Mathaswentha sat up and straightened her hair. She said in a brisk, businesslike manner: "There are a lot of questions to be settled before we decide anything finally. Wittigis, for instance."
"What about him?" Padway's happiness suddenly wasn't quite so complete.
"He'll have to be killed, naturally."
"Oh?"
"Don't 'oh' me, my dear. I warned you that I am no halfhearted hater. And Thiudahad, too."
"Why him?"
She straightened up, frowning. "He murdered my mother, didn't he? What more reason do you want? And eventually you will want to become king yourself—"
"No, I won't," said Padway.
"Not want to be king? Why, Martinus!"
"Not for me, my dear. Anyhow, I'm not an Amaling."