I smiled, and studied the green powder on my fingers. "I don't smell good when I sweat. I expect you to offer me three wishes or something, and make me pretty, or put me in a fancy dress and poof! We're dancing at the ball! That's where we take the first step and I trip over the long dress and all the dancers fall in a heap on top of me. Cev, I'm a klutz at romance!" I laughed.

He took my hand and brushed the sweat-powder off my fingers. "Ah, but I wish to know, what did you wish for? If I can grant your wishes, Sara, I will." Cev smiled, big. He waved the cloud of sparkling green in my face.

I laughed harder. "Do I get a wish every time you sweat? Maybe I should wish for you to get some sleep! You said you'd grant my wishes!" I made an Emperor Evilus face. "Hah! Now I have you in my power!"

Cev laughed. Used his best Diplomat Dangerous voice. "A diplomat always has power to negotiate, if he has speech! I will make speeches until you relent."

"Curses! You'll make speeches until I fall asleep and walk out, like you did last time! All right, I'll sign the treaty. Are ya happy now? An evil emperor, out of a job!" I did the fake, deep-voiced crying Evilus did in Evilus At The End, last week's episode.

"I will give you a job! Come with me, and you may learn to recite treaties—"

"I was a bad student! I made D's in Negotiation." I hammed up the sobs and used Cev's tunic to mop my face like Evilus used Dangerous' sash. "Ow! Your pins hurt me!"

-- from Emperor's Wife