The female rider ducked her head as she rode through the open manor house's gate, nodding at the guard. "I'm on messenger duty," she called. "Is your master here?" He nodded, sending a guard to get him for her. She stopped in the courtyard and slid down off her horse, patting her on the side of the neck. "Good girl. Thank you."

She looked at the amused looking older man coming out. She had met him many times in the last few years for just this sort of thing. This Lord of the Manor sat on her country's borders so it was a common messenger route. "My father bade me give you this so you can tell the other one the bad news for me. I would but I don't want yelled at right now."

She pulled a letter out of her bag to hold out, smirking slightly. She was swarthy skinned, longer brown hair that ran mostly straight over her shoulders. She wore very little jewelry and pretty plain clothes of good quality cloth. Well made boots. The horse wasn't hers, the lesser saddle showed that.

The man stared at her. "Legara, is it that bad of news?"

"Well, slightly." She grinned at the older man who huffed out. "Duke," she said with a nod and a grin. "Want to hear the bad news directly or read the future queen's snotty comments?"

"How bad?" he sighed.

"The Crown has Bonded your son to us."

He stared at him. "Of course it did," he sighed, taking the letter to read over. "She really is not pleasant," he muttered.

"No, she's not. Like my newest stepmother, she's not good for much." She leaned on the horse's side, looking behind her as a guard rode in. "Morning, Newfuir."

"Legara, why did you leave me behind?" he demanded.

"I didn't know I was supposed to bring you. Who sent you after me?"

"Your father. He wants you to take refuge here."

"He can kiss my behind," she said dryly. "I know exactly what's going on and I'll fix it when I get home." She looked at the other two, who looked amused at her being a self assured young woman. "Oh, no, I'm about to get a fourth stepmother and she's one of the new Consort's maidens of doom." She waved a hand slightly. "I'll hate that."

They smiled. "You can come running back here, Legara."

"Thank you." She looked at the duke, who still looked amused. "Anyway, your son's nice enough. Better than many of the squires. I'm pretty sure we both know why he was Bonded that way."

He nodded. "I'm aware of why, Legara. Is he safe?"

"That could depend on the new Consort. She's rather got the king by his manhood." He nodded once at that. "He may be very safe."

"Good. Tell him to write to me?"

"Of course." She smiled at him. "Let me go rescue my father and our home." She swung up into the saddle again, walking the mare around her guard. "Did you bring my mare? I know she threw a shoe yesterday."

"Yes," he said patiently. "That was dumb and unsafe, Legara."

She snorted. "Not like I don't train, Newfuir." He waved so she dismounted then went to find her mare. Who was still limping slightly. "Crap."

"Legara, take one of mine," the local lord ordered. "Leave yours here and bring mine back the next time. We can watch that and the messenger's horse you borrowed."

"Yes, sir." She walked her mare in there. "She's due to be bred this year."

"I'm sure she'll give great foals." He grinned and patted her on the cheek. "We enjoy them sending you to pass news, dear."

"I do try to be amusing at least." He laughed but got one of the guard's horses out to send her off again. She clearly had to go handle things as a heroine. The guard followed after nodding at them. He'd never catch up to a messenger's horse. That poor girl.

The duke grimaced. "That poor girl."

"At least she has her father's sense."

"True." He huffed. "My younger son will not be amused he's now the heir."

"I feel for him," the lord said, smiling at his old friend and liege. "I really do, sir."

He went to tell his family of that news. His wife was prone to wailing fits and this would probably be a prolonged one. The local Lord went to make notes in his journal for history studiers. They'd probably want to see how things had started.

***

Chapter 1

***

Legara rode into her family's home and dismounted, handing the reins to a stable boy. "She's borrowed, treat her well." He nodded, walking her off. She walked into the house. "I'm back," she called quietly.

Her maid rushed out. "Your father bade you stay there, Lady Legara!"

"I think not! I don't feel like that's a good idea. Especially since I have to gather things to do such." She went to her room to wipe down with a damp cloth and change clothes. "Pack all my things," she told the maid when she walked in. The girl pouted at her.

"Even if I don't leave, half of it doesn't fit anyway." She put something in her hair carefully then pinned it. She pinned the front of her hair back behind her ears then pulled the hood up to be secured on top of her head but sitting back. The maid was horrified. She stared at her. "I *am* my mother's daughter as well." She walked off after grabbing her ceremonial dagger, heading to find her father. He looked and gasped. "Father."

"You should not be wearing that!" he shouted.

"Yes, but I did inherit that from my mother as well." She stared at him. "Father, I must be blunt. You've been poisoned."

"I have not! You're not my daughter! I'll have other ones! I have the sons!"

"The sons aren't legitimate. Or old enough to hold the house. The new wife won't give you children. She's the one that's poisoned you." She stared at him. The woman in question sneered as she came in. She tried to cast but Legara was protected and it fell to the floor in a tinkling of broken air. "Really?"

The woman shrieked and attacked her so Legara stabbed her in the throat. "I do not believe you are good for this family, whore." She kicked her over, watching as she died. "As my Mother and Grandmother both bade me to live with the honor of this family, I will protect it from even your kind." She looked at her father again, who was looking horrified. "Yes, your mother. She charged me with keeping the family safe when my own mother died."

"You are not..."

"I am, Father. I'm my mother's daughter as well as your daughter. The Crown itself set you two up so I would be born apparently. I've heard from it since the day I came into being. I can tell the wrongness that's spreading." She walked over to her father, taking his necklace that held his seal off his throat to put on. "It's my turn now to protect the family."

"I..." He sniffled. "You are wrong, daughter."

"No I'm not."

"You are. The Crown has nothing..." He gasped and held his chest.

"You know he can hear you. He can hear the thoughts of feelings of every being Bound to the Kingdom. As you were; as I am. As my mother was as she was actually a given priestess to it." She smiled and patted his cheek. "She poisoned you, Father. I wish you health." She walked off, going to the basement's heir stone. She stepped onto it. "I am Legara, third Duchess of our Keep," she announced. It glowed. She put the seal on the stone and it opened to her. She bowed at the spirit floating out of the stone. "Grandfather."

"Legara." He stared at her. "Your father lives."

"He's poisoned. Mind poisoned by the whore he nearly gave me as a fourth stepmother." She grimaced. "He is not fit. Has not been since my mother died. His mother said so."

"I heard. She's right." He stared at her. "It's going to get messy and dangerous. He's spent the family poor."

"Grandmother wouldn't let him have most of the family's funds. He had to live on his birth dowry."

"I think it's good you actually read that and talked to her."

"Of course I did. I'm excellent at finding information out." She smiled. "Before you mention the half-brothers, they're not legitimate. They're not bonded to the family's stones."

"I know."

"I'll protect them and the other three stepmothers as well. Even though I don't get along with one of them."

"Good. He has your things and your mother's things ruined."

"I doubt that." She smiled and bowed. "Am I fit?"

"Yes, you are fit as our third Duchess in family history." He bowed back. "Go help the Crown, Daughter of the Line. He battles."

"Yes, Sire." She went up to save her things and her mother's books from the fire. The fire went out at her magic calling. She looked at the ones trying to burn things. "Perhaps if he had me taught properly instead of letting me read my mother's books to learn from them, I might be nicer and more delicate." She grabbed the books from the fire, they hadn't been burned. Only two dresses were.

She went to add the books to her bags, finding the maid huffing while not doing anything but stabbing a few dresses. She knocked her out magically and packed everything herself. "I do not like you either, dear. I'm sorry my third stepmother made you my maid." She walked off with the bags. She came back to get the others. "There we go. Father, I'll be back."

"You are evil!" he shouted.

"I'm my Mother's daughter," she shot back, staring at him. "You made sure I looked up to her by not giving me anyone else to learn from." He flinched back, shaking his head. "You're literally poisoned, Father. Get a healer in?"

"I will not. I will die for this family. Will you?"

"Yes. I probably will. Perhaps it'll be today. Your sons still aren't bound to the family." Her father gasped and fell down. "Hmm." She sighed. "I hate that I was taught to do that instead of swearing." She got the guards to take him outside. The fresh air would help him. She stood beside where he was laid. "I will be the first born my mother and grandmother wanted me to be." She stared at him. "She knew I'd need to correct things."

She patted him on the arm. "I wish you well, Father." He stared to cough. "Quit faking it." She walked off. "I'll be back. Send me word if he does die of his embarrassment or her poisons." She mounted her horse and took the bags to strap back on. "Thank you."

She checked the hood before riding off again. Her father would die there, surrounded by the people who were bound to him. It was a shame but they were all poisoned by that wannabe stepmother. She set up the protections on the house so nothing else could be destroyed.

***

Legara rode up to the palace, nodding at the guards she knew. "Watch the mare. She's loaned by Lord Fairmy. I was delivering notes to him earlier this week but my mare threw a shoe. And leave the bags please." She dismounted and walked into the palace, nodding at the squires.

She walked into the throne room, nodding at the king, who stared at her in horrified awe. She shifted her cloak to show off the seal and badge. "I believe it's mine now, Sire. He is poisoned by your future consort's handmaiden of evil. He's presently dying. Along with all the ones that whore poisoned."

"You should not talk of your stepmother that way, Legara."

"She's dead, Sire. I doubt she cares." He gasped. "She and my father both forgot I have *two* parents. I'm like both of them." She looked at the consort who came in sneering. "That does not match," she noted. "That dress clashes greatly. Shouldn't *queens* be more tasteful?" The woman launched an attack at her and it again fell. Though the necklace and seal in her hair glowed. The consort gasped.

"Yes, I was born Bound. Both of my parents were Bound. My mother was a priestess before the Crown set them up. It is my job to protect the Crown." The woman launched another attack so Legara struck back, including throwing her dagger at the woman, which sunk into her stomach.

She screamed, making the thing she was trying to summon scream as well. Legara defeated it and spit. "Your people are foul." She went to where she could hear the crown screaming in rage. It was being merged with another crown. She pried out the main stone holding the spirit that bound it to the kingdom. "Sir Greens."

"Legara," he panted. "Thank thee for the saving." The ancient knight bowed his head to her. She curtseyed back. "We must fight this treasonous thing." She took the blacksmith's hammer from him and hit the other crown until she shattered the main stone. That spirit came out and he defeated it. It was difficult, he was injured, but he handled it. He slumped but she walked into his aura so he could gather some of her strength. "Thank you, Child."

"It is my duty, Sir Greens. Shall we go talk to the King?" The horrified blacksmith moaned. "He must have felt it." He floated with her. She grabbed something off a table to hold up to him, getting a nod. She carried that chalice with them. "Sire," she said as she walked back in. He was slumped on his throne. "Sir Greens of the Crown." She got out of his way.

The spirit looked at the king. "You have been poisoned by her people, George."

He bowed his head. "How do I cure it? I have no sons."

"Bull," Legara said dryly. "You have two sons, Sire. One's barely legitimate and not Bound, so the Crown feels him as soulless."

"That's true," the ancient knight agreed.

"When in fact he's just Other Blooded." She looked at him. "Mother's journals talked of his mother, who was clearly Other Blooded."

The knight considered it then nodded. "Yes, he is. That makes much sense." The King's brother showed up. "Not yours."

"You're..."

"The Crown's Guardian Knight," Legara said. She put the chalice on a table. "There you go, Sir Greens. So you can inhabit that until the crown is reformed."

He nodded, bonding to it with a sigh. "That's easier." He looked at the king then at the prince. "You have a nephew."

"I do? I thought they were considered soulless."

"They both show Other Blood," Legara said quietly. The prince stared at her. She nodded. "They do. It shows in the younger one's face."

"I had not thought of that. Their mother was half Other. Who are you?"

"Legara. Duchess Legara."

"Oh." He nodded with a wince. "Does your father live?"

"As of when I left he was succumbing to the poison the whore's handmaiden gave him." She waved a hand at the body. "I am not bothered by the other three stepmothers, though one I don't particularly like or appreciate and that feeling is mutual, but that one that would've been the fourth was fairly a whore of doom."

The prince snorted. "We've called his future wife one as well." He looked at the body, grimacing. "That's disgusting. Must she lay there?"

"No," the crown's guardian said. "Someone remove this body." Knights came in to do that for him. "Thank you, boys."

Legara looked at one. "We'll probably want Squire Legmas and his *friends*," she said quietly. The knight looked amused. "Both of them, including the new one." She looked at the king again. "It's fairly obvious."

The crown laughed. "It is." The man who came in nodded. "Sir Brandles."

Legara looked. "I gave your father the note our almost future queen wrote out, which was insulting. I told him first though. He's amused. Not highly amused but amused enough that he didn't yell. Said your younger brother would be pouty."

The young knight shook his head. "My mother will do that for him."

"That's a mother's job," she agreed. She looked at the squires walking in. "We need the other one, Legmas."

"He's on his way, Legara." He looked at her. "Why are you wearing the cloak of a priestess?"

"It was my mother's. I inherited it." He shuddered. She smiled. "Sometimes," she agreed quietly. "We need him sooner."

"He's on his way." He looked at the king. "He looks sick."

"He is," she agreed. The squire in question walked in and bowed to them, including the crown's guardian. "Sire, I believe you've met your nephew," she said to the prince.

"I have." He stared at him. "How did we miss you, boy?"

"My mother was from over the border, Prince."

"You knew?" the king demanded.

"Of course, Father. I've always known. Everyone remarked on it." He shrugged. "It's why I came here to be a squire."

The prince shook his head, looking at his brother. "That will do and keep me from being so bothered." He looked at the crown's guardian, who nodded. "Your idea, Legara?"

"No. I'm just very Bound. My mother had been a priestess until the crown caught her lusting after my father." She shrugged. She walked up to the king. "This necklace, Sir Greens?"

"No. The one that's not for the kingdom." She lifted off a crystal pendant. The king went to dust. "Oh! That's for the Kingdom but should not have...." He looked at the body being carried out. "That's what I felt."

She handed the crystal to the Prince. "I certainly did. It gave me nightmares."

The crown guardian nodded. "It would, dear." He looked at her. "I will not make you a priestess."

She curtseyed. "Thank thee." She smiled. "I must now produce an heir."

"Please marry outkingdom," the crown's guardian ordered. "But make them worthy of your mother."

"If I can. I was thinking on a few counts in the next kingdom? I've met and talked to them before during messenger missions." She thought at him about what she had seen of them.

The ancient knight shook his head. "No. Please not them. Though one's pretty and smart, he's rather mentally corrupt. He likes his power." She nodded at that. "Look towards Sarva, dear. I've always wanted one with their training among mine. It will teach me new things." He smiled.

"They are pretty and mostly well learned," she agreed. "I'll arrange to go tell them of the newest crowning, Sir Greens."

"Thank you. You are a good messenger." He looked at her. "You could take down the hood."

"My hair's a knotted mess as I rode with it down. I'd hate to look so messy in here."

He nodded. "That's reasonable." He looked at the prince then the new King, who bowed to him. "I find you very worthy. That's why I sent for you, boy." He looked at the prince, who smiled and nodded. "Good. We must remove the rest of her taint from the kingdom. Today if possible. I fought off their ancient guardian and she destroyed their crown. Ours was being reformed so I'll take this chalice for now. It's more than suitable for me to inhabit."

"We can put it next to the throne so you can advise me," the new King Leonar said. He looked at the others. "How many dukes are there? I've met four."

"Nineteen," Legara said. "Spread almost equally about an hour's ride from the palace or each other. So we're not underfoot but we can defend our areas and if we have to hurry in to advise you, we can get here quickly. The only hole is the main road to the border. One lives on either side of it beyond the woods."

"That's good to know." He sighed, looking at his friends. "I think this will change our schedule for training." He grimaced. "I must tell the one I've been talking to," he said quietly.

"Paki will not mind," he reminded him.

Legara smiled at him. "Paki is under a curse from her mother to never become attached to anyone beneath her station. Her mother had horrible nightmares of her only daughter liking someone common. She made sure it would not happen. You now fit outside that."

He smiled. "I do adore her snotty, hotheaded ways."

"She'll take years to calm down but she's not going to take over on you," Legara assured him. "She's true to whoever and she's not going to try to overthrow you."

"That's good to know. Thank you, Duchess Legara." She smiled. "Your father?"

"Poisoned by the whore of doom that consort tried to make my father marry. He's succumbing to it in the courtyard as of when I left. Our heir stone has already accepted me instead of my half-brothers, who are not Bound."

"Neither one seems to have the strength to hold the bond," the knight said. "They're good boys, very good boys, but they can't handle the bonding." She nodded at that. "You'll protect them?"

"Of course. I still like their mother too." She shifted her weight when someone walked behind her. She stabbed them in the thigh as he stopped behind her, making him yelp and appear. She looked back. "Duke." She nodded.

"Legara." He rubbed the mark on his thigh. "You're mean today."

"After getting back from messenger duty to Lord Fairmy I had to remind my poisoned father that I'm not only his daughter but my mother's. My maid decided to stab all my clothes and try to burn my mother's things. It's been a long week, Duke Reggis."

He patted her on the shoulder. "I'm sure it has been." He smirked. "We should talk of your future marriage."

"The Crown's Guardian wants me to find someone from Sarva."

He frowned. "They're definitely pretty." He looked at the ancient knight, who smiled and nodded. "What has went on?"

"The want-to-be consort attacked her," the Knight said. "She fought back and killed it. She helped me win against the crown from their people and their guardian. Then we came in to see the problems in here. I had her remove the stone poisoning him and it turned him to dust. Thankfully we had the new King on hand thanks to my planning." He waved a hand at him.

The duke looked then nodded. "He looks like his father." He nodded once. "Did I hear my niece's name mentioned?"

"I've been trying to court Paki," he said quietly.

"Well, you'll no longer get her killed for your title. I'd support that. Others may not like it."

"I know of her snotty ways," he assured him. "I've had them turned on me a few times, Duke Reggis."

"She'll grow out of it," Legara said. "We all did." The duke laughed but nodded. She looked at the Duke. "I'm legal by the heir stone. I have to do the full ritual tonight."

"That's fine, dear. It's reasonable in that case." He looked at the dust then at the new king. "We'll arrange for your coronation this week." He bowed to the knight. "May we help?"

"I'm still taking your youngest daughter as a priestess."

"Her mother will hate that."

"I'm aware. Like Legara's mother, if she finds someone suitable and asks me, I'll let her out of the vows."

The duke bowed again. "Thank you, Sir Greens." He looked at Legara, then shook his head. "Are you taking her?"

"No. She's strong but doesn't understand much that I'd need a priestess to."

"If my father had gotten me a proper tutor instead of having me learn from my mother's books that may be," she said.

"True." The ancient knight nodded at her. "We'll handle it, Legara. Go home, do the heirs ritual." She bowed to them and left. The men in the room all sighed. "She is very strong. She followed my orders so that was good of her. We need more heirs like her."

The others nodded. "We can work on that goal. I'll call the others together," Duke Reggis said. He looked at the new knight. "I'll send word to your father as well."

"She said she did," he admitted.

"I'll send a better one." He went to summon the others who'd need to meet the new king and make plans with him. They'd all hate this situation but it was a good thing for their people he supposed. The knight had settled in to rest in his chalice for now and talk to the new king he'd get to advise.

***

Chapter 2

***


Legara looked up from the plans to fix the house that her father had let fall to ruin. She went down to the heir stone and past it to the one that held the protections on the house, logging it in. That repaired the roof's weak spots and the other things. The whole house suddenly glowed.

She sighed in pleasure, coming back upstairs to look at the new housekeeper she had hired, who had been theirs for years until her third stepmother. "There, I think that will help. I forgot to put myself into the protections." The older woman patted her on the cheek. "Can we fix those things my former maid stabbed?"

"I'm trying but it will be obvious."

"We can have them fixed with new panels of cloth then," she decided. She went to check the house over, nodding at what still needed to be fixed. "I hate decorating."

Her housekeeper laughed at that. "It's an art that shows how womanly you can be, and how artistic. Like your clothes are."

Legara looked at her. "I hate art."

"I know, dear. Just make it comfortable for your future family."

"I'm trying. The Guardian wanted me to find someone from Sarva. And I need to go get my mare from Lord Fairmy."

"We've already sent to switch the horses back," she reminded her. Legara sighed in pleasure. "The noble banquet is tonight."

"Do I have something fit to wear?"

"Your mother's leftover things do probably." She went with her to look it over. They were ancient and looked worn out. They found one dress in a box but the seal for the Duchy refused to let it open. It glowed and so did the box. So not that one. The housekeeper took it to look at and moaned, bringing to a fireplace to burn.

They went to look at Legara's clothes, finding something decent enough. It had been repaired and the seam was clearly seen so she'd pin a large broach there as a stomacher. She did her hair and found her cloak, going to ride to the palace while the housekeeper figured out what she needed to do next. She slowed as she trotted into the palace, nodding at another daughter of a duke. "Marva."

"Legara." She blinked. "Why don't you use your family's carriage?"

"I needed the air. I've been having to remake the whole household and everything in the house that was spelled by the attempted fourth stepmother or ruined by father being grieving." She dismounted and looked at the groom, who smiled. "She's just out of the stables and I didn't hurry."

"Yes, Duchess Legara."

"Thank thee." She paid him a few coins and walked in with Marva, who looked at her dress. "Most of my clothes got stabbed by the former maid. We're working on that too. I'm working with our former housekeeper I brought back and one maid right now. Plus the two stable hands. I need to do a lot of fixing."

Marva patted her on the arm. "It's strong women who can handle that without breaking down."

"There's been days of that too. Do you have a spare maid you could recommend to come hire on?"

"Probably. I'll ask my mother."

"Please." She sighed. "Go first so you don't look bad thanks to me." Marva smiled, getting announced with her brother. Who was shaking his head at all that. The herald looked at her. "I know. I'm trying. I'm just too overloaded." He announced her and she walked in, going to her usual seat at the table then remembered to take her father's seat at the main table. She nodded at the ones around her. "Lord Dryers," she said quietly with a smile. "Can I borrow your wife soon? I have to remake the whole house. Between the grieving and the newest stepmother attempt...."

"Yes, dear." He looked her over. She blushed and touched the broach. "How? Were you stabbed?"

"Remember my third stepmother changing out all the staff?"

"Yes, we got a few brilliant maids from it."

"The one she gave me as a lady's maid stabbed almost everything in my closet. We're trying but that's behind the need for furniture right now."

He nodded at that. "I can see that. Your father left you funds?"

"My father was locked out of most of the family's money by his mother. She didn't like he married my mother, said it was debauching a priestess and brought dishonor, so she made him stay with his birth dowry."

He shook his head quickly. "I remember your grandmother."

"I loved the old batty one. She was good to me when my mother died. Kept trying to make me sew things though." He laughed but nodded. "I have our housekeeper back and one maid to help her plus two stable hands. Please lend me your wife soon? I cannot decorate and I hate art."

He nodded. "I can do that, Legara. You're a credit to your father's lineage."

"I hope so. Even if I do look poorly tonight." She shifted some, trying to hide that obvious seam. The new king looked down. "Yes, Sire?"

"What happened to your house?"

"My father grieved for the last sixteen years so did little of anything to upkeep it, even when forced to take a stepmother for me by the last king. Plus the last attempt at a stepmother poisoned things like some of the beds." He winced. She nodded. "We're still dealing with the last stepmother's people's things as well. I'm sorry I don't look as fabulous as I normally would."

"You do fine tonight. You've just buried your father." He frowned. "Shouldn't you be in mourning?"

"No. I cannot do that for formal things. The same as if you sent me to do messenger duty again, that would take precedence."

"It would," his girlfriend agreed. She looked her over. "That maid had good aim."

"We're trying to fix things. Or I'll have the broken pieces replaced sometime soon. Or perhaps just better dresses that fit me better as that last style did not."

"Please do, Legara," Paki said dryly. "Soon? We have the coronation next week."

"I know. I have a dress for that. I ordered one."

"Thank you!" She went back to talking to others. They'd send the poor girl some help soon she was sure. Or she'd probably go talk to the stepmothers that weren't idiots.

Legara sipped her wine and talked to the others around her seat about their lands and horses, which she enjoyed learning about. Her mare did need bred next year.

When someone new came in she frowned. She felt something from the Guardian of the Kingdom. She looked at the chalice then at the priestesses who were sitting off to the side. They were staring at the chalice too. So were some people who had a tight bond to the Guardian. Then at the newcomer.

By tradition, Legara had a sword on her back, a pretty, decorated, weak one that wouldn't be of much good. The others who were bound had the same ceremonial looking blade. She sipped a tiny sip of her wine again then put the glass down. The man stared at her for a moment but she stared back calmly.

"Highness," the newcomer said in badly accented language. "I bring a message of greetings from my own king."

"I'm happy to hear from him," he said. He looked pleased enough. Paki was clawing up his arm. "Which one is yours? I don't recognize the accent yet."

"He's from King Marshands," Legara said. "I've delivered messages to him from our former King and Queen, Sire."

"Yes, I am." He stared at her. "Should you be here, young one? You clearly don't fit." He smirked.

"I haven't taken the time to frivolously shop like a ninny," she said dryly. "Between having to bury my father and taking over his seat I've been a bit busy. Thank you for noticing."

The man blinked. "You let women inherit here?" he demanded, looking at the king. Who nodded.

"Yes, as his future wife is a Duchess in her own right," Paki said dryly. "When I marry my younger sister will take it." The man grimaced. "We don't care what you're born with for equipment, we care about who you are more." A few smiled at that. "Is it written thanks, sir?"

"It is." He handed a page the letter.

She took it from the page to read over, handing it to her boyfriend when she was done.

"That's sweet of him. I'll write out a return letter tonight for you to deliver. Have dinner with us?" He waved a hand. They got him a seat and plate. He looked at Legara. "Do you really have to redo the whole house?"

"All but three rooms. He replaced his bed three years ago with the last stepmother because it hurt her back." She grimaced. "The kitchen should still be fine and I believe the main table is fine." He shuddered. "Sorry I've been so busy, Sire."

"That's fine, Legara. After the coronation will you be able to go back to messenger duty?"

"I can hand that to my housekeeper. She has taste and artistic skills I've never held." She smiled. "She does it well."

"Good of her." He shook his head. "Paki, can she borrow your spare maid?"

"Of course. I was going to suggest she go there anyway. Legara is not the most fashionable since that last stepmother had her wearing things that don't suit her." She looked at her.

"Then send me a tailor," she quipped. "I know I need to get out of those. I've complained for years."

"I remember." She smiled cattily. "We'll fix it so someday you can marry, Duchess."

"The Crown has asked me to so I know it is my duty."

"True." She looked at her spouse, who smiled at her. "We'll figure all that out. A transition is always frustrating."

The duke nearest her looked over. "Did you get that roof fixed?"

"I put myself into the protections earlier and it thankfully repaired itself so that was the house filled with Father's grief." She sighed in pleasure. "That left much less to clean up."

"I had not thought of that. His grief would influence the protections and all that he did." He hummed then sighed. She smiled and nodded. They had all been taught that move to not swear around the former Queen. Who was still alive but ill and cursed in a tower somewhere around there. "I'll send my wife too, Legara."

"Oh, thank you! I know she's busy. She has a great eye on who to hire and how much it'll cost me. She taught me that but I only learned the basics from her."

"I'll have her come help you tomorrow." He smiled. She grinned back. The messenger was glaring at them. He ignored the stranger and she paid some attention but he noticed who else was. The others who were Guardian Bound were paying him the same attention.

The king smiled as the food was brought out. "Thank you, dear. You did a nice job tonight," he told the cook.

"Thank you, Sire." She curtseyed and went back to the kitchen while her people served.

Legara smiled and nodded in thanks for her plate. It was mostly stuff she hated but Paki really liked it so that was normal for formal dinners. She delicately dug in to ease herself into the tastes of bitterness. The Duke next to her smiled. She grinned back. The only one who liked some of those dishes was Paki. The king was spoiling her and they understood that. It was future spouse ways.

Duke Reggis looked over. "Legara, dear, what did you stab me with?"

"Mother's ceremonial dagger, Duke Reggis. And I'm sorry I got you. You weren't open to sight and I thought you'd be an attack."

"No, dear, it amused me horribly." He smiled. "I was just wondering so I could tell that story to the grandchild."

"Mother's dagger from her time serving. I'm still sorry. Please don't make your grandson hate me?" she asked with a grin.

"No, I'm going to have him come running to you if he has to hide." She blushed, ducking her head.

The head priestess looked over. "It was sweet of our Guardian Sir Greens to let her mother out of her vows when she found a love. It did give us a great young duchess."

"I hope I can live up to her, ma'am."

"I'm sure you will. Your mother had quite a temper." She smiled. "So you're already doing better, dear." Legara blushed brighter and ducked her head down. She smiled at the King and future Queen. "Her mother once walked up to your father and slapped him extra hard across the face then nagged him for almost an hour for daring to send her husband from their house for something so stupid as finding his favorite whiskey overseas because she was due to birth that one within days."

He laughed at that. "Pregnant women are only answerable to some Higher Powers," he said, looking at Legara. "I'll be aware of you maybe doing that same thing."

"It will probably be a few years, Sire," she said dryly. "I have to find one first. Then court him, make him ignore all my bad faults, and make him want to have children with me."

"That can take years," he agreed, looking at Paki. "We spoke for two years before I tried to date her the first time." She smirked and nodded. "I hope you find one suitable, Duchess."

"Me too, Sire. I'd hate for my grandmother to come back to beat me." The older ones in the room who remembered her laughed about that. She sipped her wine and went back to trying to eat something on that plate. Thankfully the second course would have more usual food. She noticed no one else eating and looked up in alarm, then at the duke beside her since they were staring their way. She looked behind her. "Who're you?" she asked the ghost.

"You had me defeated, girl. I challenge you."

"Well, when I'm dead you can do that."

"I can manifest."

"Ah." He nodded. "I need a blade. Anyone have one that's not ceremonial?"

Sir Greens came out. "Legara, that is not your duty," he noted, staring at that knight. "I beat you fairly, spoiled thing."

The spirit tried to swing at Legara but she had moved and blocked him with the ceremonial blade. "I see you think you can fight?"

"I'm not excellent but it is my duty to be able to defend my king and queen if I must." A knight stomped in. "I need a real sword." He handed his over. "Thank thee." She bowed and removed her cloak. "C'mon if you're coming as I've heard it said."

The knight sneered and attacked her and she fought it off. Back and forth, though people did nicely get away from them so she didn't trip over them. Or their chairs. He waved his free hand at her, making her seal glow at his magical attack. It didn't do more than make her growl and attack harder. The next one either.

"Why do you not die by my hand!"

"Because the living are stronger than a spirit will ever be," she panted. "It's that living energy we have." She did something she had barely learned when she was younger. She blasted magic at it, making it shriek as it faded out. "Did I destroy it?" she demanded, holding the cut on her side. "I didn't think it'd do that," she muttered. "It just said it'd make it dissipate."

Sir Greens looked at her. "Where did you learn that?"

"My mother's grandmother's journal?"

"Interesting." He nodded. "He is not strong enough to hold a shape. Good job, Legara. Go get cleaned up."

"Yes please." She swallowed the wine in her glass. "Excuse me while I go find a healer." They all nodded. She handed the sword back as she limped off with the knight helping. "I need to fit more lessons into my days," she complained.

The king swallowed his whole goblet of wine then got more for himself, sharing with his girlfriend. "She's strong but that's not her job. That's my job as her king." He stared around. "A king takes his own threats to his country."

"We know you will," Paki soothed, patting his arm. "That time it was a personal challenge."

He stared at her. "For saving the kingdom from that spirit trying to take out our guardian. That's my job." She nodded, kissing him on the cheek. "Sir Greens, is that not my job?" he asked.

"I tried to do it myself, my King."

He scowled. "Apparently I have to jump in. She does us proud. Even if she does have an awkward swing with that sword that was too heavy for her." He frowned but finished that wine. "I'll make sure she has a trainer if she wants one." Paki smiled at him for that.

He looked at his other dukes, who looked away but nodded they'd help. "The young of our kingdom are apparently very strong. I'm proud of them for that." He smiled at one very old Duke, who nodded. "As I know you are, Duke Rayla. You beat me plenty in sparring."

"I have," he agreed. "I'll make sure that one learns more of that art just in case. Once she has some time."

"Thank you." He settled into his seat again, nodding at them. "Please, go back to eating. We'll handle that mess later if there's more to handle." They nodded, getting back to gossiping and making alignments. He heard Legara and marriage noted so looked at that one. "Sir Greens suggested she look out kingdom," he said quietly. "Toward Sarva."

"They're good knights," that one said, then nodded once. "They expect their women to be delicate and sew tapestries though. She may not like that."

"She'll find someone who'll soothe her as her mother did," the Ancient Knight said. "The same as her grandmother probably did. I'm not very aware of her mother's peoples. They came in to have her mother born here to get away from King Platacky." That messenger choked at that. "They were strong to run from him. I have no idea otherwise of her mother's family."

Paki smiled at him. "Her grandmother's journal said she was a priestess of their moon goddess but that king attacked them greatly for not supporting his desire to expand his borders. By her grandmother's journal, which she was having problems translating so asked my maid, who gossiped, her parents were from Overseas to the South and that one's mother was from the Snow Warriors' clans." That got a smile from the Knight. "She didn't mention her husband's lineage at all but she did complain greatly that with her parents she should be able to stand heat and she couldn't or snow."

"So the family moved here to get away from an idiot king," the new King said dryly. "And that one became Bound and a priestess?"

The Knight smiled. "I felt something in her. I can bind others who aren't from here naturally but are born here." He looked at one knight. "Or offspring of one of us." He smiled at the king. "One of my best decisions ever. Legara's mother was a favorite priestess because they had her do work on her patience by sending her in to read to the crown." The priestesses all laughed at that. "It was most kind of her to read to me. I'm glad she found such a strong love."

"We were glad she didn't have to deny it," the head priestess said happily. "That you let her out of her vows gave many of the younger ones hope for their later love life, even if none of them found one."

He nodded. "I do pick ones who don't appear to do well in a marriage so they don't suffer."

"I had no idea on that," Paki said. "But that makes sense." She smiled at him. "I'll have a maid come read to you now and then, Sir Greens."

"Thank you, dear. That's very kind of you." She smiled and dug back in. The king grinned at him then at her before eating some more food he didn't really like. "Perhaps during the coronation we'll have some regional dishes for the big dinner?" the Knight suggested. "Show off how you enjoy all the fruits of your people's labors from all over our peoples?"

"The fish to the south I don't particularly enjoy as they eat it raw, but otherwise I'm very fond of that idea," the king said with a smile for his guardian. He looked at his girlfriend, who smiled and nodded at that. "Can we arrange that in the next week? Won't some of it take longer to prepare?"

"Some may but we can host a regionally centered dish once a month," she offered. "That way you can show off to the ones who're in to nag you about something."

"That could be nice," he agreed, nodding a bit. "Thank you, dear." He kissed her gently on the cheek. She grinned and dug in again. He was happy that the guardian had such a quick mind. He'd have to get advisors who had that same level of tact and quick thinking. Knight Legmas thought pretty well on his feet from what he had seen. The new one from out kingdom did too.

He looked at them then at his wife. Then at the dukes. "I do need to get to know a few of you better," he announced. "Can you arrange that so we can chat this week? Maybe just a tea sort of chat?" They mostly nodded at that.

"Thank you. That way I get to know about you, your people, and your plans for our kingdom. Plus if you have any duties I don't know about yet. I know one of you is our Lord Marshal?" Duke Reggis waved his hand with a smile. "Oh! That does make sense with you being so close. Thank you." He dug in again. He looked at Paki. "Your uncle?"

"Next week sometime," she agreed. "He's got to take over regency for my sister when we marry."

"I can understand that. Are we doing it all at once?" Her eyes went wide. "I know you were thinking about that but hadn't made a decision."

She blinked a few times. "It would be easier on everyone if I did, but that would be rushed and we don't have anything we may need. Like the dress and your outfit." She looked at some of the older Duke's wives, who all shook their heads. "In a year, on your anniversary, dear."

"Okay. If that's what you want, I can go along with that." He kissed her again with a smile. "I don't want to rush it, Paki."

"No, I agree it might've been easier on everyone to only throw one event but I don't have things planned yet. If I was the sort that had a dress in a box in a chest, I could've done that."

He grinned. "I don't expect you to be that sort. Pretty most of the time but otherwise not hoarding special events clothes."

"I'm pretty all the time."

"I saw you in the mud," he reminded her with a grin.

"Point. That day I was not that pretty. I was rather drowned and muddy." She smirked but ate her dinner. She'd pay him back for that later.

***

Legara walked up the hallway, limping really, and found a priestess being bothered by the messenger. So she hit him on the neck with her sword's handle. "Priestess, are you well? Did you want him?"

"No, dear. I did not. Thank you, Duchess."

"I'm still just Legara, Priestess. Hey," she called loudly. A guard came running. She pointed at the priestess. "I aided her by knocking someone out."

The guard took in the priestess' dress that was a bit torn and rumpled. Her face was red and she looked ready to cry. "I'll have you escorted back safely, Priestess," he said gently. "I'll have someone instruct him on his stupid in the morning when he wakes up with a headache." He looked at Legara. "Thank you."

"I'd want no woman to suffer. I'm supposed to be getting yelled at by the king."

"He's in his quarters, Duchess."

"Thank you. Be safe, Priestess." She nodded, letting herself be walked off. Legara went back to limping to the private quarters, knocking gently. She bowed to the king. Who let her in. "You wanted to nag me, Sire?"

"No," he sighed. He closed the door, staring at her. "Are you all right?"

"Mostly. A few cuts."

"I meant about all the pressure on you, Duchess."

She stared at him. "I was raised to take over on him, My King." She stared at him. "I've always known it'd be my duty some day. My mother died carrying a son for him. Sir Green didn't bind my half-brothers to the kingdom so they're not able to take the title." He slumped, staring at her. "No one told you about that stuff?"

"Not fully."

"Okay. We can go over that." Paki looked out of the bedroom at her. "Going over what being bound means and why."

"You have fun with that. I slept through it." She went back to bed. She knew Legara wasn't going to steal her man. She wasn't sure if Legara even liked men.

Legara shook her head. "All right. You're bound yourself. Or else you wouldn't be able to take the crown." He nodded. "As we're born, for most of us, part of our christening is the Ancient Knight coming to check on his new people to protect. Most of us he agrees to protect, binding us to him and to the kingdom." That got a faster nod. "Some he doesn't because he doesn't. Sometimes they may not be able to hold it, that's what he said about my baby brothers, sometimes he may not want them. That's all up to him."

"Okay," he agreed. "I was apparently bound when I was born."

"He can track down people who're of us and born to us. He followed your father's bloodline and found you." She waved a hand with a smile. That got a fast nod. "The ones of us who are bound are open to things. More importantly if you're not bound, you're not entitled to a few things.

"Higher education is one. A title among us is another. Which is why my baby brothers can't hold my title." He winced. "They'll never be able to. Which I know means I need to have a child sometime soon. I still protect the little heathens I'm related to, and I love their mother, but they can't ever hold the title or any other position in the kingdom.

"They can't be made a commander in the military, nothing like a formally noted title. They can be messengers, they can be emissaries and ambassadors but not hold their own title beyond that." She sat down after glancing at the chair. "You can name them to a job but not a *job* basically. They can be soldiers but will never be a commander of even a unit. They'll never be allowed to be a Knight. The Squiring ceremony would leave them out. The bond is tested. If it's not there, they're rejected."

"That makes a lot of sense. That means you protect the kingdom as much as he protects you." She nodded. "So some of you are more bound? I noticed earlier the priestesses all looked at the messenger and the chalice, as you did and a few others."

"Yes. He's picked some stronger ones to support him. My mother was a priestess, and he let her out of her vows to marry my father and have me. During that time he fought with that other guardian in the smithy, I lent him some of my energy so he didn't die from it."

"So all of you can?"

"You can as well but he can't draw from you as strongly as those of us he bound very closely. Myself and a few others with titles can support him during a battle if necessary. Myself, I have the same magic gifts my mother had." She swallowed. "Mine's not well trained as I haven't had anyone in to do that.

"I learned from her books. I could have had a tutor but my father ignored all that in his grief." He nodded once. "I have the feeling most of the others he bound so closely have some sort of gift, even at a latent, gentle level. I have no proof and to even look at it that way may be heresy that would upset him." The king smiled at that. "But I am what and who I am."

She shrugged. "I know the ones who reacted earlier, most of us were bound very tightly. One I noticed wasn't but that was the new knight from the other kingdom and recently bound so it could have been so recent or it could have been he recognized the messenger's clothing. I didn't ask him."

"That's something I could ask him. He's a good resource for that. Have we met his people?"

"Yes. They're just over the border from where my lands are. I'm often sent to Lord Fairmy with messages for their people, then he passes it on for us. We only have one formal ambassador and that's because the last king didn't want to lose one of his favorite Lords who was marrying out kingdom and had to go live with his wife's people because she was about to take the throne. So he's an ambassador."

He smiled. "That makes good sense. It was kind of him. Would I have to do the same for you?"

"Even though he wants me to marry out kingdom I'd never marry someone in their direct lineage. The people of Sarva are very dark skinned, which I have nothing against, but they're very uptight. Very ritualized in everything. Their women are often quiet, delicate, artistic women who wear very fancy things and walk around in uncomfortable shoes.

"I'd probably horrify most of that class by riding on my own, being able to defend myself if necessary, and all that other stuff. Also, they hate magic. So I'll look over that way. Maybe I'll find someone nice who's visiting. Or a warrior of theirs who won't hate who I actually am. Because I cannot act well enough for them to deal with me daily. I'm very honest I'm not cut out for that level of service they'd demand."

Paki came out putting on a robe. "The very thought of you being like their women makes me giggle so hard I had an accident." She patted her on the head. "I can't see you sitting and humming while you sew a tapestry."

"No, I can't do that. Maybe one of their warriors since Sir Green wanted me to look over that way. Maybe I'll find a nice visitor from over there." She shrugged. "It won't be this year though. I've got too much to fix thanks to my father." She sighed.

"I'm not overloaded from it, Highness. I'm a bit bothered by all the things he left loose and never took care of. Having to buy furniture is driving me nuts as I do not have a single touch of artistic taste." He smirked again, getting comfortable. "I don't match colors well either. My housekeeper gives all the color choices right now."

"I can see how that happens," he agreed. "Paki has that same level of artistic skills."

"Hey!"

"You do." He looked at her again. "But you're not overloaded? I don't need to split your title?"

"Please don't make me defeat someone who wants my title, Highness," she sighed. "I'd hate to remove them from my life. I will, as I've proven, but I do not need more stress."

"I can agree with that. I'm not used to women inheriting but it seems nice enough to not leave a daughter pleading in poverty thanks to her menfolk dying. I've seen that happening."

"No, our women are mostly equal," Paki said. She patted him on the hand, settling in his lap. "Really, most of the ones you meet who are bound as she is are usually meant to be priestesses or have special duties selected."

"I'm just usually a messenger," Legara agreed. "If I have to protect myself I can. Or Paki if someone's attacking her because she can slightly but will then go on an eww fit about the blood on her hands." Paki scowled. "You did."

"I did," she sighed, looking up. She looked at her husband. "You'll find she's not the only one of her social level who has no heirs yet. There's six others."

