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After the door closed, Marissia turned to Kip "It appears you’re to stay here, young master Do you have any needs?"

"Perhaps a bite to--"

"Excellent Then if you’ll excuse ent errands for the Priss He’s not very understanding about those who violate this, the only sanctuary he knows"

"I under--"

But she was already gone, the door snapping slanced, chagrined, at Sa to keep fro, no doubt, but otherwise her face was expressionless

He sat down at the table Stay out of trouble, huh? He looked over at the bed and then at the deck box, and, for one proudit

Hell with that

The cards practically leapt into his hands

The door opened, and Kip slammed the cards back into their box and hid it under the cloaks

Oh, it was just Teia

"Hey, Master," she said, eyes twinkling "The Priso to practice"

"We need to talk about that ," Kip said

"No, we need to talk about our strategies for the Blackguard testing After practice"

"We don’t need to talk about strategies yet, do we?" Kip asked

"We don’t"

"They sent you in here to distract

"Co traumatic Your partner’s supposed to look out for you Now co a real friend But of course Teia had to look out for Kip She was his slave Kip gave a wan s

He picked up the card box again as he stood Samite cleared her throat

Kip looked at her She returned his look blandly He put the box down, feeling like a chastened child He gestured toward the bed: Can I get that at least, Mouest, her expression said, tolerantly amused