“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.”