"Seven," Legara said, relaxing again. "Duke Reggis' grandson was not bound either. His son wasn't. His daughter was but she married out kingdom. She really loved him even though none of us know why or how. But his grandson isn't bound. I was at his christening. He's hoping for more grandchildren and to bring one of his from his daughter back as far as I know."

Paki grimaced. "Oh, that's bad. He's important."

Legara nodded. "He is. And after him is Duke Fylers? Or is it Duke Pachqua?"

"The last," Paki said. "I think. Which would be bad. He's not well bound, not that strongly bound. His kids aren't all bound either. I have no idea why."

"Me either," Legara said. "Not my duty to figure it out. That would be something to ask a priestess really. Or him."

"Point," Paki agreed. "He's the only one who could tell you why. Though with the last consort's thing he could have been blinded."

"He can pick and bond adults. He's proven that with that knight."

"True. I can talk to him tomorrow," the king decided. "Duchess Legara, do you need to stay over?"

"No, Highness. I've ridden with worse than stitches on my leg. It'll hurt, but I can sleep in tomorrow." She smiled. "I hope."

"The wives you asked for help may show up just after dawn," Paki said.

"I might still be up then." She got up. "Have a good night and if you want me to show up for that talk I heard you said you wanted, we can do that next week, Highness?"

"That would be fine, Legara. Have a better night?"

"I hope so. It's a pretty night." She bowed and left, limping out to the stables. She got her own horse ready, not wanting to wake up anyone. She nodded at a guard, who nodded back. "Going home," she said as she walked past him, then mounted using the mounting block. Her mare looked back at her. "I know it's late. I had to get stitches. We're going home." She rode her off gently so as not to get too loud.

The guard reported that to his higher up, who made a note. He knew she wasn't stealing a horse. Someone might want to know when she left. Of course, he got a note about someone defending a priestess and realized who it was since it wasn't one of his guards. That just figured.

***

chapter 3

***

Legara showed up six months later, smiling at the courtiers she ran into. "Everything's finally done and the tailors are fixing my wardrobe issues." They stared at her. She grinned. "I know. It's got a reason." She walked into the throne room, making Paki glare at her for her dress that was mended. "Your stepmother demanded I wear this one as my new ones aren't good enough."

"I hate my former stepmother. I know you do as well."

"Yes. She's not allowed in my things. At all. She showed up to nag with the other two. They send their greetings and so do the half-brothers. Who may not be related to me after all." She smiled and handed over the notes she carried. "From the stepmother brigade."

"I really have to straighten that woman out," Paki said, reading that note first. "Oh, she wants you to look poor today so we take pity on you and give you a husband who can support you and make you a regular woman." She looked up.

"She said that to me and I laughed at her ideas." She undid the top and slid it off then tossed it into the fireplace. "That's better." She adjusted the top she had underneath. "Much nicer and less warm."

"I remember you doing that many times." Paki read the other ones and groaned. "They all want you to be married so you're not the Duchess in charge."

"Yes. For some reason they all think that women aren't suitable." She stared at her. "I've taken your sister in as well." Paki sat up, staring at her. "Because your uncle tried to marry a woman who was *much* worse. They escorted her to my house." She smiled. "She's sniffling about her dolls. I've sent word that she can bring them to my house. She can take up the boys' suite."

"I can have her moved here," Paki said. "Any other bad news you bring today, dear?"

She grinned and nodded. "Oh, Guardian Commander," she called. A knight leaned in. "Not you. The guy in charge of the military command units please, Legmas."

"Hmmm," then a sigh. "Is it a problem, Duchess Legara?"

"I got sent a message about an upcoming royal visit." She smiled. "Lord Fairmy sent me word that one was coming." That got another hum and a sigh at the end instead of a swear. "It's the Queen's half-sister and her husband." He walked off muttering real swears. She smiled at Paki, who was looking horrified. "Yes. That one I do believe." She handed the King walking in the note. "From Lord Fairmy over our borders, My King."

He sat down and read that, then frowned. "Isn't that one with the crown and the flowers and feathers...." Paki took it to look and nodded, getting up to walk off to swear in private. "How soon?"

"If it wasn't in there, probably within weeks? He didn't send a timeline." She handed over the note she had. "That was around the other one to explain what it was for."

He read it then handed it to the Guard coming in. "We're getting a royal visit."

The guard commander read, eye going up. He looked at Legara. "The Queen's half-sister. The uptight one I believe. The fun one is probably going to be less trouble, but more naked."

He nodded. "I remember them both visiting, Duchess. Thank you for helping that priestess."

"I'd have no woman tortured that way," she said dryly.

The guard looked at the king. "I'll arrange for their visit and escort party into the palace, Highness. And warn my people to not be happy around her." He bowed and left to go warn the others.

Legara smiled. "She's the reason we all hum and sigh instead of uttering swear words. She taught our former queen they were unseemly and vulgar so we could not do it around her without her having a fit."

"Is she still alive?"

"In some tower somewhere around here. Cursed, sickly, but alive. She made the king find a new wife to replace her."

He blinked a long blink then nodded. "Charming!"

"I also brought news for Paki, Highness. Her sister is at my house. Her uncle was looking to remarry."

He winced. "I can have her brought here, Legara. Thank you." She curtseyed and strolled out. He let out a few swears, making the watching guards laugh. "Paki, are we watching over your sister?" he called.

"Please. She'll turn too tough at Legara's house because she won't guard her too tightly. She'll let my sister do whatever she wants. She'll have a house full of dolls thanks to that."

He nodded. "That's fine. Make a nice suite for her, dear." He took a kiss. "She seemed sweet."

"She's not, she's a mean little brat who loves dolls." She walked off sighing to talk to the head of the household. "My sister needs to come here to rest while she's underaged."

"Duchess Legara's staff sent word last night about them giving her refuge, Duchess Paki." She smiled. "We've been readying a suite for her today. She'll be here tomorrow and her things from your house are coming at that time. Including all her dolls." Paki relaxed and smiled. "What other news came with the Duchess? I heard true swearing?"

"The Queen's half-sister is coming for a visit."

The housekeeper nodded with a smile. "She'll finally get to swear herself. I'll let her know when we bring her dinner." Paki handed over the note. "I can have things planned and watch your sister so she doesn't get to hit that one." She went to start those arrangements. They'd have to house the whole group because that woman never traveled without a ton of people with her.

Paki went back to the throne room. "They've already arranged for my sister to come here."

"That's fine, dear." She patted his hand as she took a kiss. "We have two weeks until they show up. I need to know what not to do."

"Anything. She'll get mad at anything you do. You're male, she'll get mad. She'll get mad at us women for not being delicate and fairy soft as she puts it." She walked off. "This means we must have a dinner with her people's foods. Let me warn the others that it'll be a formal event.

"Maybe Legara will spare us by showing up in an outrageous outfit. Or Duchess Haviland. She's from them." She went to write out the notices to have sent to the various manor houses. She didn't expect most would want to show up, but it was protocol.

The king smiled. She could handle all those things for him.

***

It was the night of the ball. The ambassadors had already pissed off everyone in the palace within hours of getting in. Now it was time for the dinner to give her more to complain about. The other dukes and duchesses were arriving and being greeted by the king and his future wife. Duke Reggis showed up and looked miserable. Paki looked at him. "Oh, no. There's a problem?"

"A few. My King, may I have a minute?"

"Now or later?"

"Now if you could. I have to admit I have no heirs."

"Do you have a choice to replace you?"

"I do not know. I'm sorry."

Legara walked up behind him, patting him on the arm. "Nominate your *friend's* son, Knight Legmas," she said in his ear. "He and his *friend* won't mind and that would get them away from gossip so they could finally be happy." She smiled at him. "It would solve a problem for both of you as his mother is being a cunt."

Reggis looked at her. "That's not a bad idea. How did you hear that gossip?"

"Mother's journals." She smiled and curtseyed to the future queen, who was staring at her. "It fits and it's the only one available that's not smoke filled. Our main chimney started to smoke thanks to animals last night. Everything needs to be cleaned."

"It's a darling wedding dress," she said dryly. "Clearly too fancy for this event. They'll adore you, dear."

Legara smiled at her. "Sorry! I can skip."

"Don't you dare," the king said with a smile. "Have fun, Legara."

"Yes, Highness." She walked into the dining hall and paused to hug someone since everyone was staring. "May I have that recipe to get smoke out of everything? Our main chimney got blocked by animals yesterday. The whole house is smoke filled. This is the only dress the tailor still had for me. Everything else is being cleaned."

"Oh, dear," she said with a laugh. "You poor thing, Legara." She patted her. "Of course I can have my housekeeper send over help. The whole house?"

"The whole house. I woke up to it this morning before dawn. My room's not near the chimney at all. The whole house was filled. We had three have to go to the healers for the smoke they inhaled."

"Yes, dear, I'll gladly send your housekeeper help." She patted her again. "Go sit, you must be tired."

"It's a great day for wine." She went to sit down, nodding at the Lord who held her seat for her. "Thank you."

"Welcome. What animals were they?"

"Small, furry, not very tasty according to the housekeeper. They had just built their nest when it caught on fire and they all died in it then fell into the fireplace. One was still partially alive and tried to set the kitchen on fire but they got it with the ash shovel." She sighed, looking at him. "It's been a very long day as this happened before daybreak. I woke up to smoke this morning." He patted her on the arm, going to his seat. She looked at the ones around her. "How do we make sure it can't happen again?"

"A small metal grate over the top, Legara," Duke Reggis said with a smile.

"That makes good sense! Thank you! I'll let her know so someone can build us one." She smiled at him.

"Your father can't?" one of the visitors asked.

She stared at him. "He's dead. Has been for almost seven months."

"Oh. No husband?"

"No, women are allowed to inherit titles here, sir." She smiled. "It's all mine to handle now. If I had a husband I wouldn't be tired right now. He'd have made sure I went back to rest."

He nodded. "Yes, I would with my wife as well." He smiled at her. "You do look charming."

"Thank you. This is more fancy than I wanted to wear tonight but it's not filled with smoke so I'm previewing my future wedding gown I suppose." She looked at herself then smiled at him again. "I'll dress it up better at that time than tonight."

He nodded. "That would make all the difference." He looked at his wife, who was looking slightly horrified and yet confused. "This is Lady...."

"Duchess Legara. Duchess of the West," she said with a smile and a head nod. "Welcome to our Kingdom. I hope it's a pleasant visit for you. It's an interesting and pretty time of year. All the harvest festivals and special foods are charming most years."

"I haven't seen any of those," she admitted stiffly. "We don't usually have those."

"You should try the fried apple doughs they make," Legara told her. "They're not good for you to eat too much but just from the oil they're *fantastic* tasting. Very soft, apples spiced just right, warm. It's a great treat."

"I'll have to see if we have any time for that." She smiled politely and sipped her water.

Legara looked over. "Is our main harvest fair this week?"

"Next week," one said. "We have some of the booths up already so we can see if one of the apple dough makers is around for them. That is a fantastic treat to share with them." He smiled at her for that suggestion.

Paki's sister came in and paused to give a few people a hug, including Legara. "Good evening, dear. How's your night?"

"Better than Paki said yours was." She looked at her. "It's very plain for a wedding gown."

"Yes but I'm like that." She smiled. The girl giggled, sitting down in her seat. Someone shouted outside. She leaned over to look. "Do we need to come out there?" she yelled.

"Please do not," one of the Knights shouted back. "Thank you, Duchess Legara."

"Okay." She smiled at a few people. "That's good it's not like the last event." They all nodded. Until the queen walked in. "Highness!" she said, getting up. "Here, use my seat, Highness." She looked over. "Paki's taking yours for the moment. You can rest in mine."

The old queen, who was very frail looking and a bit wild eyed, stared at her. "Legara?" She nodded, holding the seat for her. "What are you wearing?"

"The whole house and everything in it is smoke covered. The tailor had this in making." She settled her into the chair. "So I'm not naked."

"That's...well, I suppose those things happen. Did you have a real fire?"

"We had animals in the chimney."

"Oh." She nodded at that. "I've seen that happen. Your staff is handling it?"

"After we all had a good cry from the smoke this morning before dawn." She smiled. "We'll handle it. It'll just take days."

"Of course it will." She patted her hand. "Stahni?" The girl looked over. "Are you well, dear? I heard you singing earlier."

"I was singing to my dolls about handsome knights who hate me flirting, My Queen." She smiled. "Mostly to embarrass them."

"That happens. Legara here once slapped one on the hind end as she walked past him. Her father never realized why that knight never looked at him again." Legara snickered but nodded. "You can't do anything more embarrassing than she has."

"I don't want to touch one yet, My Queen. I'm too young for that. I just admire the artwork whoever has made for us to stare at."

The queen giggled. "Yes, dear, we all do." Stahni grinned at that. They brought her out a true chair to sit in so Legara helped her to it. "Thank you, Hortense," she said gently to the maid.

"You're welcome, Highness. If you had told us I would've had it all ready for you." She put down the place settings, which made a few of the others at the table shift around. "There, near your sister as well, Highness. Need water or wine tonight?"

"Water please, dear." She got her some. "Thank you. Go sit, Legara. I don't need an attendant." She went to sit down again. "She's a sweet girl." She smiled at her sister. "We should tour the upcoming fair if you're here."

"Your helper told us about the apple dough things."

"Oh, it is beautiful," she agreed with a smile. "Very hot out of the oil, soft, apples spiced perfectly, just perfect for a pretty fall day." Paki came in. "He's already done?"

"The Knights said that the other two coming in are running late due to a wagon problem." She wouldn't mention they were newlyweds so it probably wasn't a wheel problem. She sat down. "He'll be here in a minute, ma'am."

"That's fine, Paki. You'll do well following me." She patted her on the hand. Legara's very light, very sparkly dress caught her attention again but she ignored it. "Stahni, what are you studying?"

"Languages this month, ma'am. Maths was last month. I do one at a time then switch when I'm ready to the next. I'll switch around until I meet the ends of the books."

"That's wonderful. Which languages?"

"Lord Malhamy, My Queen. My uncle wanted me to meet some of their people so it may come in handy."

Her sister looked at her. "We'll see." Her sister blushed. She smiled at the queen. "I've added in one for one of the eastern islands' languages."

"They're incredibly confusing so far," Stahni said quietly. "But useful." She looked around. "I should probably learn how to take Legara's messenger duties someday soon."

Legara smiled at her. "Sir Greens wanted me to visit Sarva so you could go with me then if your sister wanted you to get that experience. Or Lord Hards son goes to the ones in the Mountain areas."

"He's very much grouchy," Stahni said. "But pleasant to talk to if you ignore he's grouchy." That one's father laughed but nodded. "He's very smart to talk to though."

"He is," the father agreed with a nod and a smile. "I warned him not to make that face or it would freeze that way. It apparently did."

The king walked in. "I was thinking she might learn to work with Lord Gerads." That lord sat up straighter. "Stahni does seem to understand your lessons in budgeting and the like. You say you need an assistant. Would you try that?"

"I can do that, Highness. She was good when my last one instructed her in it." He looked at her, getting smiled at. "I can see if she finds it interesting. I'll need someone to do my job when I retire."

"Exactly. Which can take years of learning. So best start early." He sat down and smiled. "Let us begin dinner." The foods got brought in. He was trying not to stare at the feathered and flower crown the visitors were wearing. Each had a different one but they were very...massive and visible. He had been told they had meaning but he had no idea about that. "Legara, who is going to follow you as messenger?"

"My brothers may do that. They're both good riders. They live near the manor. They may like that. I can see if they would, My King."

"That's a good idea. They're both smaller still so probably fast in the saddle." She nodded, sipping her water then putting the chalice down. She noticed it was a special one and stared. Then sighed. She looked at the King and Queen, who stared back. "My Queen, I believe I have your glass." She walked it up there to her and took back the more plain one she had. "I didn't mean to drink from it, ma'am."

"It's not a problem, Legara." She sipped and heard the spirit telling her why. "Things will be as they will be," she said quietly.

Stahni looked over. "My Queen, did you need something?"

"No, dear. Legara only sipped my water for me to test it." She smiled.

The king noticed the chalice and blinked a few times. "He is ever so sneaky to join us. He could come out to join us."

The ancient knight came out to stare at him. "I'm fine. I enjoy talking to our former queen." He disappeared into the chalice again.

"I'm sure she's got many fascinating stories from before," Paki said, smiling at her. "And much more tact than I'll probably ever have."

"You learn, dear." She patted her on the hand. "I learned and you will too." She smiled at her. "You'll do fine. I know you will." Paki nodded at that. Lifting her chin. "And your parents will never have to come visit and tell you to clean your suite up."

Her half-sister snorted. "Don't remind me. She did it to me too often." She sipped her water. Someone outside screamed. Most of the dukes hopped up and grabbed weapons. Including that woman. "She fights?" she demanded.

"It's the duty of every duke and duchess to be able to protect themselves and us if necessary," Paki told her. "What's happened now?' she demanded loudly, standing up. "Sit." Her boyfriend sat back down. She stomped down there but Duke Reggis blocked her. "Move. I'm one of you until I marry."

"You have no weapon. Go guard your future spouse." He pointed and turned back to the doorway.

Legara handed her a dagger. "It's not much."

"Thank you," Paki said. "I forgot mine." Her boyfriend glared at her. "I forgot it on the table. You made me forget it."

Someone came rushing in. "Highness, we need to move you. There's an unknown force coming this way. They should be here in an hour."

"What flags are they flying?" one of the knights ordered.

"We can't tell."

"Bring me, that knight, and those two," Legara ordered with a point. "We do messenger duties." They hurried out to the gate fences and she grabbed one of the knights, hissing in his ear. He nodded, going to watch over Duke Reggis. She took first look. "It's from down by the visitors." She got out of the way for the ones who did duties that way.

"It's Paraphadra's," he announced. "Usually friendly." The knights waiting relaxed some but passed that along. He looked at Legara. "How did you recognize them?"

"That central bird figure. It's been at Lord Fairmy's house a few times when I had to pass on messages there. I think his wife's family was one of them or from that way."

"I didn't even think about Lord Fairmy. His wife's from a few countries over but they could have visited her." He went to tell the King, who nodded at that. He came back. "Who goes?"

"I go," the king said as he came out.

"No you're not," the knights in the courtyard ordered together. Legara laughed at that. The king glared at her for that.

She waved a hand. "Knight Brandles?"

"I can go greet them with the one who's been sent to them."

That knight nodded, going with him.

"Take my mare," she ordered. "She's well trained for that duty." They nodded, getting handed her mare and another one to go riding out. She looked at the king. "Let's get you back to safety, Highness."

"Shut up, Legara."

"Not likely." She grabbed him and made him yelp, walking him inside. "You're not a knight. I'm not a knight. I have to keep reminding myself of that fact. The same as you do." She gave him a pointed look. "You have to be guarded for now until you get Paki pregnant." She handed him over. "It's the Paraphadra's by the flags, My Queen."

She blinked a few times. "Why would they want to visit? We're tolerably polite but they think we're frivolous." She looked at her half-sister.

"They don't tend to visit us either. They're very upset with us for having fun things."

Legara nodded. "I've heard. Let me go man the hallway." She walked that way with a few knights. "No, you're elderly and your son's not ready yet." She gave one a shove. "Guard the King. Be a last line if they get past us."

"Fine. Pushy."

"Yes I am. No one's ready to take your job yet. If I fall he can name anyone. If you fall it goes to your baby son and whoever raises him."

"Good point." He nodded. "If I should fall, Bronches will raise my son," he announced. That knight nodded at that. "If he gets her seat you can raise him there. I won't mind. They have a good library for him to learn from." He positioned himself in front of the door.

Legara was at the gateway, staring at the knights riding back. They looked pleased but tense. "Knights."

"Duchess Legara," one said. "They do not want a battle but they have news."

"There's a lot for a messenger." She helped one down from her horse. Her mare was led into the stables. "Thank you for taking good care of her."

"She's a good mount. I'd be happy to see her foals some year soon."

"This upcoming season." She smiled. "I hope." She looked at the head of the retinue. "I'm Duchess Legara, Duchess of the West. It's a formal dinner tonight as we have noble visitors. Did you need plates added in?"

The head of the guard took off his helmet, staring at her. "No. We came to warn him of a problem and to hide one of our princesses with him."

"That can happen and we always honor peaceful children. Not always the ones from that one Island country," she admitted. He snorted, looking amused. "Come inside. With her so she's safe." He dismounted and walked back to let the girl out of the carriage. She was adorable. And looked a lot like a young Legara. "Was my father over there?" she muttered.

"Your uncle married in," the head guard complained.

"That's something I hadn't heard. I didn't know I had an uncle." She smiled at the child. "I'm Legara."

"Hi," she said, staring at her. "You're very dressed up."

"The whole house was filled with smoke thanks to animals in the chimney. This was clean." The girl giggled at that. "Let us hold a talk," she announced. "I still have no idea I had an uncle," she muttered to the guard. "Grandmother never mentioned him."

"It might not have been hers," he pointed out.

"True, and that grandfather was like that." She led the girl inside surrounded by knights. "My Queen," she said with a curtsey. "My King, my Future Queen. This is apparently my cousin who needs guarded."

The head guard cleared his throat, handing over the note. "From my Head Knight's hand, Sire."

He nodded, reading it. "That's very interesting and of course we'll guard this one. I'm told she has sisters?"

"Two. Both are guarded in temples. This one's too young."

"She's more than welcome to stay with us or her cousin," the former Queen said with a smile for her. "We would protect any child. We're far enough away they'd never come here to attack her." She smiled, leading the child off. "Come, we'll eat. It's time to eat. Bring your knights inside so they can be taken care of, General. They probably need food, water, and a bath."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, looking at the king.

He smiled. "The former Queen is correct. We honor all peaceful ones and your people should be fed and watered, plus helped to take care of your horses."

"Thank you, Sire." He nodded and went to tell the others. They came in to camp around the courtyard. The local knights got them things they'd need, the kitchen got them foods.

Legara walked in after the king, smiling at her cousin. She sat down and got some more water to sip. "It's good it was not a problem."

The king looked at her. "It definitely broke the last two streaks of when I saw you in here, Legara."

She smiled. "None were my fault."

"I know. Still, very amusing."

"I do try, Sire." She sipped her water and relaxed again. Sir Greens came out to stare at the child then at her. "I had no idea I had an uncle."

He blinked a few times, tracing things. "He was misborn. Your grandfather was an idiot who sent him away. I warned him about that and cut his bond because of it. Such a stupid, selfish man." He huffed, looking at the child. Then he initiated the bond to her. "You are more than welcome here, child. As your father should have been." He looked at Legara.

"She's my cousin and I'm enthused by having one finally. I'll go fight anyone who wants that child to be harmed."

Sir Green laughed. "I know you will, Legara. Calm down?" She scowled at him. "She'll be safe here." He patted the child on the head winking before he disappeared into the chalice that held him.

"Where did he go?"

"He's our kingdom's protector," Paki told her. "That's Sir Greens. Right now his usual crown is broken after a fight. So he's living in the chalice so we can still hear from him." She patted her on the cheek. "You'll be safe and fine here." She looked at Legara. "And not as militant as your cousin."

Legara stared back. "I am what I need to be. She'll turn into the woman she needs to be."

"Point. We all became the women we needed to be." She smiled at the child. "This is my sister Stahni." They waved at each other. "Can she stay with you tonight?"

"Of course," Stahni said. "My dolls don't take up all my room."

"Good." She smiled. "You two can talk tonight." She looked at the former Queen, who nodded and smiled at that. Legara was brushing at some dirt on her dress but that was about normal. Someone coughed and Legara had to get out of the way of the blood. "Oh, what now?" she demanded.

"She has these fits, Paki." She helped get the older lady to the healer waiting on the knights. "Another coughing up blood thing." The healer took her to check over. She went back there, wiping at the few spots of blood. She sat down again. Paki stared at her. She looked at the husband, who was moaning and shaking his head. Legara explained. "She has a mass," she said quietly.

"Oh. That makes much sense. I had not heard about that. I'm sorry, Duke."

"It's fine, Paki. She's been sick for a very long time but insisted on coming tonight. It won't do her any harm." He looked at Legara. "You are helpful."


"My grandmother would be proud of me for it."

"True," he agreed. "Your grandmother was the same sort of meddling, helpful woman. You remind me much of her, Legara." She smiled at that. "Someday you'll get to fuss at your family."

"If I find one. Hopefully it'll be soon."

He nodded. "We can all hope. So that someday your daughter does the same things you have."

"She'll be the same sort of messenger I am."

Paki looked at her. "We may let another do it. To spare you while you're pregnant." Legara shrugged at that.

The queen's half-sister looked up. "Is your hierarchy based on age or time serving?"

"Neither. We have the Lord Marshal," Paki said with a point. "He's overtop the Dukes of the North, South, East, and West. Their regions cut the countries up into sections and we're within an hour ride of their houses here in the castle." She pointed at each of them. "Then the others spare them work by taking some of their quarter of the country to handle during emergencies.

"Each of their houses is within an hour of their overseeing duke or duchess' house and each other so no one's ever too far from help." That woman looked at Legara. "She took her seat seven months ago when her father was poisoned by his attempted fifth wife. Who had been friends with the consort our last king was going to marry."

The former queen nodded. "I'm too ill and I told him to find a consort to help him with the kingdom. The first one was good and I adored her but she died of a spotted sickness. The last one, she was apparently very evil." She looked down. "What happened to that one, Legara?"

"Her magic didn't work against me, My Queen. She fell from attacking me. My father succumbed to the poison her handmaiden fed him three days after the battle here. Even when I called in a healer he demanded I was wrong and wouldn't let them treat him. While I miss my father of my youth, that was not him at the end."

"I know, dear. Did she fall like the one here?"

"No, My Queen. That stepmother attempt fell from my mother's ceremonial dagger. The one here got it in the stomach but fell from something else."

"I see. That's good of you, dear."

She smiled. "It's my duty to you and the crown. And the chalice." She sipped her water. A few people stared at her. She shrugged slightly. They decided to ignore that.

Which she really did enjoy.

***

Chapter 4

***

Legara rode into the familiar manor house. "Lord Fairmy needs to hear this," she said. "And Duke Brandles if he's nearby." The guards ran for the Lord of the manor, who came out by himself. "Duke Brandles son is injured. There was a challenge he took for some young girl in the court, who did need defended, against some idiot from King Charlatan's knight in on a messaging run. The knight tried to claim she wanted him, when she's ten. His son's not *critically* injured, but he's not in great shape right now and it may take him weeks to heal."

"Shit," he complained. "I can send you to tell him."

"I was hoping he was conveniently nearby so I could?"

"No, he's at home. Which is a good half-day's ride." He looked around. "Get down, I'll get you a map." She nodded, dismounting to cool her mare down and get her some water while she walked her in circles around the courtyard. "Get her a messenger's horse," he ordered as he walked off. He came out with a hand drawn map. "This is his house. If he's not there, he's with the king and that's another day at least for normal riding."

"I've been there once," she admitted. "But that was about a decade ago." She took the map to look over. "Is that the pretty deep stream?"

"Yes. There's a bridge there now. Follow the road to the second right hand turn, which is not marked and not the tiny ones, the real roads." She nodded, taking the reins of the other horse. "Switch when you come back, Legara."

"Yes, sir. Thank you." She mounted and rode off, letting that horse run as fast as he wanted for now. She ran into the road she needed, she hoped. But the house was nearby when it was supposed to be farther off the road. She rode closer. "I'm on messenger duty. Is this Duke Brandles house?"

"Next road to the right, about a half-hour up," the guard said.

"Thank you." She turned the horse and went back to the main road to find that one. She did and found his house about dinner that night. She dismounted, nodding at the guards. "I'm Duchess Legara of the West. I'm on messenger duty. I need a parent here." A door was slung open by a young boy. "You're Knight Brandles little brother." He nodded. "I need your parents. He's gotten injured. Not fatally but injured." He went running, bringing his mother. "Duchess."

"You are?"

"Duchess Legara of the West. I'm the one that's sent to pass on messages through Lord Fairmy. Your son was injured taking a challenge for a young woman." She moaned, sitting down. "It's not fatal but it's bad. The healer said it looks nastier than it was. It'll take him a few weeks to heal. He wanted to make sure you knew that." The mother stared up at her. "He was protecting a young woman, who was all of ten, from one of King Charlatan's knights in on messaging runs."

"Oh, no. Is he in danger from that?"

"My king threatened to give him a noble title for it." The mother laughed but covered her mouth. "He has a stomach wound and a leg wound mostly, and a pretty good cut on one arm and shoulder. The healers said he'll be fine." She handed over the note from her pocket. "He had someone write that for him." The mother read it and nodded.

"If you want to come visit him, come right ahead. He's with Duke Reggis, who is the Lord Marshal. He's off to the right of the palace as you come up the main road from my manor. If you show up at my manor I can show you a good map." She smiled.

"He's a good boy. I enjoy picking on him sometimes about being so uptight." The mother burst out laughing, hugging her son. "But he did not want you to worry. At all. Or to attack the king about his knight's problems. Our king might, but he didn't want you or your husband to worry or hear it from gossip."

"I'll tell him. Thank you, dear." She stood up, kissing her on the cheek. "You should go back."

"I've got to switch horses back at Lord Fairmy's house. He has my mare." She patted the young boy on the cheek. "Your brother does your family proud and us too. Most of us would've protected her but he stepped in first." She nodded at the mother. "Should I bring a note back?"

"No, I'll come to visit him within a week."

"I'll let him know." She nodded and went back to her horse, mounting and trotting off. "Let's get you home, dear." The horse shook his head but was happy with that and the slower trot back.

The mother sucked in a breath. "Let's go prepare to check on your brother her kingdom claimed." She walked off hugging her younger son to calm herself down. She would not wail. It'd prevent them going sooner. "If your father isn't home by the morning, tell him I went to visit your brother for me so he can follow."

"Yes, Mother."

***

Legara leaned down to knock on the gate at Duke Reggis' house, getting one of his guards. "Tell Knight Brandles his mother did not wail or cry but she'll be coming to visit within a week. His father wasn't home."

"I can do that, Duchess. Are you well?"

"Long ride." She smiled. "Tell him I said to get better. I gave his mother that letter he had dictated." She turned her mare and rode off more slowly than usual. They were both tired.

The guard went to tell his boss that and let the Duke tell his knightly hostage. They had to get ready for an upset mother to show up and storm the castle.

***

Legara walked out when someone announced riders. "Good morning," she called. "Come in for food, people. I'll get you a map while you eat." She helped the mother out of her carriage. "No husband?"

"He's behind me somewhere." She flapped a hand. "He was late getting back."

"Sometimes that happens. It's safe to travel this way." She took her in to eat and get her a map for her driver. He nodded at the precise directions with distances in time. "I usually ride single," she said. "If you see the blue gate you're two from his. Just stay on that same road and go two more gates total, one on each side then his on the left."

"Yes, ma'am."

She smiled. "She'll be right out. I'm having her eat."

"It's good of you, miss. Are you the housekeeper?"

"No, I'm Duchess Legara of the West." She smiled. "It's my house. I'm the usual messenger sent to Lord Fairmy."

"That's good of you, ma'am." His boss came out wiping her mouth off. "I have directions, Duchess."

"That's good. Thank you, Duchess."

"I'd never keep a mother from her injured child," she said with a smile, helping her into the carriage. "If I see your husband I'll give him the same directions."

"Thank you, dear." She climbed in and let her driver take her off now that she had eaten, relieved herself, did a bit of cleaning up, and was presentable again. "She's very sweet."

"Yes, ma'am," the driver agreed. The directions were good and he found the right gate. "This is Duke Reggis' house?" he demanded quietly.

"Yes, sir, and the Duke is waiting on Knight Brandles mother if that's her. He's in the drawing room and the Knight is tied to his bed because he tried to get up." The mother sniffled but nodded. He let them into the courtyard and helped her out of the carriage. "This way, Duchess." He knocked then walked in. "Duke Reggis, you have a visitor," he announced. "Duchess Brandles."

He leaned out of his study. "Upstairs, the first room on the right, dear." He smiled. "I treated him as if my own son. I'm quite proud of him for defending her against a champion of wars."

"I'm going to destroy that knight if I see him." She went up there, looking calm. She knocked before walking in. She was sniffling as she closed the door.

Duke Reggis looked at the guard. "His father may show up soon."

"That's fine. I'll put the driver up above the stables, sir." He went to do that. It took an extra four hours to get the Duke there but he was riding singly and on one of Duchess Legara's mares. So he had changed apparently. He got pointed inside so he went to talk father-to-father about that incident. Then he went to fuss at his son and calm his wife down.

***

Legara showed up at the palace a few days later, nodding at the guards on the doorway from her carriage. "I have visitors for the king," she said dryly. "They're in irons."

The guard stared at her. "We're not used to you being in a carriage."

"Not like I could make them walk all this way. They might get away and I'd have to kill them." She smiled. They let her in and got guards to come gather the 'guests' to walk into the palace with her. "Sire," she called as she walked in. "I stopped a problem coming in."

He looked over from his throne. "Did you have to yell, Legara?"

"Yes, Sire, so your head knight will hear and show up to complain as well." She got out of the guards' way. "We have one other but he's trapped inside a cave. My stable hands are waiting to kill him if he comes out. They know he's not supposed to do that. So does he.

"I stabbed that one a few years back for this same thing." The Head Knight came in and paused then growled. "One's in my former play cave but my stable hands are going to take him out for me. I thought these ones needed to come up here faster. So I actually used the carriage." She smiled.

The Head Knight looked at her. "Good work, Legara. I remember you caught them a few years back."

"The one in the cave is one of them. I remember stabbing him."

He nodded. "Someone go get that idiot from her play cave," he ordered. A few knights took some guards. She strolled off to join them by going back in her carriage. The Head Knight looked at the prisoners. "It's great she's that strong even at her age." They shrank away from him.

"Sire, we're at a truce with this country. They are not supposed to cross our borders without stopping to tell us about any messages they're carrying. They are not to sneak around to cross the border by the Western edge as they're to the south. They're just scared of that Duke's people."

"I'd be more scared of Legara personally. She's turning mean." He smiled. "So what was the plan you had?" They refused to say anything. "Let me know what they say and if you need it you can borrow my fiancee. Paki does good making people feel unloved and horrid." He smiled.

"I've seen her doing that, Sire. If I need her I'll ask." He had them walked off, following them. He had a lot of work to do today apparently.

The king looked at the people in there. "Well, that was charming news. Get me the Duke of the South," he ordered. "And any history on their problems." They nodded, going to do that for him. "Did they pass by another duke's house?" he asked.

"Probably Duke Reginald's," one said. "They're directly on the border but can really only watch and send on word. They're both older and their children are all married and moved off. Their children don't want the duty, Sire."

"We'll have to appoint someone strong to take that spot then." He got comfortable, waiting on the information and his girlfriend. Paki was going to be mean to someone else today.

Knight Brandles limped in. "Sire, my father would give you anything you want to know about them so they can do more than nag me." He smiled. "Please," he added quietly.

"I'd be most happy to hear his thoughts. Your father's been a duke and leader for a very long time. Thank him for that offer when you send him in?"

"I can do that, Sire. Thank you." He went to tell his father that and his mother could help some. She knew of their queen.

The king smiled. "Thank you for the help. I've barely heard anything about them."

"It's not a problem, young man." He smiled. "I'm happy Legara warned others as they rode in. Rather surprised she didn't make them walk in irons, but she's just that way sometimes."

"I had that same thought. She's sweet when she wants to be. Much like my fiancee Paki."

"I've met her at a formal event once. You have a strong wife, Sire." He went over their people, their stupid ideas, and his wife went over their queen's problems among them. It was an added problem that could distract them if they tried something or it could join with the king's problems to cause them more problems.

***

Legara was humming as she laid the canisters made for her and then watched the progress of the people trying to sneak over the border. She set the first one off. It was too soon but might scare them off. It didn't. So she set the others off when they got close enough. Most of them were injured. Only two weren't. She went to meet them on the road, smiling at them. "It's a beautiful night tonight, gentlemen. Why are you violating my borders?"

"Duchess?" a male yelled.

"Down here. There's two not injured out of eight."

Guards from the local duke's estate came to help her. They surrounded the two healthy ones. A few went to gather the injured ones. They took them from her. She went to talk to her sub duke, who was ancient and stooped. "I'm going to ask to get a few knights here for now," she said.

"Was that noise you?" he demanded.

"Yes. It blew them up." She smiled. "I got all but two." He groaned. "I'll ask for some knights."

"Thank you, Legara." He limped into his house to tell his wife.

She went to get the guards to send a message up. They could keep these idiots for now. This duke didn't have a cell for them but the next one to the west came to see what the explosions were. She smiled and waved. "I blew most of them up. Do you have a cell?"

"I do, Duchess. And I'll ask the King to send some knights to spare you."

"I was going to as well. I know my limitations. I cannot handle an army." He nodded, sending a guard to tell the palace about this. She sighed in pleasure. "Can you have someone guard here tonight if this Duke's people can't?" she asked quietly.

"I can. I know he's a bit old and doesn't have the full staff I do. Neither do you."

"I'm still hiring," she agreed. "Please if you can. Get the others to up their watching?"

"Of course. I'll send a message to Fairmy as well."

"Duke Brandles is up at the palace. His son was injured." She smiled. "His parents are up there watching over him."

"That's fun. They'll love this too." He smiled. "Go rest. You look exhausted."

"I am but I can stay if we don't have enough guards."

"I have half an army, dear," he said dryly. "Go rest." She nodded and let him handle that. He got his guards to bring others. "Make sure they don't try this again or blow them up like she did." They nodded, getting into a good watching position to guard this weak spot. He had to talk to the king about naming a new duke over this area. Legara was good but she was young and this was a weak spot she had noted to him in the past. They had two weak sub dukes in their area and they had to be fixed.

***

The King looked at the guard that had knocked on his suite. "What's happened?"

"Duke Myar and Duchesse Legara stopped a small invasion force, My King," he said firmly. "She blew up six and captured the other two then called for help. Duke Myar and she both asked to send some knights to handle that border for now. The duke there is ancient and barely has guards. Duke Myar has those six in his custody and I heard him send the Duchess to rest."

"Yes, I can do that in the morning. Go rest and go back with them." He nodded. "Thank you." He looked at his hallway guard, who was sending someone to get the Head Knight. And Knight Brandles' father. It was going to be a long night. He shut the door so Paki could sleep while he went to get his guests into his suite so they could talk.

"Duke Myar sent word that he and Legara stopped eight more coming across the border. She had some explosives for some reason and blew up a few. He has the rest in storage for now." The Head Knight glared at him. "They've asked for some help."

"Good! They'll have it as soon as my boys can get there." He sat down. "Same ones?"

"He didn't say any different so I'm assuming. The guard he sent also noted that the duke on that border was old?"

"Yes, he is. Very ancient," Duke Brandles agreed. "He's a good man, very scientific, interested in the stars. His family has all moved. I have no idea which one is his heir though. It's not something he's ever talked to us about when we had to stop in as we crossed the border."

"You go up the trails instead of the road?" the Knight asked.

"Yes. The road is horrible right across the border for horses. A lot of sharp little stones from those hills having issues with rock falls. The road's whole but fairly nasty to ride over. I know Legara uses the paths as well when she brings messages. She's the one that warned us about the road being so dangerous a few trips back. It could be fixed but my king has no interest in such things. Or idea why it might be a good idea." He shrugged but smiled. "So we handle it with the herding paths."

"That's reasonable," the Knight agreed. "I'll tell my knights that so they're aware." He looked at the king. "Permission to bring a full unit?"

"Yes, you may. What else did you learn from them?"

"Not much. They're forward scouts for someone wanting to take out a few dukes. They were to sneak in to get Legara and Myar, and probably that old duke as well. They're the ones on that edge and she's the important one that holds them together. Myar would step in. So would Duchess Mercala for her husband thinking on it.

"They're on the other side of that road and hills toward the other gateways but her husband would gladly let her step in so she'd quit nagging him about getting out of the house. She's another that took her training seriously. Her husband is a duffer but she's not bad. She was nearly taken in as a Squire but her mother had a fit on the former King."

The Duke smiled. "I think it's sweet you allow women in your knights. My own daughter needs to train to protect herself." He looked at the King. "I can gladly ask my king about that as they had to breach our borders as well."

"Please. What could they be wanting?"

"No idea," he admitted. "They're not very stable. They have three sons. They could be trying to let one claim things without actually ordering it. I'll extend some feelers that way."

"Thank you, Duke Brandles. You know that area much better than I do yet. I need to get myself better educated on those kingdoms and meet yours. He seems reasonable."

"Some days. That can depend on his family's actions that day. I've seen a few days when his wife drove him to screaming on top of the castle. Literally." He smiled. "His wife is more temperamental than my own is and she nags him about having nothing to do. He's told her repeatedly that he can't just make a circus or theater appear."

The new king nodded. "I can see that. Paki and I have that same feeling now and then." He sighed. "What should I be expecting from them? Are they going to send someone to get their people back? Are they going to have some preposterous story about trying to send a son out to find a wife?"

"That's a more probable story," the Duke said. "He has three worthless sons that no one wants. One's supposedly married but no one's seen his wife since the wedding day. She didn't even make it to the dinner afterward. I was there for royal duties." He shifted, crossing his feet. "The other two are younger but weaker than that one.

"If they had a decent parent they'd still be weaker sons without much hope of a future without having a skill they find somewhere to borrow. I'm not even sure if they were forced to learn to read." The king winced. "Their father would've demanded, or his wife would've really, but those three boys are lazy little shits who need to be removed before they breed. I certainly won't let any of my children go there even for diplomatic things. Here, my oldest son is safe. He's treated well and apparently well liked."

He smiled at the Head Knight, who smirked back. "You've done him good. He's much better than he used to be." He looked at the king again. "There, I wouldn't even let them get near the border diplomatically. They might try to claim one as a spouse without getting their permission. Which could bring up a worry about Duchess Legara and any other young women out that way."

The Head Knight thought. "Myar has a few daughters. Legara's got a few guards and is looking to hire some more. The ancient one's all alone but his wife and guards. The next one to the east is towards the north and has two sons and one baby daughter. The one on their direct gateway between us has six daughters and there's a group of priestesses out that way from some out kingdom temple. I don't know who they're to really. I'm sending two units of knights and guards out that way, Sire."

"You know everyone's strengths better than I do. If that's what's needed. Make sure we're not uncovered anywhere else. I'm hearing things about the other people to the south?"

"Them I send the duke down there to them with something shiny to give them. They usually quit within a week." The Head Knight got up. "Let me get people awake and sent. I have no idea why Legara had explosives or how many more she has so they should probably go sooner." He nodded and left to go make those orders, and to talk about the ones in the south. That one had just changed so it was probably a chest thumping move to prove their worth to their new people.

The duke and king shared a look. "How do I stop this before I have less hair?"

He smiled. "You stay strong and diplomatic but don't take shit from anyone, King Leonars. Mine had to do that for years too." He shook his hand and went back to tell his son that news.

The king settled in to stare out the window and think about that advice. He could stay diplomatic and strong but this was getting annoying. Though Paki would help him keep his temper he was sure.


***

Chapter 5

***

Duchesse Legara was summoned to the palace a few weeks later, sighing as she dismounted in the courtyard. "I was summoned. What's the gossip?" she asked. They all looked away from her. "Oh, that sort. Charming." She took someone's belt knife, getting a nod for that theft. That squire knew she'd need it.

