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We drew to a halt in front of the dais, and the queen rose froreet us She did not, however, step down to our level Point taken Her eyes were hard and watchful, and I could alreen orbs She was takingme to be less than she’d expected Well, that was fine When people have low expectations of me, I find that it’s easier to take them by surprise

"Ambassador Black," she said, and as she spoke I heard conversations hush all over the roo to miss this one "You are welcoave a tiny nod ofto bow and scrape I knew my place in Azazel’s court and she wasn’t ranked that far abovethis woman my neck, just on principle

"Queen Amarantha, I come to you as a representative of Lord Lucifer’s court for the purpose of reestablishing relations between the kingdo directly from a speech Lucifer (or one of his flunkies) had written out for me I’d barely had time to look at it over the past couple of days ith all the excite I’d been frantically trying tofor a final

"Lord Lucifer sends his deepest apologies regarding the unfortunate breach of conduct by the previous ambassador," I continued

A icicles "And what of the unfortunate breach of conduct by the current ambassador?"

11

THE PREPARED SPEECH DRIED UP ON MY TONGUE I sighed quietly She couldn’t have waited until I was done with the preliular? What about all this formality and courtesy that everyone had told me the faeries loved? Thus far I’d seen little evidence of it

I decided thatwrong--not on purpose, anyway

None of the observers were bothering to disguise their curiosity You could have heard a pin drop in that roo of?" I asked,frost with frost I felt Beezle twitch on my shoulder It was hard to tell if he approved or not I didn’t want to look at him and break eye contact with the queen

Aairl"

I stepped forward, away froh I ahter of Lord Lucifer I have cootiate with you in good faith I did not come here to be insulted or spoken to like a servant"