Birdie smiled. “We put a couple aside to go with your morning pot of tea.”
Grinning, Cassidy went to her office. A fire was burning nicely. A heavy shawl and blanket were laid out on the stuffed chair near the hearth, in case she began to feel chilled while working at her desk. And Powell had sorted through the new sack of mail, separating correspondence from family and friends from invitations, requests for audiences, and correspondence from Dena Nehele’s Queens. There were also pens and a stack of the inexpensive paper she preferred using for notes and instructions within the court.
Sitting at the desk, she closed her eyes.
It was lovely to feel cared for, to have someone do little things like save a fruit tart or make sure pens and paper were easily at hand. It was lovely to hear Birdie and Frannie singing while they tidied up the Residence, to hear Elle and Maydra laughing, to hear the ease in Dryden’s voice when he asked her to wait a moment while he instructed the young footman in the proper way to do something that involved her.
And it was a relief that her First Circle was finally learning to relax a bit. She’d notice a difference in all of them during the second half of Winsol. Oh, there was still the sharp, assessing glance whenever anyone who wasn’t First Circle approached her, and her men were always going to rise to the killing edge when someone outside the court or the home village came near her—Jaenelle’s last note confirmed that. But some underlying tension had disappeared. Shira also had noticed the difference but couldn’t explain it either, so they’d concluded that it was something men considered private and wouldn’t divulge unless given a direct order from their Queen.
And their Queen didn’t see any reason to push them about something that had made them happier.
Opening her eyes, Cassidy picked up the letter opener and started on the stack of correspondence from the Queens.
It was lovely to receive these notes, to read the caution and hope beneath the stiff phrases of the Queens in the northern Provinces and to read the growing confidence and warmth of the Queens in the Shalador reserves and the southern Provinces.
Many of them were interested in sending members of their courts to learn from the two Protocol instructors she had hired to work with courts and teachers so that the people of Dena Nehele would learn Protocol and the Old Ways from people who lived by the Old Ways. Two of the cottages in the Queen’s square were being repaired and cleaned for the Warlord and witch. They still hadn’t decided where the
“school” would be located. She’d suggested another empty cottage in the square. Her First Circle had vehemently opposed having that many strangers coming and going within the boundaries of land that was supposed to be secure ground.
She’d resigned herself to the time it would take to negotiate with her men. Hell’s fire, it had taken days to get them to agree to let the instructors live in the square, and they only gave in about that after Gray, Ranon, and Talon met the two people at the Keep—and received confirmation that Prince Sadi and the High Lord approved of these instructors and thought they would fit in easily with Eyota’s residents. What sealed the deal was learning that the Warlord came from Scelt and was used to living around Scelties and the Lady from Nharkhava, being an enthusiastic reader of the Tracker and Shadow stories, was willing to learn to live with Scelties.
Cassidy glanced at Vae, who was snoozing in front of the hearth.
Let the Lady from Nharkhava learn on her own like the rest of us did, Cassidy thought as she opened the last letter in that stack—a letter that bore the Grayhaven seal.
Then she forgot about Scelties and Protocol instructors, forgot about the spiced tea and fruit tarts, forgot about all the hope and promise in the letters she had already read.
She’d been so happy and so busy building a life and working to fulfill her promise to these people that she’d forgotten it was temporary—until this note from Kermilla reminded her.
“. . . I’m sure you won’t do anything to make the transition difficult . . . valuable asset to the Territory . . .
treat the reserves like a Province and appoint you their Queen.”
“To do what, Kermilla?” Cassidy asked. “Encourage these people to break their backs and their hearts so that you can buy another fancy dress?”
Vae raised her head. *Cassie?*
“I can’t do that to them. I won’t do that to them.”
*Cassie!*
She wasn’t aware of Vae leaving the room, but the Sceltie returned with Powell.
“Vae says something upset you,” Powell said. “What’s wrong?”
“I forgot.”
“I’m sorry, Lady. I don’t understand.”
She handed him the note.
His expression turned grim. “I didn’t think Theran was really that much of a fool.” Then he sighed. “The First Circle is out and about on the court’s business, so there’s nothing to do about this bit of information until evening when everyone has returned and Talon can join us. We can discuss it then.”