She tucked it into her own belt as she walked in, pausing to check her hair. It'd come down if she moved too much. That would suck. She got announced and walked into the throne room. "Yes, My King? You sent for me? I haven't even had to hurt anyone recently."

He smiled. "This king to our southwest is trying to create a diplomatic tie by his son's loins."

"Which I have no need of doing, Sire. I do not need a higher rank than I already have. Nor do I want to be a princess. They're often forced to be quiet, tactful, and weak, which I'm not."

"True. You're the only duchess that's unmarried," he noted. "Which does put us in a pickle, Duchess Legara."

She smiled. "I would have no man who would try to force my hand. If he can't win my affections, he's not the one for me and I doubt our Guardian would agree." Sir Greens flowed out and shook his head then went back into the chalice. "I see I'm right." She smiled at him. "I can suggest someone like Dowager Havar. She's only in her twenties and is very kind and polite. She'd make a great princess and her husband was Lord of the Manor to the Eastern Duke."

"I barely met her but she did seem interesting," he agreed, looking at that prince. "Her husband unfortunately died about eight months after they married of a riding accident. Before he could do more than create his heir. Who is a darling little girl. She's very sweet, even when she threw up on me."

Legara smiled. "I'm told babes do that, Sire. I've had a few I'm godmother to do the same thing." She looked at the prince, making herself not sneer. He was dirty, he was greasy, he was young. "Sire, this young pup can only be a messenger at his age. Did he even bring a portrait of his Prince?"

The King tried not to laugh. "He's the Prince."

She nodded. "He's not even a man yet, Sire. He is probably not due for a wife for a few years yet. I'm almost a full ten years older than him."

"A wife will be silent," he sneered.

"No wife is ever silent and thankfully I'll never be your wife," she shot back. "I would sit down, Pup." He tried to hit her so she stabbed him in the stomach. He squealed and fell down sobbing. She sighed, putting the dagger back on her belt. "Thankfully I pickpocketed the squires outside as I wasn't going to wear a weapon today. I got dressed up." She huffed as Paki came in, curtseying to her. "My future Queen."

"Legara, you look nice today."

"Thank you, I tried to. This young pup apparently wants me to look less fabulous."

The King smiled. "I should make you marry someone to solve this."

"I'd rather you not. I'd hate that and they'd hate me because they've known me for so long. They think I'm too whiny usually, My King."

"You?" he asked.

"I was when I was Stahni's age. Then I turned catty for a few years until I got caught by a few older duchesses and got my mind chewed on by them."

He nodded. "That's how I stopped that too," he admitted. He shifted to put a foot up. "They're going to try to use this to start a war."

"Do you want me to bring him home, Sire?" She smiled. Paki burst out laughing. "I can be diplomatic as I hand him back while explaining we have no one here worthy of him."

The King tried not to laugh again. "That's very true. You're the only unmarried Duchess we have. We have two unmarried other noble women."

"I'd worry more about the temple to the Sun Goddess that transferred over from their people. I had a tutor from them for a few months but she was very uptight. My father's mind left and he forgot to pay her for a week."

The king nodded. "That makes sense." He looked at the prince. "Go hand back the dagger, Legara."

"Yes, Sire." She curtseyed and went to do that. That squire took it back and grinned at her. "He's half my age." She went to the knight's practice area. "Someone give me a sword." They stared. She stared back. "The *prince* wants me." They handed her a bow. "Sure, not my best skill. I could use the practice."

"You're too dressed for blood," one of the squires quipped.

"I thought I might like to just be pretty today." She went to practice her bow. The arms master gave her a dirty look. "I know. It's not my best skill." She went back to it. She was hitting pretty well today for her usual skill level. Someone yelled as they came at her. She dropped the bow but kept the arrow, using it to stab at the being.

She kicked and knocked them back then got them with the arrow to the ear before grabbing a held out sword to defend herself. She sighed when that other one was down, staring at them. "Well. That was nasty of you. Proves what sort of man you're not." She looked at herself. "Oh, good, only a bit of dust. I'm starting to consider the palace a curse to get blood on me."

She dusted herself off, taking the sword with her. "I'll clean it and give it back in a moment." She walked out of the practice yard. "Sir Harns!" she bellowed, bringing him out. "I need a cloth to clean the idiot princes' blood off this borrowed sword. They're dirtying your archery range as well so can I have some ash to put over it?"

He stared at her. "Who're you?"

"Duchess Legara."

"Oh, shit. I've heard about you," he muttered. She smiled and pointed. "I'll get you some cloths and some ashes to clean up your mess, dear."

"Thank you." She bowed and went back there. "I'll clean up my mess, Arms Master. I was not taught to be the non-cleaning sort of woman." She took the damp clothes to clean the sword off then the ash shovel to sprinkle over their blood. "There." She handed back the sword with a smile. "Thank you for the lending."

She looked at the arms master, who was shaking his head. "I should go back to the bow practice. It's been the best I've done in years." She picked up the bow, having to lift a prince's arm to get it off the bow, then let it drop to the ground to walk over him and go back to her firing practice.

The king strolled out. "Legara."

"It broke the curse of me having blood on my dress each time I showed up, Sire." She shot another shot. "I did better earlier." She shifted her stance and went back to it. "That's nicer."

The arms master looked at the king. Him and the squire's head were both new. The Head Knight stomped in behind the king. "Is that normal?" he asked with a point.

"Yes. All dukes and duchesses must be able to protect themselves and anyone else they have to," the King said. "I think it's charming. Though Legara is a bit...tense."

She shot him a dirty look. "Only when I'm up here, Sire." One of the princes groaned. "Awww, he's alive." She nodded. "I did good." She went back to firing. The arms master came over to make her stance shift and teach her better. She smiled and tried that, it did go better. "Thank you! This isn't my best weapon." She went back to it.

The Head Knight looked at her. "Duchess." She shot him a smirk. "Are you messy?"

"No. It broke the curse of me going home with blood on my dress each time I come up here. I hope I don't have more later." She paid attention and took another shot. The princes groaned again. She looked down. "You are not worthy to bleed on my shoe. Stop it," she growled. He whined. "You're both too young for me and not educated enough for my tastes. You do not live up to that one diplomat from Lord Havar that came a few years back.

"Many of us crushed on him for his excellent reading voices and skills. He was very smart, read a lot, and was fairly evil. You cannot live up to that. Therefore you are not worthy of us." She stared at the one staring at her. "Am I clear?" She took another shot then nodded. She let the arms master take the bow from her. "Thank thee for the stress relief, Arms Master."

"You're welcome, Duchess. Do you often take sword lessons?"

"Yes, I did. I don't any longer. Usually the swords all the knights have are longer and heavier than I'm used to." She shrugged. "I do what I can."

"You need more consistent practice. Hire a tutor."

"If I can. I need to finish hiring guards as well." She smiled. "I need another three or five probably." She looked at the Head Knight. "The one you suggested wondered why a woman needed one."

"I heard. I told him why and he groaned. He thinks he'd bother your dating life."

"I don't have one of those. There's days I wanted to...." She shrugged. "I seem to scare men off." She walked over those two princes and curtseyed to the king. "May I go home and get less dressed up, Sire?"

"No." He smiled. "We'll talk about how to answer their king's demands."

"I say we send Lady Hortense. She's the former King's nanny and very strong as a mother. She can instruct them on the way home so perhaps they become more worthy of a wife in the future."

"That's mean, dear."

"Well, yes," she admitted but smiled back. "It's been a good day for it." She walked off. "Let me go clean off the dust. I'll go back to the throne room."

"Good idea." He waved and two squires went with her to protect her. He looked at his Head Knight, who was shaking his head. "Sir Greens wanted her to find one from Sarva."

"They'd be very frustrated with her and she'd be the same with how quiet and polite they're supposed to be." He looked around. "I can find someone to court her if she'd agree."

"I don't think she'd mind. I can ask. Or you can ask."

"I may ask. It'd give us some more security that way." He went to talk to a few knights.

The king looked at the messy spots. "She covered their blood with ash?"

"She asked politely for a shovel of some," the Arms Master said. "She cleaned up the sword too, Sire. She has some skill but can take more lessons."

"I wish she didn't have to."

The knights all nodded. "We'd all like her to quit needing to do our job, Sire," one quipped. "She didn't even ask. She took a sword before we could use it."

He nodded. "She's done that before. Would one of you be interested in dating the pretty young Duchess?" They all shook their heads. "Why not? Did she scare you off?"

"Most of us are married. Only six knights aren't married, Sire."

"Ask them and see if one might be interested. That way she's safer." He went back inside. Paki was nagging her. "She's fine, dear. She defended herself. She even cleaned up her mess."

"She demanded attention."

"To get a cloth and some ashes," she agreed. "I didn't want to leave a mess, Paki. We were both taught not to do that. Also, those two needed to know that I'm not weak and able to be taken out without notice."

"Point I suppose. Bit bold however."

"Yes, I am." She nodded. "Because I've had to be. A weaker woman would've been dead by now."

"Point." She looked at her future husband, who smiled. "Are they alive?"

"At this point." He sat on his throne. "Do start dating someone."

"If I find someone I would, Sire. I will marry for the good of my family and this kingdom as ordered by you and Sir Greens." She shrugged. "I can't summon a future husband without notice."

"Point. One of the knights?"

"They're all married as far as I know."

"Mostly. I asked." He sighed. "How do we send them back?"

"I still say Lady Horstense. She won't let them die on the trip. She'll teach them manly skills. That king won't be a problem if he tries to take her out for that because she's very deadly if she has to be. And if she takes out that king maybe her grandson will have something to do next year when he's out of schooling."

The king blinked. "The boy would be a problem?"

"He'll be bored," Paki said. "If he's bored he gets into things and trouble usually follows him. He did a grand job of rearranging the gardens one afternoon by unplanting and replanting everything due to a farmer's formula he had learned." The king just nodded. "It went well and they all thrived better but the young one does need a lot to do."

The king smiled at her. "I know a few like that." He looked at the duchess.

"No, Sire. I just picked up a book if I got that bored."

He nodded. "That's good of you. What of Brandles? He's from out kingdom."

"He's a cousin I believe. On my maternal grandfather's side and on my paternal grandfather's side if I read correctly. That one's less connected, a fifth cousin or something. The one on the maternal side, if I read right, he's probably a second cousin."

The king nodded at that. "That's interesting." She shrugged. "What diplomat was that?"

Paki moaned. "He was handsome, well read, read to the ladies in the court sewing circle one day, and had a great many of them in his bed. We *all* drooled on that man." She sighed, smiling at him. "You're more worthy since he was evil. But he was very pretty."

The king shook his head. "I'll see if we can help her find one. Duke Brandles is still here for another day. Maybe he knows someone."

"If he did I would not mind the introduction," Legara agreed. "Thank him for me, Sire?"

"Of course, dear. Go rest in our gardens to make sure you're safe."

"Then no one's guarding my staff."

"I'll send someone. Go rest in the garden." He pointed. She curtseyed and went to do that for him. He looked at Paki. "Find her one?"

"I've been looking."

"Good. I hope she'd be safer with one." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek, going to talk to the former Queen about that. She must know of someone nice enough.

The king relaxed until he heard whether or not those two survived.

***

Legara got called back, showing up dressed nicer than usual, but not too out of the ordinary. She smiled at Paki, who was staring at her oddly. "The housekeeper picked it out. I look fantastic."

"You do but very formal."

"I think she expected me to be up here for a bit so I'd get out of the way of her cleaning the rugs in the main hall today." She smiled, handing over the note she had been sent. "I got that yesterday. I'm assuming that's why I got summoned."

Paki read it and blinked a few times. "That explains why they decided to come here and try to take you out." She stared at her. "They really want your line to end apparently."

"They won't win that war themselves either." She smiled sweetly, making her old friend shudder. "Exactly." She looked at the chalice. "Is anyone else having problems with their bond seeming weak?" she asked quietly.

"Yes. That's been noted by a few of you. I'm worried about why."

"Hmm. I wouldn't know. That's something someone like a priestess might know?"

"I've sent for one, and one of the mages from Lord Havar. Maybe he'll send that same diplomat so everyone can stare at him again." She blinked, handing her boyfriend the papers when he stomped in.

"Fuck them then," he growled. He looked at her, looking confused. "Is there a dinner tonight?"

"The housekeeper picked it out and I do look fantastic so she demanded I wear this today, Sire. She probably expects a long visit today so she has time to clean the rugs in the main hall." She grinned.

"That could be," he decided. He sat down. "Are you all right with this knowledge?"

"I killed the stepmother they tried to infect my family with. And the one that tried to infect your family, Sire." He nodded he knew that.

"You did?" Paki demanded.

"Yes, she attacked me, Paki. I'm shocked your uncle didn't tell you that since he was here."

"I'm shocked he didn't too." She adjusted how she was sitting. "Interesting."

"Are you feeling well, Paki?" The future queen stared at her. "You're pale. Your hair looks lighter. Your skin looks sad. Are you sick?"

"I..." She looked at herself then got up to look in a mirror. Legara walked up behind her to compare. "Oh, I am paler than I thought." She frowned. "Am I ill?"

"I'm no healer." She leaned out of the throne room. "Can you get a healer to answer a question for the future queen?" she asked. "She had a question about future children and the precautions she'd have to take before she got pregnant." The guard smiled but went to get them one.

"I'm hoping that's what this is," Paki said quietly, looking at her boyfriend. Who shrugged but looked confused. "Do I look pale to you?"

"A bit now that you mention it," he said. "I don't know about such things, Paki."

"Point." The healer walked in and bowed. "Am I pregnant?" she hissed. "Legara noticed I'm very pale. Even my hair's lighter for some reason."

"That's not usually from a pregnancy so let's look you over, Duchess." She took her to a nearby room to check on her. They came out a half-hour later, shaking her head. "She's ill but there's no disease I can find."

Legara winced. "She has been under a curse to never love anyone of a class lower than hers," she said quietly.

The healer considered it. "That could fit. But he's the king."

"I was a knight when we met," he said, looking at her.

"I do think of you as my stubborn little knight," she admitted then winced. "Oh, no." She sighed, looking at the healer.

"I'll send for someone more learned in the way of curses, Duchess. That way you're saved as soon as we can." She bowed and hurried off to do that.

Paki sat down with a huff. "Well, that explains the nightmares I've been having again." She looked at Legara. "How did you realize?"

"Usually that dress looks sunny on you. It's not today." She shrugged. "I don't see you every day like he does so I notice those bigger changes that he saw slowly happening."

"I didn't even think on that." She looked at her boyfriend, who kissed the back of the hand he held. "I do not want to live in a tower," she complained. "I really don't."

"We'll make sure you're saved from it," he soothed, making her slump but nod. "For now, you should probably rest?"

"She said I'm perfectly healthy otherwise. Just getting weaker." She looked in the chalice then around. "None of those are native jewels." She went to find one and brought it back to drop into the chalice. "Does that help you feel stronger, Sir Greens?"

"Yes, dear. I hadn't even realized I didn't link myself back into the lands." He did that and sighed. Legara looked less pale too. He came out to stare at her. "I'd naturally suck on the life force of those I'm most bound with," he realized. "Oh, no."

She waved a hand. "It will be what it is and it's my honor and duty to protect you as much as I can. It won't kill me this week. What can we do to help? Is the new crown ready?"

"I need more ground to interact with. More of my native soils."

"I cannot rend ground up. Reggis probably can. Get the Lord Marshal here," she yelled. "Sir Greens needs him to do something for him." The guard went to tell his people that. He wasn't that far away. She looked at the knight then at the king. "Well, today's going to be charming."

"It is," he agreed. He squeezed Paki's hand. "Sir Greens, can you tell if her health is from that curse her mother or whoever put on her?"

He looked at her and nodded. "It is. She still considers you her knight, which is romantic. We can find someone to break it, Sire."

"Please."

The Lord Marshal stomped in a few minutes later. "Thankfully I was on my way here to check on our protector because many of us feel him weakened." He looked at Legara. "He's been draining from you."

"We dropped in a more native stone," Paki said.

He looked and nodded. "You forgot to link yourself back to the lands, Sir Greens."

"I'm old, my memory has gaps," he said dryly. "Plus there's still corruption from the blasted attempted consort's things. We really must end it."

"How can we help?" the king asked.

"That would probably take a mage to uncurse things."

"Is one in my house?" Legara asked. "I can have part of it rebuilt if I have to. Again."

The knight looked at her. "No, you're a seal on your own, as is my high priestess and a few others." He looked. "Oh, dear." He sighed. "Sire, they'll be announcing she's left us."

"We'll honor her sacrifice and help the new one take over smoothly," he promised. "Any others we have to watch?"

"Legara, four other dukes, and I feel three places of corruption. One's nearby but not inside the palace grounds."

Legara frowned. "That old temple? I've felt the urge to go there a few times recently."

"That's your mother's spirit, child," the knight said. "Or possibly your grandmother. That actually holds a gateway." She nodded, walking off to go look at that. "Take someone with you," he yelled after her. "Someone without magic."

"Yes, Sir Greens. I'm going to do something for him," she noted to a knight she walked past. "Let's go visit that temple." He followed, getting their horses. She let the feeling lead her that way, and to the sides. Where she opened a door and a former diplomat stepped out. "If I had known it was you, I would've opened it sooner," she said, blushing at him.

"That wouldn't have been me. That would've been our court mage instead. What's went on?"

"We had an attempted consort who poisoned our Knight Protector and others. Duchess Paki's curse is acting up. A few of us are being drained to keep the knight safe. The king to the southwest is an idiot who that former consort asked to have me taken by so I'd be killed apparently." She smiled weakly. "Not a lot this week."

Knight Legmas looked at her. "What?"

"That's why they showed up on my border instead of closer by. She and my almost stepmother wanted them to take me as a proper wife so I'd die of it." She smiled at him. "Because apparently I'm in their way when they were alive."

He nodded, looking amused. "I find you amusing but not in the way all that often. Here, take my horse. I'll walk back, Sir."

"I can get my own." He walked back through and came back with a bag and his horse, mounting up and heading after them. That temple went quiet again. "I had no idea about that doorway but we've all felt a pull towards it."

"I felt the pull for the last week to go there," Legara admitted. "To open it. I've been fighting it because I had no idea that was important. Sorry."

"No, that's a fine thing, Duchess." He looked at her. "Why are you ill?"

"I'm firmly bound and the Knight needed my strength to keep him surviving. We think."

He nodded. "Yes, that's likely." He looked her over. "How are you still an innocent?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Because I was too busy reading to go to the fun parties since my father was so beset by his grief for so long?"

"Point. We'll see if that's important. It might help me." She blushed, staring at him. "It may help. I might need the extra energy." They rode into the palace and the knight nodded. He dismounted and walked into the palace.

Legara dismounted and handed over her mare. "Thank you for watching them." She smiled. "Let me go back in there. That former consort was a bigger problem than we thought." She went inside to let them gossip. "Sire, I opened a doorway and found a former diplomat watching it," she announced.

The king looked at her. "That seems very helpful so far. Who is our new friend?"

"That diplomat I mentioned? This is him," Paki said with a grin for him.

He looked at him, getting a nod and a smirk back. "I can see why the young nobles fawned over you. Can you help us with Sir Greens and my future wife?"

"The curse on her will take someone with specialist knowledge but I can block it from progressing until they can get here. It may take a bit of time though."

"We're due to marry in four months."

"You may not want to do that so soon."

He nodded. "We can rearrange that due to her being ill." He shifted. "Legara, sit down." She sighed but sat down.

"I can ease my bond to her," the Ancient Knight said quietly.

"Don't you dare," Legara warned. "I won't be the cause of you dying." The knight glared at her. The diplomat knocked her out with a slight magic attack.

The king looked at him. "I've seen her fight that off before."

"Today she's not that strong." He went to look at the knight. "We can relink you." He summoned a small stand made of the stones under the palace and dirt to connect them to the ground. The knight linked himself in with his help, getting stronger. "Better." He stared at him. "We can help that." He looked at the king. "It'll probably take me days to straighten his bond out."

"That's fine. We've got others here so we can put you up." He smiled. "Thank you for the help. How did you know?"

"Our kingdom's protector has been making us all stare at the doorway she opened for us." He looked at her then at him. "It will take a while to get him back to full strength."

"Would that be because she had to free him from the crown he had been in?" Paki asked. The diplomat stared at her oddly. "After she fought off the attempted consort for our last king, who was poisoning us all, and tried to get that one killed by a stepmother attempt, she had to go save the guardian.

"By rumors from the blacksmith, she pried his main stone out to protect him as he was being made into a merged crown with that consort's guardian's crown. They had a fight in the smithy, and she broke his crown after our knight defeated theirs. Or was it when that other knight showed up and challenged her to a duel for that?"

The diplomat blinked a few times. "She did what?" he demanded. He looked at her. "You don't have skills for that."

"Not like her father had her trained for any gifts she has," Reggis said as he walked in again. "Sir." He shook his hand. "She learned from various family journals."

"We would've made her learn a lot more but she'd have been more quiet and less bouncy." He grimaced. "We can go over that. She defeated a knight in spectral form?"

"She did something that rended him unable to come back to sight," the king said. "We think. She said she didn't know it was supposed to do that."

The diplomat blinked a few more times. "I'll ask her what she did. No, this is from the poisoning that consort attempt did. Who was probably one of our people." Reggis nodded. "Charming."

"So was her attempted stepmother who poisoned her father. She got that one, came here dressed like her mother, wearing her mother's protection amulet, and handled the consort, then went to the smithy to help that battle because he's always favored her for her mother's service. She had been a priestess but he let her out of her vows to marry."

The diplomat nodded. "Charming!" He looked at the young woman, then shook his head. "I'll talk to her later, when I let her wake up. Let's work on the Knight's connection. My people came up with that idea so we can let ours talk to him about it." He summoned his kingdom's guardian. "I think you can see the problem."

That knight nodded. "Brother." Sir Greens grimaced. "We'll work on it. What did you do?"

"I forgot to link myself in again after my original crown had to be broken to save me."

"Why?"

Paki got up and came back with a portrait. "The consort who poisoned a lot of us."

That diplomat bit out a swear. "Oh, I know of her people," he sneered. "That explains a lot." He went to test the young one he had knocked out, putting a protection around her. It made her sleep and quit having a nightmare. "That's easier on her." The knight glared at him. "She's safe. It didn't bother her binding to you or the kingdom." He looked at Paki again. "Can you tell our teachers that this one's curse is stupid so they can send someone to break it?" he asked.

The knight floated over. "Who did that to you, dear?"

"My mother had nightmares that I'd fall in love with someone below my station," she sighed. "We met when he was a knight and I've always thought of him as my stubborn knight. Which may have set it off?"

That knight nodded. "Yes, dear, it did. You're lucky it's so weak so far." He grimaced. "I'll let one of our teachers hear so they can come cure it. It'll take an excellent and delicate hand." He patted her on the cheek. "Let me help my brother knight." They left them to talk in the throne room. Legara got put into a bed by a maid and a guard carrying her. The others went to the royal chambers to talk.

"I believe I made that one too stubborn," Sir Greens said.

The other knight nodded. "Clearly but she's nicely protective over you and others. We've heard of her thanks to that one messenger." They got to work relinking him and making him whole again. At the end, he was still weak. He went to tell the king that. "We'll have to add to his strength. All those battles took too much energy from him."

"Is that what happened to his head priestess?" Paki asked.

"Yes. It'll happen to others who're very bound." The king winced. "Not that one. I've separated her slightly so she's bound strongly but there's a block there as he forgot to put one on sometimes. There should be a doorway they have to mutually open to feed him energy. He forgot to put one on his favorite people. We'll still need to repower him so he's not drawing on them." He looked at his person. "That'll mean a sacrifice."

"Oh no," the king muttered.

"Not that sort," the mage said. He looked relaxed. "Virginity, not blood sacrifices. Power raising from their pleasure and willing sacrifice to him." He looked at his knight. "All at once, over time?"

"Either would work but if we do it over a few months it'll leave him weak for longer. If we don't start it soon however, he'll be too weak to manifest within two months."

"Legara is one who'd probably volunteer," Paki said.

"She's so bound that it'd help," the mage agreed with a nod. "He basically created a perfect sacrifice to help himself with her." He looked at his knight. "Three?"

"Three. All willing." He faded out. "Let me talk to the higher ups." He went home to do that. The one who could cure the curse sneered but he pointed out it was their people who had done the stupid things. He showed him the family that had caused the problems, and it was one they all hated. So that teacher went to help the poor future queen, and perhaps their other mage there that was being impressive but worn out within minutes by stubborn young women without training.

***

Legara woke up with a moan, pushing at her hair. "What the hell?" she muttered.

The maid leaned in. "Duchess Legara, was that you waking up from the magical sleep you've been in?" she asked gently.

"What?" she demanded, sitting up to stare at her. "I've been what? How long!"

"Six days, Duchess." She came in with food for her. "Here, something light. The mage that came to help knocked you out to keep the Ancient One from draining you too far." She checked her over then nodded. "I'll let him know you've awaken."

She went to do that then came back to run her a tub of water to clean up. She was in the bathroom to relieve herself anyway. Legara came out to eat, staring at her. "The mage, that diplomat you fetched, he knocked you out to keep the Ancient Knight from draining you," she said again.

"He could have asked."

"I don't think he felt he had time, Duchess. The knight was draining you greatly. It's killed two other bound ones," she said gently. Legara moaned but nodded, eating the simple gruel. "After you finish, I'll help you bathe so you get all your hair done. We've sent messages to your staff and your housekeeper sent back a pretty dress for you to put on today." She patted her on the hand with a smile before leaving her to eat. "Just call for me."

"Which one are you?"

She smiled. "I'm Sylvania, ma'am." She left her to eat.

"This is very unusual," she said, looking around the nice room. This was clearly in the palace. She noticed the doll on her bed and smiled. "Thank you, Stahni, for making sure I slept peacefully." She patted the doll on the head before finishing up and going to bathe. She did call in Sylvania finally when she realized she needed a brush she didn't have to do her back and feet. The maid brought one and the dress for her to put on. She finally made it to the throne room, staring at the diplomat, who was grinning at her. "You could have asked?"

"Probably." He smirked. "But it was needed." He looked her over, testing her. "You really have to learn how to harness your gifts."

"I'm too old."

"No you're not. You're never too old to learn something new." He moved closer. "You did things the right way, instinctually, but he forgot a few things he needed to do when he took over that chalice. It is not your fault."

"That's good since I worried about that. How can I help now?"

"We'll need to sacrifice three virgins. Not life sacrificing," he said at her opening mouth. She swallowed and blushed but nodded once. "I'm aware."

"I've been bored but nothing's happened."

"It won't be me. It'll have to be the king to rebind him to the kingdom."

"He'll hate that."

"He does. So does his fiancee." He stared at her, walking around her. "Your maid wanted you to be pretty today."

"My housekeeper. I don't have a lady's maid. I haven't for over a year now and she wasn't really into helping me with things." She looked at him as he stood in front of her again. "How can I help beyond pointing out some obvious questions?"

"What questions?" he asked smugly.

"What if I conceive?"

"The child will be fully bound to the Knight but it won't matter in reality. Any more than yours did." She nodded once. "Did you want to?"

"While I need an heir some day, that's not the heir I want to have. It'd upset Paki very much."

"You could let her raise it."

"No, if I have a child, it's my heir. It can be a backup to his."

"Then why did you worry?"

"I was wondering if that was planned for it."

"Oh, not the sort of evil sacrifice you've probably read out in some trashy novel where a demon wants you to have his child in return for his boon, child."

"Good!" He smirked at her again. "Womanly things?"

"Soon? Not that it would matter."

She counted in her head. "Probably within a two week timeframe to start."

"That'll be fine. That'll put it between then and your fertile moment."

"Must I stay here that time? People will gossip that I'm trying to steal the king from Paki again. That irritates her to no end."

"No. You can come back that night. That night there's actually a diplomatic level dinner planned already." She groaned but nodded. "So just show up like normal."

"Preparations? I've read of special bathings and things."

"Not necessary this time."

"Have you told the King about that yet?"

"Yes. He's not pleased. His girlfriend isn't pleased either."

"I'm sure. She's rather possessive of what's hers. She yelled at me for my father marrying her former stepmother neither of us really liked."

"She'll deal with it. She'll bathe him afterwards and he'll try to mount her to get her pregnant instead." He shrugged. "Many husbands would. We're not sure if her curse will be ended by then."

"That sucks for her. Her wedding's in three months."

"It's in six now," the King said as he walked in. He stared at her for a moment. "I'm not looking forward to this."

She hit him on the arm, hard, making him yelp. "Neither am I. I don't want to steal what's Paki's and I doubt you'll make me squeal like a girl in a novel."

He smirked. "Probably not, no. I'll leave that to a later husband."

"I doubt they will either. From what I've been taught by the other older noble ladies, most men don't have a clue what they're doing. That's why they taught me to do it for myself."

"Many too many men don't," the mage said smugly. "I taught a few better skills before they married."

"If I ever find one, I'll send them to you to get such instruction," she quipped dryly.

He grinned. "Your grandmother was one of ours, Legara."

"She was from the upper tribal lands. Grandfather was from the southern islands."

"The other side's family. Your grandmother came from our people marrying down here."

"Is that why my father wanted my mother?"

"I have no idea."

"Power attraction?" the king asked. "I've heard about that with one wedding I was told not to agree to."

Legara winced. "Duchess Syva?"

"Yes, hers. Some knight from another land."

She nodded. "You'll lose that one. Her father's going to complain because they snuck off to marry among his people and she probably won't be coming back even if she has to run from him."

The king groaned. "Her father demanded I not agree."

"You could invite her to introduce you as you only heard from her father's hand about him. I'm not sure if it'd matter." She shifted to look at him better. "Paki didn't tell you about him? He's lost three daughters to other kingdoms for that sort of attitude problem."

"How many problematic nobles do I have among you?" he asked. "I know you have one that's ancient and one that's not that strong."

"Duke Reginald and his wife are both elderly and I have no idea about his family. I've asked and he scowled. This was after I took over. I noted I needed to know who to contact in case one of them died from a fever. He's still probably scowling at that. Myar's happy enough that he's not starting a coup.

"Hildra is happy enough with his wife but has *no* clue about anything military. Nor does he want to learn. On the border between me and the Northern Duke is an empty one I think. No one's seen them in years. We're not sure if they're alive or spirits or what. But no one walks or rides onto their lands without feeling the urge to flee. Even from the road you can feel it sometimes.

"Otherwise there's eight or nine, two of them duke level, that are without heirs and without any capability if we're invaded from that direction. They're polite enough for diplomatic things. We have one other like Myar and he's in the Eastern sides. The former king had them switched on purpose so those two's families wouldn't get together too often, and told them bluntly it was so their children didn't marry.

"You can count on Myar to keep his happiness intact and any easiness he has at hand. The other one, he'll attack if things look like they might get mean and nasty. That one studied under Reggis and may be in line to take over as Lord Marshal. The one for the Eastern Duke has good heirs but they're teens so fairly young. Strong, taught to be strong, and know their people well probably but they're young."

She grimaced. "I think his oldest is about seventeen or so." She frowned. "That one I'd sic on something going on, because he'll stomp it for fun. I'm surprised he didn't take out that attempted consort long before the rest of us were bothered by her. Especially as she insulted his wife by mistaking her and his daughter for each other." She heard a loud laugh and looked behind her. "Why didn't you take that consort out?"

"My wife wanted me to give the old king mercy, Legara. Do you consider me bloodthirsty?"

"No, I consider you without patience for simple things that don't go as you want and able to defend your border, but mean about it. The same as I see Myar but he's more content until something messes with his life. You're a dog on watch and he's the cat that lives in the kitchen."

He tipped his head. "I'll admit to that," he agreed with a smile for her. "You do well studying people. When are you to marry?"

"When I find someone." She shrugged. "Sir Greens originally wanted me to go to Sarva and start looking there but he's ill right now."

"They'd never put up with your activity level, Legara." He frowned at the diplomat. "You again?"

"Yes, I got summoned by your knight through our knight protector. I'm fixing where he's weak and then hopefully we'll be able to cure the one on the future queen."

"What of the old queen's curse?" Legara asked. "Can that be eased?"

"I haven't seen her. I have no idea," the mage admitted, staring at her. "You have great kindness for some people."

"I do," she agreed. "It makes me happy sometimes. It doesn't mean I didn't take out that consort."

The other duke blinked at her. "That was you?" he demanded.

She looked at him and nodded. "Her and the one that almost became my stepmother. I put on Mother's former robes, her protections, and went to battle for my family and kingdom. What did you expect me to do? Knit something for them?"

"No. You've always been dutiful. How did you end her?"

"She shot an attack at me that failed. Her summoned creature screamed. I got her down and out then killed it, then went to help our Knight Protector." She looked at the mage. "I stepped into his aura to help him recover from that battle."

"It would take someone of your level of bound to him to do that," he agreed. "That was not his problem. He forgot to bind himself back into the ground." He looked at the other duke. "There's another of that family somewhere near here?"

"In the town to the north east," she said with a point. "She runs an herbal store but I don't believe they talked. You'd have to ask Paki, that's her section of the country to watch over. I know about her because I rode past her once."

He tested. "She's not that far but I'll have that one talked to. No, it's here." He got a map to point.

Both dukes nodded. She pointed. "That's Harrys' area. He's not *weak* but he has no magical skills or sense. His daughter is strong though. Very strong. Third child born and super strong. I think she's due to be a priestess." She looked at the king.

"I'll send a messenger to Lord Harrys. I doubt he wants that near his children."

The other duke shook his head. "He has the temper Legara thinks I do. He's not interested in wars but if you look at him sideways he'll challenge you to a duel and he's very good with a blade."

"There's a temple near there," Legara noted. She tapped it. "It's there. Wouldn't they have been bothered?"

"Yes. We can send notes to both," the king said. He looked at Legara. "Some people are suggesting I take your hind end in instead of Paki."

"I'm sure she hates that, Sire, and I don't poach hunts." She smirked. "Beyond that, I'm not convinced you could make me squeal like a girl should. I'd hate to be a princess or queen and then have a boring life outside that."

He swatted her. "I'm fine in the bedroom, Legara. Paki certainly yells plentifully." He walked off shaking his head.

She smiled at the duke. "He should worry about her happiness and health right now."

"He should. Is she expecting yet?"

"Mother's curse."

"Oh, that thing. She was truly nasty to that child." He looked at her. "You could have my eldest son. He's recently widowed so he has some idea on what to do with a woman."

"Aren't we first cousins?"

"Yes," he admitted. "I think so through your father. So not that close or else the children will be warped beyond what you got from your books."

"I enjoyed my books. It meant I didn't have to watch my father slowly die."

"I would've too. How did he die?"

"I killed the stepmother attempt. Then I noted he was poisoned so I took his seal from him and had him carried outside. He insisted no one die in the house itself so it wouldn't get haunted. When I came back from up here I had a healer come in. She had gotten him and most of the staff. He died three days later still saying he wasn't poisoned, I was wrong to think that, I was wrong to be a woman and my mother's daughter, all that."

She waved a hand. "The healer begged him to let her help and he refused because of course his newest almost wife wouldn't poison him. He saw most of the staff die before him and was horrified but still didn't ask for her help when she begged to help him. Even when I asked him to she couldn't help him because he refused treatment." She stared at him. "I miss the father I grew up with but not the one from the last year I had him," she said more quietly.

"I can agree with that. Your father was good when you were younger." He stared at her. "Who trained you to take over?"

"He did. I did with Mother's books. And Grandmother when I had her." He shuddered. She smiled. "Everyone always considered me my father's daughter. That day I proved I was my mother's as well. Including to him. He hated that." She grimaced. "But it had to be done."

"Yes it did." He patted her on the arm. "I'm going to start asking people I know about their sons for you."

"Please. I could use a husband some year." She looked at the mage. "You can ask yours if you want. We could use more with skills here. And it would mean I could learn from him probably."

"Women's magic is usually very different but possibly. You're very...strong willed."

She smiled. "Yes, I am. That's why I'm sent on messenger duty very often. I've talked my way out of a few attempted kidnaping events and others to try to stop me." She looked at the duke. "Does your daughter do that yet?"

"I let my second son do that. He's a good rider and just as stubborn as you are. He actually out stubborned our cook about her vegetable habit." He shook his head.

"I find many of them very nice. Not the ones Paki likes but the rest I find mostly nice." She smiled as Paki walked in with a snort. "You're very particular in your food likes, dear."

"I've heard you call me a food snob before, Legara." She came over to look. "We've sent messengers out." She looked at the mage. "Please find her someone to marry?"

"We'd have to make sure since her paternal grandmother came from us."

"That sucks. Maybe from the people that gave her that skin tone?"

"They're not uptight but they could have one," he agreed. "We have contacts down there." He looked at her. "At least they'd make you eat real food and picnic."

"I would've rested if you had just *asked*," she said dryly. "I do have much sense." She looked at Paki. "Who's guarding my house?"

"Myar's family."

She grimaced. "That's not a great idea," she said quietly, nearly muttering it. "I should go let them go home soon."

The other duke smiled at her. "He won't kidnap your meager staff."

"I'm still hiring more." She looked at Paki, who shrugged. "Two of his children hate books and rip them up."

"They've probably grown up since then, Legara." She looked at the other duke. "Are you going to try something against my boyfriend?"

"Not at the moment. He seems to have sense. He's young but he's done good since he took the throne. How did that the old king die?" he asked Legara.

"Sir Greens had me remove a necklace he was wearing to link them. When he turned to dust we found out he had been a walking dead man."

"Magic draining," the mage said with a nod. "That figures. Dust? True dust?"

"Yes. Like bookcase dust," she said. "Including the clothes and all but his seal ring and necklace."

The mage nodded. "Yes, that's bad." He went to check the throne for more magic on it. "I might have to purge all the kingdom's magic to let it rebuild."

"Then that idiot to the southwest that got told to take me in to kill me as a proper wife would try again," Legara said dryly. The other duke moaned, shaking his head. "Three tries over my border," she told him.

"I heard from Myar. He wasn't any more amused than you are." He patted her on the arm. "Go home, guard your own people." She nodded, looking at Paki, who nodded. The mage waved a hand without looking so she went to find her mare and go home. "Our next generation is strong," that duke told Paki. "Outside about seven of us."

"She noted nine."

"She would. I heard, she has good thoughts. Including that some don't have heirs. Like Reginald on her border." He considered it. "Who's taking over for Reggis?"

"She suggested he give it to Knight Legmas to hold."

"He's not bad and Reggis does share that boy habit with him." He considered it. "He's young, not very tried so far. He might grow into it. Who takes over the Lord Marshal job if he falls?"

"They've recently redone that list due to problems. Mwan as far as I remember. Bronches takes over for Mwan and his son if he falls. He announced that at the last banquet. Oh, dear, that's a mess on that quarter." He nodded. "I need to write that out. Or have Legara do it since she paid more attention than I did. I was meant to lead women, not men." She walked off to start that list and send Legara a note to get her to do the same thing.

"Legara will do good as the king's advisor," he decided with a nod. "Easier than I would." He went to talk to the knights outside. He had to change a few around his house before he smote them for flirting with his sons.

***

Chapter 6

***


Legara came back for the banquet for the diplomats, nodding as she was let into the banquet hall. She curtseyed to the king, who looked amused. "I did try to look suitable tonight, Sire."

"I noticed, Legara. You did a nice job but I'm wondering why your mother's necklace is on this time?"

"I felt something earlier trying me and wanted to wear it tonight." She touched it then shrugged. "I felt it proper this time, Sire."

"Fine. Go sit down and eat something, Duchess."

"I usually try to, Sire. How's Paki doing?"

"Not good. The healers are with her again tonight." He sighed, shaking his head. "That mage is on the border. Hopefully it'll be soon."

"The other?"

"Can't handle that really. Which blows greatly at times." She nodded, going to her seat. He got comfortable. The mage walked in and he nodded at him. "Paki?"

"Resting comfortably for the moment. The curse is eased again but not fully gone. That last bit of poisoning needs to be ended."

"Please, tell me where it is and I'll have it ended. Knights can handle that probably."

"None of yours are shielded or I'd agree. I'll figure out who goes to do that tomorrow. He'll be here the day after. Or else I'll send that girl to go kidnap him." He went to his seat and nodded at those around him, getting nods back. He did enjoy a lot of things here, even if some of the food was a bit odd. And a few of the knights made him wonder how they came to be there. He stared at one.

The Lady on his other side leaned over. "The Guardian picked him by binding him to us then telling him," she said quietly. "He's a good boy. Doesn't let anyone flirt with him. When he was injured taking a challenge to protect a young woman his parents showed up. They're dukes."

"That's good. He doesn't have the same level of skills that some of yours do."

"But he's excellent at all that," she said with a smile. "Are you busy tonight or can you read some more?"

"I'm actually going to be helping the king with something to help heal the Guardian spirit tonight. Perhaps tomorrow." She smiled and nodded. "Then the day after one of my teachers is showing up to look at the future queen to check her health." He sipped his wine, nodding at it. "Nice taste." He waited on the others to come in and shook his head at some of them. Someone had married one of those flower/feather crown people apparently. She was wearing hers to dinner tonight.

The noblewoman leaned closer again. "I'm told some of their people go completely naked all the time," she hissed.

"That's their cousin people," he admitted. "They're tense about it too. You'd expect them to have more fun but they don't." He took another sip, staring at the woman staring at him. She ducked her head again. He went back to watching the others. He could feel that corruption moving this way. He hoped it wasn't a battle tonight. That would definitely mess up the spells. It stopped again so that was good, though it was still too close for his liking. He had to end that. Soon.

Legara was being charming and talking nicely to a lord on her other side but also gave him a hug. It looked like she was soothing him. He looked at the noblewoman.

"He just lost his wife," she said quietly. "She had a mass of things in her lung that made her cough blood. Are you interested in the young, pretty Duchess? I can have you introduced."

"I've met her a few times. She's interesting but I'm not marriage minded and she is." He sipped more of his wine. "Though she does seem nice. I'm going to tell others, maybe one of them is marriage minded." She smiled at that. "She's helped a few times with the Knight Protector spirit. It's good of her."

"It is. Very good of her. She's so young though," she sighed.

"Not really. I've seen fully reigning kings and queens her age." He smiled at the young girl walking in. "Stahni, thank you for sending a doll to protect me last night."

She smiled. "You're welcome. You needed the good sleep. All the gossip said you're doing true magic tonight." She went to her seat and settled in, looking up the table.

"Another young thing," the noblewoman said quietly. "But her sister is so sick so she's taken over the duchey by herself." She sighed. "It's a shame she's so young."

"I'm sure her sister will be cured." She smiled at him. He nodded at the man who took the seat on her other side, letting her talk to him about things she had overheard. He stared at the duchess, who was wearing a very interesting pendant. He recognized it. "I'll be damned, that's where her mother's people came from," he muttered then sipped his wine. That would change his priority order for tonight's rite. She was definitely going last. The king would probably complain but oh well. He could put up with a bit of licentiousness to save his kingdom's protector.

After the dinner and the obligatory dancing that he had stayed out of. And so had the duchess since no one asked her. Which made her frown but she was young. She had plenty of time to have fun things. Legara walked up to the king. "Sire, may I stay tonight? I'm not fit to ride."

