by Anne Bishop
Ranon looked over his shoulder and sighed. Reyhana and Janos. The young Queen had been out to look at this garden as much as he and Gray, and Janos had assigned himself as Reyhana’s escort whenever she left the boardinghouse.
Then he stiffened and tapped Gray’s arm before rising to his feet. “More company.”
Gray sprang to his feet. Ranon grabbed one arm to keep Gray from rushing toward Lady Karla—especially because Aaron stepped out of the house and leaned against the wall, clearly not interfering and just as clearly standing watch over the Gray-Jeweled Queen who walked with a measured step that had nothing to do with dignity and everything to do with needing the support of a cane.
Whatever was wrong with her body, there was nothing wrong with her mind—or her power.
Grizelle had been like this, Ranon thought. Lia had been like this.
He’d grown up on stories of Grizelle and, especially, Lia. Had grown up fantasizing about what it would be like to be in the presence of a Gray-Jeweled Queen. He’d always thought of Grizelle and Lia as protectors of Dena Nehele—and they had been—but it hadn’t occurred to him that the power that protected the land also made those women very dangerous witches. Not until Karla had stepped out of the Coach that had brought her to Eyota.
“Prince Gray,” Karla said when she reached them. “Prince Ranon.” She tipped her head in a silent greeting to Reyhana and Janos.
Janos hesitated, still not certain of how to respond to a Queen who wasn’t from the Shalador reserves. Reyhana, on the other hand, took the greeting as an invitation to join the adults.
“Cassidy is awake,” Karla said, looking at Gray. “She’ll be fine. She needs to stay quiet for the rest of today.”
“Can I see her?” Gray asked. “I won’t yell at her yet. I just want to see her.”
Karla’s lips curved in a wicked smile. “Darling, her body has been working hard to regain its balance and, quite frankly, the girl smells a bit ripe. Until she has a chance to bathe and clean her teeth, you’re the last person she’s going to want to see.”
“But . . .” Gray paused. Looked thoughtful. “Oh. Because I’m courting her? But I don’t care if she smells.”
Karla stared at Gray until he muttered, “Well, I don’t care.” But the stare ended that part of the discussion.
“I think Cassidy would appreciate some assistance from her mother and the court’s Healer,” Karla said. “And I think everyone with a penis should stay away from that hallway and those rooms for the next couple of hours. Is that clear enough?”
Seeing Lucivar come around the corner, Ranon said, “That’s clear. Can you tell us what happened to Lady Cassidy?”
“Do you want it in simple terms?” Karla asked.
He nodded.
“She was an idiot.”
Gray snarled and took a step toward Karla.
Aaron sprang away from the house but stopped and looked at Lucivar, who held up a hand to signal Aaron to stay back while he headed for their happy little group—slowly.
“She ignored her training and her common sense and almost damaged herself beyond repair,” Karla said. “What would you call it? There was no need for what happened. In fact, there was every reason for caution and restraint. She could have made her point without risk to herself, and without the anguish she caused all of you. It was an irresponsible thing for a Queen to do, and the Darkness only knows what possessed her to do it.” Her eyes turned a colder blue as she focused on Gray. “And if you think I’m being harsh, go up to the Keep and talk to the High Lord. Having been on the receiving end of one of his verbal lashings when I did something stupid, I can tell you Cassidy is getting off lightly.”
Gray took a step back. “The High Lord would have yelled at Cassie?”
“When he’s really pissed off about something, the High Lord does not yell,” Karla said. “He doesn’t have to.”
“I’ve heard him yell,” Gray said. “Sort of yell.”
“Then you heard surface temper, which is a very mild thing compared to his real temper.”
“Oh.”
“Could I learn to do that?” Reyhana asked, pointing to the garden.
“No,” Ranon, Gray, and Janos said.
Karla looked at the men and shook her head. “Yes. I can show—”
“No,” Reyhana said.
Ranon turned on the girl. Reyhana was the most promising young Queen in the Shalador reserves, and bringing her to Cassidy’s attention was enough of a risk. The girl could not be allowed to challenge a Queen as strong as Karla.
