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As entertaining as that hen you weren’t the huood look at these cottages and see if his idea would work

When he finished inspecting the second cottage, he stood out front, shaking his head and sht the horse and cart

“Thanks, boys,” he said as he cliiven the horse the signal to walk on Then they raced back to the stables, and he headed for a e elders

Kerotten around to shopping, but they’d still had a delightful afternoon once they’d met Garth and Brok, two Warlord brothers eren’thouse and talked and laughed for hours, while her two escorts sat at another table looking bored Having older, experiencedin the court meant she didn’t have to work as hard to rule her territory, but it was so much more work to hold their interest when she had to deal with the on to every word she said—and they werehers She’d felt that strange pull when she saw them—the same pull she’d felt when she first met Theran

Afterplans to meet up tomorrow to shop, she and Correne had returned to thefor her there But she’d had so much fun with her new boys, she really would pay attention this evening when Theran droned on about what Dena Nehele neededHe officially ruled the town, but he see as much as if she were already the Queen—without the cos on account against the tithes, but soht look in their eyes that meant these people didn’t kno to show their loyalty to a Queen any more than the people in sheep-shit Bhak did Which was fine for Freckledy—she had never had any style—but not for a Queen anted to be recognized in aristo social circles

Kermilla opened her door and froze

That du a bottle of scent Ker the bottle—and frowning

“What in the na?” Kermilla demanded She strode over to the dresser and yanked the bottle out of Birdie’s hand

“Cleaning the roo a step back

“I told you before I don’t like s smeared with someone else’s psychic stink,” Kermilla said, her voice cold and hard “You use Craft to raise everything on the dresser and tables when you dust the”

“But I only wear the White, Lady,” Birdie said “I only use Craft to help with heavy lifting and the like, so I’m not drained when my work is done Lady Cassidy—”

“I’ as you work in this house, you’ll do things the ant theh your head, the only way you’ll earn a living is by using what you’ve got between your legs! Is that clear enough?”

“But—”

One word Kere—and no White-Jeweledservant could be allowed to challenge the Queen

You’re still a guest here

Re temper and not power behind the open-handed slap The blow still knocked Birdie to the floor

“Get out of my room,” Kermilla said

Whiot to her feet and stumbled from the rooirl probably didn’t knohat that small, paper-thin stone disk on the bottom of the bottle meant, but Kermilla was certain Theran would be furious if he discovered how she was stretching her income