"Yes, of course, Legara. Go take up the room you did when you were knocked into a nap. I'm sure Stahni's doll is still in there."

"I gave her back, Sire. I'd never deprive her of her friends." She went to that room to clean herself up and wait on her turn. She was sure it wouldn't be up there anywhere in a decent room.

The king shook his head. "The rest of you have a good night," he announced, ending the dance. A few pouted but oh well. They could pick up someone for the night outside by the stables he was sure. He went with the mage, checking on the guardian spirit. He was in his chalice so safely stored until later. The king looked at the first two women, then at the mage. "Must I do them all at once?" he asked quietly.

"It doesn't matter if you get off. It matters if they do. You can do that manually, Sire."

"I know that!" He scowled. "No one has ever called me selfish."

"Good. We have everything set up." He led the ladies to the room they'd have to use. It was protected and had things to trap the energy to feed it into the chalice he put above the table they'd be using. The knight grunted in displeasure but he knew it wouldn't hurt any of them. He let the ladies decide how undressed they'd become. Both were a bit uptight and barely removed their underthings.

The king came in to do his duty, using them gently enough and making sure they had some pleasure as well. The knight's chalice glowed. The mage went up to get Legara while he had the second one, tapping gently on that door. She had apparently fallen asleep because she was a bit mussed when she got up. He stared at her pendant then at her. "Take it off. It'll warp things," he said quietly. She did and came back. "Why did you choose to wear that?"

"It felt right. Like it would protect me from something."

"Yes, those people are not really good with magic. Which means your mother's line came from some of their refugees."

"I thought that came from the priestesses."

"Your local one is slightly different. That's an original line one. We can speak on that tomorrow. It's time. Are you ready?"

"I suppose." She closed the door and followed him down there. She nodded at the waiting man, who was trying to recover from his own pleasure. She walked in and nodded. "Sire."

"Legara." He sighed. "Do I have ten minutes?"

"Of course, if you need it," the diplomat/mage said. "Get however much undressed you desire, Legara."

She nodded, wiggling out of the overdress and then her underthings. "That way no one sees me rumpled."

"That's fine," the mage agreed. "Now, while you're doing this I need you to focus on powering him. That pendant shows you could easily suck it in to power yourself or to heal things." She nodded, concentrating on that thought. "Good. Thank you." He put a ribbon around her left wrist then through her hair. "This will help with that. You have more potential for magic than they had. We need it to all go to him."

"I'd never want him harmed."

"I know. This is to help since you never got trained for this."

"Grandmother's journal mentioned how to focus during spell work." She did that and sighed in pleasure as she felt the soft, warm touch of the Knight in her magic field.

"I swear, you do things instinctively that no one else can," he muttered. "Let him ease out of you, Legara. You're too tight and it might drag you into him. Which would leave you a pretty little shell who slept until you died." She nodded once, letting go of that feeling. "More. Just focus internally on you, not on him." She switched and it was too deep there too. He grabbed her face, pushing his magic into her to show her what she was to do. She kept that once he pulled back. "There." He looked at the king.

"I'll try not to make it too bad for her. Though I don't really want to do this," he muttered. He got up to come over and help her find some pleasure. She was concentrating too hard so her body wasn't giving in. The mage groaned but came over to magically bind her into the right mindstate and let her body feel itself. He got it a bit too deep but it wouldn't kill her.
Drain her farther than he wanted but she'd survive and be whole.

The king nodded that he was now getting something from her body. Which helped. He felt the chimes starting to go off from the main clock and decided it had to be now. He pushed into her gently, making her wince, but he was trying to be gentle. He made sure she got pleasure from his fingers. The mage made sure it went to the right place instead of to healing the palace. He sighed in relief and let her go, going to clean up and see his girlfriend.

The mage let Legara wake up, staring at her. "Do you feel all right?" he asked quietly.

"A bit dizzy from you binding me down."

"I had to. Your natural skills were trying to heal the palace from the corruption."

"Did it work? Is our Knight protector all right?" she asked, sitting up.

He nodded. "He should be fine."

"I'm fine," Sir Greens said from his chalice. "Go rest, Legara." She nodded and put on the overdress and her underthings then went to clean up and go to sleep. He came out to look at the mage. "Did that last one actually help?"

"Yes. It rebound you." He stared at the spirit. "Check on your people."

The ancient knight did and sighed in pleasure. "I haven't had this strong of a connection since just after I sacrificed myself to protect my people," he said quietly. He stared at him. "You let her remain innocent."

"I'll give her books and what she wants to learn is up to her. Before she accidentally joins you in there as your eternal bride."

"I'd rather she not. I don't think I could handle a wife after all this time alone." He went back into the chalice and soaked up the energy again. The mage made sure all the ambient magic in the room went into him as well then cleaned up the runes so no one would trip over it. He went to his own room. He could hear the king talking to his girlfriend and telling her he was going to breed her like the mistress she wanted to be.

Apparently she was trying to give up. He heard her squealing and screaming in pleasure and sighed, shaking his head. That energy went into the chalice as well. All the energy the king shed went into it. It was symbiotic between them since he had fixed that link as well.

***

Chapter 7

***


Paki pulled Legara up to her room the next morning, staring at her once the door shut. "I know about last night."

"Is he all right?"

"Of course he is!" She stared her friend. "Are you?"

"It was of little ...anything really, Paki." She sat down, staring at her. "I was concentrating so hard to make sure the energy went to the right place. The mage had to make sure I did." She shrugged. "I suppose it was ...nice but I have no idea why you and others spend so much time being happy with it after that."

Paki sighed, sitting down. "Did you at least feel some pleasure?"

"Yes." She nodded. "He made sure I did. I think that was written into the rite." She stared at her. "He wasn't mean to me, Paki," she said with a gentle smile. "He was a nice gentleman about it. It definitely didn't turn me off ever having another go with a husband. But it wasn't...a lot of anything that I expected to hear what you had. And have."

Paki blinked a few times. "You're that bored with it already?"

"I'm supposing if I was doing it for pleasurable reasons instead of just to get something done then it may be nice enough. I didn't squeal and scream like you seem to very often. Then again I know he didn't want to be there. Neither of us wanted it to be more than what it was, Paki. I'm fine though." She smiled. "You still don't have to worry that I'll steal him from you."

"If they can't cure my curse they'll expect you to take him in hand, Legara."

"I'd hate that."

"So would I. Which would mean I'd be a mistress."

Legara leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. "Sometimes they're more important that queens but I doubt you'd like that." She smiled. "Let me go make sure things are fine at home." She left, going to look at the mage. "Do I need to do more?"

"No, dear." He stared at her. "Are you well today?"

"I'm fine. I have no idea what the big deal is about."

He sighed. "Someday you'll find that out."

"I'm sure I will. Then it will be more than a necessity." She stared at him. "Can I help get that one to help Paki here faster somehow?"

"He's resting right now."

"That one spot of corruption?"

"You cannot do that."

"I can so. I did the other two sources." He stared at her. She stared back. Then she put the necklace back on. "I want to hear more about where this came from if you know." She walked off. She avoided the two knights outside. One was Legmas' 'friend' as he was called. She knew his father hated that his son liked men in his bed so they hid it so he didn't hear the gossip. The other was Brandles. She smiled at them as she mounted her mare. "Have a good day, boys."

"You sound like my mother," Brandles said.

"She seemed sweet when I fed her breakfast." She smiled, riding off and going left instead of right on the main road. She could feel that corruption and she had planned she might need to deal with it. It was at the temple right now. She dismounted and pulled her blade, going to find that one. "Are you really trying to defeat a whole temple?" she demanded.

The woman there looked at her. "Duchess, it's not me that's the one corrupting things. I'm a simple herbalist. I'm waiting on someone to bring me a package of herbs."

"Yet I can feel yours and not hers."

"She's south by a few miles." She pointed. "She's trying to take over my former town."

"I can handle that. Do you swear on your own gods that you're peaceful?"

"I do, Duchess." She sighed. "Though that would not matter to most of us."

"This temple is holy ground to all higher beings." She smiled. "So they heard and I saw a glow."

"Oh." She looked at herself and realized she was bound by that promise. "Well. Thank you. Good hunting."

"You as well." She went back to her horse and rode down to the south. She had to avoid a few more knights coming in. One caught her so she smiled. "Going to visit another of us to share news." They nodded and let her go by without saying anything. Until they got to the palace and heard that she was going to do something stupid. Then a few of them decided to go rescue the damsel who was trying to damn herself. That was their job, not hers.

***

Legara got around the knight keeping her in place against her will. "Let me go!" she growled. She dove in front of the knights to stop the newest magical attack. "No, we will not do this," she ordered.

"You're young and untrained," the woman sneered. "I'm ancient and well trained."

"And yet I took out the other two." She waved a hand. "Leave the men out of this, witch."

"I'm no witch, bratling."

"I'm of age. Come try me instead." The woman sent a spell at her so she fought it off and sent one back, the same one she had used on that spectral knight. She shrieked as her powers started to leak out. "Huh. Look at that." She pulled her sword and waved. "Come along then." The witch launched another attack but she avoided it and attacked physically, trusting her protections.

It was foolish of her and it'd hurt when she got bitten by something but oh well. That witch didn't want to fight physically so she'd go down in a heap. Mostly because someone else shot her with an arrow. So she beheaded her. The power flowed out and she waved at it. "Do have a good afterlife, witch."
It faded in the light and she sighed in pleasure. "Good." She nodded, going back to her mare. She put her sword up and mounted, looking at the knights. "I'm going to get that senior healer sort for the future queen. Want to help me?" She rode off until a knight got in her way. "Yes, Knight Brandles?"

"Get down, Duchess."

"No. I'm going to go be helpful."

"You're injured and you did something stupid."

She stared at him. "Some of us are also the protectors of this kingdom," she reminded him. "My job actually isn't as a messenger most of the time. My job is to hold the western borders safe and to guard the kingdom from harm that I can handle. Which I have. If you don't like that..." She shrugged. "Have a good day." She tried to ride off. He caught her reins.

She kicked him and winced as that hurt her injured leg but he let go. "Thank thee," she said sarcastically. "I'll see you later." She rode off, going to find that mage. She knew where he was traveling from. She could find him within hours and drive him to the castle herself if he needed a relief driver while he rested.

Brandles pointed. "Follow her." They rode off to do that while he got the two injured from the magic battle to the local healer for now. He was not telling the king this. She could damn well tell the king herself that she was foolish and stupid and pushy. He was so glad his mother wasn't that sort of woman. His king would never put up with that.

***

She smiled at the man who opened the door of his trailer to come up and take over driving. "Sire."

"Who are you, girl?"

"Duchess Legara. Duchess of the West." She smiled. "I'm your relief driver, Sire. That way you can continue to rest while you travel."

"I see. Who sent you?"

She smiled. "No one. It needed to be done. Paki's a great friend and I want her to not suffer any longer than she has to. Even if it takes you months."

"I was going to gather some herbs."

"I know where some of the best herbalists are. One of my former stepmothers works with one and we're near her apothecary if you need something specific instead of just general picking." She smiled again. "And there's a huge garden up by the palace for most herbs. Including the greenhouse that's falling in but some special night blooming ones and some that need ruins have taken over."

"That may be nice to see." He blinked at her. "You're very stubborn."

She smiled and nodded. "Yes I am. I find it endearing though. So do many others. Should I detour to that apothecary?"

"No, that's fine. I was just gathering," he said dryly. "Let me go eat breakfast."

"That's fine. We'll be at the palace by the morning. My mare's behind us." He nodded going to eat. She kept driving even though she was tired. It was too important to let him meander his way to the castle. About two that morning she paused the carriage, getting down and tying them to a tree.

She untied her mare and smiled at the mage. "Go another two miles and then to the right. That's the palace. The temple your diplomat used is on the way, about halfway there." She curtseyed. "Thank you for helping Paki's curse, Sire."

"You are very stubborn. I could be belligerent."

She smiled. "Of course you could. You may even get there and decide not to help because I'm pushy in a helpful way. But that would be shame that you came all this way for no reason. Curses like hers don't come along every day and that would mean you'd miss being able to chronicle it."

"True." He stared at her pendant. "Why do you wear that?"

"I inherited it from my mother." She touched the edge of the pendant. "It protects me." She mounted and nodded. "Have a good day, Sire." She rode off, going to hide in her home before anyone caught her being helpful.

He groaned, shaking his head. "She is most stubborn and annoying." He summoned the things he may have left in that last clearing. It rattled on his back bumper so he looked. It was all there and she had gathered the herbs for him. Properly cut even. "Well." He packed that away, going to check that temple. A few knights spotted him and escorted him to the castle, making him huff. "I'm perfectly able to do it on my own, Knights."

They smiled. "We worry that the king will sulk and die of grief, sir," one told him.

"I doubt he will. They're not even married yet." He was escorted into the palace, finding his student coming out pulling on a shirt. "I've had the most charming escort."

The mage looked at the knights. "Why?"

"We spotted him resting so wanted to make sure he wasn't bothered," the chatty one said with a grin. "It was us or the Duchess."

"No, I saw her earlier as she drove for me while I rested." One of the knights groaned but swatted another, shaking his head.

"We'll talk to her about being so helpful," the groaning one said, staring at him. "She is a good young woman though."

"She's stubborn but worried about her friend. Women can be that way." He got down and looked at his student. "Let's go look at this curse. Then I'll figure out what I need to cure it."

"A lot of energy warping. Her mother cursed her. I'm hoping this means it goes out of fashion. And I'll talk to that duchess myself in the morning." He walked him up there, waking the king and his girlfriend. Paki was sleeping under a potion he had given her. He had felt him hurrying so had drugged her for the night to make sure she rested properly. Healing always took a lot of energy from you. "Here we are. Our master teacher, Mage Ameris."

"Mage Ameris, you do us a great honor looking at her curse," the King said quietly, shaking his hand. "Did you have problems on the travels here?"

"No. In fact I napped today while a charming young duchess helped by driving me some."

"I'll yell at her for you tomorrow then. She's very caring."

"She didn't want her friend to suffer any longer than she had to," he said dryly. "So let us not make her come help any more. You should warn her about that necklace she wears, student."

"Why? It's hers by inheritance and she belongs in it." The mage looked at him oddly. "I had to focus her last night during the spell to heal the guardian spirit. It does belong on her and to her."

"I did not feel that. Interesting. She just seemed tired."

"I have no idea why. She wasn't when she left." He felt around to his markers on the corruption going on. "Oh, no, I know why. I told her not to do that. That was my job."

"She does that a lot," the king quipped with a grin. "Is everything good?"

"She took out the other form of corruption. I'll have to make sure it's dissipated. The herbalist one is staying quiet as well for some reason." He grimaced. "I'll check on those both tomorrow if he doesn't need me."

"No, I shouldn't." He tested the curse, and grimaced. "That is truly nasty. Do we know the wording?"

"To never love someone of a class lower than hers," the king said. "I had been a knight and she's been thinking of me that way still. Her mother wouldn't have minded me if she had known but she died years ago from what Paki's said."

"Very wrong of a mother to do," he noted. "I hope no others do."

"No, I've made it known if I caught others who did that I'd be putting them in a jail cell." He heard a whining moan. "That's the former queen under her curse. Sorry. I have no idea about hers. A bit before my time."

The senior mage looked at him. "Why?"

"I was born over the border to a king's dalliance."

"Oh." He nodded, going back to looking Paki over. "I can break it," he announced. "It will be very painful."

"Will it harm her?" the king asked. "I'd hate to see her harmed."

"Probably not permanently. She may be very sore for days however." He looked at him, then at his student. "I'll need virgin blood."

"I gathered some last night during that rite." He went to grab it from his room and brought it back to hand over. "Possibly a bit diluted. I caught a maid trying to tamper with it."

"That's reasonable. People would be horrified at what mages use sometimes." He went to get the rest of what he needed, coming back to mix the poultice to use on her. "This is to ease it until we can remove it fully." The king nodded, staying out of the way. The future queen groaned and arched up but they managed to break the curse. They were sweaty, tired wrecks afterwards but she was whole again. The senior mage sighed. "It may not harm her any, but she will have to recover as if it was an illness."

The king nodded. "We can handle that. I'll have someone take you to a room?"

"I enjoy my trailer. I sleep it in most nights." He limped off, his student holding him up. He climbed in and closed himself in, then drifted off.

The younger mage went to his own room. He could talk to that young woman tomorrow.

***

Legara looked up from reading at her desk when someone stomped in. "Knight Brandles."

"The king wishes us to drag you to him to beat you soundly."

She smiled. "For being helpful? That's fine. I'll talk to him tomorrow. He's probably got to fuss at Paki today."

"He said to make sure I dragged you, Duchess."

She sighed, getting up and putting the book in a locking case. "Are your boys fine?"

"Mostly. Two were still injured by the magic but they're being healed. I know you stepped in to save them but you could have let us handle it."

She stared at him. "You have no magic."

"I have weapons you didn't."

"Most likely that would've been turned on you instead." He frowned. "I was wearing a protection. It had to be handled by someone with my sort of skills. Therefore I handled it."

"You can argue with the king."

"I'm sure I will." She nodded, walking around the desk. "Come along then. Am I taking my own mare?"

"No. I don't trust you."

"Not like I'll run from my people." He pointed. She sighed but followed him out. "I'll be back later," she called. "I'm being called to the palace."

"Change then," her maid called. "You're in manly pants!"

"It's fine. He can accept that this time, dear." She looked at the knight, who nodded. "C'mon then." She went out with him and shut the front door. He mounted and helped her up behind him. Someone shot at him so she threw a dagger at them. "Oh, dear. That's Myar's son. Shit." She got down and went to get her mare to ride off. "Wait here! He won't attack you." She ran into the duke. "Your son shot an arrow at a knight dragging me to the palace," she said. "I threw a knife at him!"

"All my sons are at home, Legara." He followed her back, checking that body. "That's not my son. He's older than that." He removed her dagger, handing it back. He looked her over then spotted the staring, waiting knight. "What did you do?"

"I drove the mage to help Paki be healed."

"Ah." He nodded, patting her on the arm. Then he knocked her out, handing her to the knight, who grinned at that. "Are you well, boy?"

"Yes, sir. Can you send that to the King so we know what it actually is?"

"I'll drag it up there myself since there's a true mage."

"Thank you." He mounted and hauled her over his lap, riding off with her. She'd stay out hopefully most of the trip. When she woke up he held her down by the back of her neck. "Going to the palace as ordered, Duchess."

"Fine. Can I at least sit up?"

"No. Stay there. Before I give in to the urge to paddle you for taking on that battle yesterday."

"I was better prepared than you were!"

"I don't care!" He swatted her. She got free and wiggled down then walked off shaking her head but going toward the palace. They weren't that far, only a few miles. "You can ride with me."

"No thank you. You're mean."

"Only to dumb people." She glared at him, hands on her hips. "I have your dagger."

"Do you think that's my only weapon?"

He opened his mouth and groaned but walked with her, leading his horse for now. He handed off his horse as they walked in the gate, walking her into the throne room. "Sire, someone that looked like a child of Duke Myar, but was not, tried to fire on us when I was bringing her. She had to get him to talk to him about his son and he discovered it was not his child. He'll bring the body of whatever it is up here. That's why we're late."

The king nodded. "I figured you had to let her change." He looked her over.

"No, he didn't want to give me time for that."

The king sighed. "That was rude, Duchess."

"I was perfectly pleasant to him. I let him sleep, I introduced myself as his relief driver."

The mage laughed, nodding. "She did. She was very pleasant and I need to get a driver for longer trips more often." He walked over, looking at her. "You did take on that corrupt being."

She stared at him. "The knights tried to stop her themselves. I had to get between them to protect them. They didn't have magic."

"Yours is very weak."

"I think that's your student's doing." He winced and removed the rest of the bindings. She sighed in pleasure. "Thank thee for that." She looked at the master mage again, who was looking displeased. "As I've had to note a few times, I'm my mother's daughter as well. Sometimes I have to prove it as we were both vowed to the protection of our people and the kingdom itself. If others who could've done it were there I wouldn't have stepped up to her."

"The knights stopped her from going after the witch," Brandles said. "The witch tried to injure them with a second spell so she stepped in, Sire. She protected most of them then defeated the witch. She did something that made her spirit or whatever glow in the sunlight and dissipate." The master mage stared at her.

She nodded. "It came from Grandmother's journal. She used it on a spirit inhabiting a house. Which is probably why my father never wanted anyone to die inside the house." She blinked a few times. "I'm fine and driving you was a great way to calm down afterward." She smiled. "Your horses were charming as I told them about the woods we passed through and took the better water from the good streams from me."

He nodded. "Thank you for taking good care of them."

"I do love a good horse."

He patted her on the cheek. "My student should spank you, dear."

"I did nothing wrong. Also, I'm not his to spank. If my king wants that he can damn well defeat me himself to do so." She smiled sweetly at the senior mage. "It'd be a trial by combat at that point."

The younger mage laughed. "You are trying sometimes but I want to know exactly what you did so I can go make sure her mess is cleaned up."

"Can you not scry?"

He scowled. "Quit being mouthy and cute."

"I don't remember everything I did." She shrugged. "I know I blocked the spell at the knights. I know I stepped up to her next spell and defeated it. Then I got her with my sword because she was relying on magic instead of physical combat so seemed weaker there."

He sighed, going to find a mirror to scry it from. He watched and then looked at her. "Your grandmother used that for spirits?"

"She said that's the only one she knew of in her journal. Isn't that to dissipate spirits?"

"To end them for eternity."

"Well, I suppose that'd do the same thing." She shrugged. "I've only learned from their books. I do what I can with what I have." The king came over to look at that battle then swatted her hard. "Ow!" She hit him back. "Not yours!"

"Thank all the Higher Beings," he shot back. "I'd hate to miss my spouse if you were!"

She stared at him. "Yet here I am still."

"And injured in the battle," Brandles said. "She limped off, Sire."

"We can find that out."

"They're fine," she said firmly. "I can treat field injuries. It was wrapped before I found this nice senior mage's camp and well treated."

"Magic caused injuries can poison you," the junior mage said impatiently.

She looked at him. "It's a cut. There's no poison by the herbal stuff I put on it."

"One of her stepmothers works with an apothecary," the senior mage said. "She offered to introduce us if I needed something."

She nodded. "She did teach me to field treat injuries and how to handle much herbal healing things." She looked at the king. "Did you expect me to let that thing that endangered my family live?" she demanded loudly.

"Yes! It was not your job to handle that one!"

"She and her minions of stupid tried to have me killed. That's my job to solve, not some knight that's not interested in my well being's job." He swatted her again and she kicked him this time, making him swear as he held his leg. "It's my job to defend my own family and its good name. If you don't like that, I'm sorry for you." She walked off shaking her head. She could stomp home. It'd take her all afternoon if she went overground through the stream and the woods.

"Stop her," the king ordered. The knights tried but she got two more off her and then kicked the other one in his manhood, making him fall down groaning as he held it. "This is why I need female knights," he decided, going after her. She had already escaped the walls and the fields. "Where did she go?" he demanded. "I wanted to beat her soundly!"

"She's heading home through the woods," Paki called from a window. "If you're lucky she'll still show up for dinners and the like. I doubt you'll be expecting her to show up at something and she won't because you upset her too much by nagging her about the duty she's always been told she has." She leaned on the window sill. "The same as I was taught. We are to defend our family and the family's name against everything that may threaten it. Even if it means our end."

"It's the job of the Knights to battle for the kingdom."

"Not if it's about us. That one attacked her family directly. Of course she did. Did you not realize that about her?" She withdrew and closed the window. "Why do I adore him?" she asked the worried looking maid trying to get her to rest.

"I don't know, Ma'am. You're very nice to him though."

"Yes, I am." She nodded. "He'll probably want a cold cloth later. Legara got him good." The maid giggled, going to tell the downstairs people that. They could bring him one. Paki laid back down like a good girl.

The king looked at the knights in pain. "Do I have to put up with that?"

"Yes," one said. "You probably do, Sire. Probably for years until she's either got someone to help by going with her to aid her in battles or until it kills her." He straightened up. "Your future wife is right. All the dukes are taught that. Including their daughters. There is not one of them that would've left that last threat to their family alone that long. We were all shocked she did."

"She didn't know where she was."

"That figures. We thought she might trust you to handle it but you didn't." He limped off. "C'mon, boys. Let's find the healer's cold water baths." They groaned but went with him.

Brandles looked at the king. "My king would never allow a daughter to do that. He'd have huge fits at their fathers as he does not expect a girl to fight."

"I can lend her to him so he learns about women being strong," he offered dryly.

"That might amuse the queen. He was said to have made her stop learning how to use a bow. Even after it saved him from an attack on the palace." The king groaned, going back to his throne room. Brandles followed. "Should I go wait at her house to drag her back?"

"I have no doubt she'd have to go tell your mother she injured you herself this time," the king complained as he sat down. "All right. So now what do we do?"

"I check on that last one and clean up any mess she left." He looked at his teacher.

"She mentioned some herbs and ruins." He smiled.

"Out back," the younger one said with a point. "Towards the river. I got Ruins Bones and Lythendral both out there."

"That's marvelous! Let me go pick some tonight." He went to his trailer to gather what he'd need to do that and headed out to check out the area for any other interesting herbs he may want. A healer came out to help him. He smiled at her. "Interested in herbs?"

"Trained as an herbalist first so I can tell you about something you may not know, Sir."

"That's fine, dear." He glanced her over, then smiled. "It's a shame you don't have native mages here. We really do liven up things in a kingdom."

She blushed. "I'm sure you would. My late husband did often enough but his took drinking." He smiled, walking her out by properly holding her arm.

The younger mage shook his head but went back to the throne room. "One of the healers went with him."

The king waved a hand. "If she wants." He looked at the mage. "Can you handle any remaining mess?"

"Of course. I may need to rest."

"Can you do it at her house so you look over those journals?"

"That's in the wrong direction or I might visit."

"Go today to do that and clean up the mess early tomorrow? I have no idea if she can lock people out of her manor house."

"That's a hard spell and not one she probably has access to." He went to gather his things and his horse to go visiting. It was a pretty day for that.

The king sighed, looking at the knight in there. "How do we find her someone worthy to help her when these things happen?"

"I have no idea, Sire. I can't even find myself one."

"I'm glad I found one before people wanted me to marry that one." He grimaced. "Though it would be exciting I suppose."

Paki walked in shaking her head. "You'd be bored with how much time she spends rereading those family journals of hers." She took a kiss. "I'm going to sit outside." She went to do that.

He stared at her. "That's not Paki." The mage got summoned back and that being got ended as well. It was like the one that had attacked the manor house. He could end those easily enough.

***

Legara walked into her house's kitchen, pausing to get a glass of water and a piece of bread before walking off. "If anyone asks I'm not here and I'm not taking visitors."

"Too late," she called after her. "That nice diplomat from a few years back is in the drawing room waiting on you, ma'am."

Legara whined but went to see what he wanted. "If you're here to nag or try to paddle like a child, you can wait."

"I came to check your injuries and end that creature that tried to attack you." He stared at her. "It was still dumb. I could have done that even easier."

"Yes but you took too long. Therefore it was up to me." She walked off. "I'm going to get something to eat."

"We have cakes. Your cook or housekeeper is excellent at them."

"I know, I eat a ton of them." Her maid handed her a plate with cheese and fruit. "Thank you, dear." She went back in there, settling in the chair to sigh at him. "I'm not going to let you destroy the family journals."

"I have no intention of destroying them. Maybe blocking a few entries so you don't find a solution to some other problem that may work in them."

"I've been over them many times."

"I figured you had." He stared at her. "You're mad at me."

"I'm disappointed in you," she admitted. "You could have handled that and didn't. Why would I let the threat to myself and my cousin thrive for longer?" She ate a bite of fruit then looked at it. "What is that?"

"A type of melon it looks like," he said dryly. He got comfortable. "Things like that are planned out, not just jumped into."

"Perhaps if you're doing formal things. I don't tend to do things that way. I have to protect my cousin before that thing got her as they got my father."

He nodded once. "True but I could have handled it. If you had asked me I would've told you what I was doing about her."

She stared at him. "I did. You said it would happen in good time. So I picked a good time." She ate another bite, staring at him.

"You don't have to be mean."

"I'm not trying to be. If I am, I can outdo Paki in cutting you down while smiling through those very evil words." She put the plate down. "I did what I had to do and if the King doesn't like that I'm sorry for his delicate constitution."

"I'm here without him ordering."

"That's fine for you. I don't mind visitors. I don't get many."

"Is that why you're nearly feral?"

"No." She smiled. "I'm nowhere near feral. I did that, that's why I got a stepmother suddenly. She'd tell you I barely let anyone near me."

"You don't even let people near you now."

"Yes I do."

"You didn't dance."

"No one offered. It's not a woman's place to offer a dance. At least not around here."

He nodded at that. "You could calm down."

"And yet you're presenting yourself as a threat."

He smiled. "While I could be, I don't plan on it."

"Then that's great. Thank you for easing that worry."

"Did you enjoy your time that night?"

"Not particularly. I was probably concentrating too hard, that's why you bound me so the magic would go where it was needed. Perhaps if it was more than five minutes and with someone who actually wanted to play with my body, then I may. Someday I may have a husband who thrills me. No idea otherwise. If one would even have me with that new flaw."

He blinked a few times. "He did try to make sure you felt pleasure."

"I know. It doesn't change my expectation that it was going to be very much business instead of pleasure. Which it was. I didn't expect to have a lot of emotional needs that night. So I didn't."

"You're not that unemotional."

"No, I never was." She shrugged. "Was I supposed to find a great high of pleasure that made me wish for him to try it again?"

"No. The other two seemed more pleased."

"It was what it was. I'm a practical woman. It was good enough, got the job done, and someday I'll find out what the women squeal about I'm sure. It's not like he did more than stick himself in once then manually use me."

"Probably not from a husband," he said dryly.

"Not like I'm the sort to take a male mistress."

"You could take a lover now. No one would realize. If you got pregnant then it's a miracle of your magic being untrained."

"There's none here I'd want to do that with. I've met everyone of my station and the other nobles. I've met all the local men. I've felt fluttery from a few but nothing that made me want to do more than stare at them for being nice looking."

"Hmm. What are you looking for in a spouse then?"

She shrugged. "Someone who would appreciate the woman I am without trying to make me into some ideal they have in their heads. I'm not going to change for a husband's pleasure. I'm not a pillow to create a dent in so it looks more pleasing."

"Many young ones think that's the way to do things."

She nodded. "I know. Which is another reason to marry out kingdom."

"That's fairly common."

"Then maybe I'll find a minor knight somewhere who appreciates I can use a few weapons reasonably enough." She smiled slightly. "It can happen."

"It could. That means you'd have to talk to the king about future messenger things though."

"I'm sure I'll have one sometime or he'll start sending Brandles to Lord Fairmy so he can visit his family."

"That's possible. They're nearby to the border." He stared at her. "Most of the noble women have tried to fawn over me."

"You're very nice to look at. You're pretty. You have a nice voice when you read to them. Of course they do. You're exotic and pretty."

He nodded. "I'll accept that. You're one of the few that hasn't. Paki thinks you may not like men anyway."

"I like them fine. That night wasn't about that."

"No it wasn't." He nodded. "Someone may want to show you those mountain tops of pleasure but you've scared them off."

"Then they're probably not going to stay around. I don't think I'm looking to be the girl in the inn who earns her rent that way."

"I doubt you would either. I know some of the other nobles play around."

"I'm closely related to many of them and the rest are very old. Older than my father was when he died. Plus I don't think I can screw someone who remembers me when I was four and climbing people."

"No, probably not. You are rather limited here."

"Which is why I didn't mind doing messenger duty. Lord Fairmy has a lot of visitors I get to meet."

He nodded. "That's a good thing." He stared at her. "Let's see the injuries."

"I'm fine."

"I don't care. Let me check them for magical damage."

"That would mean taking off my pants. Are we that informal?"

He smirked. "Not like I'll look. You don't seem to want me to."

"Even if I did, it's not the right time for that." She got up to show him her arm's injury. "Just a scratch."

He tested it then removed the spell from it. "It had a disease curse."

"That's clearly not working since I'm not sick." She sat on the table to let him see her leg by rolling up the bottom. He touched it and drained the spells from there as well. "How do you do that?"

"I can teach you to touch and feel the magic. That's very intimate though." He stared at her. "It may help you with the things you pull out of memories though." He lit some magic on his hand. "Put yours on top of mine." She did that and concentrated on the feeling, shaking her head slowly. "No, let it sink in first." She did and shivered at the feeling. "That's my magic versus yours," he said quietly. "You learn to feel around you to find other sources."

She showed him how she did that. He helped her scale it back and she relaxed again. "That's nicer."

"Good girl." He washed magic over her, testing her for curses and injuries. He found one on her back and moved her to look at that. That one got a bit of healing. "That's good." He looked at her. She smiled. "I should expect you to pounce. Or at least suggest."

"I may the next time you show up. Today I feel rather nasty and need a good scrubbing from the mud."

He smiled. "That's something that happens." They heard a shout. "What now?" he sighed. She beat him outside. She had to get the creature. She took the bow and tried to aim. Missed. She tried again. Still missed. She firmed herself up and took aim with the last one, hitting the creature on the stomach.

It shouted and let the guard go. She grabbed a belt knife and went to deal with it. The mage came out and shot it with magic, making it burn up. She got the guard away from it. He sighed. "You really do need more weapons practice."

"I've been busy," she said dryly. "Thank you for helping me." She checked the guard. "Get his family. He's got broken ribs. He'll need a real healer and they'll want to go with him." She looked. "NOW!" The guards flinched but ran off to do that for her. The healer came riding in at top speed. "I saved him from the thing," she said with a point. "It had him held by the chest. I can feel free bones." She got out of the healer's way. "I sent someone to get his family."

"He'll heal and live, Duchess." She got them to bring her some wood to put under her carry skid. They got him carefully loaded and she took him back to town. His family met them on the road and went with them. "He has broken bones. He should be fine." The wife quit crying. "He was captured by a beast. She took care of it."

"She's good at that," the oldest son agreed. He held his sister's hand as they walked. That way she wouldn't run off and get lost.

Legara took a deep breath as she stood up. She looked around. "What?" They looked away.

"They probably lost faith since he had you carried in," the mage said, coming out. "We'll work on your time schedule later." He walked her inside. "Let's get you tea. You need to calm down."

"Why are they coming here?" she asked.

"It's not just your house. One of the others is getting the same thing. They think you're too strong."

She snorted, staring up at him. "I'm not strong enough. I realize that." She went to clean herself up in the bathroom then came out to get something to drink. She poured him one too then settled in again to sip and eat some of her fruit and cheese. Her stomach was ripped up. "If there's another today I'm going to destroy someone. I really am."

He smiled. "You probably could."

"Not that way. By hand. Maybe with the explosives I have." She took another drink. She looked outside then got up to go out there. "Put the guards around the walls to make sure nothing else gets in," she ordered. "I didn't think I'd have to actually say that." She went back inside pulling at her hair. The mage knocked her back out but only for a few hours. The maid that witnessed it gave him a stare.

He smiled. "She needs to calm down. It'll only last for a few hours this time."

"That's fine. We worry about our mistress. She's never allowing herself to rest recently."

"Once we stop these things she may have time to do that. She'll need more weapons training time though." He put her on the couch and settled in to nibble on the cakes and the cheese for her. You didn't want food to go to waste.

***

Chapter 8

***

The King looked at the empty seat then at his fiancee, who still felt ill. She was recovering but not very quickly. "Do we have any idea?" he asked her.

"She sent apologies."

"Why?"

"I don't know, dear." She stared at him. "Maybe she doesn't want to look at us. Maybe she's found her own man finally. I have no idea. I can go check on her tomorrow if you want."

"Please. One of us needs to. I'm worried she's injured again."

"No that we would've heard about from the Knight." She looked at the chalice. "Isn't Legara fine?"

"She mostly is. She's tired from taking some new weapons training."

"Good of her," the King decided. "But not necessary."

The knight looked at him. "I doubt that would sway her." He disappeared again.

The king kept his temper inside until the end of the dinner. Then he approached his strong duke down there. "Duke Myar, what is going on with your overseeing Duchess?" he asked quietly. "I noticed her absence."

"She's been taking a lot of weapons training from the one I hired for my children. Otherwise nothing that I'm aware of." He stared at him. "Why are you worried since gossip said you're extremely tired of her."

"I am not. I was mad she handled that other corruption like the potential consort and her stepmother. She didn't let the ones who could have done it easiest do it because it took too long. She got pushy."

"She's a young woman. Of course she's pushy. That's what they do. My single daughter is seven and she's just as pushy because I haven't had the heart to break her of that yet." He stared at him. "We used to wonder if she'd actually manage to find a man who'd put up with her wildness. Her father was too lost to mostly do anything.

"Her first stepmother had to remind her that she had manners and had to use them. And she had to wear a dress." He smiled slightly. "She does her lineage proud. We're all proud of her but she was right, she had to be stronger. Threats to her keep coming and it's not like she'll be able to lean on us if something happens. An hour is too far in an emergency."

He nodded. "I'm going to talk to her tomorrow."

"She'll be sparring all morning like usual. I'll pause by there and warn her guards so they can tell her." He looked around then at him. "What really happened? There's all sorts of rumors about you testing a virgin to be your wife instead of Paki."

"No." He sighed. "We had to help Sir Greens get stronger as he rebound himself. He did need some sacrificed energy but not more than sexual ones." Duke Myar grimaced. "They all volunteered. It won't have to happen again. You know how she is about her duty."

"I do. Is she well?"

"She was fine the next morning. Paki and she talked."

"That's good then. There's all sorts of people who would've wanted you to take her instead of Paki." He rolled his eyes. "It wouldn't have been good for us because all this would've driven her nuts." He walked off. "I'll warn her guards about the visit, Sire."

"Thank you. And do not tell others about that?"

"I wouldn't want her harmed for doing her duty." He looked at him. "I hope it didn't ruin her?"

"I don't think I did. I tried not to."

"Then that's probably good for her. Maybe a husband will make her enjoy it." He walked off shaking his head. He was glad it wasn't his daughter. He hoped it never would be.

The king went to talk to his girlfriend. She would probably chew him a new one about that sharing but at least that one knew to look out for her.

***

The king rode into the courtyard and found his duchess surrounded by most of her guards and defending against most of them. At once. He hopped down and walked over, blocking a blow. "I believe the only one she should have to fight is me." He looked at them. They backed off.

She wiped her sweaty forehead. "I'm sure you sparred a few times, Sire."

"I know I did and I still do, Legara. I haven't seen you in months so I'm checking on you. You missed the formal dinner."

"I wasn't really up to going, Sire." She took a towel one of her guards held out. "Sorry Paki had to find something else to talk about."

"She's pouting you haven't showed up to talk to her."

"We're not that sort of friends and it'll keep people from annoying her about you taking me instead of her." She blotted her throat. "I think we're done for the day. Thank you for the practice time." They nodded, going back to their duties. She looked at him. "I can have someone make us tea."

He stared at her. "You're mad at me."

"I'm not."

"You are. It's in your eyes."

"I'm actually not, Sire."

"I'm not mad you beat me that way that day."

She rolled her eyes. "Unlike Stahni, I'm not that young, Sire. Tea?" She went into the house. "The king is here," she called.

"I'll bring tea to the study," her housekeeper agreed. "And things to nibble."

"No food needed, dear," the King called as he walked in. "Feed your mistress. She's looking thin."

She brought a tea pot out. "She is." She stared at her. "You have to eat breakfast."

"I'm done with sparring for the day so I'll eat after I bathe after he's gone."

"That's fine, ma'am. You do worry us." She went back to the kitchen. "That dog is back."

"I warned her if it came back I was keeping it so have it brought inside so we can bathe it and all that." She sat down, testing the tea pot. She poured him some once it was done, serving him with a single cube of sugar in it. "There you go." She settled in with hers.

"You need to eat."

"I'm fine for a few hours. I need to bathe first." She took a sip then put the cup down. The dog was let into the room. She patted the couch and it hopped up to cuddle her. "I know. You're staying. Your human is negligent so you're staying." She petted him until he settled in to nap. She looked at the king. "How's Paki doing?"

"Still healing." He stared at her. "I ruined our friendship."

"No. Usually no one up there would see me ever. Even when I was doing things for my father I was never at events unless I had to be. Usually only for diplomatic things. It goes well with my messenger duties."

"I've been having Brandles doing it so he can talk to his parents."

"I figured you were." She shrugged but petted the dog again. "Everything's fine and about normal. I'll show up for the wedding events." She looked at him. "I know Paki doesn't want me to do more than show up so that's nice. I've found her a great present."

"She's very tired of people thinking I should take you in because she's still healing."

"She nearly died of that curse. They'll talk about anything to have gossip. If she shows up in an unflattering dress she'll get the same thing. Which I would never want to put up with. It's good you loved her already. If we had been dating I would've dumped you so I didn't have to deal with that."

He snorted, sipping his tea. "You're mean, Legara."

"Usually." She smiled. "I always have been. Which is why all the knights are scared to come near me."

"You could still come to the dinners."

"Why would I want to, Sire? It's very boring. I stand there all night watching others pretend to be amused after a dinner surrounded by people who remember when I was a little girl and still mostly see me that way." She shrugged. "It's not a chore I enjoy. I go to what I need to go to. I've never enjoyed those events."

"If we had other ones...."

"It'd be the same thing. People who remember me being a baby and still see me that way. Even if I did defend them the other day again." He sat up straighter. "I sent them to you."

"Myar brought me a few."

"From my team." She nodded. "That beast thing has happened again and I'm not sure from where. Another few trying to sneak over to try something stupid. A few refugees I've let Reginald handle as his wife's very good at mothering." She smiled. "We're good out here, Sire."

"Cut the formal shit, Legara. You met me when I came in as a young, stupid squire and kicked my butt."

"Twice," she agreed then smiled. "But the same as you see me at that time, so do others."

"I realize that. I get some of that too. There's not enough young people in seats."

"By the time there is, I'll be one of the ancient ones." She shrugged. "That's how aging works."

"You're preparing for a war."

"It's my duty to do that."

"Can't you calm down? Maybe?"

"I'm fine. I'm not mad. I'm doing my duty to my family and the kingdom. I'm prepared in case someone tries something again. Before I get kidnaped by someone like those princes."

"I doubt they would."

"One's tried. He didn't limp home so much as being thrown back across the border. He thought Myar's house was mine and broke in there. He let me know."

"I wish I had known."

"Ask him, Sire. He's just up the road." She pointed.

"Why did no one tell us?"

"We're still doing what we'd do to the old king. We told him after we handled something if it might happen again or was too diplomatically important. I would've sent him a note about the ones coming over the border but not the beasts we've been sent."

"Sent?"

"They're not natural beasts."

"Point I suppose. Any idea where they're coming from?"

"Probably those same princes. They're that stupid. I'm about to suggest Myar could go invade over there to make them stop it. Two of his kids got injured by them appearing there instead."

He frowned. "I'm talking to him later. I want to know each and every event, Legara. I can't plan against it if I don't know."

"If it's that important you would've heard. Probably from Reggis passing on my message."

He shook his head. "I want to hear from you. In person."

"That leaves my section uncovered while I'm up there. I'd send a note with a guard."

He frowned. "If I don't hear from you how do I know what you have planned to handle it?"

"I'll be here handling it, Sire. That's what I'm supposed to do."

