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"How delightful, Your Majesty," Kaltain said as the acrobats gathered their things

"Yes, they were rather exciting, weren’t they?" The queen’s green eyes were bright, and she save a bolt of pain so strong she clenched her fists, hiding theown

"I do wish Prince Dorian could have seen thehness toldhere" The lie was easy enough, and it somehow made the pain of the headache ease

"Dorian said that?" Queen Georgina raised an auburn eyebrow

"Does that surprise Your Majesty?"

The queen put a hand to her chest "I thought s"

"Your Majesty," she whispered, "will you swear not to say a word?"

"A word about what?" the queen whispered back

"Well, Prince Dorian told "

"What did he say?" The queen touched Kaltain’s arm

"He said that the reason he doesn’t come to court so often is because he’s rather shy"

The queen withdrew, the light in her eyes fading "Oh, he’s toldyou’d tell , Lady Kaltain Like if he’s found a young woman he favors"

Kaltain’s face warmed, and her head pounded mercilessly She wished for her pipe, but hours remained of this court session, and it wouldn’t be proper to leave until Georgina departed

"I heard," said the queen under her breath, "that there’s a young lady, but no one knoho! Or at least when they hear her na faht to keep the frustration from her face

"What a pity I had hoped that you of all people would know You’re such a clever girl, Kaltain"

"Thank you, Your Majesty You are too kind"

"Nonsense I’e of character; I kne extraordinary you were the moment you entered the court Only you are suitable for a ton’s prowess What a pity you didn’tThis was her time "Even if I had," Kaltain chuckled, "Your Majesty surely would not have approved--I’m far too lowly for the attentions of your son"

"Your beauty and wealth compensate for it"

"Thank you, Your Majesty" Kaltain’s heart pounded quickly

If the queen approved of herKaltain could scarcely think as the queen nestled into her throne, then clapped her hands twice The iven her the shoes Noas her ti"

"Yes, I a back even farther

"Then go ahead," Chaol said, pointing to a distant target along the far wall of the abandoned hallway An outrageous distance for anyone--except her "Let’s see you htened her spine a bit The bowstring quivered in her hand, and she lifted the tip of her arrow slightly

"You’re going to hit the left wall," he said, crossing his ar to hit you in the head if you don’t shut up" She turned her head toat him, she smiled wickedly as she blindly fired the arrow

The whiz of the arrow’s flight filled the stone hallway before the faint, dull thud of i at each other His eyes were slightly purple beneath--hadn’t he gotten any sleep in the three weeks since Xavier had died?

She certainly hadn’t been sleeping well, either Every noise woke her, and Chaol hadn’t yet discovered whothe Champions one by one The who didn’tthem? There was no pattern; five were dead, and they had no connection to each other, aside from the competition She hadn’t been able to see another crime scene to determine if Wyrdhed, rolling her shoulders "Cain knoho I a her bow

His face reton told him And Cain told me"

"When?" She’d never seen hi within her strain