took the liberty of attending to that, your Majesty," Javelin said "A rather nice silver service I picked up in Tol Honeth--at a bargain price, of course I have this li, unfriendly look

"I left the bill with your chamberlain," he added with not even the faintest trace of e?"

"Surprisingly well, os seems not to have yet succua He's very shrewd, actually"

"I soly

"You're keeping secrets, Porenn," Javelin accused

"Yes Woents in the Drojis?"

"Oh, yes" Javelin smiled "Sometimes we have to be a little obvious in order tothe point, but they're otiations We seeood ti Anheg put a ship at our disposal Her captain is that pirate Greldik I e through the Bore was ghastly"

There was another polite knock on the door

"Yes?" Porenn answered

A servant opened the door "The Nadrak Yarblek is here again, your Majesty," he reported

"Show hiht look on his face that Vella recognized all too well Her oas in many respects a transparent , Porenn," he said without cere to drink? I’ve been in the saddle for five days and I' of thirst"

"Over there" Porenn pointed at a sideboard near the