Before he could say anything, Reyhana raised her chin and took a step toward Karla.
“I mean no disrespect, Lady,” Reyhana said. “But if I am worthy of learning this Queen’s duty, I should be taught by the Queen of Dena Nehele.”
The men held themselves tense and silent as the two witches measured each other.
“From what I’ve been told by Prince Aaron, the last young Queen who apprenticed with Cassidy caused her a great deal of pain,” Karla said. “That kind of betrayal isn’t easy to forget. What Cassidy did here is important for you to learn. Vital, in fact, for the land as well as benefiting you. If she doesn’t feel comfortable teaching you, then I will before I return to Glacia.”
Reyhana hesitated, and in that breath between one moment and the next, Ranon saw a young Queen mature a little more.
“Is that what happened to your legs?” Reyhana asked. “Betrayal?”
Karla nodded. “I was poisoned by a member of my court. Someone who was loyal to my uncle instead of being loyal to me. I should have died from that vicious stew of poisons. Damaged legs are a small price to pay for surviving.” She raised a hand, a simple gesture that ended that conversation. “Now. If the young Lady is going to learn this particular bit of Craft, you three—yes, that includes you, puppy—need to learn how to deal with a Queen. Lucivar will teach you.”
“Teach them what?” Lucivar asked, finally stepping up to join them.
“Teach them what to do when a Queen is being stupid,” Karla replied.
“Before or after you knock her on her ass to get her attention?” Lucivar asked.
Karla bared her teeth in what might have been a smile and said, “Kiss kiss.”
Ranon blinked. He’d never heard anyone say that and have it mean “shove a knife up your ass.”
Lucivar bared his teeth in an equally insincere smile. “Cassidy’s awake?”
“Yes,” Karla said, her whole demeanor changing from challenging to cautious as she studied Lucivar.
“Someone else is staying with her for a while?”
“I was about to talk to Devra and Shira about giving Cassidy a bit of company and assistance.”
Lucivar nodded. “Fine. Then you can strip down and sweat a little. I want to have a look at those legs when they’re working.”
“I don’t think—”
“Witchling, what part of that sounded like a choice?”
Gold eyes locked with glacier blue. Glacier blue looked away first.
“Prick,” Karla muttered.
“Always,” Lucivar replied. Then he pointed at Reyhana. “She can join you and learn a few basic moves for defending herself. And you, Gray. I’ll teach you a few things that will help you strengthen those back muscles.” He turned and whistled sharply. “Surreal! You’re helping me with this.”
Ranon felt an odd twitch in the belly. Surreal was standing in the yard, halfway between the house and their group. Open ground. Sure, she had probably used a sight shield to get that close without being noticed. Sure, Lucivar and Karla had been a distraction, but . . .
Lucivar had known she was there.
. . . this wasn’t a witch a man wanted coming up on him without warning.
“Helping you with what?” Surreal shouted back.
“With making this lot sweat,” Lucivar replied.
Surreal laughed. “In that case, sugar, I’ll go hone a knife.”
“What?” Ranon said.
&
nbsp; Karla laughed and headed for the house, while Surreal moved to join her.
Lucivar gave Ranon a lazy, arrogant smile. “Show some balls, Ranon. You’re not afraid of one little assassin, are you?”
“Assassin?” Reyhana squeaked. Or maybe that was Janos.
Lucivar shrugged. “Surreal is Dea al Mon. I think they’re born knowing what to do with a knife.”
“Mother Night,” Ranon muttered—but not until Lucivar walked away. Then he looked at Gray, who was staring at the house with a strange, thoughtful expression in his eyes.
“Cassie has some interesting friends,” Gray said.
Interesting, Ranon thought as the four of them separated for a few minutes before joining Lucivar for whatever lessons the Eyrien had in mind. Yes, the Blood from Kaeleer were certainly interesting. But he wondered if Theran was paying any attention to their visitors and the influence they were having on the people here. They were both the forge and the fire that could shape the Blood in Dena Nehele into bright steel—or leave them broken. And he wondered if, like himself, Theran was paying attention to the kind of man Prince Jared Blaed Grayhaven was becoming in the heat of that forge.
