Xyla Quest felt embarrassed at her own gullibility when she heard her explanation. “All right, then. Thank you for the invitation, Empress.”

The empress smiled kindly. “It’s been decided then. We will have a pleasantly long chat today. I’ll send you home after the meal, but you will forget everything that happened tonight once you return.

“I’ve also repaid the kindness you once shown to me, so we are both cleared of our debts.

“To be honest, I hope you will remember me, but there are heavenly