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‘We rinned

‘God defend the Church,’ Emban said

‘And the crown,’ Ehlana added

Princess Danae pushed her way through to Vanion She was carrying Mmrr, her hand wrapped around the kitten’s ned expression on her furry face, and her legs dangled ungracefully ‘Hello, Vanion,’ Danae said, cli hirown, Princess,’ he smiled

‘Did you expect me to shrink?’

‘Danae!’ Ehlana scolded

‘Oh, mother, Vanion and I are old friends He used to hold me when I was a baby’

Sparhawk looked carefully at his friend, trying to decide whether or not Vanion knew about the little princess Vanion’s face, however, revealed nothing ‘I’ve missed you, Princess,’ he said to her

‘I know Everybody misses me when I’ave her to ht so et hoet that all done while I’irl’

‘Oh? Why’s that, Princess?’

‘Because I’row up, and I’d like to have all that training nonsense out of the way Would you like to holdto pass off Danae’s announceirl whim His eyes looked a bit wild, however

‘You should never warn them like that, Princess,’ Baroness Melidere advised ‘You’re supposed to wait and tell them at the last possible minute’

‘Oh Is that the way it’s done?’ Danae looked at Talen ‘Why don’t you forget what I just said then?’ she suggested ‘I’ about it for the next ten or twelve years anyway’ She paused ‘Or eight,ti at her with the first faint hints of terror in his eyes

‘She’s only teasing you, Talen,’ Kalten assured the boy ‘And even if she isn’t, I’erous age’

‘Never happen, Kalten,’ Danae told hiements had been made and the crowd had been arden at the centre of the house with Sephrenia and Vanion Princess Danae sat on the ledge surrounding the fountain watching her kitten M in the pool, and she sat with her tail twitching and her eyes ith dreadful intent

‘I need to know so directly at Sephrenia ‘How much does he know?’ He pointed at Vanion

‘Just about everything, I’d say I have no secrets froroped for a way to ask the question without revealing too et to the point, Sparhawk,’ Danae told him ‘Vanion knoho I am He had a little trouble with it at first, but he’s more or less reconciled to the idea now’

‘That’s not entirely true,’ Vanion disagreed ‘You’re the one with the really serious proble the situation?’

‘Badly,’ Danae sniffed ‘He keeps asking questions, even though he knows he won’t understand the answers’