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"Yes, of course, dear The pearl of your necklace, the rose of your garden" Rue rolled her eyes and tried not to be actually flattered

"Oh, yes, those are good too"

Rue sighed "Scoot off, Quesnel, do"

"You are all sweetness and light, oing to ask hialled her but as long as he confined it to the senore it

"Shoo to you too"

Quesnel strode out and Rue sat back doith a sigh

"More tea?" Pri

"Thank you Pri to discuss?"

Primrose remained silent

"It can’t only be so to knohy they hate each other so?"

"Certainly not" Prim’s tone indicated she probably already knew and that it had so to do with the twin connection Often it was difficult to remember that Percy and Primrose were related, let alone twins, but a lifetiiven Rue a sense of when she was intruding on their sibling bond She was about to atte sound ehout the ship It was a new noise entirely and it seeerous

Rue and Prim leapt to their feet and made for the poop deck as quickly as their skirts would allow

CHAPTER FIVE

THE MALTESE TOWER

The sound, which was a like a gargle meets a warble, only extremely loud, turned out to be The Spotted Custard’s version of a proxi in the crow’s nest The young lad swung himself down to report that the Maltese Tower beacon was dead ahead in the lassicals – the far focus set handed out to any who e blue orbs under the gaslight of the deck lanterns

"Very good, young sir," was Rue’s reply "Now back up with you please, and let us knoe reach docking drop-down juncture"

"Aye aye, Lady Captain" The boy gave a floppy salute before pulling hi with one long swinging run up the side of the balloon