“Do you have a reason to be concerned about Karla?” Surreal asked.
“A particular reason?” Lucivar shook his head. “Her Master of the Guard works with her to help her maintain strength in her legs, and I won’t step on the man’s territory. But that doesn’t mean I won’t take an opportunity to assess her for myself and send along a suggestion or two if I think something needs more of his attention.”
“Are her legs getting weaker?”
“Not yet, but the day will come when they won’t support her.” Considering what Jaenelle had to do in order to save Karla, the fact that Karla could walk at all was testimony to Jaenelle’s skills as a Healer and Karla’s strength of will. But the ever-present cane and the face aged beyond its years were a reminder that even the best Healer and the strongest will couldn’t eliminate the effects of terrible poisons that should have destroyed a Gray-Jeweled Queen. “I’ll help her postpone that day for as long as possible,” Lucivar added quietly. Then he smiled at Surreal. “You’re looking good.” And since she hadn’t tried to knife him, he figured she’d finally forgiven him for the time she had spent in Ebon Rih.
“I’m feeling more comfortable about a lot of things,” she replied. “About myself. About this.” She called in a stiletto.
Lucivar tensed—which seemed to amuse her.
“Relax,” she said, vanishing the stiletto. “When I first arrived at Chaosti’s clan, Grandmammy Teele gave me some old sacks. I spent the evenings embroidering your name on them, then stuffed them with rags, tied them to a tree, and stabbed them until my arm cramped.”
“Shit,” Lucivar said. He’d pushed her because he cared. He hadn’t meant to push her so much she hated him.
Surreal laughed. “You should see your face. Breathe easy, Yaslana. I was just teasing. I would never spend that much time on embroidery.”
This time he swore in Eyrien and said a whole lot of things he didn’t want her to understand.
“I do recognize some of those words,” she said.
“Good for you,” he snapped.
She grinned at him.
He stared at the people gathering in the yard. They stared back at him and Surreal like dumb sheep facing a couple of wolves.
Dumb sheep.
Lucivar frowned. “Where is Vae?”
“Don’t know,” Surreal replied. “She came with me as far as Dharo when I went to fetch Cassidy’s family, then continued on to Scelt instead of coming back with us.”
Lucivar looked at Surreal. Surreal looked at him. They headed for their flock of two-legged sheep.
“Not our problem,” Surreal said.
“Definitely not our problem,” Lucivar agreed. Especially when he had a wife who wouldn’t appreciate dealing with morning sickness and a small boy all by herself for more than a couple of days.
Assuming there would be morning sickness. And that would be his problem. And his fault. And a few other things, depending on whether Marian felt happy about being pregnant or bitchy about throwing up. So he wasn’t going to wonder what Vae was doing in Scelt.
But he was certain that whatever the Sceltie was up to was going to be someone’s problem.
CHAPTER 7
TERREILLE
*Cassie? Cassie! Are you allowed to do that?*
Cassidy closed her eyes and counted to ten to stop herself from throwing the weeding claw at the Sceltie. All she wanted was an hour to work in the garden while she answered some of Reyhana’s questions. “Yes, Vae. I’m allowed to do this. I’m fine.”
*Gray? Is Cassie allowed to do that?*
“Isn’t she supposed to listen to you?” Reyhana whispered.
“She’s a Sceltie,” Cassidy grumped. “She doesn’t listen to anyone.”
“She listens to Prince Gray,” Reyhana pointed out.
And that particular alliance of Warlord Prince and Sceltie had been an unrelenting pain in the ass ever since Lucivar, Karla, and the rest of the Blood from Kaeleer left two days ago. The biggest difference between dog and man was that Vae never stopped yapping at her unless she was sitting or sleeping, and Gray wouldn’t speak to her. Hadn’t said one single word to her after Karla said she was well enough to leave her room in the boardinghouse. But he was always nearby, watching everything she did. Judging everything she did.
