8

When the fruit compote is consumed, Queen Hero stands, and all rise with her.

"Appreciate I do thy pains, young fool," she tells you with a polite, formal upturning of her lips, the way a marble bust might smile.

You thank her and bow your way flat onto your face one more time, just for fun. Fanfare blares and the Queen departs, her ladies-in-waiting behind her.

When you rise, you're startled to have Kitty Harlowe at your side. "We leave together," she murmurs under her breath.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, thankee for thy pains and patience tonight," she calls out to the assembled room. "Young Bandochel and I shall be back on the morrow!"

"We're leaving?" you ask as she frog-marches you across the outside wall to the stairwell whence you came.

"Are you really keen to stay?"

You catch sight of Lord Bisqueath's eyes following you at every step.

"After you," you say.

At Night's End