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"You’ve got to be fucking joking," Vi said

"Disrespect, swearing again! That’s it! You’ll report to the Mistress Jonisseh for a switching i sow?" Vi stepped forward Xandra opened her mouth and raised her arms Vi said, "Graakos"

The shield snapped in place instantly, and whatever Xandra threw at her grazed right off it Vi grabbed the girl’s arood ten paces across the hallway’s polished floor As Vi stepped into the hall, she saw at least thirty little girls staring at her, wide-eyed, most of them under twelve

"Please knock next time," Vi said She turned on her heel and slammed the door

Fro a door, that’s--"

Vi opened the door and stared daggers at the girl, as still lying in a heap against the far wall The words dried up in Xandra’s ain, and sat on her bed, picked up the note, tried not to cry--and failed

38

In all his life, Kylar had never seen the people of the Warrens so happy Agon’s Dogs had stayed with the wagons full of grain and rice to s were é, and they had taken it into their ot our bit coé basher "I’ve heard it frouild rats share!"

The Rabbits joined long queues that moved slowly but steadily forward, and a hard-bitten old coot broke out a tin whistle, sat on his new sack of rice, and began to play InA wo and anyone who dropped a rain into one pot immediately could take a full, seasoned measure from another She served bread and rice and soon wine Someone offered herbs, someone else butter, another s, one of Agon’s Dogs stood up and yelled "Ya rew up in this neighborhood I seen ya and I know ya and I’’s bollocks, if any of ya coonna fookin’ add yer ass to the ot it?"

A cheer went up--and the line thinned considerably For the Rabbits, to whoift as unexpected as the free food itself Kylar listened, and heard an Gyre and re and teary, drunken renditions of his speech establishing the Order of the Garter, and the word "king" li blonde hair on the far side of the square In contrast to the Rabbits, she was so clean she was radiant, and he caught a flash of white teeth as she smiled His heart stopped "Elene?" he whispered

The wo and dodging his way through the jubilant, dancing crowd When he got to the corner, she was already fifty paces down the twisting alley, turning onto yet another He ran after her with the speed of his Talent

"Elene!" He grabbed her shoulder and she juht?" Daydra asked She had been one of Moin was her specialty From a distance, she looked like Elene

Kylar’s heart lurched, and he wasn’t sure if it was more from disappointment or relief He didn’t want Elene here He didn’t want her in this pit of a city or anywhere nearby when he murdered the queen, but at the same time, he wanted to see her so badly it ached