Alia is many things, but all knowing isn't one of them. (Shocking, we know.) There are plenty of Dynasts who 'go to seed' one way or another, although most of them at least started off doing some actual work in their youth.

The kitchen slaves arrive with the next course. Hot and sour soup fills up the small bowls and stir-fried snow peas and greens provide much needed nutrients. For the more carnivorous, there is duck and eel.

Alia notices Fajah's sudden quiet and glances at her, concerned. "I said something wrong, didn't I?" she says quietly. "My House is small and, well, there simply aren't enough of us to go around." Despite her grandmother's efforts at more frequent than usual breeding for a Dynast.