Shalador's Lady

Jaenelle was the only person who might be able to challenge Draca’s decision and overrule the Seneschal about who could or couldn’t use the Gate. Since she seemed to have no objection, the rest of them backed away from any criticism they might have had.



“How many men are in Kermilla’s First Circle?” Karla asked.



“Twelve.” Sabrina stared at Karla. “She had the same twelve men who had been Cassidy’s First Circle.”



Karla’s lips curved in a wicked smile. “Then Kermilla’s court is broken, isn’t it?”



“Technically, yes,” Saetan said. “But no court that’s sound breaks because of a death, even when there aren’t more than twelve males in the First Circle. The court continues for a few days, sometimes even weeks, while the Queen considers the men in the Second Circle and decides who will be invited to fill the opening in the First Circle.”



“I don’t think she has a Second Circle, Uncle Saetan,” Sabrina said. “The First and Second Circles are paid with the Queen’s tithes. Cassidy didn’t need more than her First Circle to work exclusively on the court’s behalf, so she didn’t have anyone in her Second Circle except youngsters who were with her for training and court polish. I know she paid them because Darlena, the Province Queen who rules that part of Dharo, had been impressed by Cassidy’s generosity as well as by the number of requests she received from youngsters of all castes who were willing to serve in a small village court because of that generosity. Darlena also noticed how many of those youngsters retracted their requests when they learned that Kermilla now ruled Bhak instead of Cassidy. So I don’t think the current Queen of Bhak has anyone who can fill the vacant place in her court.”



“Which means the court is broken,” Aaron said.



“Not yet,” Jaenelle said quietly, looking at Sabrina.



Sabrina tipped her head. “If her court doesn’t tell me, I can pretend not to know.”



Aaron swore but did nothing else because he, like the rest of them, knew there was a reason Jaenelle wanted some things to be ignored.



Even if she chose not to tell any of them the reason.



“There was an interesting miscalculation when the summer tithes for Bhak and Woolskin were sent to Darlena’s Steward,” Sabrina continued. “It was swiftly corrected, but Gallard had never made that kind of miscalculation when he served Cassidy.”



“Tried to short the Province Queen of her rightful share of the tithes?” Khary asked.



Sabrina’s smile was sufficient answer. “I think my Steward and Darlena’s should personally collect the autumn tithes from a few of the District Queens and review their court accounts.” She looked at Jaenelle. “Don’t you think? That would be a fair warning to a Queen who had been granted a provisional year to prove herself—especially if she truly wanted to retain those villages as her territory.”



“Who gives a piss about being fair?” Lucivar growled.



Saetan felt his temper rise, but before he could respond, Daemon said mildly, “We all give a piss about being fair when it buys needed time.”



Lucivar stopped prowling and stared at Daemon. “Oh.That kind of being fair. All right, fine. But someone should still go to Dena Nehele and explain to that bitch that a young Warlord can’t be snatched off the street just because he has four legs and fur.”



“That’s been taken care of,” Jaenelle said.



“By who?” Lucivar demanded.



“By someone who can explain things even better than you.” Jaenelle smiled at Lucivar.



Lucivar took a step back and resumed his prowling.



After a few moments of uneasy silence, Khary said, “There might not be much we can do about Kermilla right now, but I can go to Eyota tomorrow and bring Khollie home.”



“I don’t think you can take Khollie anywhere without a fight,” Jaenelle said.



Khary gave Jaenelle, then Morghann, a hard stare. “He’s delicate. You bothknow that. And Ranon didn’t want him in the first place.”



“What was true then isn’t true now. Ranon needed some time to gain clarity in his feelings.”



Khary made a rude noise. “He’s—”



“One of us,” Jaenelle said quietly.



Silence as the men took a long moment to assess the implications of that statement.



One of us,Saetan thought. Those three words told him a great deal about Ranon—and explained even more why Jaenelle had avoided telling him any details about her meeting with the Shalador Warlord Prince. Damned hard to insist that you were a “former” ruler when a newly met Warlord Prince recognized a bond with you that could hold him.



When Gray had recognized her asthe Queen, Jaenelle had slid around facing the truth that she wasn’t a former anything by arguing that Gray was confused by his developing sense of being a Warlord Prince. But there was nothing wrong with Ranon that she could use as an excuse.