"We need to work that out. I need to know those plans so I can send you necessary people or materials. Or so I can threaten whoever to stop it so they do so."

"They're not scared of us. We don't have a huge military. We're considered very nice but not weak. Those who want to take us over don't really want to do that. They know we'd fight them back and quit being so nice. We don't have things they want to take over. The few things that they'd try are all personal or stupid like those princes."

"Do they still think you'd give in?"

She shrugged. "I haven't asked. I've just fired on them when I find them. Though my bow work has gotten better."

He nodded. "That's good, dear. Still disturbing that you're so upset."

"I'm not upset!"

"You're being cold and formal, Legara," he sighed, staring at her. "Is it because of that night?" She shook her head. "Did I upset you that night?"

"No. I don't know why anyone's worried about that. It was pleasant enough. You didn't make me hate men." He scowled. "Not like I expected you to make me scream like you do her."

"I know. I tried."

"I know. It was appreciated."

"Have you found someone since then?"

"I've been rather busy handling the beasts and things." She gave him an odd look. "Beyond that, I'm related to almost all the nearby peoples. They don't want me even beyond that."

"You're a pretty young woman."

"I'm two years older than you!" she complained.

"You are?"

"Yes I am. I'm a year older than Paki is."

"Oh. I didn't realize that." He stared at her. "I feel like I somehow turned you bitter."

"I'm no more bitter than I was before." She looked confused. "Nothing has changed for me beyond having more weapons practice time."

"I doubt that but I'll leave it at that for now. Do you want to help with the wedding?"

"No. That would mean never ending gossip for Paki to deal with. I wouldn't do that to her."

"Are you going to show up more often after we marry?"

"No. I really don't like those events. I know they're important but I hate them."

"We all hate them. Everyone's tired of them."

"No, some people thrive with that sort of thing. I'm not one. Paki is so you lucked out there."

He stared at her. "I want you to show up more often. Please."

"If I'm not busy, Sire."

"Use my damn name."

She stared at him. "That's improper and even though I'm home it doesn't mean someone won't gossip about that. I do not need Paki at my throat for that."

He rolled his eyes. "She knows you don't want me."

"No, not in the least."

"Thank you for helping my ego."

"You don't need me for that." He scowled. She grinned. "Go bother Duke Myar so I can bathe, Sire."

"Fine." He finished his tea and took a cake to nibble on. "She does very good with that. I wish my cook would." He walked off. "I'll be back later after I talk to him."

"That's fine." He left and she went to bathe with the dog helping. She did like having a dog to spoil with attention. This one seemed very nice. By the time she was done, redressed, and ready for him to come back, she had a nasty note from Myar that she had told him about the lesser problems. He had heard the gossip from one of her maids and was waiting on him to get nagged.

She rolled her eyes but sent one back that he had asked and demanded to hear. To suck it up. Before she had her mare bite him somewhere indelicate. She sent it back with his guard. "To the grumpy one." He nodded, going back there. She went to get some real food in her then settled in to rest after eating. Someone would wake her from her rest.

The one who did was not happy. He was scowling as he shook her. "The king was kidnaped," Duke Myar noted.

"Fuck. Where was he and which one did it?" She sat up. "I can go change and saddle up. Where are we going?"

"Someone in Reginald's manor."

"Let me put on pants." She went up to do that and came down a few minutes later with weapons and in pants. "Okay. Make sure they don't send out a ransom demand." He nodded. She went with him. "You couldn't do it yourself?"

"They demanded you show up." She turned and stabbed him, making him shout. "They'll still take you out, Legara."

She glared. "I doubt that. Better have tried. Are you really Myar?" He changed and then died, melting. "Huh. Well, let's hope this is actually a nightmare." She pinched herself but it wasn't. She got her mare and mounted, going to find the king. Starting at that house. Yes, people who weren't Duke Reginald were there.

She heard someone shouting that the Duke should be back soon. Their creation was gone already. She looked at the guard she had brought with her. "Go tell others," she mouthed. He rode off for the nearest manor house. It'd take him longer than he wanted since that one was empty. She considered things. Duke Reginald was probably dead with his wife. Their staff was clearly dead, she could see a fresh grave.

She considered her weapons then nodded. She snuck closer, going to handle this if she had to. She wasn't that good but she could do something and retreat until help got there to save them both. Maybe she'd take out enough that Myar or whoever had it easier. She got a lot of the outside forces out from stabs. That left the house. And she was not ready for this.

She was feeling very sick. She was exhausted from earlier's practice. But she had to keep going. She did think at the Knight Protector. She didn't feel him answer. Fuck. She stabbed one trying to sneak up on her and got the other two with him. Then she kicked one into the well house, stabbing him when he didn't fall in.

It created a lot of noise though so she went to hide in the stables. She had hidden in here before as a child. They were in bad condition but she could sneak into the attic from the hay loft. Only a two foot gap in the open. No one was looking when she checked so she got that window open then checked again before sneaking over and stabbed someone up there.

She sighed, going down the stairs carefully. Two guards on the bedroom floor. The rest were downstairs. She got the jump on one and got him before he could shout. The other tried to pounce her without shouting so she stabbed him next. Then she sighed and kept her stomach in its place. She turned and found a higher up there.

"Duke." She stabbed him and he probably died. Brandles was going to be mad about his favorite uncle. Pity. She tried to reach the Knight Protector again. She felt something and felt that barrier then removed it completely. His feeling exploded in her mind and she told him why. He retreated and she went back to going down to save the king. If the king was actually in trouble.

The king next door was talking to him. Hers was tied up. That king smiled at her so she shot him with her crossbow. "Welcome to our Kingdom, King Levan." She untied the king, nodding. "Outside. Where's your horse?"

"Not here? I think they made her run off."

"Mine can carry us both. Outside. To the north in the trees." He nodded, going that way. She followed, letting him handle a few of the problems on the way out when he took her belt knife. She had her other one so that was fine. She found her mare and untied her, walking her over. She mounted and helped him up behind her, taking off riding. She got back to her house, nodding at the guard. "Duke Reginald's house is full of King Levan's people who're mostly stabbed. Spread the news and lock us down. No one in or out except for us."

"Yes, ma'am," he ordered. "Good luck."

"I may need it." She rode off with the king, going faster. She stopped at Reggis' gate but it was sealed shut. Which was weird. "Great." The king muttered something rude. She kicked her mare into going again, going to the palace. She rode in and they slid down. "King Levan has taken over Duke Reginald's house," she told the knights. "He may still be alive. Who's going with me?" She saw Brandles coming in on his gelding. "I'm sorry about your uncle."

"What uncle?"

"Your uncle. He had the king hostage at Duke Reginald's house with your former king."

"Excuse me?" he demanded loudly. "Mount up, let's go!" he ordered. "Sire, are you well?"

"Bit sore but otherwise I'll survive." She took her belt dagger back and remounted, going with the knights. "Where's everyone and Reggis? His gate was locked?"

"No idea," one of the squires reported. "I can go overland to find him at least, Sire."

"Do so." He ran off to climb over a wall and head through the woods. The king looked at his knights. "Prepare us for an attack. Apparently they've been handling some and didn't feel we needed to hear because they were minor. King Levan wanted me to join our kingdoms by marrying his sister. Where's Paki?"

"In the bath, Sire," an interior guard noted. "With you it looked like."

"I doubt that." He went to find that out and stab the not him. "It's another construct. King Levan wants me to marry his sister."

"Eww," she said. She got up to dry off, giving him a kiss. "Be the knight you are, dear. I'm safe." He nodded, going to grab his weapons while she got dressed and picked up her own.

***

Legara paused and pointed. "There." Brandles moved closer to look. "I stabbed the duke but clearly I missed important things. There's King Levan."

Brandles nodded. "It is. Huh. Well, that's very wrong." He looked at his knights. "You are to guard the road and make sure they do not make it farther in, Legara."

"Fine. I've already been in there once." She went to do that. She checked with her guards, who said most of the nearby estates were closed. She had no idea why.

One of the guards looked up. "It's a holy rest day," he said quietly.

"I did not realize that. You guys need to tell me so I don't make you work as hard." The guard smiled at that. "Make sure no one gets in today. You guys can have it tomorrow if we all survive." She went back to the crossroads and shot two with her bow. She might've missed one. He came out with a yell so she shot him too.

She settled in to wait. A few more made it past her but she got them. Knights came riding and she pointed. "Duke Reginald's house, people." They went to handle that and spare her guards. She got shoved but stayed, glaring at that squire. "I'm fine."

"You're tired looking," that squire said.

"Yes, I was sparring earlier. Didn't realize it was a holy rest day."

The squire shook his head. "If you're sure." He spread them out so they covered all the roads coming in. The duchess got another person and they all stared at her but took over that dirty duty for her.

***

Chapter 9

***

Legara limped into the palace, nodding at the guard. "King Levan needs an heir," she announced. "Our guards all live, but they're injured. Lord Fairmy answered my letter to him about that by showing up with a force to back ours up and take out his own king for us. Knight Brandles is getting hugged by his father, who is fussing over his injuries."

The king stared at her. "The king's dead?"

"Yes." She stared at him. "He tried to run." Her king shuddered, shrinking down. "Are you well, Sire?" she asked dryly.

"That's not him," Paki yelled from upstairs. "I've got him."

"That figures. Well, constructs don't bleed." A knight rushed in to test his hand and he didn't bleed. That one got killed. She sighed. "Find him! And Reggis!" The knights hurried off. She sat on a chair by the throne, looking around. "I outrank Paki unless the king's here or a more senior regional duke." They went to find him too. She relaxed, rubbing her shoulder. A knight ran in. "Did we find someone?"

"Duke Reggis is still locked in his manor. He got warned of a problem."

"I wish like hell someone had told me!" she said loudly. Reggis stomped in. "Why wasn't I told?"

He blinked at her. "Why are you mad?" he demanded back.

She stood up. "Because I had to go break into Duke Reginald's house to go save our king from King Levan! By myself!" He shrank away from her. "Everyone else but me knew?"

"I...." He looked at the knights. "We didn't tell her?"

"Apparently not," that knight said, staring at her. "Are you well, Duchess?"

"No, I'm a bit peeved!" She glared at him. "Go find the damn king!" He ran off. She glared at Reggis. "Why wasn't I told? Am I not important since they were coming over my border? I had to be woken from a rest by a construct and then go rescue people by myself?" She pointed. "Did you tell Myar?"

"I'm assuming we did. I ordered them to. Please calm down?"

"No! Hell no!"

"Oh, dear." He stepped back. "All right. Let's take a deep breath." She glared, stomping past him. She went up to where Paki was hiding. Reggis looked at the others. "She's very upset."

"She made a damn mess of Duke Reginald's house," one of the knights that had went there said. "She stabbed over twenty people. Including a king and a higher level duke from elsewhere. I'd be mad too since no one warned her this might happen."

"We were hoping the King was going to make up with her," Reggis said.

"We're not together," Legara yelled from upstairs. "I'm not taking him from Paki. I don't want his damn ass. Thank you anyway! Stop that stupid rumor!" A door slammed.

Duke Reggis blinked a few times. "Well, that's odd. Usually a king has a mistress." The knight gave him an odd look and came over to test him for blood flow. He had some. So he was just an old man.

The king walked in shaking his head, Legara and Paki behind him. "Move." Reggis got out of his way. "People, what's going on now?" he ordered. "And who else wasn't warned so we may be missing them? We're apparently missing Duke Reginald's whole family and staff. Whoever was there."

They shared a look and went to check on that.

Reggis cleared his throat. "I ordered them to warn their staff. It's a holy rest day, Sire."

"Do invasions really count against that?" Paki asked. Reggis glared at her. "Do they?"

"No. Of course not."

"Then why weren't some of our strongest warned? We may have no one left on the western border but Legara. Who has not enough staff."

"I need to get back there," she said. "To manage things." She walked off. Brandles got in her way. "Don't make me hurt you again," she warned. "This is my job, not yours."

"It's a Knight's job."

"It's my job. I am the Duchess of the West so the Western border is my duty to protect. My people may be down and no one told me." He got pulled out of her way by his father. "Duke," she said with a nod. "Is it all right on your side of the border?"

"It's fine so far. I had no idea he was going to do this," he said. "Are you all right?"

"Bit mad," she admitted dryly. "But I'm going to go find a cause and fix it." She walked off, taking her mare back. "Thank you." She resaddled her and rode off again.

The duke looked at the king. "She's very unsettled."

"She had to rescue me. She made that mess first."

He nodded. "She's very upset then. Someone needs to grab her and hug her until she calms down."

"If she had a spouse I'd have him do that," the king said dryly. "She doesn't." He threw up his hands. "I was nagging her earlier that she never shows up to things."

The duke nodded. "I can go treat her like a daughter."

His son looked at him. "We'll miss you when she stabs you." He walked off. "Let me help her since that's my job and not hers." They rode back out, going to back her up. "Two of you go to the other gates and make sure they knew something was going on." They rode out to do that. He went back nearer to his former home to guard that border.

She was back on the border and was blowing up a few guards who were coming over. "Hold it," he ordered. Legara looked at him. "Let me talk to them." He rode forward, staring at the guards being held. "Gentlemen, I'm the former heir to the Duke of Brandles and now Knight Protector Brandles here. What the hell are you doing? We nearly had an invasion earlier by Levan."

"He was overthrown," one of them said. "We were coming after him."

"He's dead," the knight said. "Want his body?"

"Please."

"Who overthrew him?" Legara called.

"His nephew Homer."

The knight grimaced. "I wish you much luck with him. I remember him being a philandering idiot."

"He is," one of them said. "Who's she?"

"Duchess Legara of the West."

"Oh." They knights looked at her as she came out of her spot. "No wonder you were going to kill us."

She nodded. "We've seen a few of you today and you'd just add to my tally." They flinched away from her.

Brandles looked at her. "My father wanted to grab you and hug you until you calmed down." She glared at him. "Don't hit me."

"Fine." She looked at the knights. "Let me show you where they're laying." She waved. "This way." They went with her to find the bodies they'd need. They winced at the mess. She escorted them back over the border. Then she relaxed when she heard riders coming from the kingdom's side of the border. She looked back. "Myar!" He came that way instead. "Did you hear we had an invasion earlier and no one told us? Reggis decided we didn't need to fucking know."

He blinked at her. "We had a what?" he demanded.

She waved a hand. "Duke Reginald is dead. Former King Levan was here and kidnaped our king on his visit to you."

"I heard he tried to visit and didn't make it so I was going to check on him." He stared at her. "Are you well?"

"Bit mad. Bit injured." She stared at him. "Make sure the others are well and have heard. I'd hate to mourn anyone else."

He nodded. "The duke here?" he asked calmly.

"There's a mass grave," Brandles told him. "I'm fairly certain they're in there. Our king is at the palace. We came back after she rescued him to make sure they were gone. Their king got overthrown by his nephew Homer."

"Our king said that Levan wanted to have him marry his sister to join our kingdoms," Legara said.

"That won't work. I'd take that bitch out," Myar agreed. "People, check everyone in our sector and pass it on to the next ones," he ordered with a hand wave.

"Mine are aware so make sure mine are all right," Legara called after them. She looked at Myar. Who stared back. "I nearly slugged Reggis. He thought the king coming out here was us making up for whatever fight we had."

He shook his head. "You're not his type. You'd die from the stress of being the queen." He rode closer to pat her on the shoulder. "We can handle it while you rest."

"It's my job. I'm fine."

"Okay." He let it go. He knew better. He looked at the knight, who was scowling at her. "That's something only she can decide, Knight Brandles. The same as we do." He looked at her. "How goes the training?"

"I'm much better. I beat about half of my guards at once earlier." She smiled at him. "Thank you for sending me that trainer."

"You're welcome. You needed it." He patted her again. "Your mare?" She pointed. "Good. If we fall, you are to do messenger duty," he ordered. "I'd rather I fall than you fall. I have someone to take my place."

She scowled. "You may survive when I don't. They know me over there from the messenger duties."

"Point. For now, relax. Finish laying your explosives." She nodded, going to do that. "Our king is fine?" he asked calmly.

"As far as I know, yes. The first we knew she was riding in with the king behind her."

"Reggis had better be a construct when I find him." He looked back as his guard rode up. "Problems? You were at home."

"Your children have armed themselves and your wife is hiding already, Duke Myar. Her people are on guard and worried but know she's still living."

She leaned back to look at him. "I have a cousin." She went back to laying an explosive. Then she came out dusting off her hands. "There. That should collapse that whole rock ledge."

Brandles looked at her. "That's nearly evil."

She smiled. "They're trying to invade. Hell yes." She looked at the guard. "My people are fine?"

"Yes, Duchess."

"Thank you. Be safe."

He nodded, looking at his employer. "Go guard my family," Myar said. He nodded, riding off. He looked at them. "Legara, go into the trees to take ten private minutes." She nodded, doing that. They could hear her well enough to know she had to pee now. He looked at the knight. "What happened?"

"Apparently King Levan was overthrown by his nephew Homer, who is a philandering moron. Our king was taken hostage between her house and yours to talk to them about joining our kingdoms through his bed." Myar grimaced. "With King Levan's sister. Who is ancient and kind of gross."

He frowned. He listened but he could ignore her crying. "The first we knew, she was riding into the palace with the king riding behind her on her mare and told us she had rescued him then demanded some knights come help her. I was in the field so hurried back because that looked bad."

"If I had known I would've done this sooner so she didn't have to."

"She created a hell of a mess," Brandles said quietly. "There's a lot of stabbed people we didn't do. She didn't kill them all but a good many."

Myar grimaced again. "I hate that for her." She came out of the woods. "For now, hug him, Legara. You need to shake right now. This is your first real battle. Every soldier does it." She glared at him. "Don't make me make you."

She huffed but let the knight hug her for now. He arranged the guards they had so it was more effective. A group did try to come their way but they weren't wearing armor. Brandles went to talk to them and got fired on so he got out of the way and let her explode those rocks. No more mercenaries.

***

The King looked at people that night. "Are they all done with?" he demanded. Everyone nodded. "Are we certain?"

"I left knights on that border," Myar noted. "Fresh ones who were cleaned up and had eaten at least. North?"

"We're still fine. We didn't see a bit. East?"

He shook his head. "No. None on ours. A slight case of a water fever across the border but nothing else. South?"

"Those morons that sent their princes are still trying. We've had some constructs, some weird creatures. West?"

"Both of those," she agreed. "I've been handling them nearly daily some weeks. Mostly beasts. Today we had constructs. One woke me from a nap after my sparring time."

The Duke of the South blinked. "You're training?"

"Yes. It's my duty and I needed it today." He groaned. "Also the consort that we almost had sent them word to come steal a few of us who were single so we could die as proper wives. It'd give them more power. They've been threatening me for months now as I didn't give in."

"Which I've only heard about once," the king told her.

She looked at him. "Not like anything could be done." She looked at the others. "We found some constructs at the house they were holding the king in."

"They had the king hostage?" the Duke of the East demanded, standing up. "Why?"

"He was traveling between nagging her and me and never made it to me," Myar said. That one sat down with a groan. "She rescued him and got him back here then went back with knights." The others nodded at that. "We know Duke Reginald and his wife are gone. Their whole staff was buried with them. I had someone check the grave."

"I've sent for his eldest child," Paki said from her seat. "They sent back none of them wanted that duty. I've gotten notes from all but the youngest, who is in another kingdom."

"So we need one new Duke," the king said with a nod. "Who is very experienced and strong enough since his lands sit directly on the border." He looked at Legara. "Do you have anyone you want to nominate?"

"A few of the squires are second and third sons," she offered. She looked at Myar. "Do you have one you want? Or you, Hobar?"

"I'd like my brother to have one but he'd need an interior spot," Hobar, who sat on the border with the North said. He looked at Myar.

He considered it. "A few of the knights are getting to retirement age. That's a good, easy spot most of the time. Most of them have families."

Paki considered it. "Knight Pattra?"

The king shook his head. "He'd die in retirement. He refused a training job I offered him due to his limp."

"There's a few squires who have never made it after five years," Legara said. "They're not that young. They have the training. I'm thinking someone like Silts. Maybe someone like Pattra's younger brother. He's talked about taking up farming more than once."

"He was seriously injured today," the King said, considering that. "They would have the training but not the rank. All right, I'll have the Head Knight give me a list of names among both of those groups. Emphasis on protecting that border." He looked at Legara. "You're missing a guard?"

"Yes. Another beast. He got grabbed before they could fire an arrow at it." She sighed. "I've already put forward to pay his death costs and a settlement on the family."

"Good of you," Paki agreed with a nod. "Are you all right?"

"Bit tired." She looked at Reggis. "Why was I not told? Why was he not told?" she asked with a nod toward Myar. "Who did actually get told?" A few dukes raised their hands. "So all of you to the south?" She looked at Reggis again.

Myar nodded. "I don't mind him being a duke but I cannot put up with this from our Lord Marshal, Sire." He was staring at Reggis. "Who takes over for him?" Two people raised their hands then looked at each other.

Legara sighed then pointed at one. "I think it goes to you as you're oldest."

"I'm so far away from the palace, Legara. And I don't really want it. It's a lot of pressure. I have newborn twins."

She smiled. "Congratulations. I hope they're healthy." She looked at the other two. "Which of you lives closer?"

"We're both inner ring," one said, looking at his rival. "I know I'm safe for the country."

"I'm just as good as you are."

Legara looked. "Everyone prove bloodflow please." She poked her finger with her knife. The rest did. Two didn't pass, one of them in the running for Lord Marshal. "Okay." She looked at the one next to Paki, who she had just stabbed in the face. "Rescue missions, Sire?"

"Yes. Tonight." He sighed. "All right." He looked at that one. "You're it. Make sure there's rescue missions tonight to find their families. If there's some left, protect it as they would." He nodded, shifting in his seat. "Legara, you do very well in field command."

"Thank you, Sire. I'm still learning but I think I'm learning a lot."

Myar looked at her. "You're not bad." She smiled at him. "Larger forces take different plans than smaller ones but I'll make sure you learn that as well." He looked at the king. Then at Paki. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm healing, just not quickly. It didn't do more than wear me out and my organs are a bit slow. I'll be fine and be able to make sure he has heirs."

"Good," Myar agreed with a nod. "He needs heirs. We all need heirs."

"I'm still looking for a spouse," Legara quipped. They groaned. "I know you all see me as the kid who used to climb many of you." They mostly nodded with a smile for her. "But I'm not."

"We realize," Paki said. "You haven't been that girl for many years. Though you do need a spouse." She nodded back. "I wish that mage had caught your attention and you had made him want to stay."

"He wasn't into me, Paki. He didn't do more than knock me into a nap because he found me annoying."

"Which is a pity. He would've given you pretty children."

She looked at her friend. "They'll be pretty because I am."

"Point." She looked at Reggis. "I also had to note that the stupid rumors about my fiancee sleeping with Legara needed to end." Reggis slunk down. "Because that made things harder and the King didn't have a guard with him earlier when he went to nag Legara about not letting us know about all the threats."

Myar nodded. "We're used to doing it on our own and reporting the important things. Some unnatural beasts and constructs? Most of us handle those and make a note to send up weekly or so with our usual reports to Reggis." He shrugged a bit, looking at the other directional dukes. Who all nodded at that.

"I can't help if you don't let me know," the king said. "I can threaten them and other things if I know."

"Threatening them over them sending us beasts and death threats isn't going to go over well," Legara said. "We can't start a war over that. People would hate me for that."

He looked at her. "Then they're shallow and need to grow up."

She nodded. "Could be but I still don't want to start a war over me saying no to some idiot prince."

"It won't cause a war and if they started one, it'd end very quickly." He looked at the others. "Is anyone else hiding something like that?" One raised his hand and passed down a note. "That's very bad. Who sent you that?" He pointed at someone. "I see." He looked at that duke, who shrank down. "Stop it. Yesterday."

"Yes, Sire."

"Thank you." He looked at Legara. "No new threats?"

"Not today."

"Good. I need to have a talk with that king anyway."

"There's an upcoming royal wedding in the kingdom by the ocean with the fishing," Legara said with a point. "I can never remember their name." She yawned. "But their king is due to marry off his oldest daughter sometime this year so you can probably talk to him there." She yawned again. "Sorry." She flapped a hand.

"You can rest here. We'll send word down to your people that you're sleeping finally," the king said.

"I'll be fine. My mare knows the way home."

He looked at her. "Do you hate my hospitality that much, Legara?" he asked with a grin.

"Yes. Each time I sleep here I get horrible nightmares."

"Oh, I didn't realize that."

Paki grinned at him. "The last time she saw herself marrying someone who wanted to sew her lips shut."

Legara nodded. "The one before then was years ago but I had the nightmare that you were going to use me for a roast at some dinner. All of you said how tender and sweet I was," she said, looking around.

"We'd hate to eat a human," Myar said. He stretched back.

"Don't you dare," she warned then smiled. "I'll teach your son how to be a bard."

"Please don't threaten that. He's already nearly there." He shuddered. But he did knock her out. "I'll make sure she gets home." The king looked at him. "She's on my way home anyway." Paki nodded at that. "We know I'm not going to debauch her. My wife would kill me." The king smiled at him for that. "What are we doing about that border?"

"We have knights and a military. They're going to guard it until it's all done with," the king said. Myar nodded. Legara woke up and yawned but he knocked her out again. "Is she wearing herself out?"

"Sire, if she did, she'd say it was her duty. As it is all of ours to protect what's ours. That's why we're dukes instead of Lords or anything else."

"Fine. I'm worried about her. She seemed too quiet when we talked earlier."

"That's because she needs a spouse." That duke looked at Myar then at her then back at him. "Does she actually lead?"

"She has good sense and if she needs advice she'll ask for it," Myar assured him. "Mostly she doesn't need to do more than take reports. I didn't even realize she was getting threats until my wife brought over the weapons trainer and she asked him to teach her to defend against their usual weapons first. Then the wife told me and I talked to her and let her rant a bit. She handles too much on her own," she told the King. "A spouse would cure that."

"We're all asking people we know," Paki reminded him. "She's not the only one that needs one." Brandles limped in. "Are you more injured?"

"Turned my ankle a few seconds ago because I'm tired. My father's sent word that King Homer is sending a peace delegation in two days to come apologize for their stupid former king. They'll come by the road but detour around that one spot that's full of sharp little rocks. Homer may have actually grown up better than we thought he would." He looked at Legara. "I can put her onto a couch."

"Leave her, son," Myar said with a grin. "I did it to her so she rests. I'll make sure she gets home." Brandles nodded. "Are you going back tonight?"

"I am. That's my border to guard. I know a lot of that area very well."

"Good. We like that. It speaks of a good bit of sense." He looked at the king. "If they do come in peace, we'll gladly escort them up."

"That would be fine. She might know them so include her."

"Of course. That's her duty as the Western Duke," he said dryly. "It's partially ceremonial and partially protection." He smirked at the young man. "It'll be fine."

"Thank you." He looked at the others. "I figure we'll probably have to have a dinner if they're peaceful." Paki grimaced but nodded. "Thank you, dear."

"Welcome." She looked at the others.

Legara woke up with a gasp, rubbing her head. "Quit sending me visions like that! I'll be damned if that'll happen!" she yelled. They all heard the Knight Protector laughing at that. "I mean it! I'll go bury you in the garden!"

"Sorry, dear," the knight called. "I know it's not your ideal."

"Thank you." She rubbed her forehead then hit Myar on the arm. "I said not to do that. I'm not a child."

"Sorry, dear. I'd make sure you got home." She scowled at him. "I'd do it to my son as well." She glared harder. "Fine. You're not that young." He looked at the others.

"What was it this time?" Paki asked with a smug little grin.

"The doors of the main chapel opening and you starting your walk only it's me under your veil and I'm swearing at myself for you not surviving that long. He didn't realize it until he lifted the veil, spotted me, then put the veil back down and threw a certain chalice into a well. Then we were married against our wills."

Paki looked at her. "You have very bad nightmares, dear."

"I'd definitely throw someone in the well," the king muttered. "If you get kidnaped for that, let us know so you can flee from the doorway."

"I'll try. Thank you."

"Welcome." He shook his head quickly. "All right, meeting tomorrow night." They all nodded. "If there's more incidences I'm to hear about it. Even the minor things." He looked around the table. "I'll see you all tomorrow." They nodded and went home. Thankfully they were mostly nearby. The king took Paki upstairs to cuddle with her. It had been a horrible day and he wanted a cuddle.

***

Legara was less tired and better dressed when the peace delegation got there. She looked at her sub-dukes then rode forward. "Welcome to our kingdom," she said, smiling at them. "I'm told you're a delegation?"

The head nodded, riding forward. "I am. Do you know much of us?"

"I'm often found on messenger duty to send things from us to Lord Fairmy." She pointed. "That was Heir Brandles before our Knight Protector chose him to be one of our Knights." The man stared at her oddly. She smiled. "Yes, Duchesses do messenger duty. It means I get to meet a great many people."

"That's interesting. We tend to let younger sons do it."

She shrugged. "I was bored anyway. We'll escort you to the palace. Up ahead is our main road there." She pointed. "These are Duke Myar, Duke Hobar, and Duchess Malarin. They're the local dukes of this area with me." He nodded at them. "Let's get you there. It's about a two hour ride at a normal pace." She turned her mare and walked her off, letting them go in between the honor guard. She looked at Brandles. "How is your mother? I didn't get to ask the other day."

"Peeved. She threatened to move here to nag me more often if my father didn't stop this stupid that endangered her children," he said dryly. He smirked at her. "Thankfully it was stopped before I never find a wife. She'll wail over whoever I pick."

"Some mothers are that way," Duke Myar agreed. "My wife would sniffle greatly and hug her for taking our sons in and trying to finish taming them." He looked at Legara, who shrugged. "Maybe you should go with the king to that wedding? You may meet more people there."

"I may." She shifted in her saddle, then adjusted her dress again. "I'm not against that. I've met them a few times with message duties. They're fairly nice people and have nice fish dishes. Very charming people. I might even find more from those islands one of my great-grandparents came from."

He nodded. "They're said to be pleasant but have fiery lives and tempers. You could use such passion in your life." She scowled at him. "You could. If not, bring portraits of some of our other unwed nobles. Maybe you'll find one for one of them."

"I found one for Lady Hortense's daughter. She's blushing and writing to him now."

"That's a miracle," Hobar muttered. "Does he know what she looks like?"

"Yes. They've met in person. I had Paki send her as a messenger that once so they could meet."

"Awww," Myar said with a grin for her. "Maybe we'll have some here for the wedding too. We do have six or seven nobles who need married off so they can produce heirs."

"We have four now that need heirs and are married," she said dryly.

"True." They nodded at a guard riding past. "Where are you heading?" he called.

"Duke Hobar's house, Sire."

"I'm right here," he called, waving a hand. The guard came back to hand that message to him. "Oh, that's from Paki to my wife about the wedding." He handed it back. "She's probably in the garden. She usually is. Give it to our gate people."

"Yes, Duke Hobar." He rode off again.

Legara smiled at him. "I'd go to her about mine too."

He nodded. "She needs to arrange your wardrobe better. Your housekeeper has too fancy of tastes and your lady's maid lets you get away with pants."

"I don't have a lady's maid. I haven't since the last stepmother's one got killed with my father." The diplomats looked at her. "A corrupted being poisoned the whole staff to try to take out the family."

"Oh, you're her then. We heard about that," one of the delegation said quietly. She nodded at that. "No wonder you do messenger duty."

"It does get me out of the house," she said with a smile. "They've been letting Knight Brandles do it so he can talk to his parents now and then." That knight nodded at that.

"That makes good sense," the head of the delegation agreed, looking at him. "Are you satisfied being over here?"

"I am. They're great people. The Knight Protector had his reasons for choosing me and bringing me in. I find I'm learning a lot and my brother likes to be the future heir more than I did. I was rather bored a lot of the time."

"That's good then." He nodded. "Does that often happen?"

"Now and then he'll find one of our people who was born out kingdom or someone who could be important to the kingdom," Legara said. "I'm fairly certain our Knight Protector was right when he chose him as he's a good Knight."

He grinned at her. "I'm still going to knock you out the next time you try to take a fight from our knights." She shrugged and glared at him. "It was our job."

"Do shut up."

"No. Sorry." He smiled. "I learned to nag from my mother."

Myar coughed. "Not the time, children. Before I suggest you marry her."

"I'd hate that. She never does anything but read," Knight Brandles complained.

She nodded. "Mostly and training now."

He looked at her. "You're worse than some knights."

"Well if I didn't have the duty and the title I might have tried to be one," she quipped.

"You would've been great at it," Hobar assured her.

"You have female knights?"

"Right now we a new squire who is but she wouldn't be the first one," Knight Brandles said. "By the history I learned there's been a great many female knights since they let the first one in. She beat the king in a fight and then demanded the right since she was a princess. She did great things."

She nodded. Myar snickered. "She was supposed to be very stubborn. Very strong of will. Glared some of the senior knights down. That king opened all positions to women due to her reasoning and fighting with him."

"I can see that sort of thing happening." He looked at Legara.

"I might've been a normal duchess in waiting then since even then the unbound couldn't have a title." She shrugged. "Who knows what might have happened. That only comes up in nightmares."

"True," Hobar agreed. "I might have married our last queen myself instead of my wife. That probably would've changed a few things."

Myar looked at him. "You were courting her?"

"Barely and then she met the king and started to drool so I stepped out of the way. My wife found me sulking and cheered me up by letting me handle the man harassing her for needing a drink after her farm had nearly burned down earlier." He smiled. "Didn't you find yours in a dance hall?"

"She was coming in to complain that it existed. She was young and opinionated then. Since then she's learned to let things that don't concern her go and just nag about the rest."

Legara laughed but nodded. "She does. I'm told my father saw my mother across a dinner event and nearly forgot how to eat thanks to her ignoring him. Then he asked her to dance and had to convince her that it wasn't against her vows to the Knight Protector. She apparently fell in love with him during that as they talked."

"We all saw that. They kept dancing when the music had ended and everyone went home." Hobar smiled at her, getting a grin back. "You do look a lot like her."

"I know." She touched the pendant she wore, it was underneath her cloak and dress's neckline today. Myar noticed, so did Brandles. "I felt like wearing some of her jewelry today." They nodded at that. It put the knight on edge but that was fine. They were probably safe here. Probably.

Until they got nearer to Reggis' estate and then they got attacked.

"Oh, fuck this," Hobar complained. "Move," he ordered. Legara had pulled out her bow to shoot at someone.

"I need more practice in this form." She shot another one and hit them. Brandles glanced at her but went after the other two with swords. "Leave one so we can ask what sort of stupid idea this was." She shot another one then pulled her sword to stab the last one coming at them. He went down. She stared. "That's Reggis' lover's son," she muttered.

"He was trying to attack," Myar said firmly. "And he's still alive. Good job, Legara, Brandles." They nodded. "Hobar, go ahead, get us some extra guards to clean this up. Go with the honored guests." He nodded, taking them with him and their spare duchess. It didn't take long for more knights to show up. "Decided to jump out and take us out for some reason," Myar said dryly. He looked at Legara, who was talking with the noble son. "What's he saying?"

"He thought he was trying to protect us," she said dryly. "Which I doubt." She stood up. "His father's former lover hired them."

"Reggis hired them?" Myar demanded.

She nodded. "So he said." She walked over him and went to another one. "Who hired you?" she demanded.

"I do not talk to women, they're inferior." She stepped on his injury, making him scream. "I knew you were evil!"

"I can become evil," she offered. "Who. Hired. You?" She stared at him, sword in hand. "I'm not the duchess to not tell things to. So tell us all who hired you?"

"I..I..."

Myar walked over, picking her up and handing her to Brandles. "I'm fine!"

"It's my turn, Legara. I'm more mean than you are." He shot her a look. "Knight Brandles, go to the palace with her please."

"Yes, Duke Myar." He looked at her. "We have to report."

"We do," she agreed, going to her mare and mounting. She rode off, the knight following her.

The Duke watched then looked at the Head Knight, who shook his head. "He's dating or I'd suggest it."

"He sees her like a sister of his," Myar admitted. "I asked."

"That's a shame. I know our future queen wanted that diplomatic mage that helped our Knight Protector."

"I think he got frustrated by her."

"Even a bigger pity." They cleaned up the mess and went to find if Reggis had done that. He was sitting in his study drinking and had a confession in front of him in writing. He stabbed himself when they walked in. That solved that problem.

***

Legara brushed at her skirts. "I hate needing to change clothes for blood," she muttered. "Let me see if one of the maids can help me remove it as I don't have a change of clothes." She walked off shaking her head.

Brandles looked at her back then at Knight Legmas, who was shaking his head. "Are all women that way?" he asked quietly.

"I have no idea. I don't like women." He clapped him on the arm. "The king thinks you'd make a good spouse for her."

"I don't think I could calm her down."

"I'm told that takes sex," Legmas quipped. "It works on my boyfriend." He walked off happier. They could all hear Paki complaining that Legara had taken her maid to help her with the blood problem she had.

"Did you want me to sit around in blood today?" Legara snapped back.

"No! Of course not! Why are you bloody this time!"

"We got attacked by Reggis' gate. Brandles has the official report."

"Gee, thanks," Brandles said, going to make that report. The king was waiting looking amused. "Reggis, Sire. His lover's son said he hired him. The knights there are probably going to talk to him. We left them with Myar."

"That's charming. Any idea why?"

"Not yet. The ones we left alive didn't want to speak."

The king nodded once. "I'll hear soon then. Are you and the others all right?"

"Yes, Sire. Though Duchess Legara noted she doesn't have much training in firing a bow from horseback."

The king blinked a few times. "If she should have to do so again, I'm starting a damn war." He smiled.

Knight Brandles smiled back. "We might all like her not having to defend everyone again, Sire."

"I'm fine," she shouted from the stairs.

"We know that," the king called back. She came in wearing a pretty pants outfit. "I see you borrowed from my fiancee. Why are you in pants?"

"Not like I fit into her skirts, Sire. She has a tiny waist and I don't." She curtseyed. "Sorry."

"No, dear. It's fine. I almost expected it," he sighed.

"Earlier we were comparing her to the first female knight, Sire."

The king grinned. "I think that's very apt, Knight Brandles." He looked at her, getting a shrug back. "Fine. Our guests are getting relaxed. Go find something to drink, Legara?"

"I can easily hide or go back home."

"You're due to be here. They sit on your border."

"I know that. I can quietly not nag people during it." She looked at Brandles. "I'm going to hit you again."

He stepped back with a grin, holding up his hands. "I've been a good boy today."

She huffed, walking off again to head for the kitchen.

The king looked at him. "Are you sure we can't interest you in marrying her?"

"From what our family histories show I'm her second cousin, Sire. Probably not. I'd hate to have deformed children."

He nodded. "That's a shame. You could both use the other's influence in your life." He shifted, nodding at Paki as she came in. "She's wearing your pants."

"It's the only outfit that she could borrow. I'm smaller all the way around than she is." She sat on a chair near him. "You're second cousins?"

"Yes. Her father's brother married into my direct line. He married my grandmother as her third husband and my father came from that marriage."

"Pity." She sighed, looking at her spouse.

"We were talking about the upcoming royal weddings and how she could possibly talk up the unmarried nobles," he offered.

"She probably could," the king agreed with a nod. "There's three coming up beyond ours."

"We'll have visitors in," Paki reminded him. "I've reminded the ones who need married off to please put on their best things since we'd have out kingdom visitors. I'm hoping Lady Hortense's daughter's new boyfriend is able to appear."

"They're dating?" the king asked.

"They've met that once. That's why you sent her that day. Other than that they're writing to each other." She poked him with her hair pin and he faded out. She looked at the knight, who shrugged. "Where is he?" she demanded quietly.

"The barracks, m'lady," a maid said with a smile. "He was testing that to see if anyone caught on."

"Tell him to stop it?"

"He'll probably be right in. I can see him outside talking to the Head Knight." She went to nag the duchess. Who came out with a goblet of cold water.

The Head Knight walked in and gave her an odd look. Myar walked in after him. "Legara, that is not appropriate dress!"

"Not like I carried a change of clothes in my saddle bag like some women do. I've sent word to bring me something proper to change into but it'll still be an hour each way." She sipped her water. "At least I did fit into something of Paki's."

The king walked in. "It fits you well, Legara. You look stunning in it." He looked at her. "If one of the diplomats likes you, can you at least let them flirt?"

"If they're serious about it." She sipped the water. "So, who?"

"Reggis." The Head Knight looked over at Paki standing up with a gasp. "He thought he'd take over if the king died without heirs."

"He had better be dead," Paki ordered.

"By his own hand. He had a written confession and was drinking then stabbed himself when we walked into his study."

She sat down with a grimace. "Anything else come of that confession?"

"His lover left him due to that plot when he found out."

She looked up then sighed and looked at Brandles, who grinned back. "Charming," she decided.

The diplomats came in. "Is it all solved?" the head asked.

"Yes. He wanted to blame your people for taking out the king so he could take over," the Head Knight said.

"I'm wondering if that's why King Levan tried his things." He looked at Legara then looked away.

"Sorry but I had to change or sit around in bloody clothes," she said. "I had to borrow from our future queen. It's all that fit. I'll have another dress in a bit when someone brings me one."

The diplomat nodded. "You look like we'd expect a female knight to be, m'lady."

She smiled. "Thank you." She looked at the Head Knight. "Why did I have to rescue one of yours from a tree last night?"

"Did he escape an animal?"

"No, he was trying to climb into one of my maid's windows. Squire Hendly. She didn't know that they were supposedly dating."

"Is he alive?"

"In the pantry the last I knew."

"I'll talk to him as soon as he's brought back, Duchess." He patted her on the cheek. "Does she want him?"

"She said he's pretty but they've never spoken. She's caught him staring at her in longing a few times. She wasn't sure he could speak."

"If she wants him, I'll let him do that. Though he will be learning how to properly court a woman."

She smiled. "She might enjoy that. She's a widow and sighs about things like romantic gestures and flowers." She sipped her water, walking off.

The Head Knight shook his head. Knight Brandles shook his head. "He cannot figure out how to open his mouth and speak to her. He's wanted her badly but isn't able to do more than squeak towards her. Legmas and I have both tried to help him, Sir."

"I'll talk to the boy as a father would and if she wants him, she can keep him."

"Young love is wonderful," the king said, smiling at his girlfriend, who grinned back. The diplomats all smiled at that. "Come, let us speak." They went into the dining hall to do that. It had all the tables. They could work out this horrible problem. It turned out Reggis hadn't prompted Levan to invade but had taken the opportunity presented. Levan had been a desperate, greedy man who wanted a second kingdom so he didn't have to give up his seat to his sons. Who Homer had locked up when he had taken over.

A guard came to get Legara, who excused herself to go change. She walked out, taking the dress from her guard. "You look amused. Why?"

"That mage is back, Duchess."

"I'll probably be up here all day but give him every courtesy and keep him from the family journals I have locked up?"

"I noted you'd be up here. He'll show up later."

"That's fine. I'll warn the king after I change. Thank you." He nodded and left. She went up to change and came down with the maid fussing at her strings. "It's fine, dear."

"It's crooked."

Legara looked at her. "They're supposed to be that way." The maid huffed but fixed it and then patted her before going back upstairs. "Thank you." She walked in. "I'm told I have a diplomatic visitor at my house, Sire. They've alerted him I'll be up here most of the day if he wants to join us."

