Shalador's Lady

by Bishop, Anne

  “Ranon,” Ferall said quietly. Then he studied Gray. “Jared Blaed.” Finally he looked at her. “Hikaeda and I are here on behalf of the Warlord Princes in our Province to wish you a Happy Winsol—and to thank you for the books. It means a lot to all of us to receive such a gift.”

  “You’re very welcome, gentlemen,” Cassidy said, smiling. “Could I offer you some refreshments?”

  “Thank you for the offer, but with your consent, we’d like to visit the main street and the shops there,” Ferall said. “Have a couple of special gifts to buy this year.”

  The words sounded simple enough, but Cassidy heard uneasiness in his voice. Almost fear. As if he’d just revealed something terribly important and terribly fragile, and he was waiting to see how she would respond.

  She smiled. “Then I won’t delay you any longer. I’ve gone shopping with my father when he wanted a special gift, so I know how long it can take a man to choose the right one.”

  Smiles and chuckles all around.

  “Jared Blaed and I could use some exercise, so we’ll walk over with you,” Ranon said casually.

  You need some what? Cassidy almost blurted out. Then she realized it wasn’t casual at all, and felt insulted on behalf of the men who had come here in good faith.

  She rounded on Ranon. “I’m sure Prince Ferall and Prince Hikaeda don’t need your escort for a little shopping.”

  “In point of fact, Lady, we do,” Hikaeda said.

  She turned back to her guests, surprised to hear Hikaeda defend Ranon.

  “When a Warlord Prince comes into a village, it makes people nervous,” Ferall said. “And they have good reason to be nervous. We are what we are, Lady Cassidy. Predators. Killers.”

  “It’s customary to give a Warlord Prince a local escort,” Hikaeda said. “It tells the people he isn’t there to hunt. Makes it easier for everyone.”

  “I see.” Was that true in Kaeleer as well? She didn’t remember her First Circle offering escort to a Warlord Prince when one of them came to Bhak. Maybe she could ask her cousin Aaron if this was typical of all courts or just a Territory Queen’s. “In that case, I apologize for snapping at you, Ranon.”

  They all looked surprised that she would apologize at all, let alone in public.

  Suddenly she wanted them all gone so she could get a cup of spiced tea and think about all the undercurrents and unspoken messages that had filled this room in the past few minutes.

  “You might want to stop at Whistler’s Tavern at some point,” Cassidy told Gray. “I think they’re serving steak pie along with some traditional Winsol dishes.”

  Gray glanced at the other men. “I think we’ll do that.”

  “Gentlemen.” She tipped her head, a small courtesy bow to indicate respect. “Happy Winsol.”

  She walked back to the kitchen and found Shira and Reyhana sitting at the table with Devra and Maydra. All of them had cups of coffee, and there were two cookies left on a plate.

  “We saved these two for you,” Shira said.

  Cassidy took one and chewed slowly. “Maydra, could you make another batch of these?”

  “We’ve made enough for all the households to share, Daughter,” Devra said.

  “I’d like to send them to someone as a special gift,” Cassidy said.

  Maydra nodded. “We’ve got enough ingredients for one more batch. I can do that after dinner tonight. Didn’t make anything fancy for the evening meal, after all the baking this afternoon.”

  “Gray and Ranon are dining out with Ferall and Hikaeda,” Cassidy said. “And Powell is out this evening.”

  “Your father is going to eat with his apprentices so they can keep working for a few hours longer,” Devra said. “Since it’s just the women tonight, there’s no reason we can’t cook as we please.”

  Cassidy took the last cookie. “That’s settled then.”

  “A word with you, Cassie?” Talon asked.

  Cassidy turned away from the dining room. “Of course.”

  They went into the parlor. Now that they had privacy, he didn’t seem eager to speak.

  “You’ve got your family here for Winsol,” he finally said.

  She nodded. “My brother Clayton is coming tomorrow to be with us.”

  “You still have half the court here, so you’ll be looked after.”

