be smothered with verbal pap, astonished at the naivete
displayed during courtship by the human species. She’d
thought better of him.
She ignored it for as long as she could, until she was
unable to stand the veiled remarks and coy queries any
longer.
“Ah think we can slow down some now.” Jon-Tom and
Mudge agreed with her. Everyone slowed to a fast walk.
Roseroar moved close to the girl. “And ah also think it
would be a good ideah if we all kept quiet foah a while.
We don’t want to attract any undue attention. In addition
to which, if ah’m forced to listen to any moan o’ yoah
simperin’, girl, ah may vomit.”
Folly eyed the tigress. “Something bothering you?”
“Nothin’ much, little female. It’s just that ah have a
great respect foah the language. Hearin’ it used so foolishly
always upsets mah digestion.”
Folly turned to Jon-Tom. She flashed blue eyes and
blonde hair in the reflected light from storefronts and street
lamps. Her skin, wet with drizzle, sparkled.
“Do you think I’m talking foolish, Jon-Tom?”
“Maybe just a little, yes.”
She responded with a much practiced and perfectly
formed pout. Roseroar sighed and turned away, wondering
why she went to the trouble. The spellsinger had shown
himself to be a man of intelligence and insight. It dis-
THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE
175
tressed her to see him so blatantly manipulated. She
increased her stride so she wouldn’t have to listen to
any more of it.
“You don’t like me,” Folly murmured to Jon-Tom.
“Of course I like you.
“I knew you did!” She turned and threw her arms