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"The two knights who lead our party are Sir Mandorallen, Baron of Vo Mandor, and Lord Barak, Earl of Trellheiuards our rear is Hettar, son of Cho-Hag, Chief of the Clan-Chiefs of Algaria The lady-"

"I can speak for myself, dear," Aunt Pol said ss the Grand Duke of Vordue so far into southern Tolnedra"

"I have interests here, Madam," Kador said

"Evidently," Aunt Pol replied

"All the legions of the E for the princess, but it's I who have found her"

"I' to aid in the search for a Borune princess," Aunt Pol observed "Especially considering the centunes of enmity between your two houses"

"Shall we cease this idle banter?" Kador suggested icily "My motives are my own affair"

"And unsavory, no doubt," she added

"I think you forget yourself, Madam," Kador said "I am, after all, who I am - and more to the point, who I will become"

"And ill you become, your Grace?" she inquired

"I will be Ran Vordue, Emperor of Tolnedra," Kador announced

"Oh? And just what's the future E in the Wood of the Dryads?"

"I' what's necessary to protect my interests," Kador said stifly "For the moment, it's essential that the Princess Ce'Nedra be into say about that, Duke Kador," Ce'Nedra said, "and about this ambition of yours"

"What Ran Borune says is of no concern to hness," Kador told her "Tolnedra needsto deny me the Imperial Crown It's obvious that the old man plans to marry you to a Honeth or a Horbite to raise some spurious claim to the throne That could cos si me yourself?" Ce'Nedra asked scornfully "You'll never live that long"

"No," Kador said "I wouldn't be interested in a Dryad wife Unlike the Borunes, the House of Vordue believes in keeping its line pure and unconta to hold me prisoner?" Ce'Nedra asked

"That'd be impossible, I'm afraid," Duke Kador told her "The Emperor has ears everywhere It's really a shaone to a great expense to get one of ents into the Imperial kitchen and to obtain a quantity of a rare Nyissan poison I'd even taken the trouble to compose a letter of sympathy to your father"

"How considerate of you," Ce'Nedra said, her face turning pale

"Unfortunately, I'll have to be more direct now," Kador went on "A sharp knife and a few feet of dirt should end your unfortunate involvement in Tolnedran politics I' personal in it, you understand, but I have to protect my interests"