“He had given her too much. He had given her everything.”

“Extending his senses, Lorkin tried again to hear his mother’s surface thoughts. What he picked up seemed too out of character, however. He must be imagining it. Though…it was also odd that he would imagine his mother thinking such a string of curse words.”

“

Great. She shook her head. Not only am I having conversations with myself, but now I'm refusing to talk to me. This has got to be the first sign of madness.”

“Friendship? What friendship? I lust after him and he rightly ignores it!”

“He liked the idea that if either of them ever fell from grace, the other might be there to offer support.”

“Nodding, Cery strode to the door and stepped through. Though the burly guards eyes him suspiciously, Cery smiled back. Never make enemies of someone's lackeys, his father had taught him. Better still, make them like you a lot.”

“So what were you [Sonea] and Dorrien discussing before?' Akkarin asked.She turned to regard him. 'Discussing?''Outside the farmhouse when I was buying the food.''Oh. Then. Nothing.'He smiled and nodded. 'Nothing. Amazing subject, that one. Produces such fascinating reactions in people.”