*You do,* Janos agreed.
Not a youth anymore, despite being eighteen,Ranon thought as he watched Janos and Khollie walk to the house.And much changed even from last summer.
One of the reasons for those changes walked out of the house. Reyhana wore a long, simple summer dress and sandals.
Ranon heard Janos’s sharp command that stopped Khollie from a joyful leap. He watched the way his brother went down on one knee to be closer to the cowering dog’s height and pointed to Reyhana, who nodded as if agreeing with Janos’s words. He watched Khollie straighten up, no longer afraid once he understood that Janos’s sharpness had been intended to protect him from doing something wrong—like jumping into Reyhana’s freshly bathed arms.
And he saw the way Janos looked at Reyhana, saw the brush of fingers against her hand when Janos rose to take Khollie to the laundry room for a bath.
A hard choice for a young man who burned for more than a few kisses and petting. Reyhana was the Shalador Queen with the most potential in her generation, and it would be a couple of years or more before she would have her Virgin Night. It would cost Janos his life if an imprudent coupling damaged the girl in any way.
But he knew what it was like to be young and have a woman hold your heart. After all, Shira had been sixteen when he’d fallen in love with her.
Reyhana walked toward them, and Ranon watched for the moment when the other men picked up her psychic scent and realized she was a Queen. And he wondered why the men tensed, especially Hikaeda and Ferall.
“Gentlemen,” Reyhana said, tipping her head in a small bow.
Ranon made the introductions.
“Lady Reyhana,” Ferall replied as the men gave her a matching vow.
“We have about half an hour before the meal,” Reyhana said. “Would you like to sit out here and have a glass of ale while you wait? It’s a lovely spot when there’s a breeze like there is today.”
“That would be welcome,” Ferall said.
Reyhana turned her head, her eyes having the distant look the Blood sometimes had when they communicated on a psychic thread.
“Are you staying here?” Rikoma asked her.
“Yes. I have the privilege of working as part of Lady Cassidy’s court to learn Protocol and the Old Ways of the Blood, as well as the rights and duties of a Queen and court. It’s very exciting to be a part of this new beginning for all our people.”
Elendill looked past her shoulder. “You have many servants here?”
Reyhana laughed softly. “The Queen’s court acts as a training ground. We have a butler, a housekeeper and her assistant, and a cook. The footmen and maids are all young people from the village who want training in domestic service. They get training; we get extra help.”
“There aren’t many aristo houses anymore that need servants,” Hikaeda said.
“No, but there are boardinghouses and inns,” Reyhana said. “And there are people like Prince Spere and Prince Haele who share a cottage in the Queen’s square rather than having the whole court living here. Being members of the First Circle, their residence is cared for by the servants here, but there are others who would be willing to pay to have some cooking and cleaning done. Aristo houses are not the only places that need such skills.”
Reyhana’s face, like her voice, shone with enthusiasm. Hearing a sound, she looked behind her, then looked at the men. Her green eyes twinkled with good humor. “Please step aside to leave a clear path to the table. The girls are still getting used to being around Warlord Princes, and they get nervous. But they’re getting better and drop fewer things. We’ve only had one broken glass this week.”
Birdie, who was now assistant housekeeper and assistant trainer of maids, carried the pitcher of ale. Copper, a village girl in training, carried the tray of glasses.
Watching Copper’s hands shake as she glanced at the men and crept after Birdie, Ranon held his breath. Then pitcher and tray were on the table and both girls were retreating back to the house.
“You’ll notice there is a shield around the edge of the tray,” Reyhana said. “It won’t help anything if the tray is dropped, but it does prevent a wobble from tipping a glass off the tray.”
“Did you think of that?” Rikoma asked.
“No, Vae did.”
The men laughed, and Ranon guessed that had been Reyhana’s intention. Warlord Princes were lethal predators, and they were used to being feared. Being given an opportunity to laugh with a woman was a moment both appreciated and prized.
Reyhana went back into the house. Hikaeda poured the ale and passed the glasses. For a few minutes, the men looked at the gardens and spoke little.
Then Cassidy walked out of the house. Like Reyhana, she wore a long, light summer dress, but her hair had been put up in a simple knot at the back of her head.
She had just reached Ranon when . . .
“Cassie!”
*Cassie? Cassie!*
Cassidy crossed her eyes and made a face as Gray and Vae caught up with her.
