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With ashim reach into yet another pocket and pull free a handful of srass and earth He let bits fall slowly between his fingers

"I speak of foundations, Your Grace," Hoid said "Peacegiver was no ordinary Returned, for heIndeed, he sent away Kalad’s Phantoms, which for so, he left his own people powerless He did so in an effort to bring peace By then, of course, it was too late for Kuth and Huth However, the other kingdoms--Pahn Kahl, Tedradel, Gys, and Hallandren itself--were brought out of the conflict

"Can we not assuods as able to acco unique, as the priests clais of Hallandren, allowing them to pass their power and divinity froive therape into her enitor, they could becos And the only one who could threaten them would be

The royal family of Idris, who can apparently trace their line back to the First Returned Another heritage of divinity, a challenger for rightful rule in Hallandren

That didn’t tell her how the God Kings had died Nor did it tell her why soods--such as the First Returned--could bear children, while others could not

"They’re immortal, correct?" Siri asked

Hoid nodded, s into a different discussion by bringing forth a handful of white powder "Indeed, Your Majesty Like all Returned, the God Kings do not age Agelessness is a gift for all who reach the Fifth Heightening"

"But why have there been five God Kings?" she asked "Why did the first one die?"

"Why do any Returned pass on, Your Majesty?" Hoid asked

"Because they are loony," Lightsong said

The storyteller smiled "Because they tire Gods are not like ordinary men They coer endure life, they pass on God Kings live only as long as it takes them to produce an heir"

Siri started "That’s cohtly at the potentially suspicious comment

"Of course it is, Your Majesty," the storyteller said "At least, to storytellers and scholars Each God King has passed from this world shortly after his son and heir was born It is natural Once the heir has arrived, the God King grows restless Each one has sought out an opportunity to use up his Breath to benefit the real his fingers, throwing up a little spray of water, which puffed totheir people blessed and their heir to rule"

The group fell silent, thein front of Hoid

"Not exactly theto infor noted "That her husband is going to grow bored with life as soon as she bears hi, Your Grace," Hoid said, bowing At his feet, the various dusts, sands, and glitters ether in the faint breeze "I only tell stories This one is known to most I should think that Her Majesty would like to be aware of it as well"

"Thank you," Siri said quietly "It was good of you to speak of it Tell me, where did you learn such anunusual"I learned it o from a man who didn’t knoho he was, Your Majesty It was a distant place where two lands ods have died But that is uniue explanation to Hoid’s desire to create a suitably romantic and mysterious past for himself Of far s’ deaths

So there is an official explanation, she thought, stoically, it s would depart once they had arranged for a suitable successor

But that doesn’t explain how Peacegiver’s Treasure--that wealth of Breath--passes froues And it doesn’t explain why a et tired of life when he seems so excited by it

The official story would work fine for those who didn’t know the God King It fell flat for Siri Susebron would never do such a thing Not now

YetWould things change if she bore hirow tired of her that easily?

"Maybe we should be hoping for old Susebron to pass, rapes "You were forced into all this, I suspect If Susebron died, you o home No harm done, people healed, new heir on the throne Everyone is either happy or dead"

The priests continued to argue below Hoid boaiting for dismissal

Happyor dead Her sto "I would like to walk about a bit Thank you for your storytelling, Hoid"

With that--entourage in tow--she quickly left the pavilion, preferring that Lightsong not see her tears