What was there to discuss? In another two months, she wouldn’t have a court. Just like the last time.
Her stomach rolled. Her skin turned clammy.
Was that why the men had relaxed? Had they been promised a place in Kermilla’s court and had the assurance that their own status wouldn’t change? Come to think of it, her former court also had been more relaxed and considerate in the weeks before they’d all walked away from her.
“Lady?” Powell reached for her. “What’s wrong?”
How could he not know what was wrong?
She pulled away from him before he could touch her. “I’m not feeling well.”
He studied her, and she saw nothing in his eyes except concern. “You’ve been working steadily all morning,” he finally said. “Why don’t you rest for a while?”
She pushed away from the desk. She had to get away from him before she got sick. “I’ll do that. I’ll go up to my room and rest for a while. Please ask Reyhana to open the invitations and review the calendar. It will be good practice for her.” She hesitated, then added, “I don’t want to be disturbed.”
“Shall I have Birdie or Frannie bring up a tray? Or ask Lady Shira to make up a healing brew?”
She shook her head. “I’m not hungry, and there’s no need to bother Shira about this.” What ailed her was something the Black Widow Healer couldn’t fix.
She left her office, aware that Powell followed her to the door and watched her.
Vae followed her all the way up to her room.
“I want to be alone, Vae.”
*No. You are upset, and your smells are strange.*
“Leave me alone.”
*No.* Vae jumped up on Cassidy’s bed and growled a warning.
Cassidy studied the Sceltie’s Purple Dusk Jewel. Outranked and out-toothed.
*Why are you upset?*
It bubbled out, hot and bitter. “I’m going to lose this court. I’ve given the best that I have, but in two months, I’ll be replaced by another Queen.” Again.
*You are being foolish.*
“No, I’m not. Kermilla took my court before. She’ll do it again.”
Vae’s shock hit her as hard as a blow.
*You will not defend your males? You will not defend the other humans who belong to you?*
“Vae . . .”
Vae snarled. *When a Sceltie is given a flock to protect, she protects it. When a bad dog tries to take her flock, a Sceltie doesn’t tuck her tail between her legs and run away whining. A Sceltie fights.”
“Well, I’m not a Sceltie!”
*No, you are only human, but you are a Queen. You have shown your teeth before. Why won’t you show them now and drive the bad Queen away? Your males would fight for you. Why won’t you fight for them?*
“I would fight for them, with my last breath and beyond,” Cassidy shouted. “But they don’t . . .”
She stopped. Closed her eyes. Thought about Powell’s reaction to Kermilla’s letter.
Almost dismissive. A potential problem the men had been aware of, so it hadn’t come as a surprise, but it was nothing important enough to summon the court immediately.
Kermilla’s words felt like a knife twisting in her gut, but Vae’s words hurt more. Was she giving up on this court because her former court had walked away? Was she giving up without even asking what her First Circle wanted? Was she running away, whining, instead of fighting for what belonged to her?
Would a Sceltie give up her flock to another dog when she knew the dog would hurt what she’d promised to protect?
“Do Scelties ever get scared?”
*We get scared. But we still fight.*
Which are you going to be, Cassidy? A coward or a Queen?
Sighing, she kicked off her shoes and approached the bed. “Move over, Vae. I really don’t feel well right now. I need to rest for a bit.”
When Vae shifted, Cassidy lay down on top of the covers and closed her eyes.
*Cassie? What will you tell your males?*
“I don’t know. I’m confused.”
Vae settled beside her, warming her back. *That is foolish. This is not confusing. They are yours, and you will fight for them so they will not be forced to serve the bad Queen.*
Cassidy closed her eyes. Could it be that simple?
Gray stamped the snow off his boots and walked into Ranon’s kitchen. “It’s colder than Hell out there.” He stripped off his coat and hung it on a peg, then removed his boots and called in the soft house shoes Burle and Devra had given him for Winsol. “Ranon, you got anything hot to drink?”
“I’m making coffee, and have some whiskey to go with it,” Ranon replied.
Powell sat at the kitchen table with Shaddo. Archerr stayed near one of the windows, looking out at the yard—or at the Queen’s Residence.
