The Power to Name

As the week went on, the Castle Valiant became even more sealed to the outside world than it already was. Only a few servants were allowed to interact with those who brought goods and services from Valiant and of those, any who spoke out of turn were promptly dismissed. Aurora noticed that the attendants who had been present during the twins' birth had been replaced with new nurses. Even the wet nurses seemed unfamiliar. When she commented on it to Nanny, the woman refused to look up from her knitting. "Chief Cafer took care of everything." In a lower tone she added, "Anyone who might have spoken out has been appropriately compensated."

"What about you, Nanny? Were you compensated?"

The rotund woman lay a finger aside her nose, "No. Old Nanny knows how to keep a secret."

Aurora wondered if compensated meant paid to keep silent or something else, but was too afraid to ask. She didn't like that Cafer did these things without her knowledge. After she went agains