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"She is an invalid now Lamed in a fall frohters "Poor creature! What inco mount?"

"Perhaps it was only an accident"

"Or justice served on her because of the sins of her father"

"An innocent child? I do not believe so"

"Do you know God’s mind, then?" Conrad chuckled "I ask my clerics every day, and they remain blind Only my wife insists that she speaks with God’s wishes briue, and in truth, Lord Alain, I despise her She is a sniveling, lying, whining weakling, no better than a … a … God know there is no creature I despise as much!"

"She deserves respect from the man who married her"

"So the church prattles, but they are not wed to her--although they were once, and cast her out because of all her puling and , and that is Berry Tallia is like to ruin the child if she got her hich I will not let her do"

"Tallia brought you an alliance with Lady Sabella and a claihter"

"Yes, it’s true I a;lf and a throne for Berry Ai, God My poor Elene"

"Who is that?"

"Neverto stand, and growled, ears going flat "Soly, he wept Alain was too surprised to speak because the duke’s grief was so stark and expansive that it seeh no rain fell and only the wind’s rattle through late bloo leaves and the distant clatter of the coht business accohed but did not wipe away the reize for any strong emotion

"I pray that which you cherish be restored to you," said Alain, unexpectedly moved by the display