"Who?" he asked.

"That one."

"Oh, him." He looked at her. "Your housekeeper wants you to look fancy."

"She does like that. Thinks it makes me look more charming." She sat down and smiled at the others. "Sorry for that absence."

They all nodded at that. One looked the pendant that was now showing due to the lower neckline. "Where did you get that?"

"I inherited it from my mother." She touched it. "She died when I was about eight."

"Oh. So a family heirloom?"

"Yes. She had been a priestess to our Knight Protector but he let her out of her vows to marry." She smiled. "I'm told I look much like her."

"That's good, dear. I didn't think you were a priestess."

"He might have taken her for one but there were no other heirs at that time," the king said. "Which we accept. She's a charming young duchess who handles things and never tells us."

She smiled at him. "Don't make me hit you again, Sire."

He snorted. "I'm glad my future wife isn't that mean, dear." He smiled at the diplomats. The mage walked in. "Sir. Welcome back."

"Thank you." He nodded politely. "I came to see if she had read the books I left."

"Yes, I spend at least an hour a day going over them. Excuse me again please." She got up and went with him to talk about that.

Paki looked up and prayed. "Please let him want her this time," she muttered. "Please let them marry."

"Some of us aren't into that," he called back. "But I heard that."

Legara groaned. "That's her fondest dream at night I think."

He smirked. "It's good that she dreams about handsome men still." She blushed, shaking her head as she led him into the gardens. "You do study them?"

"After sparring practice, a bath, then breakfast. I've gotten about halfway through the one you left on the top of the stack."

"Is that the one on the garden?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "I should've reordered the stack. I didn't think about that." He tested her and she did understand what it had taught her but didn't understand *how*. So he went over that and the other few lessons she needed. She suddenly got something and beamed at him, handling the projection.

"Yes, like that," he agreed with a nod, smiling at her. "Good job." He settled next to her again to go over the other lessons. She didn't understand some things, her basics were still spotty in places, so he went over those. That helped her a lot. She could handle a lot of the duties he'd be called there to handle if he let them. She suddenly smiled at him. "That look speaks of dangerous things."

"Are you staying for a while this time?"

"Why?" he asked casually.

"Because I'd rather do this than talk of the wedding preparations that she's making," she said. "It's not very thrilled to speak of things that you may want to know some day but right now they're not for you so you're bored senseless. I can't even tell the difference between the fabrics she's fretting over."

He smiled. "Many men feel the same way. That's why we let women handle it."

"Well then maybe I'll find a male wife who'll do that for me."

He nodded. "Possibly. I've met a few over the years."

She nodded. "So have I. Including a few kings. Not ours but a few...."

He patted her on the arm. "We can go over the other books. Can you spare the time from your training?"

"Probably. The guards might want to quit helping me practice daily for a few weeks."

"Why did they have to bring you clothes?"

"There was a small attack on the way here with the diplomatic delegation."

"Why is there one now?"

"King Levan," she said with a point. "Got overthrown so he showed up here to try to get this king on his side by kidnaping him." She swallowed. "Which was rather...disturbing to handle."

"Are you handling that well?" he asked.

"I have no idea."

"I could help you rest."

"Don't you dare." She smiled. "I feel like a child when you and others do that. I can make my own decisions." She stood up. "As I often do." She coughed suddenly. "What is that smell?" she demanded loudly. It brought a maid who coughed and fell down. "All right, let's move. Guards!" They came rushing out. "That stink, it knocked her out." They removed them and the maid. She looked at him. "Why aren't you bothered?"

"I can't smell very well. Years of handling herbs and the like." He checked. "She's knocked out but not in danger."

The guards found the one sending that foul potion into the air and dragged him off to talk to him while they buried the potion in the ash pit for now.

She rubbed her forehead. "Why wasn't I knocked out?" He flicked the pendant. "Oh. It felt like it wanted to be worn today." She slowly sank down into a chair. He got her some tea to sip and she moaned, grimacing at the taste. "That's bad."

"It's normal. That potion will screw you up your tasting." She nodded. "We can talk later, after you rest."

"I don't need a rest."

"You do before you fall over."

"I'm not some silly child to be sent to bed," she said firmly, staring at him. "I'm a full grown woman."

"Yes you are. Which means you can do the sensible thing and go lay down as that probably made you dizzy."

"I'm fine. I've walked around with worse from a headache." She stood up. "I'm a woman, we do that." She put the tea cup down after draining it. "Shall we go back to the lessons?"

"Not while you're dizzy. That's a good way to hit something unintended, like me."

She smirked. "If I wanted to hit you, I'd hit you." She walked around him. "Let me go back to the talks then."

"They broke up," a guard said. He looked at the mage.

"She's being a woman. Apparently they're able to walk around while dizzy."

She spun to look at him. "Why are you and Knight Brandles never in the same room at the same time?"

He smirked. "You think he's a projection I put out?"

"No. I think this you is."

"Well, yes, I am projecting," he agreed. He disappeared with a smirk.

She huffed. "Men are not reasonable. It must be why women exist." She walked off. The guard went to report that to Brandles, who gave him an odd look then looked at the king.

The king waved. "She does that while drunk. It's often got some thread of truth to it. She realized he was a projected being this time apparently. Though you two are never in the same room."

"I've heard many times how long my mother spent in labor with me, Sire. I know I'm a real person and not a role that mage puts on to get out of work."

"That's good then. Paki, dear?"

"She's on a fainting couch. I can see her dress from here."

"That's good. Get her to rest please. Find out what the potion did besides stink and making her dizzy." She nodded, going to handle that. The king smiled at the diplomats. "We let our women be very strong. It gives us things to do all day." They smiled back at that idea.

"My mother would have destroyed the palace a few times if she had been the one to go tell the former king off," Brandles said. "Thankfully my father has tact and just sent him a whore who had another disease." He walked off after the future queen to help her. She was good at making people whine but not talk back. The king got his guests to a better area to sit and talk. Before something more stupid happened.

Paki leaned in with a smile. "They were hired by Reggis as well, dear." She blew a kiss and walked off. "I'm checking on the dinner." Two guards were guarding Legara's nap so she didn't wake up to hurt anyone. "Good idea. Take her belt knife too," she quipped as she walked past them. One waved it. "Good idea. The palace gives her nightmares."

***

Chapter 10

***

Legara was the emissary for the royal wedding a few kingdoms over, smiling and curtseying to the king there. "Sire." She handed over a letter. "From my king to yours. He could not attend due to his honeymoon."

"That's very kind of him, Duchess Legara." She smiled at being remembered. "Just you this time?"

"He made me bring two knights as guardians on the trip as one king has been a bit of a ...bother to me thanks to our last king's almost consort," she said quietly. "He wanted me to not have to handle an attack."

"That's reasonable, dear. I've heard from him pouting that you ruined his dynastic plans."

"Truly, Sire, there's no one in either of our kingdoms worthy of their people."

He smiled at that subtle catty remark. "True, dear. Have fun at the banquet."

"I wish her much happiness." She handed over a package. "She won't need to write a note." She left, going to join the others in the banquet hall. Both knights were in there in shiny armor. So were a few others she knew. She walked up to one and plucked at some dog fur. "My own dog does that to me very often. My housekeeper is appalled at how much dog fur I wear some days."

He smiled at her. "You have a hound now?"

"One of the locals kept losing hers to my kitchen. I warned her if she didn't keep it there I'd adopt it so I did." She smiled. "It's not a hunting hound but it's a nice companion while I'm reading. I've recently found out it's a female dog."

"That's sweet, Legara." He smiled at the ones he was not really talking to. "Duchess Legara, have you met any of these nobles?"

She waved with a smile. "Hello. I've met a few of you on messenger duty."

"Your former king sent out nobles for that?" one asked.

"Yes. It kept me meeting new people and let me out of the house often to Lord Fairmy and his kingdom's people since they were just over the border." She smiled. "Plus I do a lot of the royal replacement duties for things like this."

They smiled at that. "It's something my own daughter may want to do," one admitted. "She'd be on her horse all day if she could."

"It is nice to get out in the fresh air," Legara agreed. Someone nudged her so she looked back. "Sorry, am I in your way?" she asked dryly.

"Who're you?" he sneered.

"Duchess Legara, Duchess of the West in King Leonar's kingdom." He stepped back, looking horrified. "What? Am I said to be mean?" She smiled. "Only if you're mean to my people but usually I'm just a duchess." He walked off shuddering. "Well, I didn't know I had a reputation like that."

The duke she had gotten the dog fur off laughed. "He hates that women are strong enough to overrule his ideas," he said, patting her on the arm. "I didn't get to go to your kingdom's wedding. How was it?"

"We all had nightmares about problems and used them to make sure nothing bad happened. She was sniffling as she walked up the aisle. Her sister was sniffling at taking up her new Duchess duties as of the wedding. Paki was *so* happy though." She smiled.

"Very pretty dress. She was calm, he was calm, the priest was bouncing more than either of them. Thankfully that stopped all the gossip from the king's possible bedmates to ease her temper. The only problem was the dinner. The pickles at dinner were very sour and we all tried not to eat them."

"That's wonderful. Is she healed?"

"She is mostly healed. She's back to usual Paki strength and mouthing off but now she needs a nap daily. Though it does get her away from the problems the king hears every afternoon."

The ones there laughed and nodded. "That's a good idea," one agreed. "I should tell our queen that." A few more came in after greeting the local king and joined them to speak.

Some woman looked at the knights. "You're not local."

"King Leonar sent us to guard our duchess," Knight Legmas said patiently. "There's some who think they're worthy of her hand in marriage who aren't, ma'am. Are we in your way? We can shift down."

"No, boys." She looked at the other one.

"Where he goes I go," he said quietly.

"Interesting. Why does she need a guard team? Is she that young?"

Legara walked over to stare at her. "You've met me before, Princess." She smiled. "We had to cross a semi-hostile kingdom to ours however. So he sent me with most charming guards. Who I've known for years."

"Are you going to marry one?" she asked with a catty smile.

"No. They're not into me either. We've known each other for years in the case of Knight Legmas." She pointed at him. "The other is his backup and they're charming but not into me."

"Pity. You haven't married yet? At your age?"

"Yes, I have duties to attend to and not a lot of eligible men unless I want to sleep with a cousin. I don't believe that would be good for my family's lineage though so I've avoided that so far."

The princess nodded. "That is a huge problem."

"Our Knight Protector asked me to marry out kingdom so he could absorb new skills." She smiled. "He's most happy that a few of us are open to being married out kingdom so he can talk to the other knight protectors still left."

"That's very good for him and our kingdom. You could probably use new blood. How many need noble marriages?"

"Three younger duchesses, who is barely of age in one case, myself so that's four duchesses or future duchesses. We have four Lords of Manors who have children who need to marry well. We have overall I believe about seventeen nobles who need good marriages."

"That's not that bad," she decided. "I should have sent some of mine to your king's wedding. How was it?"

"He and Duchess Paki are in deep love." She smiled. "They were so calm and happy during the wedding. The priest was more bouncy and enthusiastic but those two have been together now for over a year so they've settled things well."

"That's wonderful. A settled king helps everyone. I heard one king wanted your hand."

She grimaced. "I don't believe anyone in our kingdom wanted his princes, Princess." She laughed. "I know I turned down the one who tried to claim me from my king for being nearly ten years my junior and fairly nasty from his travels. He didn't pause to bathe before demanding my king give me to them." She sipped her wine.

"That man's dirty himself," she muttered. "Good luck."

"So far I have had it." She winked at Legmas, who smirked back. "Another good reason I have a guard unit. I do so hate getting fancy clothes nasty." The princess laughed, walking off at that. She looked at them. "You know I'm going to use you two to get some attention off me, right?" They nodded. "Good." She walked off again, getting a small piece of bread with some sort of meat spread on top to nibble while she walked around to talk to the other diplomats in the room.

One stared at her. "Who're you?" the old man demanded.

"Duchess Legara of the West in King Leonar's kingdom, sir. Yourself?" she asked pleasantly. He snorted at that. She looked at the young woman hanging on his arm. "Are you from Numra's people?"

"I am," she said with a smile, shaking her hand. "King Numra sent my husband in his place. He couldn't attend thanks to a wife being ill."

"That can happen. Every kingdom is tested by that now and then. The one to our south, King Palyphar's kingdom," she said with a point. "Had a water sickness on our border earlier this year. Thankfully not fatal but fairly nasty for a bit. Our Dukes down there sent over healers every day to help."

"That's kind of them." She smiled. "Don't yours divide into regions?"

"Yes. We have four regions and then the sub-dukes under us that help us handle our regions. I sit on King Homer's border actually."

"Awww. That's said to be pretty country."

"It is. Very hilly but pretty smaller mountains with a lot of wonderfully complex woods that can get you lost before you realize it." She smiled. "We've just named a new duke on my border but he's still recovering from a broken leg last week or I'd have brought him as well."

"Your husband?" the old man sneered.

"No. I don't have one of those at this moment. I can hold my own family's titles." She smiled at him. "I know not all kingdoms allow that. Including yours if I remember my lessons right."

The girl nodded. "True. Someday we'll have females holding their own titles." Her husband sneered at her. "We may."

"Our king would never allow it."

"Yes, but not all kings are immortal," she quipped back. "You have two charming looking guards."

"We had to cross over King Marival's lands. So King Leonar sent them with me."

The young wife nodded with a smile. "So did we. One of their guards tried to annoy my husband about me but he paid them off."

"I don't pay bribes," she said happily. "I hope I never have to." She winked. "I see the one who was raising my cousin for a bit. Excuse me please." She walked off. "Sire."

He looked and flinched. "Oh! You frightened me. I thought she had grown up already!"

She smiled. "Thank you for watching over my cousin I had no idea about. She says many nice things about you."

"She's a good young woman. Very mouthy though."

"It's a thing we share then." She smiled. "She's sent her greetings and a letter was sent recently."

"It'll probably be there when I get home. Is she well? And happy?"

"She's very well. She's mostly happy. She and Duchess Stahni share lessons together at the palace. I tried to bring her to the family home and got pouted out of it." He laughed, nodding. "The girls wish for fewer lessons in things like table manners but they play and run around the ancient gardens all the time. She's taken to reading to the Knight Protector as well. Both girls do."

"That's sweet. Is the duchess your king's daughter?"

"The queen's young sister."

"Awww. That's sweet of her to help her be raised." He sipped his wine. "Didn't your king just marry?"

"About a month back. They're incredibly happy together." She smiled. "They were together for a few years so got all that newlywed fighting out of the way first."

"I remember my newlywed year well. I had many times of pouting because I had no idea what I had done to make her upset. I'm sure yours does as well."

"Not yet but I'm sure he will someday when he appears." She smiled. "If you send someone up, Pris will be most happy and bouncy."

"I'll see if we can send a diplomatic visit up." He smiled. "They're bored right now."

"So are ours. I haven't had to do messenger duty in months."

He laughed. "I can see why you would. I would've sent your cousin to do that as well. She rides well and likes to be outside."

"As do I." She smiled. "She's like my younger self some days." She walked off. "Have a good visit, sire."

"You as well, dear." He went to tell his wife, who was happy their adopted child was so safe and well.

One old woman in a lot of jewels stopped her. "Who did your king marry, dear?"

"He married Duchess Paki, one of the sub-duchies to the Duke of the North, ma'am. They're very happy." She smiled. "They were together for a few years to make sure they'd make a good, happy, strong marriage."

"Oh, that's charming. I remember meeting Paki once."

"Her sister Stahni took over for her upon her wedding. She's twelve and in the palace to learn with her sister and my cousin."

"Awww. Does that one look forward to a good marriage?"

"We hope so some day. Stahni's might have to get around her dolls but otherwise they'll have happy marriages. Our king would make sure of it."

"That's a good king then." She patted her on the cheek. "We've heard he had a concubine? One of his duchesses?" she asked more quietly.

"No that was not what I was to them, ma'am." The dowager winced. "It was a great rumor spread by one of our former dukes." She waved her wine glass. "Paki got very upset with him over that rumor he spread. I've never wanted our king in any place in my life. Especially not in my bedroom."

"Awww. That's sweet, dear." She smiled. "Your spouse?"

"Not appeared yet," she quipped. "There's always hope."

"Yes there is. I found mine wandering around after a wedding like this one."

"I'm hoping I can as well. Though, I may have to avoid someone by hanging out with the knights I got sent with."

The dowager beamed. "That's always a good plan to avoid unworthy men, dear." She looked over. "There's the lovely couple. It's sweet they just met earlier but shared letters for months."

She looked over. "They look happy so far. I hope it's a happy, strong marriage for them and the kingdom."

The dowager nodded. "Me as well. It's the best for them." They walked over to greet the new couple together, making the prince smile and the princess look confused. They'd see that look a lot in the next few hours.

***

Legara was on the sitting roof's garden bench that night, enjoying the less stuffy air. Both her knights showed up and sat around her. "Big things?"

"That one prince is coming. He was distracted for a minute."

She looked at them. "Sorry, boys." Someone came off the stairs so she kissed the boyfriend, making him moan. Then she kissed Legmas, making him kiss her back and make her moan at that. They heard the prince huff off so she relaxed. "Thank you," she said quietly.

The boyfriend looked at his lover. "I never realized you made everyone make that sound."

"I do try." He smiled. "Unlike many I'm not one to make sad lovers." His boyfriend pinched him.

She smiled at him. "That was rather pleasant. Thank you." She got up. "Let me go hide with a dagger."

"We'll escort you down," they said, going with her. They could make out in the guest bed. She would never bother them or mind if they had some fun.

Legara settled in to brush her hair, ignoring the giggling, fun noises they had. Someday she'd have some of that herself hopefully. She braided her hair and settled into the bed to read.

***

Legara was bored stupid at the reception. It had been a nice enough dinner. Good food. Very nice fish dishes as expected. Now was the boring part, the dancing. She was sitting off to the side fanning herself gently, near the other unmarried women. Who were also being ignored. If it wouldn't shock people she'd ask one of them to dance with her but that would probably get talking started and her king wouldn't like that.

She heard a bit of talking start and looked over, smiling at the mage who stomped in. It was the old one she had driven. She stood up when he walked near her seat. "Master Aremis."

He blinked at her. "My relief driver." They shook hands. "How is the one I cured?"

"She's good. Mostly fully healed now. Just a bit tired sometimes."

"That can happen, dear. Why are you over here?"

"Because I'm not married and everyone else mostly is?"

He laughed. "I've seen that happen. Go sit and make up stories about them in your head. It's generally more interesting than they actually are." He smiled, heading outside to the garden to look at their herbs.

She settled in, seeing the odd looks. "Our new queen needed his help and I offered to drive his cart for a bit while he rested." They nodded at that. She went back to watching them be bored on the floor but at least talking to people while she was bored in the side areas. Maybe she could sneak out soon. Though it might look bad on her if she did. She sighed, relaxing again. Then sitting up because that dress rode low when she slumped.

She settled herself better and went back to fanning herself. She could wish for a miraculous dance partner to wildly appear but instead she got a king she'd rather not get near. She checked, she had her gloves on at least. "Sire," she said with a nod.

"Duchess," he said smugly. He held out a hand. She took it to stand up and go out with him, her fan hanging from her wrist for now. "I'm told you have an interest in your knights?"

"No." She smiled. "They're friends. I've known one since I was ten."

"Hmm. Yet you were kissing them."

"Yes, it helped avoid a diplomatic discussion I didn't want to partake in."

He grimaced. "What would your king do if he heard of those rumors?"

"Thank any and all higher beings I might be interested in marrying to carry on my family lineage some day." She smiled at him. "He's been asking many people to help our unwed nobles find appropriate spouses."

"You could have my sons."

"I don't think I want to be a princess, Sire, and I do have definite ideas that counter yours culturally about the role of women in society." She stared at him until he got the point. "Beyond that, I don't want to give up my protective role over my duchy at this time. My cousin's too young yet."

"I can make you marry one of them."

"If I must, but you'll end up missing them immediately after the wedding," she said sweetly. "As was the one who wrote you about me. Both of them."

He flinched back. "That was you?"

"Well, yes. My job is to protect my people. A ...corruption that way is not good for them." She curtseyed as it was the end of the song. "Have a good night, Sire." She went back to her seat, taking off the gloves to put in her hanging bag behind her fan.

He was glaring so she stared back. He stomped off in a huff. Someone stared at her. "I find it distressing his sons won't take the hint that I'm not interested in their things. We're vastly different socially. I don't think they even appreciate their wives being able to read."

The other unmarried ones shared a look and nodded. "We've heard the same."

Legara smiled at them. "I hope none of us end up in a forced alignment marriage for the good of our peoples." They smiled at that. "Oh, that's a prince," she muttered. The king came back with his son. She muttered 'gross' under her breath but put back on her gloves. She didn't want to touch them with her bare skin. "Yes, Sire?"

"You're nothing," he sneered. "You'll marry this son tomorrow."

"I'm the Duchess of the West, which means I control more land than your whole kingdom," she said dryly, staring at him. "Should you try to force such a union upon me, I'd have to defend myself against your son and you. While I do not like getting blood out of my skirts, I have had to in the past." She stared at him until he backed off.

"I have already turned down your *offer* many times and so has my king. I'm sorry that's not to your liking but I don't believe your son is fit to live in my duchy with me. As I am not leaving it until I'm dead, he would have to." She stared at him. "I doubt your heir wants that. Does he?" she asked the boy.

"Your women need taught," he slurred. He tried to hit her and she ducked then punched him back. "Hey!"

She stood up, staring down at him. "No woman needs *taught* anything. We're all fantastic without it." The king tried to hit her so she moved out of his way, letting him trip over the chair. "Well, it appears someone's drunk as well as his son being drunk. What a shame you are to your people."

She walked off. "Let me get something pleasant to drink." She took off the gloves as she walked. A few smiled at her. She bowed to the local king. "Sorry to have caused the amusement, Sire." She tucked the gloves back into her bag.

"What did he want?"

"He tried to demand I marry his son. I've refused many times due to their...problems." She looked over then at him. "I again refused his *gracious* offer. His son decided I needed *taught* something."

"Oh, dear."

"They're clearly drunk, Sire. I would never shame my king by doing more than defending myself so I'm going to go get a drink. May I?"

"Go ahead, dear." He got his guards to remove those two. She got a nice drink and one of the local lords took pity at the King's look, taking her out to dance. She smiled and chatted happily with him about his wife's new embroidery project. The king sighed. He could not complain about her defending herself. She had been delicate. She hadn't caused any damage. It hadn't been a brawl. The two knights came in from the garden and took her to protect her from the drunken idiots, which was pleasant of them.

Knight Legmas heard the rumor starting and shook his head. "No. I've known her since she was ten," he said with a polite smile. "I'd never date or marry her. I've seen her covered in mud from being thrown from a horse and seen her falling into a dung pile outside a stable after riding lessons because she got a leg cramp. She's very much like my sister." That one sighed in displeasure. "I know, but she does deserve someone very good to marry. We hope." She punched him on the arm. "Behave."

"I am." She smiled at the worried looking duchess. "He is very much like a brother if I had any of my own age. I could do no more than kiss him to divert attention from me."

The woman giggled. "We heard. It was a nice way of doing that, dear." She patted her on the cheek. "I have a charming son."

"I have need of a charming husband." She smiled, walking off talking about her son to meet him. Her son was older, much older, and told his mother that. Legara smiled. "We all must meet new people sometimes though."

"True," he agreed. "I've met many that I could like as friends."

"Friends are always wise in life." They shook hands. His mother sighed but introduced her to a few other unmarried men, who were younger and less able than her son but still charming. The knights were next to a doorway to make sure nothing tried to pounce her this time.

When a cat did, she squealed but petted it and calmed it down. "That's all right. I can have a few scratches, dear. I know our kitchen cat can do that same pouncing thing." She cooed and the cat settled into her arms to rest with her and be spoiled.

"Isn't that how she got the dog?" Legmas muttered.

"Someone kept losing it so she claimed it," his boyfriend said. "She warned the old owner."

"That figures. Now if only she attracted men like she does animals." They both sighed. The ones near them that had heard that giggled and shared that report with the others. It let them ignore the drunken king and his drunken son that had tried to attack her.

Legara walked over, still petting the cat. "We have to go to the other wedding after this one. It's in a week."

"I wondered why you had such a big trunk," the boyfriend quipped, letting the cat sniff him then pet its ears. It yawned and settled in better.

"These dresses take up a lot of space," she quipped, settling down near them to pet the cat. At least her night wasn't as boring now.

The old mage came in to look at her. "You know, if you wish hard enough you may be able to manifest it," he said happily.

"Is that about my girlish wish to have a husband magically appear so I find one like my mother did?" she quipped.

"Quite."

"Well, if one should appear and be Other Blooded, then I may be okay with that as well." Legmas moaned, shaking his head. "But my king might not so it'd have to illicit and a grand affair that would be the talk of everyone for generations."

The mage laughed, going back outside. "If one does, invite me to the wedding, dear."

"Yes, sir." The boyfriend patted her on the shoulder but didn't even say a word about that.

***

Chapter 11

***

Legara curtseyed to her king, handing over the letters she had gathered for him. "For you, Sire."

"Thank you." He read through them, smiling at most of them. He paused at one to stare at her.

"Is that about the drunken king and his drunk son?"

"No, it's about how you got a cat."

"I did not adopt their cat from them. She went home the next morning after guarding me that night." She smiled at Paki as she walked in. "Oh, congratulations. I hadn't heard yet."

Paki glared at her. "I'm not pregnant."

"Bull." She smiled. "Have a healer check, Paki."

"Fine." She looked at her husband then at her. "What did you do?"

"I was nicely guarded by a cat that snuck in at the first wedding's reception. She guarded me all night then disappeared."

"Why did you get a witch's familiar for a bit?"

"Well, I had just walked away from hitting a drunken king to our south that demanded I marry his drunken son, who thought I needed to be taught to be a proper woman. I got a drink after explaining myself to the local king, having a single dance I got that whole night from a married lord who talked about his wife's new embroidery project, and the cat pounced me from somewhere so I settled in to pet her instead of being bored like I am at ours." She curtseyed again. "So I'm missing the one tonight."

"Like hell," Paki muttered. "You have to appear, dear. It's a royal order."

"I have nothing clean to wear, my queen. Sorry!"

"You can have one sent for."

"The only formal gown I have left at home is *very* showy."

"Well, they won't see you as the child you once were in it then, will they?"

"No, instead they'll think I'm going to breastfeed your child for you," she shot back.

Paki blushed. "That blue one?"

"Yes, that blue one." She looked at the king, who was shaking his head. "But they were all mostly very nice weddings. The first one is a bit confused, still, about most things. The last one had a fight in the middle of the wedding from the sides cementing their alliance through their future grandchild.

"The bride broke it up with a sword, said if they didn't stop it she was going to murder both sides and just take the hell over." She smiled. "Her words of course. Her father sobbed at that threat but she did point out there were a great many strong queens and she could be one. Two of her honor guard stepped up to separate the couple until the current fight was ended.

"The groom was moaning about his fate and how she'd probably kill him. She assured him, loudly in front of everyone, she'd keep him around as long as he was good in bed." She grinned. "The groom glared and said he was just fine, she was expecting too much.

"So that started the other fight until the priest warned he'd never marry them if they didn't quit and he'd have them sent from their natal religion as well. They stopped, the wedding got finished, they went to finish the fight before the reception, and then we had a wonderful dinner with many sweets afterwards.

"That was her theme, desserts. She hadn't had any in months thanks to the wedding. He made sure she got her favorite cakes though. It was sweet of him. We all thought that was romantic from him and probably saving his life that night to spoil her so. That way she wouldn't find fault with him in the bedroom."

He nodded. "I can see that. What else happened? I've heard rumors of you making out with the knights I sent?"

"That vile little prince was coming up to trap me in the rooftop garden. Instead of having to throw him off said roof, we agreed we could annoy him so he stomped off. They were both very nice to help my diversion, Sire."

He nodded once. "That is good of you. Did others hear?"

"He tried to say something about that during the reception but I told him it was to make his son stomp off. So he huffed off and brought his son back to supposedly teach me how to be a woman. I did avoid his punch and hit him back then avoided the king's hitting attempt so he tripped over a chair, then I pleasantly walked off so I did not cause a spectacle you'd have to hear about. About a half hour after that the cat appeared."

He stared at her. "All right. At least you had some fun?"

"Yes and I've gotten letters for a few of the younger nobles to write someone. I talked up their intelligence and graces." She smiled, handing them to Paki. Who nodded at the names on them. "They're lesser nobles and all but one is a spare heir. So we may lose that one to their kingdom but she'd probably like that as she likes snow."

"That's very kind of you," Paki agreed. "No one took your fancy?"

"No. Many were mad I have my own title as a woman." She shrugged. "I talked to someone from King Numra's kingdom and his poor, barely legal wife. He hated that women could hold their own titles when she noted someday their kingdom might do that too."

The king shook his head. "They are a bit backwards that way." He sighed, looking at his wife then at her. "No one at all?"

"No, sire. The few I've met in the past knew I was there to introduce myself around as well. They introduced me too."

"Great. Well, I had hopes."

"I did see the mage that cured our queen. He was at the first wedding. He said my girlish daydream of finding a spouse the way my mother did may come from magic if I didn't quit being bored and wishing."

Paki blinked a few times. "Were you that bored?"

"I got one dance the whole night, Paki. I've been bored most of the trip. There's been some nice conversations but nothing more exciting. The cat may have been the most excitement I had." She groaned but sat down, nodding at that. "I did try. I was charming. I got introduced to a few very charming men, and a few charming women." She shrugged. "I can't do more than that."

"No, you really can't." She looked at her husband. Who shrugged. "We'll find you someone sometime. Or else someone will make you take my place if I die."

"Bite your tongue. I'll make you into a horror of the universe to stay with him. And to spare myself that horror." She walked off. "I'm going home. I'll be back in a few days."

"It's an order to show up tonight," the king said. "I don't care if you don't like it."

"Fine. I'll have someone send me that gown then."

"Thank you." He looked at his wife, who sighed and shook her head. "Can she do that?"

"I really don't know," she admitted. "She hates events enough that she may try if I nearly die from carrying our heir."

He grinned. "Someone get a healer for me please," he called. One came rushing in. "Calm down. Duchess Legara thinks my wife is pregnant."

She came to check, nodding as she stepped back. "Two months along, Sire." She smiled. "Congratulations. It will tire her out more than usual," she told the queen. "Eat as many vegetables and fruits as you can while you're ill. Rest when needed. I'll call the midwife to come see you later, ma'am." She bowed and went to do that.

"Well," the king said, looking smug. "That's good news."

Paki stared at him. "I'm not ready yet."

"As long as you're both healthy, dear." He kissed her. "We'll announce it tonight?"

"Fine." She sighed and went to rest for now and pout about being pregnant already.

***

Legara walked in that night, bowing to the king and queen before straightening up. "You demanded I appear in my last clean dress, Sire."

He stared at her for a moment. That dress was showy. It did show a good bit of cleavage, highlighted by the pale lace around the edges of the square neckline. Her throat had an elaborate diamond necklace that highlighted the darker skin behind it. On her dress she wore a jeweled and chain belt that clipped just below her waist as it dipped some. It dragged to nearly her hemline. She had her hair up and earrings in. He blinked a few more times. "Would you look like that more often if you had a lady's maid?" he asked finally.

She touched her hair. "At least that mess, yes, Sire. I do not do well with my own hair." She smiled at Paki, who was still staring. "I warned you it was showy."

"You look fantastic in it," she said. "But you do look like you're advertising as a wet nurse." Her husband scowled at her. "She does. Even she said that." Legara walked off giggling. "Well, no one's going to assault her or anything," she said quietly. "She'll be fine."

"They'll quit seeing her as a child."

"Yes, they will. Is that a good thing though?"

"No," he admitted. He greeted his next guest, who smiled at him. "Lord Fairmy. New messages?"

"For the young knight, Sire. His mother is deathly worried he hasn't written in weeks and his father's too busy to show up."

"He's around here somewhere. It's a formal kingdom banquet tonight. Please join us."

"Thank you, Sire." He went to find that young one, handing him the letter. "Your mother is convinced you're ill."

"I'm not. I've been busy escorting the queen to the south for the last week," he muttered. He read it and moaned. "Oh, no." He looked at Legmas. "She punched a prince?"

"She had to. He tried to hit her. Then she diplomatically avoided the other one and told the king how drunk they were. She got to pet a cat the rest of the night."

Legara walked over. "The cat was the highlight of all the wedding receptions." She smiled and kissed Fairmy on the cheek. "On messenger duty?"

"His mother's sure he's ill."

"The last time she got this way I got a sibling," he said dryly. He noticed what she was wearing. "Um..."

"Last clean gown," she quipped. "I would've deferred but the king insisted." She strolled off. "Maybe I'll see that cat again. That way I'm not as bored tonight since no one ever dances with me."

Lord Fairmy looked at the young knight next to him. "She is rather pretty."

"We're second cousins," he said firmly.

"Pity. That may solve a problem." Knight Brandles looked at him, glaring basically. "You look like your father when you do that. Your brother hasn't figured out that look yet." He walked off to talk to others.

"She kisses nicely too," Legmas told him. "We had to kiss her to save her from throwing that same prince off a rooftop garden." Brandles shook his head quickly. "It's nice she is really a woman under there. I even got her to moan." His boyfriend poked him hard. "I know."

"I'm jealous."

"I'd never have her. She's right, even if I liked women, I've known her since she was ten." He looked at Brandles.

"We're still second cousins."

"Good point." He walked off. "Find her someone then?"

"My father's asked around." He considered it. A few of the wives were giving Legara a dirty look.

She smiled at one. "The king demanded even though I'm just back from the royal weddings for him. It's the last clean one in the closet." That woman patted her on the shoulder. "I know it's showy. I tried to protest that."

"How were the weddings, dear?" another wife asked.

"Mostly very pleasant and charming weddings. One had a big fight in the center but that one was to stop a war through grandchildren. The bride threatened to kill both sides and just take over. Their priest threatened to shove them out of their natal religions.

"It was an interesting wedding that time. The others were ...weddings. Nice enough dinners where I got to sit and watch people have fun; like I do here most events." She shrugged. "I did get letters of introduction to a few of us who needed heirs. The queen has them."

"My cousin?"

"The one that's Stahni's age? No. Her older sister yes." She smiled. "He's a bit older, he's twenty-seven, but he's goofy and prefers to be in a field digging for treasures than to do lordly things. She's the only one that may have to go there."

"She may like that," she admitted. "She's fascinated by peoples that used to live somewhere. I'll let her know." She smiled. "Thank you, dear. Did you have any luck?"

"No. I met some charming people but no. I met a nice cat. It pounced me and that was about the most exciting part I had during the whole tour."

The woman patted her on the arm. "You'll find someone someday, dear." She went to talk to the queen, who handed over that letter. She read it, smiling. "That's charming sounding. She might adore him." She smiled, putting it in her bag. She looked at the queen. "She does look fantastic in that gown."

"We noticed."

"Well, some wives will get jealous and pounce their spouses I suppose." She went to talk to her husband, who was jealous she had been talking to the pretty young one. She might get pounced too.

Legara smiled at the ones seated near her. "Gentlemen." She nodded as she was helped into her seat. "Thank you."

One leaned over to her. "Legara, I know I'm your godfather," he said quietly. "Are you well?"

"I'm fine. Really I am. I was going to go home and rest tonight as I just got back earlier. This is literally the last clean thing I own outside some pants."

"Ah." He nodded. "I've seen that happen before, dear. I think you probably would've caused more talk in the pants."

She nodded. "Probably. I warned the queen I look like I'm advertising as a wet nurse." He laughed so hard he coughed. She had to pound on his back. "Sorry."

"No, dear, it's true." He sat up, sharing that with his wife, who giggled and nodded that was true.

At least things were normal until she got pounced by a cat. She stared at it. It looked like the same cat. "Did you follow me home?" she asked it, settling it in her lap to pet through dinner. It was happy with that, kneading her thigh for her. "Very interesting that they say cats are mythical," she said at the stares. The two knights were staring harder. She shrugged.

The cat stared up at her. "Well, if you're mythical or overly magic, that's fine. We're all a bit weird somehow and it's nice of you to give me some attention so I'm not so bored tonight, dear." The cat put her head back down and fell asleep.

After dinner, Duke Myar's eldest son came over. "Is that really a cat?"

"It seems to be." She let him see it. "It's a very beautiful cat and it was nice of her to give me some attention tonight." The cat yawned and shifted onto her side to nap that way. She smiled at him. "I'm fine, dear. I'm just barely back today. Tell him your sister has a letter with the queen." He skipped off to do that. The second oldest daughter went to get it.

"I meant the older one," she mouthed. "I found her a prince." The eldest daughter read it over, blushed, let her younger sister see it, then their father took it to read and handed it to another father, who handed it to his daughter with a smile. "He likes the woods," she called. "Woods and obscure literature."

That daughter read it over, blushed, then went to her best friend, who took it to read and kept it with a grin for her. Legara waved with a grin. "Have her write one too." That girl nodded and they borrowed some stationary to do those letters tonight. The others got handed out by the maids. Legara took one from someone. "I meant his niece." She looked at him. "Your odd little niece. He's weird in the same way." She handed it back with a smile. "His parents dote on him greatly for it."

"She'll adore at least having a penpal. How old is he?"

"Eleven. Just turned it during the trip."

"So well in range for that niece. Thank you, Legara. And your furry new friend?"

"I have no idea but apparently she's coming home with me. Not sure how the cat in the kitchen will feel about that but they might get along." She smiled at him. He walked off smiling. She went back to petting the cat. The cat got up at one point, stretched, looking at her, getting more pets, then hopped down and disappeared for a few hours. When she went to go home, the cat showed back up so she picked it up to pet and put into the carriage.

"I'm going home. Are you coming?" It settled in to be petted again. "Good. You're good company. But don't harass the dog. She's had a hard life with an owner who kept losing her." A second cat leapt onto the roof and she had to let it in because it was yowling and scaring her driver. "There's two of you now? Sure! I'm sure that'll be fine." The driver moaned. "Let's go home please."

"Yes, ma'am."

She settled in to pet them both while they traveled. Her housekeeper came out to meet them, staring at the cats. "Somehow this one found me from the trip," she said. "And the other is very loving." She carried them inside. "I'm going to bed."

"Yes, ma'am. Your dog is up there already. She's missed you."

"That's charming and I hope the dog will like the cats." She walked in and her dog got up to dance around her. "Yes, I'm back!" she cooed. "Let me put the cats down." She put them on the bed and petted her dog. "Such a good girl. Let me get naked and we'll rest." The dog sniffed the cats, getting looks back. "You two be nice to the dog or you'll get to live in the kitchen."

The dog barked once but she stared. "No, be nice to the cats. They're friendly." The dog carefully licked one then looked at her. "Yes, that's very nice. Thank you!" She stripped off everything and laid down, letting them find their own spots on the bed to nap with her. She cuddled the dog like usual. The two cats decided to nest in her hair tonight. It was a pleasant night.

When the maid came in to wake her up, she stared at the single cat and dog. "Did one run away?" she asked quietly. "She'll be upset."

Legara blinked at her. "Considering one of them appeared at a wedding I attended in another country and then disappeared, only to reappear last night? Perhaps not."

"Oooh." The maid walked backwards.

"It's fine. They won't harm you. They're very sweet to give me something to pet instead of not dancing last night, as usual." She got up. "I'm not doing training today. I'm exhausted."

"That's fine, ma'am." She went to tell the housekeeper, who had heard that gossip. The other cat was on top of their baking oven sleeping on the warm spot. Their kitchen cat was on the window like usual so they weren't going to argue right now apparently. The housekeeper did gossip with the maids at Duke Myar's house and one of them got to ask the duke to write a letter about the cat to that mage sort. Just in case she had adopted some evil creature pretending to be a cat. Because how could you really tell?

***

Chapter 12

***

Legara looked up as someone yelled she had a letter. "I'm in the study," she called. She smiled, taking the letter from the messenger. "Thank you. Do you need a reply?"

"No, Duchess. The queen was very amused." He nodded and left.

"I wonder what he's done to her this time." She read the letter, smiling at the thanks for taking care of his special, annoying cat. And that if it was there, to tell it to come back, her mate was missing her. She laughed. "That's good to know why I have a cat." Both cats and the dog looked up from their nap by the fireside.

"That nice mage said that one of you's mates is missing you and to thank you for being so good to me." Both cats yawned and put their heads back down. "I think he wanted his back, dear." The dog put her head down again too. "All right, it's nap time I suppose." She wrote back thanking him for the book lending and she had no idea how to hand his cat back to him. She assumed she could travel somehow on her own since she had been found in two very distant countries.

She did get someone to come paint a quick picture of the three napping pets on the pillow by the fireplace to include. She packed up the books and sent it with the letter. If the cat wanted, she could jump into the box and go home. Or go home however she wanted to. She shipped the box to him since she now had an address. Really, if he wanted the cat to go home and couldn't summon her, he'd have to come pick her up himself she supposed since the cat didn't seem inclined to go anywhere.

***

The King looked up as a duke he never saw, Hobar, showed up. "What's wrong? New problems?"

"Sire, a few of us are worried about a certain duchess who seems to have magical animals."

"One of the ones she took home is our garden cat here," he admitted. "It does look just like the other one though."

"I've heard it said that the cat found her at a wedding somewhere else?"

"Cats can look alike."

"She has a dog too, Sire. One that just showed up."

"Yes, that one had a negligent owner who kept misplacing it. She warned the owner then did as she said and kept it." He stared at him. "Do you think her animals are controlling her?"

"We're more worried she's turning a bit wrong with her gifts. We know that mage paid her some attention."

"He was straightening out her teaching that her mother should've given her about her gifts but didn't get to. The journals she had access to had some information but not all of it apparently."

"I see. Is that dangerous for her?"

"No. Half the kingdom has some sort of magical talent, Duke Hobar. Including one of your daughters the last I heard."

"She gave that up, Sire."

"Can you really give up something you're born with?" he asked dryly. "I couldn't."

"I'm worried Legara is going to go evil."

"Then I suppose that king would never try to send his misbegotten sons after her again," he said dryly. He stared at him. "She's not turning into an evil mage sort, Hobar. She's really not. It's nice she has something to take care of and fuss over until she has children."

"If she's strong enough to summon creatures, should she have children?"

"If a cat likes you, it likes you. No one can make a cat do anything," Paki said as she walked in with the new Lord Marshal behind her. "Frankly it was probably a look-alike, like our garden cat was. The fact you worry about her going evil after knowing her since she was a baby is disturbing, Hobar." He spluttered. "So is how quiet that daughter of yours has gotten."

"She's the one that made you ill!" he accused, pointing at her.

"My mother cast that curse," she told him. "She had horrible nightmares from her own mother's tragedy of being forced away from a true love because he wasn't of a good social class. So she made sure I didn't have that trauma as well. The reason it set itself off is because I kept thinking of my husband as the knight he had been." She sat down, staring at him. "Legara's no more evil today than she was before that trip."

"We should make sure it's really her!"

"She's not a construct," the Lord Marshal noted.

"She did not dress like herself!"

