““Try not to let the excitement overwhelm you, but I have more good news.' I groaned. I knew that tone of voice. 'Don't say it.' 'Vasily is back from Caryeva.' 'You could do the kind thing and drown me now.' 'And suffer alone? I think not.' 'Maybe for your birthday you can ask that he be fitted with a royal muzzle,' I suggested. 'But then we'd miss all his exciting stories about the summer auctions. You're fascinated by the breeding superiority of the Ravkan racehorse, right?' I let out a whimper.””
