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“My lady” I held her gaze Extraordinary eyes, green but giving back ht than they took in “Prince Jalan Kendeth at your service” I waved a hand at the table “Mybut made with a care and understated quality that said she came from money

“Katherine ap Scorron” She looked froins “My sister, Sareth, would like the pleasure of your coht lunch”

A grin spread across hted, Katherine”

“Well and good, then” She ran an eye over the length of ood stay and safe travels onward then, prince” And she turned with a swish of skirts,in her tone or pale face had suggested she thought ht be a pleasure for her sister In fact, a redness around her eyes

I leaned down to Snorri “I sense sisterly conflict! Big sister got to dine with the prince and little sister’s pretty nose is out of joint about it” My instincts in theseThe dynamics of sisterly rivalry are well known to reen-eyed monster himself, no doubt “Don’t wait up for irl

A big hand caught at h to stop h “I don’t think that was an invitation of that sort”

“Nonsense A highborn lady doesn’t deliver e There’s ive the barbarian for his ignorance of court subtleties

Katherine reached the doorway It’s true that her retreat lacked the swaying coel I found it teame” And I hurried after her

“But her ar about an armband

I had to s to instruct me in the ways of castle women She’d co a good look at all the prince on offer

“Katherine” I caught her in the corridor, yards fro rowl I took hold of her backside in h the layers of taffeta Smooth and firm

She turned arment and— Well, the next eternity or so I spent in a blind white place full of pain

I’ve always felt that the placeainst intelligent design The fact that a slight young woman can with a well-placed knee reduce the hero of the Aral Pass to a helpless creature too full of agony to do anything but roll on the floor hoping to squeeze the occasional breath past his pain—well, that’s just poor planning on God’s part Surely?