"That was in the back of her closet since her last stepmother made her buy it," Paki said dryly. "It didn't fit her any better at seventeen than it does now. We realized that she was just back on that important dinner's date and made her appear, even though she noted she had nothing clean but that gown. I thought it might make some of you realize she's not five any longer." The man shrank away from her. "I don't know what's wrong with you but I'm not putting up with it. You touch her and you can flee for your life."

"You're sick again," he sneered.

"I'm pregnant," she shot back. "That means I spend part of every day throwing up, as every other pregnant woman probably has." She waved a hand in the air as she stared at him. "Keep it up. I'm handing my husband to her to protect." The man stomped off. "Dear, he really should give the title to his children," she said.

"I don't want to force that but I will if he tries to harm her," he agreed. "In word or deed." She nodded, patting his arm. "So she told you our great news?" he asked with a smile.

"She did before she told the uptight one. He used to be better before his daughter grew gifts."

"Follow him home," the chalice said impatiently. "He wants to burn her in her house."

"Go follow Duke Hobar home to make sure he doesn't attack Duchess Legara," the Lord Marshal ordered loudly. Some people fled to do that. "Yes, sir."

"Thank you. That cat is really amusing and the owner is going to have to get her back. Maybe this time my hints will hit their target."

Paki looked. "You summoned the cat?"

"Yes, dear. She does need something to care for and he would do good at it." You could almost hear the smugness. "They'd be beautiful children."

"Yes but he doesn't want to stay here," the king said dryly.

"Oh well! We could accept them being married and him always being gone outside of her having a few heirs. It'd make them both happy! His master would enjoy that too since we worked to summon the cat the first time together." He sounded fully smug now. "He wants his student suitably connected to someone. We wanted her to be happy... that would work. I had forgotten Brandles was so closely related. That's one reason I wanted him here. Though he will do great with Duchess Amira's older sister."

The king sighed, shaking his head. "Is this from being a knight or seeing everyone you're connected to?"

"A bit of both," the Lord Marshal said dryly. "I'll send him a letter before I go talk to her and calm her down. Hobar's heir is..."

"I'm all for the daughter he's all but killed to remove her gift," the knight said dryly from his chalice. "But it'd probably go to his oldest child, who is just as bad. I've not bound a single one of them due to his problems. Or his wife. They're all like that. We took them in due to a diplomatic thing, he can go home again."

"Fine." The Lord Marshal walked off shaking his head. He paused to hiss in Brandles' ear, making him drop his sword and walk off to kick and swear at a wall. "Exactly."

"I'm dating her younger sister."

"They're all but twins, only aged eight years apart, Brandles. Have fun with that." He groaned but nodded. "But you do apparently have his blessing."

"That's wonderful. Now I have to tell my mother."

"I'm sure she'll have a charming talk with the knight." He went to talk to the prickly one. Then kick Hobar out. He found him trying to burn Legara's stable down and her being held back from hitting him by the guards trying to hit him. He let an arrow fly, hitting the old Duke. "There, that's better, right?" Legara stared at him. "He hates that anyone has gifts."

"Then he should go somewhere there's none!" she shouted.

"True. The king told him such. And to take his children."

"That'll leave that area uncovered. We don't have anyone to take over for him."

"We may be keeping one of his daughters. He's hurt her to the point where her gifts are hidden."

"The one due to be a priestess?"

"I believe so."

"Damn it!"

"Yes. But we'll handle it. Make sure he didn't damage anything, boys." They went to do that. "Also, I have news." He smiled. "A certain chalice decided to brag."

"Why?"

"We were talking about your cat." She stared at him. "The old mage that helped our queen apparently helped that very protective spirit summon said cat the first time."

"The old mage said that if I wished hard enough it'd manifest. I was having girlish dreams of finding a husband like my mother did." She rubbed her forehead. "Someone go get my other dukes." They ran off to do that. She looked at him. "He wrote a letter wanting her back. I told her and she just took a nap."

"Hmm, of course." He smiled. "She's a cat, dear."

"I know. I did have a small picture painted of them napping together for him when I sent back those books. What is Hobar's problem?"

"You have gifts. He decided the cat was proof you'd be evil."

"If he hurt my house and things? Yes, I'll prove him right."

"We know. Calm down?"

"I'm trying."

"They wanted the same girlish dream you had really, or so it appears. Even if he did disappear for months on end and only show up to woo you for a few nights, the Knight Protector may like that." She rolled her eyes, going inside then coming back out with the dog. He smiled. "He tried to declare you're the reason our queen throws up daily."

"I expect to be a godmother." Two dukes rode in quickly and one was coming slower but still on his way. "We have problems, gentlemen." She pointed at Hobar then settled in to pet her dog.

Myar came in last. "What's happened?" He noticed the attempted burn marks on the stable and around the doorway, then the unconscious duke. "Did he try to burn you out?"

"Yes. Apparently I'm evil because of the cat."

Myar looked at her then at the Lord Marshal. "The cat isn't a local one that loved her?"

"Our Knight Protector said he summoned the cat from that mage that showed up, the younger one, because he wanted them to flirt. That was his way of giving a pointed hint at them," the Lord Marshal said. Then he smiled. "Hobar there tried to have her declared evil for adopting the cat and for having a gift." He looked at Myar. "One of his daughters has some and he's done something to nearly kill her because of it."

"My wife will have words with her," the other duke said quietly. "So the cat's mystical?"

"He's written and asked me to send her home. I told her what he said and she hasn't went yet," she said dryly. "I don't mind hosting his familiar." She shrugged.

"The second cat was actually one of the garden cats and looks nearly identical," the Lord Marshal said. "Also he tried to claim she's the reason the queen is getting sick."

"It's very clear she's pregnant," Myar said dryly.

"She is," Legara said with a grin and a nod. "About three months probably."

"Just barely into it," the Lord Marshal said. "How..."

"Gossip."

"Oh. Fine." He looked at the others. "The king has said if he tried what he tried, or any other form of harm, he'd be going back where he came from. We may wish to keep some of his children if they've been harmed by him. Otherwise, they can all go back there."

Myar considered it. "He doesn't have a huge set of lands." He looked at one duke, who nodded. "That would encroach on our lands and the border."

"Or we need a substitute if his children aren't fit for it," Legara said. "Though they'd probably hate us too." The dog lapped her ear. "Thank you. You keep me very calm, dear." She petted her again. One of the dukes looked amused. "Her owner kept losing her. I warned her if her dog kept showing up I'd claim it. It came back." She smiled. "She's very sweet to nap with."

The other three dukes shook their heads. The Lord Marshal smiled at her then at them. "So are we adjusting everyone's borders or are we going to nominate?"

"Adjust the borders," Myar said. "You're adjusting hers over to part of mine, letting me take part of that one, and him the rest?"

"I was going to split it at the house. You have an elder son who could use his own house?"

"We've been talking about building one for him and his future wife."

The other two looked at him then shrugged. "I can accept that," the other duke involved said. "I'll take from the edge of their current riding rings through the woods. He takes the other bit?"

"Then we adjust his borders so he doesn't have more lands than Legara does," the Lord Marshal agreed with a nod. "I know she's mostly leaving hers pure." She nodded. "Would it bother you to lose to the stream?"

"Yes," Myar said. "There's an ancient house out there that's my father's family."

"You can have that. That would put your lands just under what mine are because mine go inland to where it meets the Northern's lands. It's a small tip." She got up to get a map, coming back with it. "This was the one I learned from. If it's wrong, I haven't heard."

The Lord Marshal looked and nodded. "That's about what I've seen too, though that tip. Does anyone go into those woods?"

"No." She smiled. "Which is fine."

"Good." He let the others see. "We'll adjust yours to here," he told Myar, who pointed. "The edges of that house are marked?"

"Yes. I can extend them though."

"Do that today. From that marker on is your lands. Before then is Legara's?" He nodded. She nodded at that. "Good." He looked at the other duke. "Want to go with me to help him pack?"

"I'll go with you for that," Myar said. "I'm one he won't argue with most of the time." He smirked. "Like Legara, they know I'll take them over and out if they bother me too much."

"I consider you like the cat," she said. "As long as things are as you want them and you're comfortable you're happy but one wrong scratch and you attack."

He smiled. "I like that! Thank you, dear." He stared at her. "Was that really your dress?"

"The last stepmother had it made for me. It was in the back of the closet. I had barely gotten back from the weddings that day. I warned her that was all I had to wear. She said to deal with it." She shrugged and went back to petting her dog. "I felt very shown off."

"That's one of the things he said proved you came home different and it might be the cat's fault," the Lord Marshal said. "I was listening while talking to the queen about her pregnancy and all the precautions the healer wanted."

Myar nodded. "I barely let my wife out of the house with our first two. Then she screamed at me and made me quit that with the third. That's why she's a daughter." He looked at the other two. Who both smiled. "All right, so no big problem beyond a hateful crank. We can handle that too."

"I wasn't about to make a decision without you," she said. "It'd impact your lives and duty."

"True," Myar agreed. "Let me go tell the wife and bring the sons to help me mark that land better." They nodded and broke up, Myar going with Hobar and the Lord Marshal to make them flee, but keeping the kids that looked like they were in hell. All his children apparently needed help. The Lord Marshal arranged for them to go to a foster family that night. Their parents were driven off and a message sent across the border to warn them about why.

***

Knight Brandles stopped his horse as he walked him into the courtyard at Lord Fairmy's manor. "It's even an amusing story," he told the guards. "And we'll need more than him and my father so they're warned. Private, king to half of his council sort of talk." They went to get the lord of the manor and send for others. "Is my father nearby?"

"Not likely. He's at the palace, lad. What's happened now?"

"You know Duke Hobar?"

"Unfortunately. What did he do?"

"Decided Legara is evil because she adopted a magical cat our Knight Protector summoned to get her owner to come flirt with our duchess."

"Excuse me?" he demanded. The knight smiled and nodded. "Is she all right?"

"He tried to burn her house down with her and the cat, and her dog, in it. So we've kicked him out. His children are with a good family as he's treated them so poorly the one with a gift is nearly dead from it. She went to a separate family."

"Oh, no."

"He ran south. To that king that wants Legara so very much." He smiled. "And there's news there from that issue too. The king bade me talk to yours."

"We can go that way, lad." His horse was brought. "Tell the wife I'll be back tomorrow night probably." The guards nodded, letting them ride off together. "The spirit that protects your kingdom summoned a cat?"

"It belongs to a mage."

"Ah." He nodded. "Oh, dear."

"Yes. And that's why I was chosen." He grinned. "The spirit forgot I was her second cousin."

The Lord of the Manor stopped his horse to stare at him. "Really?"

"Really. Though he does like the family I'm dating. He wanted her older sister, who is very nasty sometimes, but her younger sister is great. I've been dating her for months now." He grinned.

"Lad, that's just weird."

"Well, he was a knight."

"Yes, I can see that." He rode on with him, shaking his head for the next few miles. They made it to the main palace that night and got let in. "I know it's late," he ordered. "Get Duke Brandles up if he's here?"

"He's with the king playing cards," one of the guards said.

"I'm not as entertaining as the dancing girls they usually get to break up card games, but I think I'll be amusing enough," the knight said as he walked that way with the Lord behind him. He knocked twice then opened the door. "I'm a messenger sent with special news. Stay, Father, and all of you so you can remind him in the morning." He sat down, smiling at the king he used to torment for being a whiny little dick. "I come from King Leonar."

"I heard they adopted you."

"Yes, their Knight Protector did. Without warning me but I find I do like them muchly. Even though his original intent was to get someone for one of his favorite people to date." His father burst out in giggles. "But we're second cousins so he's happy enough with the one I'm dating now. He wanted her older sister but the younger is much sweeter, and nicer, so he'll accept that. By the way, you get to tell Mother there may be a marriage in six months. She won't set a date."

"Your mother will be highly amused, son. That girl you were dating?"

"Mela? Yes, her." He smiled at the king, handing over a note. "Also, we had to kick out a duke. He went south to that imbecile that won't leave Legara alone with his wife. His children were placed with a foster family. One was placed specially due to him abusing her for her gifts."

His father groaned. "Hobar."

"Yes it was, and he was originally ours apparently." He looked at the king again. "He got very mad and tried to declare Legara evil because she adopted a magical cat." The king opened his mouth. He held up a hand. "She was doing the royal weddings for my new king." That got a nod and the king took a drink.

"At that wedding, that king to the south that annoys us all tried to make her marry his ignorant, unwashed son. She had to punch the son, avoid the father's punch, then went to explain herself to the amused king, who agreed she needed to do that. She got pounced by a magical cat.

"The diplomatic mages we had in when the queen was cursed, the older one was there as well. He warned Legara if she wished hard enough something would manifest. Her parents met at a dinner and she picked her father during their first dance. It went on so long the musicians were done and they were still dancing and talking."

"Aww," his father said. "It's romantic and every girl should have that."

"Yes, but the Knight Protector and that old mage summoned the younger one's cat. The Knight Protector said he really wanted that one to flirt with his favorite duchess and the old mage wanted his student to do something more than study." His father winced. "So they summoned his cat to the reception." He poured his father more drink.

"She got back from all three weddings, and it was a good report. She had to kiss the knights who went with her to get that prince to go away one night. That idiot king tried to blackmail her into marrying his idiot son." He smiled at the king, who was still drinking. "The night they got back, they had that banquet."

"I was there," Lord Fairmy said. "That cat that appeared."

"Yes, that's the mage's cat. She also adopted one that looked just like it from the garden thinking it was the other one." He grinned at him. "And she has a dog that kept coming over. She warned the owner then adopted it." He looked at the king again. "Anyway, Duke Hobar decided that made her evil and tried to accuse her of that in front of the king." That king shook his head.

"Then he tried to say the pregnant queen was sick because of her. They told him off, he stomped off, tried to burn her house on her on the way home. The Lord Marshal came up at the king's order to toss him out on his ass. So he'll probably try to get that king to agree she's evil and try to make a move there to destroy her."

King Homer, shook his head as he drank. "That's..." He took another drink. "Have I met this duchess?"

"Yes, sire. The pretty young one that has the Western border to protect," Duke Brandles said.

"Oh, her. She was pretty." He looked at the knight.

"The Knight Protector didn't remember we were second cousins but yes, that's why I was adopted. Instead I'm helping propagate another family's lineage soon." His father moaned, shaking his head. "We had one scare, Father, but soon probably. Her family are fertile." He looked at the king again.

The Knight still looked so amused, mostly at their reactions. "So you have one of yours that moved during that uprising a few decades back, who's now to the south causing problems. We had one very angry duchess at them. And if that idiot to the south comes back, you'll be able to see the fires from here. She will storm their lands and take them out. She's vowed if they touch her she'll remove them from life."

"She can do that," Fairmy said. "She did when she was rescuing her king from Levan." He leaned on a chair's back. "I never liked Hobar anyway."

"He was a problem," the duke agreed, nodding slightly. "Well, son, that's very amusing. Anything else?"

He smiled, handing him a note from his pocket. "From the future wife to Mother." He looked at the king again. "I have no idea about the protocol for my marriage to her but you don't have to attend if you don't want to."

"Thank you for letting me know that. Any other good news?"

He smiled. "There's six upcoming noble weddings in our kingdom in the next year, possibly up to nine if the ones that Legara brought letters of introduction from happen." His father winced at that. "Mostly below the duke level but two dukes. One may be marrying a younger prince to the east." He pointed.

"That one that likes relics? We have a young duchess heir who likes them too." He grinned at the king. "That king to the south, ours is livid at him once he found out what he had done at the wedding. So very livid. Legara has begged him not to start a battle over that. She's promised she could go take them out herself to not hold a battle over that. Then he made a move towards our new queen. Our pregnant new queen. Our king is so very mad he's going to attack them soon."

His father choked and spluttered. "He's talking with his most militant, can handle an army dukes, to go with him. Myar, the one to the east, a few others that will rip them to shreds. Legara and Paki have both tried to calm them down. He's a very angry new father though." He smiled at his father. Then at the king. "That's a small kingdom. I have no idea how that's going to happen."

King Homer nodded at that idea. "I'll ask him about maybe taking some of it for ours. That would mean he'd have to have an heir to take it over and he doesn't have one born yet. We have two cousins who could go somewhere else and be better than they were but just as bad."

"King Leonar suggested they get a queen." He grinned. "He nominated Aunt Morgan or my mother for that." His father moaned. "He was most happy with how motherly she was, Father. Just like his own was." His father tensed. "If you want to help suggest others, he might like that."

"I'll note a few outstanding women we have who could do that," Homer decided, looking at his Duke, who was moaning. "At least if it was your wife we'd never have problems from you because you'd up education and stress duty and ethics." He looked at the knight. "Any other cheery news?"

"The king of Numra died last night. No sons. One-hundred-and-thirty-one daughters. No sons. They don't allow women to inherit at this point. No brothers because he had them all killed by rumors. No uncles."

His father leaned down to thump his head on the table. "Let me be drunk," he begged. "Please tell me this is a drunken nightmare about an ally we have, son?" he begged, looking at him.

"I cannot do that, Father." He smiled. "The closest male relative he still has by rumors is in the Islands. That island where all the children are taught to be assassins but also be people who live normal lives? They were sent there to protect them. He's a monk. A very distant cousin. So we may be looking at a battle or nine there as well. Or one of the daughters could totally do what Legara would do and take over. Make everyone suck it up."

Homer finished that drink and poured himself and his duke more. "You do bring good news, Kels."

"I try." He grinned. "That island kingdom has a future king coming up soon too. Their head is retiring in two years he's announced."

"I saw that."

"There's a battle for the new holder. All his children. So they could have a queen too."

The duke hung his head, shaking it. "Wonderful. I'm sure your mother will enjoy more ruling women."

Lord Fairmy smiled. "It'll probably mean more peaceful times."

"Probably," the duke agreed, gulping half his drink. "That all, son?"

"Yes, Father." He smiled. "Remember to give Mother that letter." He got up and smirked. "I'm going back to my posting on the border. The girlfriend lives to the northern side though." He strolled off.

Lord Fairmy smiled and shrugged. "He said it was important, king to king communication."

"Yes that was," King Homer agreed with a nod. "Both of those wars are going to bother us. Do we know anyone that duchess may like?"

"I've wanted to spank her a few times," the Duke said. "She's strong but a bit stubborn and very well read. She'd be a fun one to tame but I don't want a mistress." He finished that drink. "We've all been trying to find her someone."

King Homer nodded. "I'll probably meet her at one of the weddings. Maybe I know someone better than a mage." Lord Fairmy left happier at least. The Duke and the King both got roaring drunk. These next few months were not looking to be boring.

***

Chapter 13

***

Legara was actually dancing with someone when she turned to go sit down and ran into a familiar figure. "She's in front of the fireplace. Or on my bed."

The mage took her out to dance. "I've heard why from my teacher. He's an interfering old man."

"At least he wanted you to be happy."

"True. I've already snuck in to get my cat. The other one's very nice though."

"She decided to adopt me too. Were they sleeping with the dog?"

"Yes." He sighed, spinning her around. "There's too many matchmakers."

She nodded. "There are." She smiled. "The Knight Protector actually expected me to put up with a spouse who came and went so often that he was only home to make me pregnant."

He shook his head. "No, there's not many of those coming from me. Many mages are slightly infertile due to the power we use."

She giggled. "I told him one of the books said that. He pouted at me."

"Of course he did." He moved her out of the way to stare at her. "Did you actually wish for my cat?"

"No, I was having a girlish fantasy that I met my future husband the way my mother met hers. He talked her into a dance and they went so long even the musicians were done because they were talking."

He nodded. "My teacher apparently thought I'd do that."

"He told me if I kept wishing it'd manifest. That was after the cat I think."

He sighed. "He's such an interfering old man." She smiled at him, kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you for taking good care of my cat."

"Not a problem. She's sweet. She loves me to read while petting her."

"She didn't lay on top of the books?"

"No. She laid in my lap and snuggled in. She meowed at the guards who came in to get me for sparring. She meowed at the housekeeper a few times when it was dinner time for us both."

He sighed but nodded. "That figures. She does love to eat."

"I know. She kept catching mice and handing them to the kitchen cat to eat."

"That's sweet of her." He stared down at her. "I can't be a husband."

"I didn't figure you would be. I think that's their plan, and I'd only accept someone who wanted me for me, not forced into it or their pet would be kidnaped."

He snorted, patting her on the cheek. "You're pretty."

"Thank you. I tried today. You should see the one for next week."

He licked his lips. "You've probably taken someone to at least show you what he didn't."

"No. I'm still not into cousins so I haven't." He moaned. "Sorry. I know everyone was looking forward to me having someone there more often. Someone who would take the dagger from me when I need them to."

"More battles?"

"That idiot to the south."

He checked her over. "You're not injured at least."

"This week. Do you know how to spell protect a full house? So we can't have it burned or anything?"

"No. That's a serious bit of magic," he admitted. He patted her shoulder. "You really haven't found anyone?"

"I could have flirted at the weddings I went to as a royal duty but they didn't even want to dance with me. It's like it is at home. At least tonight I got two dances." She smiled. "Thank you for that saving." She walked around him but he pulled her back, staring at him. "What?"

"Smartass."

"Yes, often." She smiled. "It is most kind of you to dance with me though."

He sighed. "I have no idea why they wanted us together."

"You're very pretty."

"Thank you," he said sarcastically. "So are you."

"Not among my people." She grimaced, looking around then at him. "They seem to like them pale."

"They do." He stared at her. "I have no idea what's going on."

"Is it non-magical or our Knight Protector trying to adopt you?"

He checked. "He is trying." He blocked that and shook his head. "I have things I still need to learn."

"I realize that's their fantasy, not mine. You're a fantasy for many but I barely know you enough as you never talk to me. You just knock me out."

"You needed rest."

She stared at him. "I can be talked into taking a nap when I need one."

"It's easier if I just knock you out."

"That's not good though. It means I might have to retaliate."

"I doubt you could."

She smiled and poked him then tickled him until he had to shriek and get away from her, casting a shield. "Not all weapons are sharp or pointy. Some are blunt." She smiled, walking around him to go to the bar.

He groaned, shaking his head. "You're very confusing."

"No I'm not." She smiled. "I'm the same as I was. Their plot is not one I encouraged. I leave that up to the one who'd talk to me."

He stomped after her, taking her outside to talk to her about that. He didn't not want. He wanted to knock her down and make her scream like the king made his wife scream. He wanted to make her beg for anything. But he had duties. She had duties. He had things he wanted to learn. He did talk to that knight's spirit. He could do that if he wanted to.

The knight complained about those things. But it was important to him to learn those things too. It would probably take years though. Legara, hearing most of this, nodded she agreed and put in that he clearly wasn't wanting her so people had to quit pushing. She wanted someone who wanted her, not just her title or just in her underthings for a few minutes of fun. He stared at her. "It'd take me more than a few minutes."

She rolled her eyes. "Even if it did, it wouldn't take months or years. Which was my point."

"True, it wouldn't." He went back to talking to the knight, who protested he could stay and study there. Especially since his kingdom was about to have problems from Numra going down. He groaned at that, shaking his head. "We won't be involved in that."

"Maybe I'm a harbinger of doom," she decided, walking off. "Half the messages I bring aren't great news and the last time I talked to someone from there we chatted briefly about women getting the ability to inherit and not be a piece of meat for some man to eat."

He shivered. "Can you rephrase that?" he asked.

"No. Because it's true in both intents." She went to get something to drink, bringing him some water. "You're sweating." She walked off again. This really had nothing to do with her. If he wanted her he'd talk to her instead of knocking her into a nap or anything like that. The new bride was giving her an odd look when she came in. "Sir Greens is trying to talk him into staying."

The bride shook her head. "That's very odd."

"We know he's adopted others. He's trying to adopt him now. He's arguing back." She went to get back to the festivities.

The mage came back inside looking mad. He spotted her so walked over to her corner. "He is very pushy."

"Yes, probably." She smiled at him, sipping her wine. "It's sweet he's worried about my happiness, or just my family continuing. I'd still only want someone who wanted me."

"Which is what you should have. That should be a standard thing."

"As nobles no. Often it's an alignment. Which I do hate. I'd also hate that for my cousin."

"It's what you should have," he repeated. She nodded at that. "Which I cannot be."

"I'm not the one pushing that. Why are you telling me?"

He blinked. "I hadn't thought of that. Are you going to fight it?"

"It's not up to me to fight them coercing you. It's up to you to fight that or not and then talk to me about what you wanted out of that plot." She walked off. "I'm an end goal of a battle, not the mid-time hill you have to capture first."

"You're learning tactics?"

She looked back at him, nodding. "I need to know it to do my duty. Don't I?"

"I..." He stared. "You would." He walked closer again. "We should talk."

"We should if you want to."

"I think we should. You're right, we haven't really talked. I've taught you a few things and made you rest for longer." He walked off with her to actually have a talk.

The others watched and were interested but confused. Most of them didn't know who he was. The few who did shared that and what might be going on. They were all convinced Legara was somehow weird, or at least uptight. The bride told them the Knight Protector was trying to bring him to their kingdom so she was probably talking him into it.

***

Legara walked up behind Paki where she was in the market, taking her basket to hold. "I need to beat a spirit knight," she said.

The queen looked at her. "What did he do?"

"Irritated that mage so much he showed up to tell me why he can't be a husband. But he did get his cat back. Which is back on my bed today."

"Of course, it's a cat you've spoiled." She shook her head. "So he's shown up...you two talked?"

"A bit. He explained what he still had to do and why he couldn't be here for long." She gave her friend a look, getting a wince back. "He made sure I knew that. And I pointed out I realized that and the knight trying to force him to take me in had really nothing to do with me. I was the end goal of the battle, not the mid-battle hill you had to grab to hold your position."

"Oh, dear. You could've given in," she said sarcastically.

"Nothing else was offered. Though it was nice I did get to dance a few times at the wedding." She shrugged. "Do I want to go yell at him for that?"

"Probably. I would." They walked on, the guard with then shaking his head quickly. "If he won't give in, who do you think he'll ask for the third option?"

"I don't know. I have no idea. People are still gossiping that I changed somehow when I was at the weddings for you two. Apparently they think I'm wearing less proper clothing."

"You've been wearing the dress of a young girl," Paki complained. "We nagged for years that you needed to change your clothes to fit your age and station!"

"I know. I remember." She nodded. "But apparently I'm evil because I'm not dressed like I'm underaged. I have no idea how to handle this. I really don't. That idiot's ideas have spread. Everyone's going to be coming to you saying I'm evil."

"If you're evil we all are." She looked at the guard, who shrugged. "Who's said it?"

"I hadn't heard it yet, ma'am."

Legara looked at him. "Which squire was it?"

He blushed, looking down. Paki walked him off to yell at him for keeping that sort of news from them. It could get Legara dead. Too many people had already tried.

"I'm going to see the tailor."

"You are not," Paki ordered, glaring at her. "I'm going with you."

"Yes, dear." She waited, letting her yell at the guard. A few other guards came to save him from the queen but she told them why and they told her immediately what they had heard. It'd help stop that rumor. Paki came back looking calmer. "I think I should show up at some event in the most evil gown I can have made," she told Paki, who blushed at that. "Just to scare the living spirit out of people."

"That blue dress would work."

"I said evil, not chest baring. That's just chest baring."

Paki smiled. "We can build on that. That way you look so fantastic they can't ignore you."

"Which would feed into the rumors."

She smiled. "Trust me. I'm also having a talk with the lady's circle today." She took her to her personal tailor, who smiled as she walked in. "I don't need things reformed yet but this is Duchess Legara. Everyone's decided she's evil because she finally started to dress her age."

The tailor looked at her. "I've heard that rumor."

"I don't shop much," Legara said. "I've been wearing older dresses from when I was seventeen."

He smiled. "We can fix that, Duchess. You want to thrill a man?"

"Some day I'd like to have a man. I doubt he's going to come from this kingdom though." She shrugged. "It's been a mess recently. I had the thought of showing up in a truly evil looking gown to make fun of those rumors."

He smiled. "I don't do much that's evil but I can do sultry and make you look impressive." He led her to the screened in area to measure her and view her shape. "Who does your usual one?"

"Mildred up by my house."

"I know of her. She does good with daily dressing." He nodded as he made notes. "I've seen the most pretty gowns from a few countries over. We'll try that." He patted her on the cheek. "See me in two weeks."

"Yes, sir. Thank you for the help." She paid him and went with Paki, who took her mind off things while they chatted about the childbirth things she was learning. It was really horrifying. The other ladies would appreciate her being horrified of childbirth while they fought those rumors.

***

Legara had been injured so she couldn't go for the final fitting. Paki had them sent up and her housekeeper had looked then kept them in the box until it was time to get her dressed for the most recent event. Which was a diplomatic meeting with someone from Numra over their new queen's struggles. She was needing support and they were good to give it to her. She had a lady's maid finally so someone could do her hair.

She got out of the bath and dried off, going to present herself to the maid. "I need something to keep my hair up tonight. I never get any dancing so I don't have to worry about wild things but I'm having the feeling I need to wear my mother's pendant so it'll probably be a problem." She put that on and touched it. "I hope it's not an attack."

The maid nodded. "Your mother had a priestess' amulet?"

"My mother was let out of her vows to marry my father," she said with a smile.

"That's sweet." She fussed with her hair, putting it up into a crown of curls that was held up very well. The majority was braided and the ends allowed to curl on top of the braid. "Oh, that's pretty." She pinned it a few places with fancy pins. Then she looked at the gowns while Legara put on her underthings. "Not the top, ma'am. It won't fit. Do you want very light blue and silver, red, or tapestry?"

"I have a gown made in tapestry?"

"Yes, though it might be a day dress." She looked at them, finding one in the back.

"Oh, not that blue one. It's older and I nearly fall out of the top."

That gown got put back. "Red or very light blue? Or maybe light pink?"

"Blue please. Red would be a bit...out there for tonight. I'm used to that one." She got up.

The girl looked in the boxes. "Oh, you have new ones. I thought she said they had come." She checked and pulled out one. "That would do." She came to help her into the gown and tied her in. The sleeves were fitted but the ends were loose and hung down. The shoulders were off hers. She arranged it so it sat low, but not *too* low. The waist was tied tighter.

The skirt was unpinned so it was now open. It wasn't too wide. It sat well on her hips. It didn't need an underskirt to hold it out. The top's neckline was gently curved around her breasts. She put on a longer necklace to drape over her cleavage, adjusting it so it sat just right - just below the curve of the dress. The dress was deep blue with silver tracings on the fabric.

The bit of lace around the waist was pretty enough. She tried the trailing belt but it was too much so she left it off. She got the shoes and helped her mistress into a bit of perfume and her earrings. Then a bracelet. "There." She let her see herself, seeing the gasp. "You look good enough for some man to eat."

"I'm very showy."

"It's a good idea. Maybe it'll help you get a man." Legara looked at her oddly. "It's good on you. It won't slip, I've made sure." She got her a cloak to put over it. "There. Have some fun tonight. Making them choke is fun."

"I...I should probably change."

"You're not a young unmarried woman who's barely of age. You shouldn't dress like one." She walked her out to hand her to the housekeeper. "From the boxes."

"That's darling!" She smiled. "Go have fun, dear. Maybe the men will finally see you for your actual age."

"Last time they just stared at my chest. I think they will this time too." She petted her dog since she was coming up the stairs.

"Go. Shoo. Have some fun tonight." She sighed but left wearing that. The housekeeper smiled at the lady's maid, who grinned back. That girl did need some guiding toward looking more like a woman.

***

Legara walked in and curtseyed to the queen, who was smirking. "I should yell about this chestline too."

"Off with the cloak," she ordered. Legara took it off. "Oh!" She nodded. "I keep forgetting you have more than I do, even now." She put the cloak back on and went in there, bowing to the king, carefully though.

"Are you cold?" he asked, smiling. "I'm told my wife helped you buy that one." She took off the cloak, making a few of the people in there stare at her. "I see my wife did help you buy that one." He sighed, looking at her eyes. "Well." She grabbed for her cloak but a server had already taken it. "It's more sultry than the blue dress was." She blushed, going to hide in her seat. "I still say Paki did good getting you a dress that's for your actual age."

"It's not my usual style, Sire."

"It's pretty on you. You need to be more pretty." He smiled at the next one. "Didn't Paki do so good getting her a more age appropriate dress?"

The Lady looked at Legara then at him. "I've seen such daring necklines across my border. It sits well on her frame though."

"She thinks it's showy."

"It is," she agreed. "But daring at her age." She curtseyed and went to talk to the young duchess, who was clearly embarrassed by the queen's help. "You'll be fine, dear. You're only twenty."

"I'm twenty-five," she said.

"You are?"

"Yes. Aren't you one of my godmothers?"

"I believe I am." She patted her on the wrist. "You look good, no matter your age." She went to her own seat, going to talk to the other ladies. Who agreed she was twenty-five, still unmarried, and the queen had a good eye for how pretty to make a young woman. That gave them new ideas about the queen and possibly why she had an extra maid suddenly.

Legara sipped her wine, making sure she didn't get drunk. She nodded at Myar when he and his wife came in. "Paki picked it out," she explained then sipped her wine before putting the glass down. "I should not have too much of that. I don't want to look any more foolish before the diplomats," she reminded herself.

Myar looked at her. Then he looked at his wife, who nodded. "Did your maid dress you?"

"Yes. She picked out the dress." She stared at him, eyes wide. "I thought I should be more covered."

He nodded. "We're used to you being more covered. But you are twenty-five. You're a strong woman. That dress doesn't make you look any less womanly. Maybe you'll finally get someone to dance with tonight," the wife said.

"Maybe. I have no idea. I finally got a few dances at that last wedding." She almost picked up her wine glass to sip some more but she didn't want to look like she was getting drunk. Myar sighed, looking at her. "It is not my doing."

"No, I'm not used to seeing you out of pants and without a weapon." She scowled. "I've seen you most often that way."

"I know. I have no idea... it's like a miniature torment. I thought about making fun of the rumors going around that I'm evil by wearing a dress that made me look that way."

He nodded. "You don't look evil. Not sweet or innocent but definitely not evil. Ready for a husband to breed you perhaps." She blushed at that. "Have you had anyone since..." She glared at him. "It was shared in confidence." She glared harder. "You haven't?"

"NO!" she hissed. "I haven't. Not like I'm into my cousins!"

"Point. Oh, dear. So you're still basically innocent. Oh, shit." He sipped his wine. "Well, maybe you'll find one tonight who'll get you more comfortable with your body."

"I'm very comfortable with my own body."

"Not that way, girl." He stared at her. "I had no idea you were still so innocent of those matters." His wife swatted him. "Quit."

"It's fine. She's a good young woman. They don't usually take mistresses, male or not, to please themselves."

"I'm sure I'll have a husband some year. The Knight Protector seems sure to try to force it against his will." She glared at the chalice.

"That mage was his plan?" Myar asked. She nodded. "Oh. That explains a few rumors from that wedding."

"Sir Greens tried to adopt him too but he didn't let him." She stared at him. "Also, I felt uneasy before I got dressed."

"If so, you can't hope to keep that top up." He glanced at it then at his wife. "I remember when you could've worn that."

"Before all our children." She settled herself into her seat. "You'll be fine, Dear. You're a strong woman who can handle being stared at for being pretty tonight."

She nodded. "At least I have a few daggers with me."

"The knights have real swords," Myar said. "Which is a good idea before someone steals you for being a charming young woman."

"I'd stab them myself if I could." She leaned on her arm, watching the others come in. The Lord she usually sat by came in with his mistress/health watcher and settled them together. She nodded, handing him the wine carafe.

He stared at her. "Who dressed you?"

"My maid but Paki got the tailor to make me the dress. It's a bit more daring than I wanted or expected."

He stared, licking his lips. "You're a beautiful young woman, Legara." He poured himself some wine and topped up her glass too. She grinned at him for that. "I'm glad I'm not young enough for you and your godfather." He smiled and fed his mistress some wine from his glass. "You would look darling in that dress, dear."

"I might," she agreed. She smiled. "You do look nice."

"Thank you. It's just a bit more daring than I wanted for tonight." She watched the diplomats come in last and stood up with the others to bow to them. She sat back down, watching the king and queen.

"I must announce," the king said, smiling at everyone. "That my darling wife is expecting our first child in another four months. I know it's been an open secret but we're formally announcing it tonight as we're sure the child will come into being." They all clapped. "We believe it's a girl but of course won't know until it's born.

"We do not want presents, but advice we may need." He smiled at her, getting a grin back. "Also, our visitors tonight are getting our full royal support for her new term of office. She's doing a hard thing that our kingdom went through many generations ago so we can support her as she needs."

"Yes we can," the dukes said in unison. That was the traditional response.

"Let us eat, people. Get to know our new allies and all their wonderful ways."

"They're very nice to visit with," Legara told the others with a smile. "Very generous to diplomats in for events. I was barely an adult when I went for the last king's last wedding. They were good to offer me an escort so no one would bother me in the markets."

"That was kind of them. Most people can get lost in markets looking at all the new things," the Lord agreed. "I found my new lady in one." He smiled at her.

"It's wonderful you found new happiness." He beamed at her. Legara looked around but no cat or dog appeared thankfully. The knight did and she glared at him so he floated to the other side of the room. She noticed Knight Brandles and his girlfriend, nodding at them. "How's your father?" she asked quietly, letting him read her lips.

"Very good, thank you for asking," he replied the same way. His girlfriend giggled at that. "Sire, may I announce we'll have a *quiet* wedding soon?" he called.

"Of course you can, Knight Brandles. Is she finally ready to announce a date?"

"I am," she agreed, smiling at him. "We'll be married in four months at my family's chapel and then we'll go to his family's chapel that night instead of having a party."

"That's a charming way instead of having it on the border," he agreed with a smile. "I hope you have as much happiness as we have, you two." They smiled at him. "Does anyone else have a note like that?" A few people looked at Legara, who was sipping her wine and shaking her head. "I knew she didn't, people. She'd tell my wife first. Any others?"

"Sire, our renewal wedding date has been set as we had a conflict," one older lady reported. "It will be the end of the month but it's mostly for the family."

"That's wonderful. I think it's a romantic thing to rededicate yourself to each other after so long in marriage." She grinned at that. He kissed the back of Paki's hand. They were eating and getting ready for dessert when the attack happened. Of course people jumped up to handle it. "Paki, go," he ordered.

"Go with the queen," Knight Brandles ordered, giving his girlfriend a push. She tripped but got up to go guard the queen. Legara was already moving in to help with Myar on her right. A few more dukes were there to help. Brandles got the diplomats out of the way to a safer room. Then he dove in, taking one of Legara's knives. "I stupidly followed the rules and didn't bring my sword," he complained.

"You or me," she said, hitting someone with a plate. "This skirt is too weak to hold up to this." She kicked one and they flipped backwards but came up into Myar's dagger. "Where are the guards?" she demanded.

"More outside," one of them reported.

"Fuck." She concentrated but not enough magic right now so she stabbed the one that had gotten too close. She grabbed her skirt with one hand and spun to hit one of the attackers with her knife with the other hand. It helped her move easier. "I'm wearing pants to future events," she complained. "And my sword." A few of the guys laughed but she was serious.

She got one last one and kicked him off her blade then looked around, throwing her dagger at one trying the king. She took her dagger back from Brandles, who took a sword off a fallen mercenary. "How many more?" she ordered. So were a few others.

"Six known," one person said.

"Send people to guard the queen," the king ordered. They ran to do that with Brandles going with them. So did a few other knights. He looked around as the last one was killed. "Are we all well?" he demanded.

"I do not know more than field healing," Legara joked, making someone laugh until they broke and cried. She was young though. She looked around. "Someone check the girls!" she ordered.

"They're at the temple," one of the servers called from his hiding spot.

The knight protector showed up. "They're safe, Legara. So are the diplomats. The queen is a bit stressed." The king went to check on her.

The Lord Marshal held his arm but looked around. "Move any injured to the kitchens," he ordered. "Guards, make sure they're all dead." They went to do that for him. Legara was helping that lord's new girlfriend, who was sobbing. She was making her drink some wine to calm down. She got them both moved out of the room to somewhere more quiet outside. It should be safe out there. A few who were crying followed at the urging of the guards and others. Legara was checking her skirt, then shaking her head. So about usual for a post-battle situation.

Someone new came in from the kitchen/garden entry and tried to shoot magic but Legara threw a dagger at him, knocking him down at least. A few others stabbed him. A few looked at her, getting a shrug back. She had no idea how to counter that sort of attack. They went to check the others. That lord was knocked out and his girlfriend was sobbing over him. The guards in the hallway were missing but so were the two safe rooms' occupants. A few people took a deep breath, gathered fallen weapons to hand out in case of another one, and then waited on a third attempt. It came with magic but this time she knew how to counter that and did. She also had a crossbow this time and it was easier.

***

Legara knocked on the royal suite, getting a guard. "It's safer." She nodded. "We captured one of her higher ups with them. She'll need to identify their body."

"I can let them know, Duchess. The queen's not feeling well."

"I'm not a healer but can I help?"

"I don't know. We haven't been able to get the healer up here yet." She nodded, going to get one from the kitchen and take up there. He let her in. She shrieked but that meant Legara kicked in the door and got that guard. Everyone else was tied up.

"Oh, dear!" She ran to check them. "Just unconscious," she begged. She sighed in relief, going from the king to the queen, who was in worse shape. Then the diplomats were unconscious. "We need another healer."

"Healer!" she bellowed in her best field command voice she had been taught. A few ran up. "The queen." They ran in to help those victims. Legara guarded the stairway, sitting on the top step. The Lord Marshal came up them and paused. "At least unconscious and one dead guard."

"Good!" He walked around her to check and sighed in pleasure as he got people untied. "What do you need to save everyone?" he asked.

"A lot of prayers to save the babe," one said. "It's weak." Legara came in and grabbed her hand. "Oh, you have powers." She sucked from them and healed the queen and the baby. The Lord Marshal caught Legara from passing out to put her onto a couch. The diplomats were still stiff and scared but they got them calmed down. The Lord Marshal got one down to see who that higher up had been. He told them and then he went back up to their room. Which was now guarded by Knights inside and out. No one was getting in there. Or the king's suite.

One of the knights tested Legara's throat. "Did she pass out?"

"The healer sucked from her so she's sleeping," one of the guards said. "Let her rest. She'll probably wake up and kill whoever comes in for us." The knight glared at him. "She can."

"She's probably exhausted from that." He blinked when a cat slinked in. Not her cat but a garden cat. It wove around Legara's leg then went to the queen to sit on her stomach and purr. "Interesting. It's said cats can feel when you need healed."

The king looked and nodded. "It's been very clingy to her stomach recently. It's a kitchen cat." They nodded, letting it go. "If her cat shows up, well...the Knight Protector tried to get that mage to date her and tried to force it." The knight groaned, shaking his head. "Everyone else?"

"Mostly minor injuries, Sire. A few guards were downed, including the one that knocked you all out. No idea who took him out."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure." The knight looked at her then grinned. "If it wasn't a step down I'd knight her." He cuddled his wife, petting the cat. "May I pet her there too?" It purred and kneaded a few times. "Fine. That's your comfortable spot. I can pet the rest of her." The knight moved to check the rest of the room then settled in by the windows for them. "Cover her in case she comes out of her dress?" They did that and let him fuss at his wife without them watching.

***

Legara was home the next morning. She had a huge headache. She was back in pants and a nice enough top in case someone showed up but she was exhausted and sore headed. She was in her study on the couch with the dog on top of her and the cat in her hair again. She was nearly asleep when someone stomped in. A maid told whoever she was in there so he came in. She waved a hand. "Is your girlfriend all right, Brandles?"

