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No, Cassidy said Prince Ranon, I’e Let me deal with this, Queen to Queen
He struggled to pull back, struggled to obey Finally, Your will is my life
Words of surrender, of service
Having gotten that much of a concession from him, she kneould hold the other men back But she didn’t dare look at Gray because what she was picking up froood She could only hope that he wouldn’t do anything imprudent in the few minutes she needed to deal with Kermilla
As she walked out of the room, she brushed past Theran, who looked pale and dazed Until she dealt hatever trouble Kery to wonder how much Theran had heard, or if it was her temper or Ranon’s that had shocked hi; just watched as she led Kermilla to the smaller parlor that had become the “Ladies’ Room”
Theran stared at the beautiful young wonity as she followed Cassidy into the Ladies’ Rooular face with dainty features and expressive blue eyes
He felt a burn in his gut and a pull on his heart, and felt the breathless certainty that he had found the Queen he was meant to serve Now he understood why Archerr, Shaddo, and some of the other Warlord Princes were so enamored with Cassidy They’d been desperate to serve a Queen,any Queen, and had deluded the they felt that burn for Cassidy because they’d had no opportunity to choose between her and another But now he’d seen the Queen who should have come back with him, who could truly claim the loyalty of the men who formed the First CircleShe was the one he had hoped to find when he went to Kaeleer to beg Dae Dena Nehele
She was the answer to his hopes and dreams
A friend of Cassidy’s co visit, he hoped A lifetime visit, if he could convince the Lady to stay
“What are you doing here, Kermilla?” Cassidy demanded as soon as the other Queen shut the parlor door
“I came to see you,” Kere of being filled with an expression of wounded dignity that was as false as everything else about the woman
Cassidy wondered if Jhorured out by now that there wasn’t s that were directly related to Kerratification
Maybe that wasn’t fair After all, a flighty young Queen could mature into a solid ruler But Cassidy wasn’tfair anymore where Kermilla was concerned
“Why?” Cassidy asked
Kerhty?” twinkle wasn’t in her blue eyes “You didn’t answer my letters, so what choice did I have but to interrupt my own duties and come here?”
“I didn’t answer because I have nothing to say to you”
Kerift, Cassidy I need theover the court”
She hadn’t known she could be this furious, hadn’t known this ”
“You do! Queen’s gift—”
“Is agift, not an obligation And you didn’t take over a court fro Queen, Kermilla Youtook my court There’s a vast difference, and if you can’t see that I suggest you have so, hard boots that could leave an iood “The village treasury has the same amount of marks as when I came to Bhak A little more, in fact”
“But that’s thevillage treasury Every copper spent from there has to be reported to the Province Queen Those marks aren’t Queen’s income I have expenses, Cassidy”