The other lands

"Since last we spoke, have the trials of the vintage continued to go well?"

"Yes, of course! Better than well. See here, the reports-" He fumbled with his papers, rising to bring them to her.

"Just tell me this," Cori

"Quite so. One might almost say it sharpens-"

"And once they taste it, they will forever crave it?" The man nodded vigorously. "What happens if they are deprived of it?"

"There's no reason that they should be deprived of it. We have vast stockpiles of the raw ingredients. We have enough to last us until we win or lose the coming struggle."

"That's good. But, again, what happens when they are deprived of it? You said before that they will do anything to get it-but if they ca

The nodding stopped. Paddel's mouth puckered, a stupid expression that Cori

The scowl on Cori

"Send word to your people," she said. "Release the vintage."

"Yes?" he asked, excited, his mouth now like that of a dog panting in expectation. "Do you mean it?"

"I just said it, so obviously I mean it. How quickly can you distribute it?"

"Oh, quickly indeed. The main warehouse is in Prios, of course, but in preparation for your order we've shifted stock to Danos, Alecia, Bocoum. We even had a storage facility in Denben. We can send word by messenger bird and have crates riding south toward interior Talay by tomorrow evening. And across west to Tabith, which will give us the entire Slopes coastline!" The possibilities took his breath away. He stammered on for a time, and then, realizing something, looked at Cori

She showed no pleasure in the compliment. Instead, she flicked her fingers to indicate that he should leave. Before he reached the door, she stopped him. "One final thing. Do conduct the test. When one is addicted and is deprived indefinitely, what happens? Find out."

Later, in her offices with Rhre

"Wren…" Cori

"It is Dariel's."

"Yes, but I'm not at all sure that I want to declare that right now. Tell her I'm too busy. If she likes, she could retire to Calfa Ven. I'll send physicians. She could have the baby there, in peaceful seclusion."

"I already felt her out about that, Your Majesty. She would rather be here in the palace."

"Fine," Cori

Rhre

Forgetting the a

The secretary looked up and studied her. "For what?"

Was this folly? To admit a crime and wish it otherwise? No, she did not think so. "For what I did to your people."

"Oh." Rhre

"I know. You knew all the time, didn't you? All the time that we rode together and I showed you the ways of court and we were young together-all through that time you knew that Hanish might one day sacrifice me to the Tunishnevre."

Rhre

"But you knew it might. I'm not chastising you. You are closer to me now than my sister is. Perhaps I love the blood you share with Hanish. Maybe that's why I feel so close to you. For some reason, I know that the fact that you would have betrayed me then means that you won't now. Or ever again. Am I right?"

The young woman's head bobbed. "You are right."

"I know it," Cori

Rhre

This time it was Cori

Outside, a bone whistle a