Shalador's Lady

She took another sip, then remembered the last thing she’d seen before the world had gone dark. “Gray. Is he all right? He must have been upset when I . . . fell.”



A strange look came into Karla’s eyes. “You woke up more than the land, Cassidy. Much more.”



Ranon cautiously approached the vegetable garden. He didn’t want to deal with Lucivar’s thunderous temper or Prince Aaron’s snarling restraint—or the worry he saw in Lord Burle’s eyes. And even though the boardinghouse’s grounds gave him plenty of room to maneuver, he didn’t want to be caught alone with the witch who had brought Cassidy’s family to Eyota. The Gray-Jeweled Queen was intimidating enough, but she had stayed inside with Cassidy. Surreal SaDiablo was a long step past scary as far as he and all the other men were concerned, andshe had been prowling the house and grounds—and the village.



Going down on one knee, he reached out to brush a fingertip over the leaves of one little plant. A strong, healthy plant growing vigorously now. All the plants in the garden were growing vigorously now—had started growing within hours of Cassidy’s collapse.



Gray had noticed the blood soaked into the ground, but the cuts on Cassidy’s palms hadn’t looked that deep, and Shira hadn’t thought Cassidy had lost enough blood to account for losing consciousness. Andnothing Shira or the Queens knew could explain what had drained Cassidy’s Rose Jewel to such a dangerous level so quickly.



If there had been some kind of attack, why hadn’t she called for help? And how could she have been attacked when he and the others had been standing right there? Gray was the first to realize something was wrong, had snatched her up and run into the boardinghouse. But they still didn’t know what had happened—or why.



Shira wouldn’t talk about the vision she’d seen, wouldn’t confirm if this was the danger that might have cost them the first Queen to give them hope since Lia.



Was this his fault somehow? Had he failed in his duties? How?How?



Ranon felt the other presence, picked up the psychic scent, and knew who was about to join him.



Theran gave them all cold silence, which was understandable since Daemon Sadi was holding him personally responsible for Cassidy’s well-being and Grayhaven hadn’t wanted her to come to Eyota in the first place. But Gray’s anger and distress was a hot, pulsing, living thing. Until they knew what was wrong with Cassidy, Gray was an unsheathed weapon, and no one knew the sharpness of that blade or how deeply it could cut.



He waited until Gray knelt beside him. Neither of them could resist coming out to this spot several times a day.



“They grew even more overnight,” Ranon said, keeping his voice quiet. “We’ll actually get a decent crop from this garden.”



“She can’t do it again,” Gray snarled. “This almost killed her.”



“I know that.” And he did. He also knew the Queens had looked upon this garden in shock initially, thenalmost understood how this had happened. Almost.



“Company,” Gray said, not turning his attention away from the plants.



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, Idon’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 heardanyone 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.”