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favorite piece of jewelry."
    "It must be. You never wear anything else."
    "Father says it's the key to his heart, that it would give me everything I ever wanted and more. Sometimes he's the sweetest, kindest man
in the world. I wish he would see reason and let me stay here until your
wedding day."
    "It will work out, Josey. I know! We'll go to the basilica and say a
prayer for it."
    Josey dabbed her face with the silken cloth. "I don't think praying is
going to solve anything, 'Stasia. This is serious." Then she saw the stricken
look in her friend's eyes. "Forgive me. I'm just overwrought. Yes, let's go."
    As they made to leave, a servant appeared at the entrance of the room.
"Pardon, milady. A visitor has arrived for you."

    "Let him in." Anastasia turned to Josey. "That must be Markus. He's
been coming by every day since the engagement was announced. He's
such a romantic. Do you like him, Josey? Tell me true."
    Josey hugged her friend and laughed, glad to speak of something else.
"He's a dream come to life. You two will be as happy together as a pair of
larks."
    Anastasia giggled. "Markus is nearly a knight, you know. Well, very
nearly. Second prefect is a worthy rank, and soon he'll be promoted. I'm
sure of it."
    They turned to the clack of hard boot steps as a tall shape filled the
doorway.
    "Markus!" Anastasia ran to him and they embraced beside a bronze
bust of one of her famous ancestors. Then, as if noticing Josey for the first
time, the couple parted and came over to sit with her.
    "I adore this uniform on you, Markus." Anastasia brushed her fingers
over the circle emblazoned on his jacket. "It makes you look so handsome."
    He smiled, revealing rows of large, white teeth. He was starting to
grow a mustache and sideburns in the military style. Josey squinted,
trying to imagine him with a full face of hair. Something in the way he
looked at her made her uncomfortable.
    "What do you think?" Markus asked. "Does it make me look
dashing?"
    Josey dropped her gaze to the floor. "Yes, quite dashing."
    Anastasia patted Josey's knee. "Poor darling. Her father's sending her
away, and we've been trying to concoct a scheme to keep her here."
    "Sending you away?" The note of real concern in his voice touched
Josey. Perhaps he was as genteel as a knight after all. "Whatever for?"
    Josey folded the loaned handkerchief into a square on her lap. "He
says it isn't safe here in the city anymore. He says people have been
assaulted, even killed."
    "How horrible!" Anastasia said. "Is it true, Markus?"
    "Oh, it's not for you to worry about. The Low Towners are forever at
each other's throats, like a pack of curs fighting over a bone. That's where
most of the attacks have taken place."
    "Most?" Josey asked. "But not all?"
    He brushed at the breast of his uniform, dismissing the idea. "Some times a matter spills over across the Processional, but it's nothing to
trouble you ladies. You're as safe as lambs in their pens."

    Josey wasn't sure she liked his description, but she put on a smile for
her friend. "I hope I can convince Father of that."
    "I have a wonderful idea," Anastasia said. "Markus could escort you
home and tell your father just what he said to us. I'm sure it will comfort
him, coming from an officer of the Sacred Brotherhood."
    "Would you?" Josey asked. She didn't like the idea of riding home
with him, but she was willing to make sacrifices if it meant being allowed
to stay in Othir.
    Markus stood with a shake of his head. "I'm sorry, but I cannot. I have
business to attend this afternoon. I just stopped by to remind Ana of our
date for a late supper this evening."
    Anastasia rose to embrace her betrothed. "I didn't forget. I'm having
Maya make something special for us."
    "Excellent." He bowed to Josey and gave Anastasia a peck on the
cheek. "I shall see you later."
    Josey remained behind as Anastasia walked Markus out. They whispered their good-byes out of eyesight. Several minutes passed