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'Her Majesty is about to arrive,' Griffin whispered

The guard parted and the old woman entered To on a spit roasted there She hobbled towards it The agony of everyad about the old woman that appealed to hiive up She turned to the assembled diners who iht to carve the royal portion?'

She asked in a tired voice Touessed it was part of a ritual that accompanied every dinner in the Great Hall The red ht as is my custom, Majesty'

He threw out his ar is oing but no one took any notice The diners started to talk ast the in the extreht that had lost its significance His attention turned to Adrina and they were exchanging glances when a young an to crow like a cockerel

Griffin turned to Toue of Gorm He is a coue as he pranced down the aisle

'Sht' He reached Red Hand and ju in words and weak in action' He tweaked the red man's nose

'How dare you?'

Red Hand looked as if he was about to explode

Fire Tongue leant forward

'I, Fire Tongue of Gorht to carve the royal portion'

Red Hand puffed out his chest

'Leave now or your head will adorn my collection'

'Your what?'

'Do you not know that I am Head Master of the Catti?'

'Head Master You couldn't cut the head off a mouse …'

The queen watched frouessed she was not alanced across to Adrina's table The princess was surrounded by her bodyguard of young ue Her dark eyes flashed as he rolled out the insults

'Red Bum Red Balls '

The diners rose from their benches and pointed at Red Hand

'Go on Take off his headthat's what you're paid for'