  He was tiptoeing around something. “Talon, it’s Winsol. The next few days are social and fun. I don’t need looking after.”

  “There are some who do,” he said quietly. “I wanted your consent to be gone for a few days. Thing is, the mountain passes still need to be guarded, so there are still men in the rogue camps. Some of them are there because they see that as their duty to Queen and land. Some of them are there because they’d seen too much when the twisted Queens ruled here, and they haven’t found the courage yet to come down to the villages.”

  “Oh, Talon.” Cassidy’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Now, don’t be doing that, Cassie. Don’t. It’s not as bad as you’re thinking. And it’s better this year than it’s been in a long time. Thing is, I trained a lot of those boys, so I’ve always made it a point to spend a little time in each of those camps around Winsol Eve and Winsol.”

  “Then you should do that.” Cassidy blinked away the tears. “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? We could have done something for them.”

  “It’s been done. First Circle took care of it. Guess we should have told you, but you were already doing plenty.” Talon smiled. “Gray made up a bundle of books for each camp. Good entertainment on winter nights. Got new blankets and other supplies to pass out. Got baked goods and casseroles, fruits and coffee. Got a bit of a feast for each camp. They’ll already be making some of their own; this will add to it.”

  “I’m glad. Do you know how many men are still up there?”

  Talon shook his head. “Some went down to their home villages for a while, then went back into the mountains. I’ll have a better idea once I’ve seen the camps.”

  “You’ll leave tomorrow?”

  “As soon as the sun sets.”

  “Powell is out this evening, so I’ll talk to him tomorrow morning and see what can be spared from the tithes for quarterly wages.”

  “Wages? For what?”

  Cassidy lifted her chin. “You said they’re guarding the passes for Queen and land. To me that sounds like they work for the court. And if they work for the court, they get paid by the court.”

  “Cassie, that’s not why I told you.”

  “I know that, Talon. It doesn’t make it any less true. If this is the work they do, they will be paid. We may not be able to give them what they deserve—not yet, anyway—but those men will be acknowledged.”

  He stared at her for a long moment. Then he kissed her cheek and walked out of the room.

  She gave herself another minute to settle before joining the other women for dinner.

  CHAPTER 34

  KAELEER

  Daemon walked into the parlor where Jaenelle was tucking the last few presents under the tree before she created an illusion spell of the brightly wrapped boxes. Most, if not all, of those gifts would be going with her to the Keep this evening, so the illusion spell would maintain this room’s festive appearance.

  He would tuck his special gift for her among the rest once he joined her at the Keep tomorrow for the family’s celebration of Winsol.

  He held out a brown delivery box. “This came for you. Special delivery from Cassie.”

  “From Cassie?” Jaenelle put the last box in place, frowned a little, rearranged a couple more, then nodded, finally satisfied with the arrangement.

  Of course, if this package was supposed to go with the others, his darling wife could well pull them all out and start again.

  He might find that annoying if he didn’t suspect she was trying to figure out what the gifts were without using Craft to probe the packages.

  That was considered cheating.

  Besides, if challenged, he
would deny having done anything similar when he’d handled packages while putting his gifts under the tree.

  Jaenelle opened the delivery box and uncovered a note and a large bakery tin.

  “Chocolate chunk cookies,” she read. “Taste best when slightly warm.” She vanished the note, opened the bakery tin, and took a cookie.

  Daemon narrowed his gold eyes as he watched her slowly chew and swallow. Until now, the only time he’d seen that look on her face was when he was doing something especially pleasing with his hands or mouth.

  “Let’s see those.” He reached for a cookie.

  She hugged the tin, took a step back, and snarled, “Mine.”

  “Darling,” he purred, “you’re sharing.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you like having sex with me.”

  She watched him out of those sapphire eyes. “You think you can give me sex that’s as good as these cookies?”

  “I think I can manage that.”

  She put the last bite of cookie in her mouth. She chewed. Swallowed. Licked melted chocolate off her fingers.