*Gray? Should I nip?*
“No,” Cassidy said, dropping the weeding claw and rising from the spot she and Reyhana had been weeding. “You should not nip. Gray, tell her!”
There was a wild look in Gray’s green eyes, a look that hadn’t been there before she collapsed. This wasn’t the boy who had been damaged by torture and frozen emotionally and mentally. And it was more than the man Gray had been becoming since she’d met him. This was a sharp-tempered stranger who was pissed off with her but refused to discuss the reason for his anger.
Well, fine.
No, not fine.
“Gray, I’d like a word with you,” Cassidy said, heading away from the rest of the men who were hovering in the garden, standing guard over her. When he didn’t move, she snarled, “Jared Blaed, attend!”
That got his attention. His eyes blazed hot as he strode to where she waited, and it took everything in her not to back down in the face of what was heading toward her.
Warlord Prince. Most of the time it was easy to forget Gray belonged to that caste of males. She never forgot what kind of man she was dealing with when she was around Theran or Talon or Ranon, but caste hadn’t been the dominant psychic scent when she was with Gray. Until now.
“Do you think using my real name is going to intimidate me into doing what you want?” Gray snapped. “I’m not a child, Cassidy.”
She glanced at the other men. They were all paying attention to this little drama, so she kept her voice low. “I made a mistake, an error in judgment. It happens. I’m sorry it upset you—”
“An error in judgment.” His voice was hard as stone. “You almost kill yourself for no reason, and you think it’s nothing more than an error?”
He started to walk away. She grabbed his arm—then jerked her hand away in shock when he snarled at her.
“Gray, talk to me,” she pleaded.
“I have nothing to say.”
Her temper snapped. She could feel the heat of it rising through her body until she was sure her hair was going to stand on end like a fan of fire.
“If you’re not going to talk to me, then you damn well better talk to somebody because I’ve had enough of your temper and your silence.”
“Fine. I’ll do that.” As he walked away from her, Gray shouted, “Vae! You’re with me.”
“At least that will get both of you out of my hair,” Cassidy muttered as she stomped back to the garden.
Reyhana looked away, wrestled with a weed, and swore politely when the top of the plant broke off, leav
ing the tap root.
“You can’t pull the tap roots of those weeds out unless you do it after a soaking rain,” Cassidy said, kneeling beside the younger woman. “But you can use Craft to create a slick shaft around the root so you can pull it out.”
“Can you show me?” Reyhana asked.
“I can show you,” Cassidy replied, then added silently, Without those two yapping at me.
Ranon watched Gray head right for him. Prudence and training told him he should shield when another warrior came toward him in a way that screamed aggression. But this was Gray, so he held his ground until the other man took that last step and grabbed a fistful of his shirt.
“You guard her, Ranon,” Gray said, his voice so rough it was hardly recognizable. “You hear me? First Escort or not, Theran doesn’t care enough about her to do what’s right, so you guard her until I get back.”
“Where are you going?” Ranon asked.
Gray’s smile was razor-sharp. “I’m following my Queen’s command. I’m going to talk to somebody.”
*I will take care of Gray,* Vae said, using a private psychic thread aimed at him.
Ranon waited until Gray rounded the corner of the house. Then he rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. After days of observing Gray and Cassidy’s silent argument, he wanted to talk to someone too. But he’d have to wait until Gray returned—or until Talon rose this evening and could take over the watch. Then he would go to his grandfather’s house, and Yairen would make a brew of spiced whiskey and coffee, a drink the old man only made when men needed to speak to other men about difficult matters.
He had no right to interfere between a man and a woman, but Cassidy was also his Queen, and he needed guidance in order to walk this particular knife’s edge.
He crossed the yard and knelt on the other side of Cassidy, who ignored him and continued to explain to Reyhana something about drawing out the full root of a weed.
“Look,” Ranon said quietly, “you probably don’t want anyone with a cock within twenty paces of you right now.”
“That is correct,” Cassidy said, still not looking at him.