The Queen's Price

FORTY-TWO

The physical part of the new exercise seemed fairly simple. A basket of envelopes was delivered to the social room connected to the square of bedrooms where each group of youngsters resided. The Queen’s envelope had her name on it and the card inside informed her of the order of dominance among the Queens.

Everyone else took a card from a blank envelope and learned which Queen they were serving that day. They would report to that Queen when they gathered for breakfast, since each court would begin the day with their Queen.

“Kathlene is the ‘dominant’ Queen,” Zoey said, pressing a hand to her stomach. Before that disastrous house party, before she had been dosed with safframate, she would have seen this exercise as a challenge instead of something to fear. Now? She hated that she felt like such a coward about taking orders from someone—even someone like Kathlene, whom she liked and trusted in most ways. Titian looked at Zoey’s card. “Felisha is the ‘Province’ Queen, and you and Azara are ‘District’ Queens.”

“Who are you serving today?”

“Azara. I can talk to Uncle Daemon and see if he’ll let me switch.”

“No special treatment. The other girls resent me enough as it is.”

Arlene and Laureen were part of her court that day, so she had with her two friends whom she could trust. Three when she counted Allis. But Cara, who was also part of her court today, had been a good friend of Dinah’s. The girl hadn’t said anything, but the accusing looks she gave Zoey when she thought no one would notice scraped nerves that were already raw.

Jhett and Grizande approached the table with the basket. Titian handed Jhett the last envelope in the basket.

“I guess you have a different assignment,” Zoey said when Grizande looked at the empty basket.

“Simple learning,” Grizande replied.

Did she feel excluded? Did it sting to be left out—or was Grizande used to that?

“I’m with Kathlene today,” Jhett said.

Titian put an arm around Zoey’s waist—all the warmth and comfort she’d have today.

As they left their square of rooms, subdued and uncertain about what was ahead of them, Daemonar stepped into the corridor. With his longer stride, he easily caught up to Zoey and Titian.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Zoey snapped. “I’m fine.”

Daemonar huffed. “You’re pale and sweating. You get any finer, you’ll spend the day in Lady Nadene’s healing room dosed with a sedative.”

Zoey shuddered at the idea of being dosed with anything.

“Don’t pester her,” Titian said. “Uncle Daemon is being mean making us do this.”

“You haven’t done anything so far.”

If Titian started defending her and snapped at Daemonar, they’d both be in trouble again. “Prince Yaslana, please leave us alone. I can’t deal with you now.”

Daemonar took a step to the side and let them continue alone.

Daemonar watched Zoey and the other girls, and was aware of Grizande coming to stand beside him.

“Zoey Queen is much—is very—afraid,” Grizande said. “ ‘Very’ is right word?”

Daemonar nodded. “That is the right word. And yes, Zoey is very afraid. Too much afraid.”

“Why we not part of this learning?”

She sounded a bit . . . snarly . . . that she wasn’t included—and that made him smile. “I don’t know. We’re to report to Prince Sadi after breakfast. You can ask him then.”

Daemon wasn’t sure how to read Daemonar’s mood, but Grizande was fairly exercised about something, and if he didn’t want his blackwood desk used as a scratching post, he needed to make an effort to find out what had rubbed her the wrong way.

Daemonar nudged Grizande. “You first.”

“Why we not included in learning?” she asked.

Maybe it was meant to be a polite question, but her green eyes had that predator’s stare and her hands kept flexing, giving him glimpses of her claws.

“If important enough for Queens, we should learn,” she continued.

“You and Daemonar aren’t included because you’ve already experienced what these lessons are attempting to teach the other youngsters,” Daemon replied. “Also, you both are already under the hand of a powerful Queen, and you answer to her. It would be difficult for you to work with another Queen in the way these lessons are intended. Besides, I would like you to focus on learning the common tongue so that you can speak it, read it, and write it. I’d also like you to learn to ride a horse. Queen Grizande and Prince Elan were excellent riders and went out riding with the Lady whenever they visited the Hall. You can be just as good.”

“You should learn to ride a horse,” Daemonar said.

Grizande growled. “Have feet. Can walk.”

“And I can fly. It’s still a good idea to learn to ride a horse—especially kindred horses.”

“That . . . ?” She made a gesture that didn’t need words. Mountain.

“The other horses are smaller,” Daemon said dryly.

“Huh.”

“You should report to Prince Raine. He has assignments for both of you.” When neither of them moved away from his desk, he sat back. “Something else?”

“Zoey is afraid,” Daemonar said.

“Of what?” Daemon asked softly.

“Not sure, but she needs watching, because something about this exercise has her by the guts.”

“All right.”

“Maybe not trust other Queens to give safe orders,” Grizande said. “And afraid because friends are gone.”

“The friends who aren’t with her during the day will be around in the evenings,” Daemon pointed out.

Grizande shook her head. “Allis tells Jaalan and Liath that Zoey Queen is afraid that Allis will be taken away. Allis is protector and friend.”

So, Daemon thought. Whatever was suppressed during Zoey’s physical recovery is surfacing now. He’d have to inform Zhara about this development.

