“Your Gracious Excellence!” Barhu hastily conjoined the honorifics for a governor and a duchess. “I hope Aratene’s hospitality brings you comfort.” “Very much so. Although”—her eyes flashed with irritation—“I did have to explain to my armsmen, more than once, that no one would be offering their daughters.” “I’m afraid the notion of sexual hospitality is based on a misunderstanding of our culture. If you can imagine such a thing. Not so much a Taranoki tradition as a tradition of foreigners writing about Taranoke.” “A cultural misconception sustained by lurid rumor? In our great republic?” Heia
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