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.The trick would be to make an ally of Mariil.Perhaps they d agree to let hergo through and bring Curtis back with her.To the empire.If they wanted heras a brood mare, maybe they d be interested in another unusuallyPage 77ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfertile blood line fertile by the standards of ylver and theSisterhood.She d promise it, if necessary.But what she and Curtis decidedwhen they weretogether again might be another matter.The book she pulled from a shelf wasThe Western Empire, from theReign of Braighn the Red to the Time of Troubles.She found it fascinating, not least to learn that among this raven-hairedpeople there d been redheads well before Sarulin and her captor, notablyBraighn the First.Who was fascinating, although the ylver he ruled might have used anotheradjective.If Sarulin was of Braighn s lineage, it would explain her ruthlessstrength as well as her red hair.From time to time, Varia encountered something in its pages that brought herown situation to mind.Affairs and jealousies had played significant roles inylvin politics then.Probably they still did.And apparently,Cyncaidh wanted, intended, to make her his mistress.Apparently Mariilknew it apparently the household staff did too and approved.Certainlythe family Cyncaidh would want an heir, preferably male, andpreferably of fertile lineage, with demonstrated talent.From what she dread these last two days, adoption was often resorted to, thoughhistorically, adopted sons were less readily accepted in matters of politicalpower.What would the Cyncaidh and Mariil think of Curtis Macurdy as a sire toadoptive children? Unfortunately, Curtis showed no clear ylvin traits, asidefrom his untrained talent and minimal body hair.Her tentative optimism ofearlier that day looked unwarranted given what she d just read.Still she d present the idea, and see what the response was.She wasn t good company for Ardain at supper.Being company forArdain isn t your job, she reminded herself, then wondered what was.When they d finished dessert and she still hadn t heard from Mariil,she decided to have a hot bath, and dismissed Ardain for the day.When she dfinished bathing, she dressed in her uniform again, and was sitting on herbalcony appreciating the sunset, when someone rapped.The steward this time. Lady Varia, he said, the Lady Mariil would be pleased to haveyour company in her suite.In twenty minutes, if that s suitable.Why not now?she asked herself.As if I haven t waited long enough already.She shook the thought off irritatedly.Don t be petty, VariaMacurdy.She gave you the twenty minutes so you could be readywithout hurrying. Thank you.Do I go myself, or ? Annith will come for you, if that s all right my lady. That ll be fine.He turned and left.Twenty minutes.Her eyes lit on the dress thathad been hung for her that morning; she d had Ardain leave it out.That, she thought.I ll wear it.Dressed as a soldier, I invite orders.Let her see meas a woman like herself.She took off her uniform, then her underclothes, and looked at herself in themirror.She d grown up among Sisters where youth seemed almosteternal.But among them, on the onset of decline, a Sister was removedfrom the community, sent to spend her remaining five to ten yearsPage 78ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlat a retreat in the south, where no one visited.A practice thatgrew out ofSarkia s unwillingness to confront the loss of vigor and life, Variathought wryly.At least the ylver honored their elderly.As for herself her critical eyes could find no fault with what shesaw.Mother of forty-three, wife of two, and abused repeatedly by asquad ofTigers for how many months.The correct ylvin genes, unhindered bycounter-beliefs, healed most wounds short of mutilation or death.You still look twenty, she told herself.Except for the eyes and aura, I suppose, and most don t confrontthe one or see the other.So here you are, coveted as a brood mare byan ylvin high noble.She dressed and looked again.It wasn t a formal gown, but adinner frock.Still, she d never had so nice a dress in her life before, noteven for her first wedding.She didn t pirouette in it though, justlooked.God, she thought, I m beautiful after all.Truly beautiful, except forthat wretched short hair.Curtis, oh Curtis, I wish you could see me in this.She felt the damned tears begin to well, and would have changed back into heruniform, except for the knock at her door. Come, she said.Mariil s nurse opened it, and Varia left with her, to theeast wing and Lady Cyncaidh s suite.Mariil looked up when they entered, andher expression softened visibly when she saw Varia in the frock
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