The Queen's Price

EIGHTY-ONE

Daemon took his position in the great hall, prepared to welcome whichever youngsters chose to return.

He wasn’t surprised when Daemonar walked in, since Lucivar had given him a psychic tap the moment the Coach had set down on the landing web.

“Father wants to know if you bought some sheep for the Scelties,” Daemonar said.

“Those are rolly sheep, not real sheep. They used to live in the attic.”

“Okay. So no one is going to get upset about Jaalan playing stalk and pounce with them?”

Daemon shook his head. “Not unless he pounces on a sheep a Sceltie is riding at the time.”

Daemonar stepped up to him. “Uncle Daemon, we’ve only been gone a week.”

“I know that, boyo.” He smiled. “I’ve missed you.”

“Good to know.”

“Grizande?”

Daemonar grinned. “She’s been working on reading and speaking the common tongue, she prefers baking to cooking—I think it’s because she can pounce on dough and pummel it—and she had weapons practice with the men every day.”

Lucivar walked in—alone. Daemonar excused himself and went over to greet Holt and Mikal.

“Zoey just arrived, so Titian is outside talking to her,” Lucivar said as he walked up to Daemon.

“And our Tigre?”

“She pounced on something that looked like a sheep, which rolled down a hill with Liath running after it.” Lucivar studied him. “How are you, old son?”

“I’m all right.”

“Are you?” A soft question that deserved truth.

“For a while longer.”

Lucivar released a breath. “Then let’s make the days count.”

Daemon smiled. “Yes. Let’s do that.”

They turned and stood shoulder to shoulder, and waited for the children to arrive.

The Warlord Princes came in first—Raeth, Trent, Caede, and Jarrod. They had a different look in their eyes when they walked in this time, a different understanding of why they were here and what they would learn.

They bowed to Daemon and Lucivar, then hurried to greet Daemonar.

Zoey and Titian came in next, smiling and holding hands, followed by Kathlene and Felisha. He’d already been told that Azara wouldn’t be returning, that she wasn’t emotionally ready for this unconventional training of Queens and courts. He didn’t doubt the truth of that, since the reports he’d received indicated that she was swayed by any loudly spoken opinion. But more likely, after seeing how he and Lucivar had responded to Cara’s part in causing trouble for the other children, she was simply too frightened to return and deal with him. She would have a better chance of growing into a good—or at least adequate—Queen if her training continued somewhere else.

Jhett and Arlene came next. Arlene gave him a quick bow, then headed for Nadene. Jhett gave him a look that bristled with energy and hope. Yes. The young Black Widow would need delicate training. He might invite Karla to spend a few days at the Hall to assist with that. Maybe in the future, Jhett would benefit from spending some time at Ebon Askavi. But for now, he would pass along the knowledge and training that he had acquired from the most brilliant Black Widows in the Realm—his father and his Queen.

None of Dinah’s friends returned, which didn’t surprise him. As for the rest of the children, some arrived eager to resume their lessons—and some returned because their parents wanted them there.

And some people . . .

Daemon sighed when Brenda and Raine walked into the great hall. He’d known she’d be back. After all, she’d convinced Shaye to stay here while she went away with Raine for a few days. He just wasn’t sure he was ready to deal with her. “Did you enjoy Amdarh?”

“It was grand,” Brenda replied. “So much to see and do!”

“We saw Lord Beron in a play and had dinner with him after,” Raine said.

“You’ve done well by him, and he knows it,” Brenda said.

He heard the message underneath her words. You can’t succeed with all of the children who come under your care, no matter how hard you try. But you do a grand job with the ones who fit your hand, no matter how they came to be family.

When it seemed like everyone had arrived, Beale started to close the door, then jerked back when Grizande and Jaalan rushed in.

“You have practice prey!” So much delight in those green eyes when she focused first on him and then on Lucivar. “Practice with bow on running prey?”

“I’ll think about it,” Lucivar replied.

“Grizande!” Jhett rushed up to her, then bent and gave the kitten a quick pat.

“Your rooms are ready,” Daemon said. “I will see you at dinner.”

They ran off, the Black Widow and the Tigre.

The great hall emptied until Daemon and Lucivar were the only ones left.

“Let’s take a walk,” Daemon suggested. “If we’re out on the grounds somewhere, we’ll be harder to find.”

Lucivar followed Daemon out the door. “You might also want to find a better hiding place than your study.”

Daemon just looked at him.

Lucivar returned the look. “The day it rains and the Scelties think to bring the rolly sheep inside . . .”

Daemon groaned. Then he looked at Lucivar and smiled. “I think Lady Brenda, being so wise and so familiar with sheep and Scelties, will be in charge of that.”

“You really are a bastard.”

“I am,” Daemon agreed.

And they laughed.