Eek, I missed a line typing and changed the whole meaning of the quote. I am sorry. I will try to be more careful. The Book of Taltos, Phoenix, Chapter 14, page 340 '"Yes, continued Morrolan. "Sethra has established order in--" "Sethra! Lavode?" "Sethra the Younger." "How did she end up in command?" "The brigadier of the Phoenix Guards resigned yesterday over some dispute with the Empress. I don't know the details." "Maybe he didn't like the idea of slaughtering thousands of helpless Easterners." "Helpless? Vlad, weren't you listening? There were attacks the Imperial Palace. They laid siege to it. They actually threatened the Empress--" "Oh, come now. She could have teleported out anytime she wanted to." "That isn't the point, Vlad. Threatening the sanctity of--" "Can we change the subject?"' "You asked," he said stiffly." "Yeah, sorry." Loiosh flew back to my shoulder and nuzzled my ear. I said, "What about the war?" Bye. Linda G.