Oh, shit, I'd gotten distracted. That wasn't good. I didn't want Lord Miaquen to feel badly, or like I didn't want to pay attention. I wanted Axily and him to have a good time, and come away happy, feeling like I'd done a good job with the situation.

"I'm afraid I got distracted by the excellent food," I said with a brilliant smile. "Would you repeat what you said?"

"I was asking if you would kindly finish your glass of tea," Lord Miaquen said, a smile curving his mouth in return.

"Of course," I said, delighted to be able to give him something he wanted. I had about half a glass of iced tea left, but I knew how to chug, and I tossed it back with the vigor of a frat boy knocking back a Coors. With a perky smile, I set the glass down on the table again, flashing my teeth at Lord Miaquen. "Done!" I said in my chipper voice. "It's really good tea. I don't drink a lot of floral ones; do you know what this one's called?"

"It's called goldenbloom, your highness," he said. "More typically drunk in the evenings with close friends, but perhaps you've enjoyed it, nonetheless?"

"It's really really good," I assured him, wanting him to know that he'd made a good decision. "I'd drink more, but..." I waved my hand at my empty tea glass.

"Would you like to know a secret?" Lord Miaquen asked.

I leaned forward, delighted at the prospect. "Yes! That would be wonderful. But only if you want to tell me one. This is your lunch, after all. I'm only here to make you and Axily happy."

"The secret is why you're here, your highness," he said with a conspiratorial smile. "I asked Axily to bring you with him, and here you are. I have something to give you, and a few instructions for you."

Instructions! Oh, that sounded perfect. If he told me what he wanted, then I'd be able to do it, and he'd be happy. That seemed like the best thing. I nodded eagerly, holding out my hands.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, some part of me started panicking, a shrill, silly little feeling, as if I had a housefly trapped in a jar and it kept blundering into the glass. Shush, I told myself, and ignored it when that other Leah started pounding her metaphorical fists against the wall. I had way better things to pay attention to as Lord Miaquen pressed a small, butcher-paper wrapped tube into my hands.

"Don't open it now," he told me.

I nodded seriously. Of course I wouldn't. He wouldn't like that.