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“It’s all right” Dae pat

“Dinner is alured a few people would want to turn in early tonight, so dinner is being served early too”

“A good decision on her part,” Daemon said “Come on, Gray Maybe some food will help”

Help what? He’d have to chew it, wouldn’t he? What help was that?

“Gray?”

“In a ive me another minute”

Gray pushed hi the blanket as it slid off his legs He still felt tired, but he wasthat minute to rest before dinner

“Good evening” Dae and set it on the table next to his chair

“Guess I’y” Gray tried to tidy his hair by running his fingers through it “I didn’t see you there Is it time for dinner?” He looked to one side, then the other “Wasn’t I sitting in a chair before? How did I end up on the sofa?”

“Boyo, it’s closing in on o You’re on the sofa because Lucivar and I couldn’t keep you awake long enough to get you any farther We figured you’d sleep just as well there as anyplace else we could carry you”

Gray braced his head in his hands Weeks of studying, working, traveling to the Keep and to SaDiablo Hall for training “I failed, didn’t I?”

“You didn’t re able to insist on rest breaks, but I figure you’ll learn that Protocol fast enough for self-preservation if for nothing else As for the rest, Lucivar and I agree that the only thing you’re lacking is the finesse that co beside your Queen”

Gray raised his head “Really?”

Daemon smiled “Really In fact, I have this for you” He called in a sheet of paper and used Craft to float it over to Gray “The High Lord wrote it out, so you can be sure the Protocol is exact for retiring athat title—and the duties that go with it—to someone else”

He stared at the words but didn’t try to read them “When do you think Theran will tell Cassie?”

“The first day of Winsol is a week from now Unless he’s a complete bastard, he’ll wait until the celebration is over and people are settling into the routine of winter days He can’t waitthe men ill form a First Circle, but the ht be interested in serving Ker to know about it—and Cassie will hear about it That’s whenshe shouldto stay or leave After that, a lot depends on which Queen the other Queens and Warlord Princes are willing to have rule over their lives” Daemon stood up “Come on We’ll waret a bit ” He paused “My advice is to forget about all of this and enjoy the days of Winsol”

Gray’s stoh to be enthusiastic about food

“There is one other piece of advice I could use,” he said

Daemon raised an eyebrow “And what is that?”