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‘I can’t believe you’re saying this, Sparhawk’

‘Just go ahead and do it, Berit Everybody expects you to You don’t have to enjoy it if you don’t want to, but do it Do it as often as you have to, butat the Emperor It’s your duty, my friend, and after you and Elysoun have ro for new playmates’

‘But what if she doesn’t?’

‘I wouldn’t worry too ences if it should turn out that you really need theiven Eovern cowardice, he had flatly declared that he felt safe only within the walls of Ehlana’s castle, and then only if the e raised Hishis every move, found that terribly inconvenient

Sarabian had not been motivated entirely by a desire to breathe the air of relative freedom, however Interior Minister Kolata had been revealed as a traitor during the coup-attempt, but Sarabian and his Elene friends had decided that the ti as the Emperor remained inside Ehlana’s castle, Kolata’s presence there as as fully explained He was in charge of the police, after all, and the protection of the Emperor was his paramount duty The Interior Minister, closely supervised by Ehlana’s cohorts, directed the police forces of the Es were always just a trifle strained, since Stragen custo on the hilt of a dagger

It was early onewhen A Androl and Queen Betuana of Atan, was escorted into the glea iolden h he tried to conceal the fact, he quite obviously disapproved of the fact that his Emperor was dressed in western-style doublet and hose of a rich pluone and stolen my Emperor too, Queen Ehlana?’ he asked with a perfunctory bow Norkan was a brilliant man, but he had an unfortunate tendency to speak histo say, your Excellency,’ Ehlana protested mildly in nearly perfect Tamul Ehlana was technically the hostess here, so she sat on her throne wearing her forolden crown

She turned to her iuest’ who sprawled in a nearby chair sloitching a string across the opalescent floor for the entertainment of Princess Danae’s cat ‘Have I stolen you, Sarabian?’ she asked him

‘Oh, absolutely, Ehlana,’ he replied, speaking in Elenic ‘I’m utterly in thrall to you’

‘Has sorounds while I’ve been gone, Oscagne?’ Norkan asked

‘I suppose you n Minister replied ‘His Majesty’s proficiency in Elenic predates Queen Ehlana’s visit, however Our revered E secrets froht he was supposed to be just a stuffed toy that we trotted out on cerene choked a bit on that, but Sarabian burst into laughter ‘I’ve missed you, Norkan,’ he declared ‘Have you had the chance to get to know our excellent Norkan, Ehlana?’

‘I sampled his wit in Atana, Sarabian,’ the queen smiled ‘His observations always seem so – ah – unexpected’

‘That they are,’ Sarabian laughed, rising to his feet He swore briefly as the rapier at his side briefly caught behind the leg of his chair The Ereat deal of difficulty with his rapier ‘Norkan once made one of those unexpected observations about the size of my sister’s feet, and I had to send hi him murdered’ He cocked one eyebrow at the ambassador ‘I really should make you marry her, Norkan Then you could insult her in private Public insults require public responses, you know’

‘I’m honored more than I can say, your I your brother-in-law is quite likely to stop my heart entirely’

‘You don’t like my sister,’ Sarabian accused

‘I didn’t say that, your Majesty, but I prefer to worship her froe of her feet That’s what precipitated outy that day, and she stepped on irl, I suppose, if she’d only watch where she’s putting those cattle barges she wears for shoes’

‘It wouldn’t be one of those es made in heaven, Sarabian,’ Ehlana smiled ‘I’ve met your sister, and I’m afraid his Excellency’s ould be lost on her’

‘You reed ‘I’d really like to get rid of her, though She’s irritatedback here in Matherion, Norkan?’

One of Aed, haven’t they, Oscagne? Are we supposed to tell hi on?’

‘Eovernainst the law?’

‘Afraid not, old boy’

‘Would you consider accepting nation?’

‘No, not really’

‘Don’t you want to work for ainst you personally, your Majesty, but if you decide to actually overnment, the whole Empire could collapse’

‘Marvelous, Norkan I love the way you start talking before you’ve saddled up your brains You see, Ehlana? That’s what I was telling you about The officials in ally, approve their recom things to the to change it Now that I’ve seen a real ruler in action, whole new horizons have been opened to s you back to Matherion?’

‘The Atans are growing restive, your Majesty’

‘Are the recent disturbances starting to erode their loyalty?’

‘No, your Majesty, quite the reverse The uprising has them all excited Androl wants to uarantee your safety I don’t think ant that The Atans don’t pay too much attention to rank or position when they decide to kill people’

‘We noticed that,’ Sarabian replied dryly ‘I’ve received all sorts of petitions of protest from the noble houses of Taessa took to put down the coup’

‘I’ve spoken with Betuana, your Majesty,’ Norkan continued ‘She’s proet so short and to the point like, "Sit! Stay!"Androl’s et to be a diploestion, Emperor Sarabian?’ Tynian offered

‘Go ahead, Sir Tynian’

‘We don’t really want to ruffle King Androl’s feathers, so a suggestion to hireater threathihed ‘What a novel way to put it, Sir Tynian All right, Norkan, send Engessa’

Norkan blinked

‘Pay attention, et used to, Norkan,’ Oscagne advised ‘The Emperor soht about it ‘Might I ask why Atan Engessa would be better qualified to carry out your instructions than I would, your Majesty?’

‘Because Engessa can run faster than you can, and he’ll be able to put our coe far essa hints at a military reason for the decision, and that should smooth Androl’s feathers all the et back’