Anxiously she craned her neck to see better, but it was no use, and she
finally turned away again, for she must go on.
* * *
Scarcely had they returned to the palace, when word was passed around
that a respected trader had come with important news for the Emperor's
ears only. Such was his nobility and reputation with the Emperor that
the sweating and dust-caked trader was escorted directly through by two
armed guards to an inner chamber for an immediate private audience with
his Majesty.
Soon after, Emperor Euphrates sent word that an emergency session was
to be held in his private chambers, and, with Ibi lying ill, Si'Wren
was called to attendance.
Anxiously, Si'Wren delivered her horse to the stables, and stopped by
Ibi's workshop to retrieve fresh writing supplies. With a proper kit in
hand, she hastened through the royal gardens and made her way through
the crowded palace passages toward the meeting chamber. Around her as
she approached the meeting, the palace dignitaries were still
celebrating, for it had been declared a day of feasting, and the sounds
of continual merrymaking were on every hand.
In a private chamber just large enough to hold them all, Si'Wren took
her seat several positions to the right of the Emperor, and when all
officers of high position had arrived, the wizened-looking old trader
was invited to retell his story.
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