  And gave him a smile that made his knees weak and his blood sizzle.

  “Did you have any plans for this afternoon?” she asked.

  “I don’t remember.”

  Her smile turned a bit feral and a whole lot hotter.

  She handed him the bakery tin, walked to the door, and said over her shoulder, “Why don’t you tell Beale we’re going to miss the midday meal?”

  He watched her walk out of the room and wondered when she’d learned to do that with her hips.

  “Why don’t I do that?” Since he needed a minute before he left the room, he ate a cookie. “Damn, they are good.” He studied the cookies—and smiled.

  They tasted best when warm? Well, he’d have to see how warm he could make it when he walked into the bedroom holding a bakery tin full of these cookies—and wearing nothing but black leather pants that fit like a second skin.

  TERREILLE

  Winsol. For the Blood it was the most important day of the year.

  For Theran, it was a bittersweet evening.

  He sat in a chair near the fire Julien had lit in the parlor, his socked feet resting on a stool. Watching the flames, he idly swirled brandy in a snifter.

  He’d enjoyed these past few days more than he’d expected. The first time he’d shown up at a social engagement without Kermilla, there had been an awkward silence, but word must have spread after that because none of his other hosts mentioned her absence. And because her absence meant he was free to travel to other towns, he’d spent some time with other Warlord Princes who had been friends in the rogue camps.

  The days leading up to Winsol had been full. He still missed Kermilla with an ache that made him feel hollowed out at times—even when he acknowledged to himself that she wouldn’t have enjoyed the parties half as much as he did, being used to things that were so much grander.

  If she’d asked him to spend Winsol with her in Dharo, he wouldn’t have hesitated. Would his clothes and manners have been that much of an embarrassment to her?

  Probably.

  She certainly would have been offended by the thought of sitting down with the servants for the Winsol feast. Since he couldn’t see the cook making a separate meal just for him, he’d asked Julien, Hanna, and the others to join him in the dining room and to set the table with whatever bits of fancy the butler and housekeeper could find. Despite the surroundings and a much better quality of food, sitting with them tonight had felt more like a Winsol dinner in the rogue camps—camaraderie and easy teasing between the adults and youngsters, and laughter. A great deal of laughter and the hopeful relief that the bad times were behind them.

  He enjoyed the meal and the chance to know them as people instead of just servants.

  But he still missed Kermilla. And Gray. Hell’s fire, he missed Gray. Not Gray as he’d been for the past ten years, but the youth he had been before he was captured and tortured. As he sipped his brandy and stared at the fire, Theran kept remembering that last Winsol when Gray was whole and happy—when one of them wasn’t weighed down by nightmares and the other by guilt.

  A tap on the parlor door before Julien stepped in. “Prince Talon is here and asked if you’re available to see him.”

  “Of course!” Theran set the brandy aside and pushed out of the chair. “Send him in.”

  “We don’t have any of that special wine,” Julien said. “Is there something else we can offer as refreshment?”

  Would Julien actually open a vein and mix his own blood with red wine to make yarbarah?

  Studying his butler’s face, Theran realized that was a distinct possibility. “Let me find out if he wants anything.” He paused, wondering if he was reading something in Julien’s voice that wasn’t really there. “I appreciate the offer.”

  Julien nodded and stepped out of the room.

  A minute later, Talon walked in.

  “Happy Winsol,” Talon said, giving Theran a hard hug and a smile.

  “Happy Winsol.” Theran grinned, delighted by this visit. “Come sit by the fire. I don’t think we’ll have more snow until morning, but the old men who have weather aches say no one will move far from their own doorstep tomorrow.”

  “They’re probably right,” Talon replied, taking a seat by the fire. “Plenty of snow up in the mountains this year.”

  “You were in the Tamanara Mountains?” Theran couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. Did Cassidy know her Master of the Guard was visiting the rogue camps?

  “I always visit the camps during the Winsol nights.” Talon gave him a sharp look. “You know that.”