“A court is not a static thing,” he said. “People serve for a while and then leave, and new people take their place. A Queen who is always afraid of new people, who can’t trust her instincts, will end up being unable to rule at all. I’ll inform the instructors that Zoey may need help. You’re outside of these exercises, but your own tasks will bring you in contact with the other youngsters throughout the day. If either of you notice Zoey being too afraid, tell me or any of the senior staff or instructors. They’ll step in and get her out of the exercise. And Lord Weston will always be nearby when the children aren’t in a classroom with an instructor.”

“Yes, sir,” Daemonar said. A beat of hesitation. “Zoey might not be the only one who has trouble.”

“If you notice anything that pricks your instincts, let me know. Otherwise, the two of you have your own assignments, and Prince Raine is expecting you.”

As soon as the two youngsters left, he requested Brenda’s presence.

“Lots of pale faces at the breakfast table.” She checked the time on her pocket watch before sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk. “This lot is acting like foals spooking at shadows and laundry on the line. I saw the list of assignments for the day, and I know for a fact that juvenile Scelties are given similar assignments during their training at the school, may the Darkness have mercy on the poor humans who are on the receiving end of those queries. So I’m thinking it’s the strangeness of it—or maybe Lady Surreal showed them all a little too well what could happen if they aren’t smart and careful.”

He hadn’t considered that, and he should have since Lucivar had said something similar about Surreal’s lesson.

“Still,” Brenda continued, “if you don’t get back up on a horse after taking a fall, you will never learn to ride, and you’ll never trust yourself and your horse if you’re faced with a situation where you have to take a risk.”

“Speaking of horses, I’d like Grizande to learn how to ride. Is that something you could help with?”

“If she’s willing to learn, I can teach her—especially since you have kindred horses here.” She waited. “Anything else?”

“Zoey.”

Brenda nodded. “You can’t be asking Allis to step aside when her human needs her so much, but I can see how the other girls might think they’re being slighted a bit by not having one of the kindred in their courts. You’ve plenty of Scelties here at the present. Ask them to help the young Queens.”

Daemon felt a tickle in his throat. “Not Liath.”

“Oh, Hell’s fire, no. A Green-Jeweled Warlord Prince? You can’t put him in the mix any more than you can put Daemonar—and for the same reasons. That kind of strength doesn’t put up with these kinds of exercises for long. Too bossy, for one thing, and not inclined to follow orders from anyone who doesn’t outrank them.”

“Well, if all the Queens have a Sceltie in their courts, Zoey won’t be singled out.”

Brenda gave him a smile that was too knowing. “That’s not the lesson, as you’re well aware. Human or sheep, a Sceltie herds. And Queen or ewe, if she strays from what is deemed proper, she will get nipped one way or another.”

He quietly cleared his throat. “We should both get on with our work.”

“Indeed we should.”

As she opened his study door, she pulled out her pocket watch and checked the time—and he wondered if he would ever have balls enough to ask her why she did that.

Each Queen had seven people in her court, plus two maids and two footmen to fetch and carry or to deliver messages.

At Kathlene’s command, the Queens and their courts assembled in the Hall’s main library—and stared at the books piled on the library tables and on the floor. Only one section of the library, thank the Darkness, but still!

“What happened?” Zoey asked the question before remembering she didn’t want to call attention to herself.

“Prince Sadi is entertaining a guest from a prominent aristo family, and she selected a few books to read while she is recovering from her arduous journey,” Kathlene replied, her stilted speech making it clear that she was repeating what she’d been told.

Raeth stared at the empty shelves. “She had to pull this many books off the shelves in order to find a few books? Who is this woman?”

Zoey, along with everyone else, turned to look at the servants standing behind them, waiting for their instructions.

The servants exchanged looks before Neala, one of the girls from Scelt, said, “We haven’t seen her, but those who have say she’s fearsome and tends to speak her mind, regardless of who is in the room.”

“So.” Kathlene’s voice called their attention back to the Queen they were supposed to be serving that day. “I’ve been given a list of tasks, including restoring the library to its proper order. My court will take on that task, in case Lady Dumm or one of her companions returns for more selections.”

“Dumm?” Trent said. “That’s her name?”

Kathlene nodded.

“I’ve never heard of anyone by that name,” Azara said. “If she’s from such a prominent family, why haven’t we heard of her?”

“Maybe she’s from another Territory,” Jhett said.

“Well, we’ll find out tomorrow,” Kathlene said. “I was told Lady Dumm prefers to ride in an open carriage and will be enjoying the air around the estate as well as going to Halaway.”

“If she has companions, they may prefer to ride horses,” Zoey said, unable to stop herself from trying to help.

Kathlene nodded. “I wasn’t informed if she has any companions with her, but that’s a good point. Lady Zoela, please inquire at the stables about the availability of a carriage as well as riding horses for the guests. Felisha, we have to check with the estate’s farm and find out what is available, and then consult with Mrs. Beale about what she might need from the shops in Halaway in the way of foods she will have to purchase.”

“Consult?” Felisha’s voice rose in pitch. “With Mrs. Beale?”

