Quoted By:
Marabet, The White-Haired Humming Girl
(Marabet grins wickedly. But then she returns to a solemn expression, as she replies)
-I tricked you, silly! (humming) La-la-la. Old Grandmother Kospelina is not dead, ...yet. But, she will be. Soon. The Queen is very old. I can see the future, you know. La-la-la. Old Grandmother says, I am very good at it. You smell strange! Like a frog. I licked a frog once, it tickled! La-la-la. Or maybe it was a toad. I tricked you again! La-la-la. Old Grandmother says, we shouldn't tell lies. It is not fair! The Elders do it all the time. Do you know a Song? I like Songs. What strange toys you have! They look like Songs. Do you want to see my doll? Well you can't. Elders don't want girls to play with dolls. Elders want to play at fighting battles. But when I grow up, I am still going to play with dolls! Your toy boat looks pretty. It looks a bit like Death. Do you want to grow up and be an Elder? You like fighting. You should set fire to your toy boat and sink it. Over water. But only when you are ready! That happened recently. I was going to predict it, la-la-la. No I wasn't! Maybe I already did. La-la-la. Do you have a friend? She is going to die too. You should give her a gift. I like gifts! It might make her feel better. See, I have all the answers! You can ask me and I just tell you. Even thanes and King Coppernose asked me things. They fight and tell lies all the time, and lose all the treasure. But that is a secret! Old Grandmother says we are playing hiding. I like games!