Archerr was the escort on watch today. Why wasn’t the man at the Residence instead of standing in Ranon’s kitchen?
When Ranon asked him to stop by the house to talk, there had been some urgency in the psychic communication, but the Shalador Warlord Prince hadn’t indicated it was a court meeting rather than a personal conversation.
“What’s wrong?” Gray asked.
Ranon put the pot of coffee, the bottle of whiskey, and five mugs on the table. “It’s Powell’s meeting.”
“This came with the rest of the day’s correspondence.” Powell called in a piece of expensive paper and handed it to Gray.
Ranon came around the table. Leaning over Gray’s shoulder, he read the letter and began swearing viciously as he paced around the kitchen. Gray read it and handed it to Shaddo, whose eyes glazed with killing fury as he gave the paper to Archerr.
“That bitch was gone,” Shaddo snarled. “Talon told us she had gone back to Dharo for good.”
“Because that’s what Theran told him,” Archerr said.
“No, Theran only said Kermilla had gone back to Dharo to celebrate Winsol with her people,” Ranon said.
“Talon had the impression Theran didn’t expect her to return, but Grayhaven didn’t say that.”
“Doesn’t matter what was or wasn’t said. She was gone, and now she’s back,” Shaddo snapped.
“Where is Cassie?” Gray asked.
Ranon whirled to face Powell. “Is she giving up and running again? Hell’s fire! What more do we need to do before she believes in us?”
Hearing grief and desperation under Ranon’s anger, Gray raised a hand—and immediately felt the other Warlord Princes in the room yank on the leash to regain control of their tempers.
“Cassie isn’t going to run anywhere,” he said quietly. He didn’t think she would run. Not anymore. But if she did because of Kermilla, he’d find her and bring her back. “Powell?”
“After reading Kermilla’s letter, she said she wasn’t feeling well and went up to her room. Vae went with her.” Dry amusement filled Powell’s shadowed eyes. “Don’t worry, Ranon. Lady Cassidy isn’t going anywhere without our being informed.”
The tension in the room eased a little.
Powell’s amusement faded. “Perhaps I was too dismissive and didn’t take into account Cassidy’s feelings about the other Queen.”
“Kermilla is a scar on Cassie’s heart, and that scar bleeds every time Kermilla brushes against Cassie’s life,” Gray said. “But she’ll get past today’s hurt and go on.”
Cassie would learn to live with her scars just like he was learning to live with his.
“Is she going to let that bitch keep threatening everything we’ve all worked for?” Archerr asked.
“Cassie isn’t letting that bitch do anything,” Shaddo growled. “This mess is Theran’s doing.”
“There’s an easy way to fix it,” Archerr said. “It’s not like we haven’t done it before.”
They looked at him, and Gray saw the same question in all their eyes. “No, that isn’t the way to fix it. Not this time. When Cassie knows we’ve prepared for this, when she knows we’re going to stand with her, she’ll stand with us. She won’t turn her back on her people.”
“Then let’s make sure she knows we’re going to stand with her,” Ranon said.
“I’ve already contacted those I could reach in the First Circle who were working beyond the village today,”
Powell said. “They’ll contact the others, so we’ll all be here around sunset.”
“Fine,” Gray said. “Then let’s have some of that coffee before we all get back to work.”
Cassie opened her eyes. Full dark outside. She must have slept for a few hours—and someone must have thrown a blanket over her and added a warming spell to it. Otherwise she would have gotten cold and woken up.
She tried to shift. The blanket grunted and yawned. A moment later, a small ball of witchlight floated near the bedroom door, lighting the room enough for her to see that she was pinned down by Scelties.
Vae, Khollie, and Darkmist. Darcy, Keelie, and . . .
Catching the scent of leather and horses, she twisted to look behind her.
. . . Lloyd.
“Let me up.”
They were awake and watching her. Not one of them moved.
“I have to pee. Now. Let me up.”
They jumped off the bed. One of them used Craft to open her door. Darcy and Lloyd took up a position in the hallway, blocking access to anything except the bathroom and other bedrooms on this side of the staircase. Vae and Keelie trotted in front of her. Darkmist and Khollie followed so close behind she was afraid of kicking them if she raised her foot for a normal step. So she shuffled to the bathroom.