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“Indeed I fear though, my queen, that I’m somewhat at a loss here I think perhaps it would be more seemly if we discussed these matters this afternoon at court? Your beauty is talked of far and wide, and people ht mistake my intentions if it were known that” Norh to leave a wo nancy and my present invalid status both helped to lessen my interest in the opportunity

Sareth’s face cru herself froive me, Prince Jalan!” She took my dark and callused hands in her slim white ones “It’s just—just—we’ve all had such a shock ith the arrival of this dreadful boy”

“Boy?” I’d had very little sleep for two nights now and none of this wassense

“Jorg, Olidan’s son”

“Ah, the lost prince,” I said, enjoying her hands around mine

“Better he had stayed lost” And I glimpsed some steel behind her tear-stained prettiness

Suddenly even my sleep-deprived er This returned prince couldn’t be Sareth’s son, she wasn’t old enough for thatA second wife, then, busy producing what she had thought would be an heir of her own?

“Ah” I leaned forwards, ht be a probleain “There, there, don’t cry,a dah that wonderful hair

“Why couldn’t the boy stay lost and wandering?” She turned those wet-lashed eyes on me

“Boy, you say?” I’d thought the prince a grown man for some reason “Just how old is—”

“A child! A week ago he was thirteen and forgotten Past all care Now he’s reached ainst my shoulder “Oh, the trouble he’s caused The chaos in the throne room”

“It’s a difficult age” I nodded wisely and drew her closer It’s an instinct I can’t help it She snancy hadn’t just filled her woifts too