Which made this particular meeting even more interesting.



“What Circle?” Khary finally asked.



“Second,” Jaenelle replied.



Meaning, if the Dark Court still officially existed, Ranon would have been accepted into the Second Circle. Not as intimate a companion as someone in the First Circle, but those who served in the Second were still close enough—and trusted enough—for confidential assignments and direct service to the Queen.



“And Gray?” Daemon asked.



“Second Circle,” she said.



Anger still smeared the room, but it no longer had heat or teeth.



“So that’s it then,” Aaron said.



“Not quite. I received this letter from Cassidy a couple of days ago, before the attempted abduction,” Jaenelle said. She called in another letter and handed it to Khary.



By the time Khary got halfway through the first page, his mouth was hanging open. “Payment for work?They’re getting paid to herd sheep? ”



“Three coppers a day,” Jaenelle said cheerfully. “Wynne and Duffy are also maintaining the spells on the cold boxes and hot water tanks for the landen community and get three coppers a week for each household.”



Since Khary seemed frozen, Aaron snagged the second page. “Oh, Mother Night. Two of them are working in a children’s play area.”



Sabrina snorted, then had to call in a handkerchief to blow her nose.



Morghann twisted in her chair so she could read the other side of the page. “They call Lloyd and Kief the silver twins. And the boys are working in the stables. That’s good. They like horses.”



“I guess I understand the Scelties wanting to learn about being paid for work, but what are they going to do with the money?” Daemon said. “Save up their coppers to buy their own little steading and a small flock of sheep?”



Morghann and Jaenelle looked at Daemon. Just looked at him. And then they smiled.



Lucivar caught Khary before he landed on the floor, and Saetan watched Daemon—his brilliant, lethal son—turn pale. Probably at the thought of someday having to negotiate a business deal with a Sceltie.



*Coward,* Saetan said on a Black spear thread.



Daemon gave him a sideways look.



“It’s not that bizarre,” Jaenelle said. “Ladvarian and I own the little cottage and acreage where he trains other Scelties.”



“What?” Khary yelped.



“What?” Daemon whispered.



Jaenelle looked at Khary. “I thought you knew that. Morghann, didn’t you know that?”



“I did, yes,” Morghann replied. “But it seemed best not to mention that bit of paperwork.”



Jaenelle patted Daemon’s thigh. “Ladvarian and I have owned that property since before you and I got married, so I never thought to mention it. Besides, having that place is so much better than having a dozen Scelties living with us whenever we’re in Maghre.”



“Yes, that’s so much better.” Daemon looked a little woozy.



“The relationship between Scelties and humans is too well established in Scelt,” Morghann said. “And not all Scelties want to change the relationship they already have with humans. But in a new land, there would be opportunities the Scelties couldn’t explore as easily here.”



Everyone looked around the room without quite looking at one another.



“Are we done?” Karla asked Jaenelle. “Because if we’re done, I’d like some help in figuring out how to turn a mauve cat back into a white cat.”



“Draca is serving a late supper in about an hour,” Saetan said.



“That should be enough time,” Jaenelle said.



For what?Saetan wondered. But it wasn’t a question he would ask because his darling girls might tell him.



The Ladies left the room, leaving the men to collapse into chairs, not sure if they should be scared or pissed off, or should laugh like fools.



The room held nothing but a blissful, and exhausted, silence for several minutes.



“Can you stay for supper?” Daemon asked Lucivar.



“No choice,” Lucivar growled. “Marian said if I want to stay married, I’m going to stay out for the whole evening.”



“You have been a bit too possessive lately.”



“Maybe. She says she’s fine.”



“What does the Healer say?”



“Nurian also says Marian is fine, so she’s fine. Everyone is supposed to be fine. Well, I’mnot fine. She scared the shit out of me with that miscarriage.” Lucivar snarled. “Next thing she’ll be wanting sex again.”



“They do that,” Aaron said sympathetically while Khary nodded. “They do.”



“Well, then . . .” Saetan began.



Bang!



They all straightened up and looked toward the door.



“What was that?” Daemon asked.



“Sounded like something blew up,” Lucivar replied. “What kind of spell were the girls trying to fix?”



They all looked at him.



“No,” Saetan said firmly. “If you want to find out, you go ahead. I am not leaving this room.”