"Shorter steps," he says. "You don't want to look like you're rushing."

   Hades is sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning back a bit, his hands on the covers behind him. I take a few jerky steps, and the crown slips over my eyes.

   "That's one way to do it," he says, laughing. I wind my loose hair up into a knot and shove the crown back on. Better. I go back to my starting point across the room.

   "Again," he says. "Shoulders back, easy stride, a look of confidence."

   I take a few steps and then stumble again.

   "It's these stupid shoes!" I cry, leaning down and yanking

them off. I throw them at him and he catches one.

"Look at them," I tell him. "Solid gold soles!"

"Distinctly opulent," he says. "Nothing but the finest."

   "Opulent or not, they're too slippery. That's why I can't walk. I need new shoes."

   "Practice barefoot for now," he says. "All the way to the throne this time and then turn to face the audience. Sit down slowly, your back straight. If you hold the arm of the throne, it's easier to do without looking."

   "Where's the throne?"

   He sits upright at the edge of the bed, legs together, elbows bent into the arms of a chair. "My lady, your throne awaits."

   I try to put on a regal expression as I walk over with neat, precise steps. I stop in front of him, turn to face the door, put my hands on his forearms, and my back ever so straight, slowly sit down.

   The arms of the throne wrap around me. "Very well done," it says in a most unthronelike voice.

   "Let's do it again."

   The throne sighs and releases its hold. I walk back to my starting point, adjust the crown again, take a step, and stop.

   "Hades," I say, thinking. "This is all show."

   He shrugs. "Perhaps, but show is important. It's half the work."

   "That's just it." I take off the crown and walk back to him in my normal walk. "What's the other half? Other than sit upright and look pretty, what does a queen do?"

   I plop down beside him on the covers.

   "Greet shades in the throne room, of course." He relaxes back on his hands again. "Make them feel welcome. In time you'll grow more comfortable speaking in front of crowds, and then you can help with the explanations if you like."

   "Is that all?"

   "You can run the palace any way you please. I've never entertained much, but if you like that kind of thing, go ahead. And ladies like to weave, don't they?"

   Something is missing. "Shouldn't I do more than that?"

   He tilts his head to the side, looking thoughtful. "You could help shades settle their conflicts, I suppose. I don't enjoy it so I tend to send them off to the Lethe. If you took over, I'd have more time for other things. Borders. Inventory." He smiles. "Horses."

   I twiddle the crown around and around in sparkling circles. Hades looks from my hands to my face.

   "Look," he says more seriously. "There isn't one way to be a queen, any more than there's one way to be a woman."

   "You said you'd teach me!"

   "But you want more than I can teach, so you'll have to sort it out yourself. Having you by my side in the throne room and the mere fact that you're here—that's enough for

me. If you want to do more, figure it out and take it on."

"Damn," I say. "That's harder."

   "Then let's work on the easy part first." He bends his arms back into armrests and looks at me with a rakish smile. "How about a little more throne practice?"