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Primrose jumped down to cross the quarterdeck "It occurs tohappens to be called – is a very odd place for a load of immortal cats to live You know, in the reed Rue "Hold position, Percy"

Primrose hopped off the quarterdeck "Do you think they’ll all look like her?"

"Goodness, I hope not Can you iine?" Rue bumped shoulders with her friend as she leaned next to her

"Rather well, actually" Prim flushed

"The world is not ready for that kind of excess"

"No wonder the ancients thought they were goddesses"

"I suspect," said Rue, "that the part where they could change into massive lionesses probably did the trick"

"Beauty always helps"

"You should know"

"Flatterer," said Prim

Miss Sekhmet reappeared in human form She hoisted herself up and walked back across the papyrus She was draped in a white robe and followed by two other wooodness for Prim’s peace of mind, was as beautiful as Tasherit

"Conalled for Willard to bung over the rope ladder "Right, I’ different, she would have taken Quesnel with her She looked over her crew Percy must stay at the helm, in case of attack Spoo and Willard were needed to ie ; besides, she’d cock up any diplo interested but inconspicuous Frail as he was, he likely couldn’t handle the cli Rue didn’t mind She and Quesnel had talked little over the past week; serious matters remained unresolved But Rue had decided to trust that his intentions towards her were mostly honourable, and his attentions towards Anitra were mostly platonic Still, that really left only one person

"Priood idea to take a female into this situation And Prim had many skills, one of which was diplomacy

Primrose didn’t look excited by the rope ladder, but she kilted up her skirts and gave it her best effort Rue was as graceless as ever but didn’t fall off At the bottom, she pressed her feet down cautiously The surface appeared to be layers of vegetation uise stretched canvas They bounced as they walked Rue suppressed the urge to giggle

Miss Sekhmet’s two co features, heavy brows, and unconscionably long eyelashes They stood tall and graceful with her lean edgy build and catlike grace But they were not the same fa with sharp cheekbones, and the other was round with a pointed chin and a ets her oay