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Show the worlde's principal city-NewOxbridge. Now her other name, Gundarholt, came from her pairing with a Merchant class son. A mistake, and that truly-not because of the name, or the class, for both were respected in full on BauerWorlde, but the pairing in and of itself. Indeed, she and her partner lived apart during most of it. But then-Saints be praised!-the man suddenly died, which went far indeed toward rectifying that mistake. Dr'Anya wended herself past the drying shed, breathing deeply of the fragrant herbs and flowers curing in there, and then up the broad flagstone steps to Needlesmith Hall. She smoothed back her dark, lightly graying hair and patted the large bun at the nape of her neck, for there'd been a light breeze blowing. The new android opened the scrup-paneled door for Dr'Anya and extended a bronze alloy hand to help her up the last step and into the cupboard- and counter-lined scullery. "Pray, don't bother, Nell, " Dr'Anya said. Unheeding, the android held Dr'Anya's arm gently but firmly as the good Doctor negotiated the doorsill, and then, clucking softly, she relieved Dr'Anya of her hoe. The woman sighed. It booted not what she said to the thing. Though speechless as were most household androids, Nell was nevertheless activated not merely by thought, but by nuances in the air, situations, and conditions that called for certain actions and reactions not necessarily asked for directly, but rather; intuited. The android was sent to Dr'Anya the Christmastide before by her good daughter, Janni, who was working on her terminal degree in artificial 17 |