  Of course he did. The past few years, he’d made those visits with the older man.

  “I didn’t think you’d have time for that this year,” Theran said. He didn’t add that, until tonight, he hadn’t thought about the men who had remained in the mountain camps.

  “I had time.”

  Made time is what Talon meant. Since he should have done the same, he changed the subject. “How’s Gray?”

  Talon smiled. “Boy’s got as much energy as a Sceltie, and he’s almost as good at herding.”

  Is she working him hard? Not a question he could ask out loud since Cassidy was a sore subject between them.

  Still smiling, Talon shook his head. “When he wasn’t working in the Queen’s gardens, he was overseeing the restoration of the small public gardens and parks in the village. Since Cassie, Shira, and Vae all insisted that he balance that with quiet work, Powell put him in charge of helping villages establish loaning libraries. I’ve never seen him happier.”

  “Won’t he miss having you with him for Winsol?” Theran asked.

  “Nah. Cassie’s parents and her brother are staying for Winsol. Along with the First Circle, he’s got plenty of people around him.” Talon gave him a long look, then asked quietly, “What about you? Why are you alone tonight?”

  “I’ve attended more parties, winter picnics, musical evenings, card parties, riding parties, you-name-it parties in the past six days than I’ve ever seen. I had a choice of attending four Winsol parties or having a quiet evening at home. I chose to stay home.”

  “And Kermilla?”

  He ignored the ache caused by the sound of her name. “She had Winsol commitments to fill in Dharo.”

  Cassidy’s court didn’t know that Kermilla was gone for good, and he wasn’t about to say anything that would lead Talon to think that. Besides, he didn’t know for certain she was gone for good. Correne’s death and the reason the little bitch had died had shaken Kermilla. It would have shaken any woman with a sensitive heart. Once she had some time away, she might realize that her influence as Dena Nehele’s Queen would curb the younger Queens and could prevent another tragedy like the one that had left a boy so horribly maimed.

  As pleased as he was to see Talon, it was unfortunate that Cassidy’s Master of the Guard had learned that Kermilla wasn’t currently in Dena Nehe
le. Without Kermilla’s presence, Cassidy would solidify her claim as Territory Queen next spring without a challenge. He still didn’t think she was the best Queen for Dena Nehele, so he saw no reason to surrender the field to her until he had no other choice.

  Talon stared at the fire, saying nothing. Then he shook himself out of whatever thoughts had pulled him away. “Didn’t intend to disturb your quiet evening. I just wanted to stop by and give you these.” He called in two wrapped packages, one large and one small.

  Theran’s face burned. With the way they’d parted, he hadn’t expected to see Talon or Gray, hadn’t expected to be remembered. So, feeling the pinch in his purse, he hadn’t bought anything for them. “Talon . . .”

  Talon waved a hand dismissively. “Freely given. Freely taken.”

  The words Cassidy used the first time she had offered Talon blood from her vein. Apparently the phrase was being used for other kinds of gifts as well.

  Setting aside the smaller gift, Theran opened the larger package, then exclaimed in delight as he lifted the winter coat out of the tailor’s box. He slipped it on.

  Talon nodded. “You and Gray are the same size, so we thought it would fit you. There are gloves in the box as well.”

  Theran found them and tried them on. Fine leather. Excellent workmanship.

  “I don’t know what to say except thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. The coat and gloves are from Gray and me. The other is from Cassidy.”

  Something burned in his throat as he removed the coat and gloves and carefully set them aside. He swallowed that burning and opened the other gift.

  “A book?” He opened it to the title page and stared.

  “She had the account of Jared and Lia’s journey made into books so that the people in Dena Nehele would know their story. She thought you should have one.”

  Theran closed the book. His fingers stroked the leather cover. “I’ll send a proper thank-you after the holidays, but please convey my thanks. This is . . . special.”

  “Well.” Talon pushed out of the chair. “I guess . . .”

  “Could you stay?” Theran set the book aside and looked at the man who had raised him.