"We don't know," answered the official. "But the council thought it was best to get you to declare war."
"Oh," said the King. "So that's why I made that little speech in there. What does mother say?"
"It wouldn't be polite to repeat, sir. She was locked in her room, and very insulted."
"She would be," said Uske. "So, the enemy has infiltrated and gotten my silly brother."
"Well," said the voice, "they can't be sure. But what with the planes this morning, they thought it was best."
"Oh, well," said the King. There were footsteps. Then silence.
Coming round the corner, Jon saw the coat closet was ajar. He opened the door, took out a great cape and hood, and wrapped it around him, pulling the hood close over his head. He stepped into the foyer and went out past the doorman.
At the edge of the Devil's Pot, the woman with the birthmark on the left side of her face was tapping a cane and holding out a tin cup. She had put on a pair of dark glasses and wandered up one street and down another. "Money for a poor blind woman," she said in a whiny voice. "Money for the blind." As a coin clinked into her cup, she nodded, smiled, and said, "Welcome to the New World. Good luck in the Island of Opportunity."
The man who had given her the coin walked a step, and then turned back. "Hey," he said to Rara. "If you're blind, how do you know I'm new here?"