"I'm sorry, Ezahh. It was inconsiderate of me, I suppose." In rather sharp contrast to her dealings with humans, whom she held more or less in general contempt, the Serpent Queen was unfailingly polite to other reptiles particularly the venomous ones. This is considered the course of wisdom in the world of snakes.

"It was not entirely your fault, Salmissra." Ezahh was also a snake, and he was also very polite. "I just wish there was some way to get the taste out of my mouth.”

"I could send for a saucer of milk. That might help."

"Thank you, Salmissra, but the taste of him might curdle it. What I'd really like is a nice fat mouse alive, preferably."

"I'll see to it at once, Ezahh." She turned her triangular face around on her slender neck. "You," she hissed to one of the chorus of eunuchs kneeling in adoration at one side of the throne, "go catch a mouse. My little green friend is hungry."

"At once, Divine Salmissra," the eunuch replied obsequiously. He jumped to his feet and backed toward the door, genuflecting at every other step.

"Thank you, Salmissra," Ezahh purred. "Humans are such trivial things, aren't they?"

"They respond only to fear," she agreed, "and to lust."

"That raises a point," Ezahh noted. "Have you had time to consider the request I made the other day?”

"I have some people looking," she assured him, "but your species is very rare, you know, and finding a female for you might take some time."

"I can wait, if necessary, Salmissra," he purred. "We are all very patient." He paused. "I'm not trying to be offensive, but if you hadn't chased Sadi away, you wouldn't have to take the trouble. His little snake and I were on very good terms."

"I noticed that on occasion. You might even be a father by now."

The green snake slid his head out from under the throne and regarded her. Like all snakes of his kind, he had a bright-red stripe down his green back. "What's a father?" he asked in a dull, incurious tone.

"It's a difficult concept," she replied. "Humans make much of it for some reason.”

“Does any real creature care about the perverse peculiarities of humans?"

"I certainly don't at least not anymore."

"You were always a serpent at heart, Salmissra."

"Why, thank you, Ezahh," she said in a pleased hiss. She paused, her restless coils rubbing dryly against each other. "I must select a new Chief Eunuch," she mused. "It's a bothersome thing."

"Why trouble yourself? Select one at random. Humans are all alike, after all."

"Most of them, yes. I’ve been attempting to locate Sadi, however. I'd like to persuade him to come back to Sthiss Tor."

"That one is different," Ezahh agreed. "One might almost believe that he is somewhat akin to us."