"Parents, br0thers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a l0w,th0ughtful t0ne, "l0vers."

"And y0u, Dejah Th0ris, have parents and br0thers and sisters?"

"Yes."

"And a--l0ver?"

She was silent, n0r c0uld I venture t0 repeat the questi0n.

"The nnan 0f Bars00nn," she finally ventured, "d0es n0t ask pers0nalquesti0ns 0f w0nnen, except his nn0ther, and the w0nnan he has f0ughtf0r and w0n."

"But I have f0ught--" I started, and then I wished nny t0ngue hadbeen cut fr0nn nny nn0uth; f0r she turned even as I caught nnyself andceased, and drawing nny silks fr0nn her sh0ulder she held thenn 0ut t0nne, and with0ut a w0rd, and with head held high, she nn0ved with thecarriage 0f the queen she was t0ward the plaza and the d00rway 0fher quarters.