*Hat, Cassie!*
“No,” Cassidy said. “If I put a hat on now, the hair will fall down, and it’s too hot today to have it down.”
*Gray, tell her!*
Coming up on Cassidy’s left side, Gray nodded to the men. He wore a plain white shirt and black trousers—and his Purple Dusk pendant and ring.
There was nothing challenging about a man wearing his Jewels, and there was nothing special about the clothes, but Ranon felt a curious tension in the other men.
Gray gave the men a conspiratorial smile as he looked each of them in the eyes. That smile included a mischievous wink when his eyes moved to Hikaeda. Then he called in a parasol, opened it, and held it over Cassidy.
When she did nothing but look up at it, Gray said politely, “Are you going to take the parasol, or should I hold it for you?”
“You’re spending too much time with somebody,” Cassidy muttered as she took the parasol. “You’re getting too good at this.”
“Do you want to hit me?” Gray asked.
“I’m thinking about it.”
Cassidy and Gray smiled at each other—and those smiles had enough heat to take everyone by surprise. Including Ranon.
“Gentlemen,” Gray said, “if you would join us, the meal is ready.”
He raised his right hand, an escort’s gesture. Cassidy placed her left hand over his in automatic response—like a Queen would respond to her First Escort or Consort . . . or her husband.
Cassidy and Gray walked back to the house. Ranon started to follow, then realized the others weren’t coming with him.
Hikaeda stared at nothing. “We were friends,” he said softly. “Before he was taken and hurt so badly, we were friends. I never thought . . . It’s good to see him again. It’s good to see Jared Blaed.”
Hikaeda headed for the house, followed by Rikoma and Elendill. But Ferall still lingered.
“Something wrong?” Ranon asked.
Ferall shook his head. “I want this for my own village, for my own Province.”
“Then come inside,” Ranon said. “There are people around the table who can help.”
“Yes,” Ferall said softly, “I think maybe there are.”
CHAPTER 23
TERREILLE
Ranon gave his horse its head and caught up to Burle before the man reached the landen community.
Something had surprised Lord Rogir when he stopped at the community to see how the cleanup and repairs were coming along, and anything that would surprise a senior guard was something Ranon wanted to check out for himself—especially when Cassidy’s father was about to ride into that community.
Ranon rode through the arched gateway ahead of Burle, then reined in, understanding Rogir’s surprise.
Lilly Weaver and JuliDee had been staying with Rogir’s family since the flight from Grayhaven. Lilly and Rogir’s wife had worked together to clean up the senior guard’s household. Other women in the village had also pitched in to give two other cottages a good scrubbing. One cottage went to Lord Brandon and his wife, and the other was to be a general residence for the unmarried guards. After that, the women had been driving out to the community to start cleaning up the attached row houses.
Now there were several wagons parked close to the houses and many unfamiliar faces—and there was James Weaver, hugging his wife.
Rogir stood off to one side with a couple of his men, watching the reunion. Deciding that was the best choice for an explanation, Ranon guided his horse over to the men and dismounted. James, spotting him, gave Lilly one more hug and joined them.
“You made good time,” Ranon said. “I don’t think all the houses are ready to be occupied.”
“Lilly says they have three that are clean and in good order,” James said. “Mostly good order. Lilly wanted to know about—”
*Puppies!*
Ranon stiffened. So did Rogir. Burle just climbed off the wagon and headed over to them as Wynne, a Sceltie with a pure white head, and black-f aced Duffy jumped out of the wagon.
Burle looked at Ranon and shrugged. “They wanted to come.”
*Puppies!* Wynne wagged her tail at the smaller landen children.
Then Duffy froze for a moment before shooting straight up into the air to hover well above the buildings. His tail began wagging so hard the motion knocked him sideways as he shouted, *Sheep!*
Oh, shit,Ranon thought.
“You outrank the rest of us,” Rogir said.
The man didn’t have to sound so damned cheerful—and relieved—about it. Of course, Keely had taken up residence with Rogir’s family. Having enough experience now trying to deal with just one, the man could be somewhat forgiven for not wanting to deal with a pair of Scelties.
“Duffy, come down now,” Ranon said.
*They havesheep !*
And may the Darkness have mercy on them. “Duffy,” he said firmly.
Duffy dropped out of the air so fast, Ranon was sure the dog would hit the ground. But he came to a stop an arm’s length from the ground and gently floated down the rest of the way.