Kathlene hesitated.

“Ask the Dharo Boy,” Titian said. “He’s Mrs. Beale’s primary assistant. He could check the menus for Prince Sadi’s table.”

Kathlene nodded. “Yes. Felisha, you can check with him instead.”

“Thank the Darkness,” one of the boys muttered.

Zoey wasn’t sure who had said it, but she was certain they were all thinking it.

Kathlene continued with the assignments. “Azara, you and your people will check with the gardeners. I was told Lady Dumm requires fresh flowers in her room every day, and we need to find out what is available from the Hall’s gardens. Is there a greenhouse here?”

“There is,” Titian replied.

“I’ll check what’s available there too,” Azara said.

“Then let’s get started,” Kathlene said.

The stable master stared at Zoey and growled, “Lady Dumm, is it? She’s back?”

“Back?” Zoey hadn’t considered that Lady Dumm might have visited the Hall before.

“I wasn’t stable master then, but I well remember her.”

Who is she? What’s she like? Which family does she come from?

Not questions a Queen could ask a stable master, but if someone in her court were to show some curiosity? *Caede? Could you . . . ?*

The Warlord Prince didn’t look at her, but he dipped his head in the slightest nod.

“We have a carriage the Lady can use, and horses who will pull it,” the stable master said.

“Riding horses for her companions?” Zoey asked.

“Companions? She brought companions?”

Hell’s fire, the man looked ready to chew nails—and Zoey wondered if, with an unintended bit of Craft, a person could set his own hair on fire through the sheer heat of temper. “We’re not sure. I was asked to see if horses would be available.”

After an excruciatingly long time, the man finally nodded. “Best to plan on her companions not having much experience on a horse. I’ll see about having a few available who won’t be inclined to toss an ill-mannered rider into the trees—or into the lake. Best to find out if Lady Dumm’s companions know how to swim.”

“Thank you for the information,” Zoey said weakly. “I will inquire if Lady Dumm’s companions are partial to swimming.”

Zoey and her court, except for Caede, left the stables and slowly headed for the Hall. He caught up a couple of minutes later.

“He wouldn’t say much,” Caede told them. “Just that the last time she’d been here was when Prince Sadi’s father was the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan.” He blew out a breath. “Something is going on. He’s acting displeased about giving her access to some of the horses, but he’s . . . amused.”

“If she was around when Prince Sadi’s father lived at the Hall, then she’s from a long-lived race,” Laureen said.

“Or she’s demon-dead,” Arlene said.

When she reached the Hall, Zoey dismissed her court except for Caede, who was standing as her escort since he was the Warlord Prince with her that day. She reported to Kathlene, who called in a pen and paper and made careful notes about the information the other Queens were bringing back with regard to Prince Sadi’s mysterious guest.

Having completed her assignment, Zoey went back to her room to rest. A few minutes later, Arlene and Laureen tapped on her door.

“I received permission from Lady Nadene to make this soothing tonic anytime one of us needs it,” Arlene said.

“You think I need it?” Zoey asked. Did she appear brittle? Fragile?

“Maybe you don’t, but I do,” Laureen said.

The pot held enough for three mugs of the soothing tonic. She wasn’t being singled out as unable to cope.

“That was odd, having all of us go down to the stables to ask a question that one of us could have asked,” Laureen said. “Then again, the way the stable master reacted to hearing Lady Dumm was back made me glad I wasn’t on my own.”

Yes, Zoey thought. I’m not alone. And Allis wasn’t concerned. I’m safe. Even if someone else has control, I’m still safe.

After dinner that evening, Brenda summoned a select group of servants to one of the smaller libraries in the Hall.

“Here’s the way of it,” she said. “I’m sure you’ve been hearing about Lady Dumm, Prince Sadi’s mysterious guest.” She waited for their nods of agreement. “Well, she’s meant to be an exercise for the youngsters who are training to serve in courts. Now, I chose you lot because you already had some experience serving in aristo houses before coming here, so you’ve had a chance to observe bad manners and bad habits and unsavory behaviors that a Queen would either have to tolerate from someone who outranked her or have to take a stand against.”

Brenda called in a box with a slit in the lid. She also called in small sheets of paper, and pencils of varying lengths. “Lady Dumm needs to acquire some manners, habits, and behaviors to go along with her inclination to offer opinions about anything and everything. Write down suggestions based on what you’ve seen aristos do and put the suggestions in the box. I’ll collect them in a couple of hours. That will give me time to put the finishing touches on Lady Dumm before she’s introduced to the Hall’s residents tomorrow.”

Brenda left the room, then checked her pocket watch. Two hours was enough time. Guests at the Hall would be on their best behavior around the senior staff or the Prince’s family, but around younger servants? She’d wager they’d seen, heard, and smelled plenty of things that aristos wouldn’t dream of doing around anyone who could further their ambitions.

Tomorrow Lady Dumm would make her first appearance.

She wondered if the Hall’s cellars contained any alcohol of sufficient strength to fuzz the nerves of a Black-Jeweled Warlord Prince. She had a feeling Prince Sadi would need it.