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Relief softened his face I wondered why he was so worried that lunch had been unsatisfactory An iainst the Coe entered ht Rand wouldn’t serve inferior food; his ego centered on his edible creations Thereelse between him and the Commander Uncertain that our new relationship would survive asking personal, perhaps sensitive, questions, I held ue

I’d known Rand for alured hied without notice Rand liked to talk He dominated most conversations and asked only a few personal questions I doubted he really heard ain

"While you’re here," Rand said, pulling a white cake fro on the wall like shelves, "can you try this? Let me knohat you think"

He cut me a slice Iced hipped cream, the layers of vanilla cake were separated by a mixture of raspberries and cream

I tried to mask that my first bite tasted for poison "Good combination of flavors," I said

"It’s not perfect, but I can’t pinpoint the proble another bite "And the cake is slightly dry"

"I’ll try again Will you coht?"

"Why?"

"I need an expert opinion It’s ?"

"I’ht, Valek hadn’t said that I couldn’t go

"A bunch of us fro You can come with us if you want"

"Thanks I’ll let you know"

On ht wove its way intoclose to Valek because Brazell was still in the castle and wasn’t slated to leave until after the festival If I played fugitive, ould happen if Brazell found out? What if I accidentally encountered hi to the conclusion that I was safer within the castle walls until Brazell left, I decided to decline both Valek’s and Rand’s offers But by the time I delivered the tea to the Coument He quoted cash incentives to"free" for an entire day was a large a the fire festival A busy time for the soldiers Should we postpone it until after?" Valek asked the Commander