"Yes. Are you?"

"I let the healer suck some of my energy so I have a huge headache. Worse than a hangover after a weekend drinking." She blinked at him. "Is Paki all right? And the baby?"

"They're both fine. He sent me to check on you."

"Just a headache and really tired. But thank him for me."

"I'm supposed to guard you."

"I'm good. No one's coming here today."

"We've spotted one of those princes trying to get into the country." She huffed. "Exactly. So let me go check on your people." He stared at her. "You did look fantastic."

"Thank Paki for that. She had me go to that tailor."

"He did good fitting it to you. He needs to do my girlfriend's wedding dress." He went to check on things for her. She was hopefully going to heal easily. Paki was nagging people to check on her.

She petted the dog, letting herself fall asleep. She did have a dagger on her, and a hidden one in her bustline in case she lost the other one.

When Brandles came back in to check on her, he resisted the urge that said to kiss her awake. He glared up. "I'm engaged," he muttered. The Knight Protector quit. He shook his head, going back to watching over the household. The housekeeper stared at him. "One of those idiot princes was spotted on the border."

"I hope they give up. She should have a good prince, not those."

"She's not going to give up the house so it'd have to be a lesser son."

She grimaced. "That's sad for her. Go stare at things. I'm making her tea."

"That's fine. I'm not hungry so don't worry about me until dinner?"

"That's fine." He went to watch over her again.

The housekeeper sighed but shook her head. Her last boss would want to hear about this as well. He really did want that girl for himself. She just had to make the poor girl into a better version of herself.

Knight Brandles heard a thought and looked up. "What?" he demanded.

Legara moaned and rubbed her head. "Fuck this." She moved both pets and got up, going to the kitchen. "Why did the Knight Protector just tell me you're working for the evil idiot who wants to kill me?" she demanded.

"I am not! I work for King Mayly."

"No, if you're here, you only work for me. Not for the king that's tried to kill and rape me." The woman stomped off with her people. "That man has tried to kill me repeatedly!" she shouted after her. She rubbed her forehead, going back to her study. "I need to audit everything and find a new housekeeper and a lot of staff."

He nodded. "I'll send to someone's wife to help?"

"Please!" She wrote out a note so he had it sent. He waited while that wife and husband both showed up to see what had happened and what help she needed. He met them at the doorway and explained. The wife got very mad and stomped in to talk to the poor dear, who still had a headache. She got her something for that as well. The Duke came in to help them and it was at least calmer. They'd help her handle it and figure out all the wrong things that housekeeper and others had done.

***

Legara showed up at the palace, still having a headache a few days later. "Sire, I have to admit I ran off my housekeeper."

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"Because she was working for King Mayly." He moaned, shifting in his seat. "I've fired her, found out where she had taken some of the family's money and had her arrested for it. Had my lady's maid arrested for trying to poison me through my perfume, and had half my guards leave because of it."

"Is that why you look ill?"

"No, I still have a headache."

"Why?"

"I donated energy to the healer. I've talked to my stepmother and she said it was normal. It'd stop in a week or so."

"Go see our healer." He pointed. She nodded. "I'll have my wife's maid find you people. I'm keeping Brandles there."

"Sire, his girlfriend is jealous. Can I have someone else to spare her from killing him?"

"Fine." He pointed. "Healers." She trudged that way. He looked at the knights in there with him, getting a nod from one. "We don't want that one killed. His father may have us invaded." One went to get the Head Knight to find out who'd go home with her.

A man strolled in looking amused. He picked up the chalice then threw it against a wall. "Really?" he demanded.

Sir Greens flowed out. "She's ill!"

"She donated energy to a healer for my wife's health," the king said. "She's got a headache."

"They probably wouldn't have harmed her." He stared at the knight.

"Her housekeeper was working for King Mayly," the king said. "So were some of her staff."

"Charming." He stomped off to check on her, testing her. She winced at that. "You've truly worn yourself out."

"The healer needed it to save Paki and the baby."

"Stubborn," he said. "Come along. I got summoned to bring you home." He looked at the healer. "Supportive fluids?"

"Would help. She's a bit out of whack. Which healer was it?"

"One of the ones with Paki."

The healer went to ask and came back. "She just drew through her. So she'll need a bit more than supportive foods and fluid. She's very tired. She's not eating apparently?"

"I've slept for the last two days. Straight."

The mage blinked, testing her again, making her wince. "You've got a great case of burnout. All right, let's get you home. I was trained for when I did this to myself." He helped her up, walking her off. "The knight summoned me," he said at her look. She hummed at that, shaking her head. He got her out to the courtyard. "Did you actually ride yourself?"

"Yes. She's very good with me." A knight waved him over so he got her into the back with the two knights going with them.

"She'll need some natural foods. Fruits that have a lot of juice and the like."

"Not sure what her kitchen holds. Or if it's safe. What happened now?"

"I barely got summoned. The Knight's treating me like I'm her master to her student. She's not but he's pushy. She mumbled something. "Oh, and apparently her staff was working with the king that wants to own her so he can kill her. Wonderful."

"That explains us going." She blinked at him. "Who do you have?"

"Knight Brandles but his girlfriend's jealous." She rubbed her head. "What is that surge?"

He tested it and sighed. "You being sick." She glared at him. "Really." She touched his hand so he could feel it. "That's sound waves."

"That's wonderful." She passed back out.

He nodded. "We'll get you treated and resting." The knights took off once her mare was attached to the cart. Brandles could bring it back to the palace himself to save his life.

***

Chapter 14

***

The King showed up a few weeks later, looking at the knight in the doorway. "Isn't she better yet?" he asked as he dismounted.

"It's better but she's still extremely tired," the knight reported. "She wore herself out grandly. Even that mage said she'd be fine, she just needs to finish resting and eating."

The king walked closer. "People are thinking she was seriously injured."

"No, Sire."

"That's not the king," floated down from upstairs. "His horse is a mare and she's a piebald! That's a roan gelding!" The knight captured him and tested him. Blood so not a construct. Pain meant the magic fell. "Thank you since that hurt to be around."

"Welcome, Duchess," the knight called. "We need a faster way to alerting people," he complained quietly to his partner, who nodded. "You want to run or me?"

"Use a hawk. We have two."

"Good to know. Thanks." He went to send a message via the hawk. It couldn't hurt. The thing went the wrong way but they got help from it. They even brought the hawk back.

The knights looked at the meow from the stairs. "If you're that mage's cat, we might need him for a moment if you'd tell him," the spare knight said with a grin. "If not, go catch a mouse?" It meowed again and stretched then went to the kitchen to meow loudly until someone came in.

"I'm coming," she called. "I forgot to feed you and I'm sorry." She and the dog came down the stairs. That being tried to fight to get to her. "Watch me stab you," she offered in a growl. "Which one do you work for? Is it Mayly?"

He snorted. "You know nothing, little girl. Not even about that pendant you wear."

"I know it was my mother's and I inherited it." She glared at him. "I may not be trained as she was but I can pull something out of the crack of my butt." He struggled again. She picked up something and hit him with it. "That's nicer." The dog barked. "No, stay there." She hit him again. "Who are you again? I should probably care what I put on your grave."

She hit him again when he didn't answer. "Well?" He whined, staring at her. "You might want to talk. This headache is not making me nicer." One of the boys took the club from her and the other walked her into the kitchen with the pets so she could feed them.

"Eat something," he reminded her.

"Fine. Even if that does make me feel sick."

"Oh well." He looked at the man on the ground, shifting the club in his hands. "So, who are you again?" The man went limp. "No, you can't die. Sorry." Knight Brandles showed up looking mad. "Did you get summoned?"

"Sir Greens summoned me." He got off and came over to kick that one. "This mage sort is an idiot."

"He's taken a student first!" he whined.

She came out to look at him. "They don't want him to train me. Our Knight Protector spirit wanted him to fuck me and marry me, not teach me anything." The mage went limp again. "Are you that dumb?" He nodded. "Good, then you can remain here and die from it. I'm sure we have a cell somewhere." She got walked back to the kitchen. "Fine."

"Eat something. You've lost weight." Knight Brandles came back. "I'm sure the king would *love* to meet that mage. Want me to take him?" They nodded, tying him so he could be carted off. The other guards from the nearby duke's house got to go report to him. Thankfully her new guards would be in soon. So would her new staff. Then she could finally heal that headache. They hoped. They got out of the mage's way, letting him pick up his cat and walk off with her. He disappeared again.

Legara came out sipping some tea, shaking her head as she went back upstairs with the dog. The second cat trotted after her to go sleep with her human.

The knights shared a look but just closed the door so she had some quiet. That was so weird.

***

The King got to meet that mage about an hour later, looking amused. "What did this one do?"

"Pretended to be you, Sire, so he could go hurt Duchess Legara. Apparently he's a mage sort who thinks that one took her as a student. She pointed out that Sir Greens wanted her to screw him not learn from him."

"I wouldn't mind if he did both," the King said. "But I know he's fighting it."

"She's said a few times it was up to him to decide to talk to her that way, that was all on his shoulders."

"Yes it should be." He stared at the mage, who was whining again. "Is she out of bed?"

"Briefly. Looked thin and tired still. I had to make her go eat."

"I'm about to send the girls to go fuss over her." He considered that. "That'd be handy and they're bored so giggling." He nodded. "Stahni?" he called loudly. The giggling outside stopped. "Do you want to go help Duchess Legara heal, dear? You and her cousin?"

"Yes, we can help her," Pris said happily. "She needs to be better." The girls ran upstairs to pack and came down with things to be taken out there. The king smiled at his knight, who did take the girls out there. He dropped them off and rode off.

Stahni, Paki's younger sister, smiled at the guards. "We're here to make her feel better."

"She's got a huge headache, needs to eat a lot of stuff because she's lost weight, and still has a headache." They beamed and ran in to fuss at her. The knights shared a look and closed the door again. They didn't want to witness that torture. Two young teenage girls? They were going to either destroy stuff or giggle it to death while fussing at her.

***

Legara brought the girls back a few days later, nodding at Paki. "They were good to help me finish healing. I taught them to make soup."

"That's a good thing to learn." She hugged both girls, who patted her stomach before running up to their shared suite. "Were they good?"

"The dog tried to claim one of the dolls but I talked to her so she let it go. Just a bit drooled on." She blinked at her then yawned. "I'm fine."

"I'm sure you are. Go ask a healer?"

"No. That'll make it worse again. Sorry but I can't do that right now. I realize I've read about this and healers would counter the magic I'm holding."

"That's very weird." Legara shrugged, walking off again. "You can stay."

"I'm in pants."

"I realize that." She looked her over. "I can't fit into pants anymore."

"Few more months, dear."

"Uh-huh. Get back in here and have lunch with me." Legara came back to come eat with her. A healer came in and tested her but Paki got in her way. "She said that magic would be drawn from her for that?"

"I've never noticed that." She carefully tried a touch of testing and found it was true so she quit. "All right. I won't do that. Let me examine her the usual way." She took her to test then brought her back. "Eat more." She walked off. "She's almost healthy again."

"Thank you," Legara called, but did eat her sandwich. Paki grinned and they gossiped like the girls were upstairs. Only less talking about cute boys and more talking about what the knight would do next to try to set Legara up.

The king walked in to kiss his wife on the head, patted Legara on the head, then walked outside. "No dog?"

"At home," she said. "My new guards are in too."

"Good. You could use them and the knights are staying for a few more days."

"They're nice company."

"Good." He smiled. "Could you maybe like them?"

She shook her head. "They're both married."

"Oh. I didn't realize that." He went back to talk to others since she hadn't brought her dog to play with him.

Paki looked at her. "He needs someone to play with because it'll be years before the child will be able to."

"We all learned how to play."

"True." She dug in again. "I think I want a long break between children."

"If you can manage that, go for it."

She smiled. "I think there's ways." She dug in again. "I like being pregnant but I'm always tired and I'm feeling very spoiled."

"You are. You were before then though because he's good to you."

"Point." She finished eating, making Legara catch up. "Better." She smiled. "Has that mage shown up?"

"Once when he had to come get his cat again. We're not together. He's not interested. He said he still wanted to study things." She shrugged. "He's pretty but not interested and I deserve better."

"You do," she agreed, patting her on the hand. "I'm turning into a mother."

Legara grinned. "Isn't that what's happening inside your stomach?"

"No, I mean I'm turning into one of the fussy mothers."

"You'll do fine with the babe. Plus you'll have someone to change diapers for you."

"That will be a good thing. I'm not sure if I even could. That's so gross."

"Not like the babe can do it on its own."

"True."

"Plus the girls will learn how to handle babies from yours."

"I'm probably going to horrify them."

"Probably but that's what our mothers did with us."

"True. Your stepmothers did horrify you by teaching you how children are born."

"That was rather upsetting. Not sure I'm looking forward to that at all."

"It's fun getting there."

"Some day I'll figure that out too."

"You still haven't? Even after...." She flapped a hand.

"No. Who would I have pounced?"

"Well...."

"I'm related to half the kingdom. Both the ones guarding me are married. The Knight's made it a problem to be around me because neither one wants me at all."

"He's trying."

"I know. It's nice he's concerned but it's making it worse. It's like false hope and then nothing else comes either because he told them he sent me someone."

She nodded. "I can understand how that happens. Plus you don't go to events."

"I do so."

"Not unless we make you." Legara rolled her eyes. "You only have so many ways to meet new people."

"Then I'll go back on messenger and visiting duty."

"There's some needed."

"Which means I can get back into the dresses I like. Which are not that showy."

Paki stared at her. "You looked nice."

"My father would've been horrified."

"Probably mine too but they'd know that we're of more than age. There's some dowagers who're your age, Legara." She smiled. "Wear the prettier ones."

"I can wear pretty and not be busty."

"Not really. It looks like you're trying to be younger again."

"Not really. I just want to be covered up. To be tasteful."

"You were tasteful in that last dress." Legara glared at her. "You were!"

"Your husband and Myar both stared at me. I saw a few people stare at me and drool."

"Well, you were pretty."

"I looked like some trashy mistress."

"Slightly in that blue one you had to wear that time. That last dress didn't show anything improper, it was just highlighting your body. Which you really should be over by now."

"Just because you found someone who makes you squeal often doesn't mean I'm going to find someone who makes me squeal at all. Right now it's looking unlikely."

"It is not. I'm going to marry you off in an alignment marriage if I have to," the king called.

Legara huffed and rolled her eyes. She looked down at the meow. "How did you get here?" she demanded, picking up her cat.

"I think that's ours," Paki said.

Legara held up her cat. "That's my ribbon on her." She put her cat in her lap, petting her. "Did the girls sneak you back here? That's mean of them." The cat snuggled in. "Did you two steal my cat?" she yelled.

"It was an accident," Stahni yelled back. "She snuck into my bag. Did she get free?"

"No, I have her."

"Sorry."

"Try not to do it again, ladies." They giggled and ran off again. She looked at her cat. "I'll bring you home in a bit." The cat just slept on her lap. The king came in to kiss his wife again. "Aww."

He smiled. "I've got need of two diplomatic visits soon and if I have to, I'm marrying you off diplomatically." He grinned.

"Do I get to kill them if they're inferior?"

"No. That would be against diplomatic protocol."

"That's a shame. Though I still will."

He rolled his eyes. "It's not like you expect a husband to throw you down and make you scream for him, Legara."

"Well, it would be nice. I'd like to have what other wives have." He blushed. "If I must have a cold, distant marriage I suppose I can. It won't be much different only there's someone else to complain."

"You may have to go to their country," Paki said.

"Which won't work." She stared at her. "My cousin is too young."

"True." She sighed, looking at her husband, who walked off shaking his head. "I feel the same way about Stahni."

"Stahni's post isn't all that dangerous. You're on the nicer border and have very little threat of anything. I'm not. Pris needs years of training to handle our duchy."

"I didn't think about that. I keep forgetting yours has problems."

"Sometimes we all do. I just have two threats near mine. Also I need to up my guards. Myar shouldn't have to come rescue me."

Paki stared at her. "He'd hate to be cut out completely."

"I'm not going to but I should be self sufficient enough to handle my duties without calling for help most of the time."

"I never could've handled that. I've had my title longer because I got it when my father died when I was fourteen. I didn't do half the training you did."

"You were also a sub-duchy, Paki. I'm the main one supposedly in control of my region. I shouldn't have to call anyone for mundane, regular things. I should only have to call him if we have an invasion."

"True." She considered it. "The Duke of the East has another like that but he's nearly rabid about things." She looked at Legara, who nodded. "Oh, you are. That makes sense. We could switch you around." Legara glared. "It'd make it easier on you."

"I'd hate you and have to retaliate."

"I know. I won't even suggest it." She sighed when her husband came back to cuddle her. "We're fine, dear."

Legara looked at him. "If you don't give her time away from you she won't miss you."

"I know." He huffed but walked off again. He came back. "What were you talking about?"

"How I need to rebuild my staff stronger this time so I don't have to lean on anyone else. Like I'm supposed to be doing."

"Will Myar accept that? Or Hobar."

"When did he come back?" Legara asked. Paki's eyes went wide and she looked at him. She got up with her knife in hand, making that being run. "That's not the king," she called. The knights caught him to test. "Is that another mage?" she asked, heading that way. "And go check Paki."

"She's just weird from the pregnancy," one of the knights said but went to check her. "Oh, she's not. She's a man pretending to be pregnant. They've apparently watched her very well."

"I noticed the baby wasn't moving," Legara said. She looked at the not-king. "So, are you like that one mage that showed up being pouty that our protector spirit wanted me to marry one of you? Or are you from Mayly? Or someone else?"

"I don't have to tell you anything," he sneered. She picked up a sword. "Aww, little girl with a sword." She attacked him and the knights got out of the way, leaving him to his fate. "What are you!"

"The duchess I'm supposed to be. Who did you expect me to be?"

"A nice, sweet, little virginal lady!"

"Nope, haven't been one of those for a while. So who sent you?" He tried to sneer so she put the sword against his dick. "They'll forgive me for the mess I'm going to make." She stared at him. "Who. Sent. You?"

"Mayly!"

"Good. You can report to him that he's an idiot. Still." She cut him, making him scream. "If he doesn't want to bleed out, let a healer take pity on him." She walked off to check the other one. "Where are they?"

"Visiting someone nearby!" he shouted. "Please, mercy!"

"I'm a duchess, not a lady. We have no mercy." She stared at him. "Were you sent by the same idiot king?"

"Yes!" He was on his knees. "Please? Duchess? I meant no harm."

"You impersonated our queen for *how* long?"

"Just today."

She looked at the guards holding him. Then at him again. "Those aren't our guards. Ladies, there's problems," she yelled. She got the mage then the two guards, making them fall down. A few others ran in and she attacked them, making a huge mess. She did swoop down to pick up her cat to protect her but it didn't hamper her as much as the skirt did. "I have to got to quit wearing a skirt again," she told her cat. Someone else stomped in and she stared at them. "Prove you're you."

"How would you want me to do that?" he demanded. She stared at him. "I met you when I was eleven and you were ten after one of your riding lessons."

"You did." She lowered her sword. "They're not quite in the right uniforms. The badges are wrong."

He looked. "They are. Who's the other one?"

"Pretending to be Paki. The baby wasn't moving. The girls are safely upstairs."

The knight nodded. "Good." He attacked her so she fought back. Her cat went onto a counter so she was free to fight him better. He smirked and she got him down with a thrown dagger. He moaned, changing. "That's not nice."

"No, I'm not nice." She picked up her cat again, walking off. "C'mon, ladies. Let's make sure you're okay." They ran down with their bags, going back with her. They had her carriage out there and still hooked up. She retreated to somewhere safer with the two vulnerable ones and her cat.

They went to her play house, which was a cave and very easily covered so no one could get into it. She got a guard to do that while she went to find her sword again. Apparently she needed it and her pants. She came down changed and took out the one riding up to her gate. "Why are you wearing someone else's badges?" she asked.

"Messenger," he said. He held up the letter.

She came down to get it. "I'm sorry. We've had a few attacks again today. Let me get that treated for you." She took him inside to treat him and then send him on with that message since it wasn't for her. "Sorry."

"It happens. Not the first time." He rode off looking happier at that. She wasn't but he understood attacks. When Myar showed up later she showed him her drawing. "Do you think that would work?"

"Ours?" he asked.

"No." She smiled. "There were mages pretending to be the king and queen earlier." He groaned. "The girls are in my play area. I healed just in time."

"Hell." He remounted. "Let me go check on them."

"They're supposedly touring."

"Good. They'll be amused too. Who?"

"The mages said they were sent by Mayly." She smiled.

He looked at that diagram. "You have their house backwards. Flip the ends and make the kitchen in the center instead. Then blow up their chimney as you walk out." He rode off. "I'll be back to help you plan that."

"Thanks." She got back to her plans, adjusting it.

Duke Myar rode up to the Lord Marshal's house. "We had people pretending to be the king and queen?"

"I need spies in the palace if that's true." He got up and went to check with him. "Is Legara all right?"

"She showed me her plan for raiding Mayly. She said they came from him."

"Charming!" They rode into the palace. No one was there. They went to look, finding a mess. The Lord Marshal looked around. "Where is everyone?" he asked loudly. A few knights ran in. "We had a fake king, queen, and it looks like some guards?" He kicked one over, staring at them. "That's the wrong badge." He considered it. "So where is everyone else?"

"Looking for the girls. They're supposed to be here."

"They're with Legara. She evacuated them with her."

The guards shared a look then attacked them. So they fought back and took them out. Then they went to find others. They ran into a knight coming back. "Hold on," Myar ordered. The knight stared at him. "Prove you're you."

"I'm probably me?" He looked confused. "Why do you demand? Did we have another construct?"

"A few mages pretending to be guards, a king, a queen." He stared at him.

"You were nearly my godfather, Duke Myar, because my mother was your mistress for six months before my father got her pregnant." He stared at him. "Who handled it?"

"Who do you think?" the Lord Marshal said dryly. "She's got the girls safely there too."

The knight blinked. Then he nodded. "Let me go tell the king. Is anyone inside?"

"I didn't see a single living person but the two who decided to attack us."

The knight moaned. "Messy?"

"Very. The maids are going to scream."

"Yes. They probably will." He rode off. "Let me tell the king."

"Fine. Find the guards you're supposed to have?"

"They'd better be close by." He blew his horn and got guards coming running and a few knights from the King's guard. "There was a fake king and queen in the palace apparently. The girls are fine with one's cousin." He looked. "Two of you are wearing the wrong patch." He pointed at them. They got captured and talked to before they went back to check the palace over. The staff was locked in the chill closet so that was handy.

"I swear I'm not as good as Legara but I'm going to take out Mayly myself!" Paki said loudly as she rode forward. "Myar, go with me."

"Your sister's with her."

"I figured that!" He nodded, getting out of her way. She looked inside then grimaced. "Oh, quite a mess. I feel sorry for the maids. They deserve a treat for handling that, husband." She rode off. "Myar."

"Coming, my queen." He followed her to make sure she wasn't injured. She was really mad. He had forgotten she had a temper. "Ma'am, let me hit people. You're pregnant."

"I know that! The brat kicks each time my husband tries to nibble on me." She scowled at him but kept going. She rode into Legara's courtyard and shot at someone with her crossbow.

"He's a guard," Legara said. "But you're a bad shot, Paki." She got him fixed up and let him go rest. She came back out, staring at her. "The girls are in my play area."

"I'll get them from the cave in a minute. How good was the fake me?"

"All but the baby moving. He was pretty good."

"He?" She nodded. "Good, I'll use whatever to make my husband carry our next brat." She dismounted, staring at her. "Are you better yet?"

"Mostly. Still a bit tired. The girls accidentally stole my cat."

Paki sighed but nodded. "That doesn't surprise me with what we used to do with pets." She walked off. "Ladies?" she called. They peeked out. "Good. Stay there for a bit longer. Open the door to the left to use the chamberpot." They pulled back to look at that necessary thing and giggled at it too. She pointed and a guard stationed himself there. Paki walked off seething. She saw the diagram and looked at her best friend. "Are you raiding?"

"Yes, I may just do that." She went back to making plans with one of the guards, who nodded at that.

Paki looked then pointed. "Kitchen's there. I've been there for a diplomatic visit. I had to take a shower when I got home." She went to check on the girls since she heard pouty noises. "What happened?"

"He tried to grab me," Stahni complained. "She got him."

Paki looked at her. "Your cousin did the same thing. We want you to be safer." She took the dagger from her then smiled and tucked it into the holder. "We'll help the nightmares later. For now, just hide." They nodded, going back in there and pulling the stone cover over again. "Good girls." She went back there, dragging the guard. Who got taken from her by a knight to search and then burn in a side yard.

Legara looked over. "That stinks."

"Sorry." The knight walked over casually. "What's happened?"

"They said King Mayly sent them." She grinned. "They made a mess."

"We saw. What happened?"

"I brought the girls back. We had a lot of fake people. Guards in almost the right badges. A fake queen who looked pregnant but the baby didn't move, who turned out to be a man."

"I'm going to find out how so my husband can carry our next one," Paki said happily.

"It was probably an illusion. Are you really the queen?" She held up her marked hand. He sighed but nodded. "Duchess?"

She threw him aside with magic. "Still think I'm not me?"

"No, you're you." He got up, dusting himself off. "Let's get the girls somewhere safer. Like with Duke Myar?"

"They're safe enough here. I know I can trust myself and have checked my people again. Has he?"

"Point." He stared at her. "Are you still ill?"

"I'll survive the headache coming back."

"Okay. Let me get you some extra guards." He looked at the image then at her. "Do not do that please."

"They're doing this because of me. I'll be damned."

He sighed. "That's my job."

"Whenever I say that someone argues with me."

He nodded. "We do. Let me get you some help." He mounted and rode off to tell the others. He heard Paki complain that they thought they were weak women instead of duchesses who had to train to protect their people. Legara agreed they had trained very well, even if Paki had bad aim with her crossbow. He found people who could stop them from storming the next country. Pregnancy had made their queen mean and so had being single for the duchess. He ran into Brandles. "Go take the young girls somewhere absolutely safe," he ordered.

"Sure, my mother would love to watch them."

"Good! That's an excellent idea!"

He nodded, going to gather the girls and take them to his parents. He knew a few shortcuts Legara didn't. He rode into the courtyard. "They're going to visit."

Paki nodded. "Pris had to stab a fake guard."

"Damn. Well, they'll be safe." He went to gather them, putting them one behind and one in front of him, hitching the bags on his saddle. "Let's go visiting."

"We're not dressed for that," Stahni said. She tried to smooth down her hair.

He grinned. "It'll mean my mother will fuss." He rode off with them, telling them about his family. He had a sister just younger than them. Maybe they'd be letter pals. When he got there very late that night, his brother opened the door. "Where's mother?"

"With our father at the palace."

He handed down the girls, letting him gather them and their things with his sister's help. "King Mayly lost his mind more than usual due to his drinking. Guard Duchess Stahni and future Duchess Pris for us?" He turned and rode off. "Behave, girls."

"Yes, Knight Brandles," Stahni said with a wave. "Good travels." She sighed. "He's so noble and adorable. I need a man like him when I'm of age." Pris nodded, giving her a pat. "Can we go at least wash our hands and faces before we talk to your mother?"

"She's at the palace. I'll send word to her and you two can rest for the night," he decided.

The girl smiled and waved. "If you tell us what happened we can include it so the king can hear too."

"Okay!" Stahni said. "Let us clean up?" They got taken to a bathroom to do that then they came out to chat with this new girl. She seemed nice enough. She had dolls and they had a few kitchen cats so it was like home only without their families. Stahni broke and started to sniffle so the girls hugged each other while the brother wrote out the letter and got his younger brother to bring it. The nanny came down so he pulled her aside to explain things.

The nanny came in. "Ladies, let's get you to a proper bed. Shall we?" They nodded, going with her. "Do we have night things?"

"All our clothes were dirty. We were helping my cousin heal from a huge headache thanks to helping a healer," Pris said quietly, staring at her. "We got back and there were fake people and wrong guards and then a mess. So we went back with my cousin and hid in her play area." She looked at her hands. "My cousin is very brave and strong. I don't think I can live up to that."

The nanny tipped her face up. "You won't have to. Each person makes their own future and their own life story. You can't live hers. The same as your friend can't live her big sister's life. You'll end up as strong as you need to be, dear. Now, let's go rest. You can sleep naked tonight I suppose."

She got them settled together, with the dolls one carried in one of the four bags. Two more were clothes and one had a few odds and ends. She sent the clothes to the wash and then laid down to listen for the children to need her. The oldest son stayed up to wait on his father, mother, or brother. Or anyone else.

***

Legara looked at the man stopping her. "Yes, My King?" she asked.

"Get your ass home before I confine you to the palace for two weeks," he ordered with a point. "If we're going to invade over there, I'm sending the army."

"I can sneak in better than they can."

"Oh well!" He pointed. "Now! And where is my wife?"

"Napping on my couch with my guards around her. I wasn't going to bring Paki. She's still delicate. She hates to hurt anything."

He hummed, pointing again. She grimaced but rode off. "Thank you for having a bit of sense." He followed her, meeting up with the knights he had lost to catch up to her. They had Paki, the dog, the two cats, and now the duchess, in the carriage so they could go back. "Did you pack the duchess some clothes?"

"Yes," one said. "No dresses though."

"Pants are easier to fight in," she quipped. "You probably looked in the wrong closet."

"Probably." They rode around the carriage.

Paki moaned, rubbing her stomach. "He's kicking."

Legara reached over to pat it. "Calm down before your mother kicks you out early." She sat back, petting her pets. "Is that them?"

"It'd better be."

"Yes it is," the king called. "Legara, I can mention your birth mark if I have to."

"Please don't. It's ugly." She sighed, looking at her friend. "I could still sneak across. Claim I need sanctuary."

"They wouldn't let you keep the weapons."

"I can improvise."

"No. It's not a good plot." She considered it. "Sneaking across would be good. You could pretend to be a farmer bringing news from the border. Some farm daughter."

She nodded. "I can."

The king cleared his throat. "We have an army, ladies."

"A single person would handle it easier."

"I'm going to paddle you both. Not tonight you're not."

"We can rest," she agreed. Paki smiled at Legara, who grinned back. "How many dolls did she bring?"

"Seven."

"Hmm. Stahni was restrained by only having one bag of them." Legara nodded, yawning a bit. "You rest. You've had a long day making a mess in my palace. The staff must have had a fit."

"I'll apologize later."

"I doubt they'll be mad. Just complaining." She shifted to get comfortable, laying down to make the baby quit kicking. They fell asleep and got carried to the royal suite to nap together under guard.

The king came down again to stare at people. "Are there more?"

"The knight felt three more, Sire. He's also said that he didn't mind her plan to go there."

"I do. I'm the king! That's my job!"

"She noted earlier people complain when she says that," a knight said. "I'm wondering who cut the one person's manhood off."

"That had to come from a woman," the Head Knight said as he walked in. "Got 'em all, Sire. They all said King Mayly sent 'em but I'm not sure of that. Not that he couldn't but he wouldn't pay for so many magicals. Or even regular mercenaries. He's rather broke."

"See if you can find that helpful mage. Ask him who they're with?"

"I've seen him and did ask, he growled and went to go chew on someone. I'm supposing he'll be back shortly." He stared at him. "The queen?"

"Resting. The baby's kicking again. So is Legara. They're both in my bed." He sighed. "Who has the girls?"

The Head Knight smiled. "We told Brandles to hide 'em, Sire."

"Good!" He nodded. "We can get them in a few days. Once I'm sure it's safe so they don't have to witness her killing anyone."

"One moaned her cousin stabbed him," he said. "He was moaning about a girl."

"He was guarding the girls and Legara didn't notice?"

"From what he said. He was pretending to be her guard so he could kidnap her."

"Oh, dear. Paki's going to freak out."

"Maybe not." He walked off. "Let me see who just rode in." He went to check, finding that mage. "You look mad. Who was it?"

"Mayly promised a few from Numra a few of the nobles as long as he got a few he wanted for him and his sons to torture and rape until they gave them heirs and died." He leaned down. "They were working with that other problem kingdom on their other side. They wanted Paki to own. Willing to take her and the baby. They helped pay for it by donating some of their mages from their jails."

"That explains where they came from. Any left?"

"I'm not built for combat."

"Your cat's upstairs."

"That's fine. She's safe with Legara." He licked his lips. "Any of the mages alive?"

"Some. What're you feeling?"

"Two more coming up the roadway but maybe not theirs." He went to check, staring at the two ladies. "Yes? Are you helping the invasion earlier?"

"We heard and came to help our ally. Is Paki all right?"

"She's upstairs resting. The king's in the palace." He got out of their way. They rode in with him. "They're allies?"

The king walked out, smiling at them and shaking hands. "We've had a ton of mages invading here today. Did Paki send for you?"

"We felt her being distressed." They dismounted. "Let us go check on her and the baby she carries." They strolled up the stairs. The dog in there barked but they calmed him down. The mage with them got fussed at for petting. They checked both women. "That must be Legara. Paki mentioned her having skills." They soothed her and the baby. They smiled at him. "She's still got a power drain."

"That's not my form so I don't know how to handle that. I treated her for over use."

"That's most of it but we have to end the drain."

"Is that the one to the Knight Protector spirit?"

"No, we recognize that. We have our own. He's just as meddling." They worked together to end the drain. Legara sighed in pleasure. They patted her and backed off. "That's fine." She looked at the mage again. "She'll probably have a small headache tomorrow but she does need to quit dirtying herself with handling issues."

"She reeks of being a warrior," the other agreed. "She should be more innocent." They left to talk to the king. "Our girlfriend is fine. So is her baby."

"The other has taken too much on. The power drain she had is ended. That was probably caused by a healer not understanding. But she does reek of being a warrior."

"She's one of our most protective duchesses."

"Then she needs someone to take some. It can weaken her skills."

"She might allow that. Talk to her tomorrow?" They smiled and nodded. "So, Paki..." He waved a hand.

They smiled and walked off. "We'll be in Stahni's room. Her dolls are protective."

The king nodded. "That makes sense. Thank you for the help." The other mage came down the stairs. "What are your people doing tonight?"

"Swearing at the queen's sister's people." He stared at him, petting his cat. "We got a few as well. My teacher was injured earlier when one made something he was working on explode."

"Will he be fine?"

"Probably. He's an ancient pain in the butt." He walked off. "May I have a room?"

"Yes, you may. Please. Help us find some way to make sure it can't keep happening? Some sort of alarm against whatever they did?"

"That isn't all that hard." He went to work on that in a guest room. His cat went back up to sit with her part-time mistress. "Fine. Come back tomorrow." His cat meowed loudly to be let into the other room. Someone did and she strolled in to hop up and sleep with the two humans. Paki's cat friend was on her. Legara's two other pet friends were on her. She snuggled in to join them. That mage shook his head with a groan. His cat was very weird.

The king went up to nap on his room's couch. He would climb in behind his wife but she might stab him.

***

The King looked at his gathered council plus a few mages. "So," he announced, staring at them. "Yesterday was bad. We had a mess made here of people who weren't really who they seemed. A lot of them. We had guards who weren't. We had a lot of us attacked. We had the two little giggly ones attacked." They all winced at that.

"My cousin had to stab someone," Legara said quietly. "I had one I thought was a guard protecting their hiding spot. He wasn't. She had to stop him from grabbing Stahni."

The king blinked. "Is she all right?"

"Yes," Paki said, nodding some. "We talked. Brandles took her to safety with her buddy."

"They're fully safe. My mother will fuss over 'em as soon as they get near her."

"Good! Did they have the same problem?"

"I didn't stop to ask," he admitted. "I can go later."

"I'll make a diplomatic visit later," Paki said with a grin. "Your mother sounds amazing."

"She's pretty neat. The girls are talking to my sisters probably. I left them in the care of my brother."

"That's fine," Paki agreed with a smile. "Family is important." She looked at the mages, who grinned at her. "Are we all fine?"

"She had a power drain from a healer without an idea of how to handle someone with bigger gifts. We can train them for that."

"Thank you," Legara said. "And for helping me."

They smiled. "You fight so much it can warp your skills."

"I do what I have to do."

"As do we all," they agreed.

"I learned from my mother's family's journals." All three mages sighed. "He's tried to fill in some things that weren't covered."

The ladies smiled at him then at her. "It can help. Let him help you for a few days?"

"I leave that fully up to him. While I won't beg, I may really thank him for the help."

"I can help," he promised. "Though I'm not a battle mage either."

"Your king is mad at everyone?" one of them asked.

"I haven't asked. My trainer got injured by the same sort. The queen's been swearing at her sister."

"You're more than welcome here. We could use someone with a better knowledge of magic," the king assured him. "Or if she loses her mind and takes over Mayly's kingdom we can give you that."

"I'd hate to be a king." His cat hopped off him and wandered around to Paki's lap to nudge the kicking lump then over to her part-time mistress. "Fine, fussy." Legara smiled, petting her gently. "You picked a pretty collar ribbon for her."

"It's one of my former hair ribbons." She went back to petting her. "So can I go invade them now?"

"No," the King ordered. "That's my fun."

"He came after me."

He stared at her. "My job, my fun. Shut up and pet the cat." She huffed but did that. "Thank you. I'll let you help with my fun." He looked at the others. "How often has this sort of thing been happening, Myar?"

"About once a week we have someone trying to get in who doesn't belong to us, Sire."

"Why wasn't I told?"

"I did." He looked at Legara.

"I sent it to the Lord Marshal like I'm supposed to," she agreed. "With all my weekly reports."

"I've gotten a few but not weekly. You send it to my house?" She nodded. So did the other overseeing dukes. "I need to make sure of my staff then." He looked at the king. "When I find it you'll hear."

"Thank you." He looked at the others, who nodded at that. "Anyone else having that level of problem?"

"We can check our people too," one said. The Duke of the North leaned back. "Legara, you probably can't raid a full country on your own."

"I don't need to. I need to go destroy that king and his idiot sons. I can blow up a building."

"I did teach her where to lay them," Paki said with a smile.

Myar nodded, shifting. "I corrected her design of the building."

"See, I can sneak over."

"My. Fun." The king stared at her. "I'm going to paddle you if you try."

"Sire, I didn't think we were that way to each other. I'd never give Paki any reason to be upset with me."

"With how clingy he's getting, you can have him for a bit," Paki offered with a grin for her husband. "I'm not saying she can keep you but that would let you fuss over someone other than me."

He huffed. "I'm sure it's normal for a husband to do." The other fathers nodded. "See."

"I sent mine to a mistress too," one of the women quipped. "To get him out of my clothes with me."

Paki nodded. "I don't mind that but he has gotten very fussy. Every few minutes he's in patting me or kissing me. He's even woken me up from a nap." She yawned. "Sorry."

"I napped through my whole pregnancy, dear. I didn't even think about going to raid another country."

Paki smiled. "They sent a man to pretend to be me."

"He had it down pat except for the baby." Legara looked at her. "I noticed afterward that the baby hadn't moved."

Paki smiled. "I'm going to figure out how he can carry our next one."

The mages grinned at her. "Not that hard," the two women said.

The king shuddered. "If it'd spare her I may ask." He looked at the others. Most of the men were crouching down holding their manhoods. "How do we handle Mayly?"

"Do that to him?" Legara suggested. "Let him have his own children."

"No. That'd be mean to the child."

"Well he does torture the women who he's raped to have his children. He can torture himself."

The king blinked at her. "You need more rest?"

"No." She stared at him. "We can start with rumors that he's sleeping with his sons. They're so drunk they probably can't tell except for the level of stink they each carry."

The mages looked over. "That may work. Would his people overthrow him?"

She smiled. "Wouldn't you if you had him?" They hesitated then nodded.

"They're not at the level of overthrowing him yet," one from that border said. "Pity though. It'd be nice."

"I thought they should have a queen," Paki told him. "Much more peaceful and happy people that way."

Brandles smiled. "I suggested my mother when I told my former king and my father that news. King Homer was sure my mother wouldn't cause any problems and everyone would be bathed. Daily." Paki grinned at that.

The king shook his head. "What's going on with Numra?"

"They've fought off the overthrow and she's stomped on the problems very hard," their friendly mage sort said. "There may not be any problems if she does equal things out for women."

"Which could be nice," Legara agreed. She looked at the cat who had just farted. "Excuse you." She went back to petting her. The others sighed and shook their heads. "She's in my lap, of course I'm going to pet her."

"Your Knight Protector wanted her to adopt my cat and me," the mage said dryly.

She smirked at him. "I told you that's up to you."

"I know that." He took his cat back to pet himself. She rumbled but settled in his lap instead. "Thank you. You are my cat." Paki snickered. They all heard a horse get loud outside. "Another one?" he asked sarcastically.

"No, that's my mare being pounced by a stallion," Legara said without having to look. "She's in heat. I wanted her bred. Which horse is pouncing mine?" she yelled.

"His," someone out there yelled back. "That mage's horse. It glowed first."

"I'll have to thank someone for making my horse ungelded," he said impatiently.

The king grinned. "They were trying to get you to breed someone?"

"Knowing a few of them? Maybe," he agreed.

"What of that first mage sort?" Legara asked. "Who pouted that he had taken me as a student before he got one?"

"He still claims he was sent my Mayly," the king said. The mage looked confused. "You can see him to nag him later."

"Of course I can." He shook his head quickly, then fought off the spell. The other two mages helped. He glared up. "I'm going to go beat my teacher to death. We're in a meeting!" he said loudly. "I know very well you can scry, you showed me how!" The magic quit trying to force him. "Yes, that's what got my horse." She giggled, shaking her head. So did a few others. He shifted, aggressively petting his cat.

The mages were happy that they could help. The three kingdoms of problems needed to be handled. They could do a bit of helping there. Maybe more with Numra, supporting the new queen and the like. They did have some pretty women down there so they might even find a new student. Both female mages kissed Paki before going to help with the identity theft alert they had to put up. They could teach others how to handle it.

The male one went to see who that first pretending mage had been since he knew him. He scried his teacher and pointed, getting out of his view. The senior mage attacked that one, making him shriek but go up in flames. Then the scrying portal got canceled on that side. So much easier for everyone.

***

Chapter 15

***

Legara was at the latest wedding. Which was still boring. The same people nagging about the same things and giving her pitying looks. She didn't even have a local cat to pet this time because this one was in the woods. No one knew why but it was in some woods. Maybe the bride wanted taken by fairies, who knew, but it was in the woods at night.

They'd had dinner then came out here to celebrate with the couple. So Legara was once again on the edge of the festivities watching. It seemed to happen at events. She sighed as she fanned herself in a lazy manner, watching the happy people dance. Someone came over to drag her into the dancing, making her smile and happily play with them for a few songs. Then they moved away from her so she went back to sitting down.

She could take social cues. This bride wasn't even sure why she had invited her outside of protocol. Which she understood. She looked to her left at the feeling of magic. Not fairies. Two mages with lights. The female mages smiled and nodded at her, going out to have some fun as well. The bride couldn't really refuse them since it was just the dancing.

Legara smiled at that happiness. It was good to see. She relaxed again, watching over the group. They seemed so young. She leaned back against the tree, finding a person there. She looked up at him, getting a shrug back. "Are you a tree now?"

"Projecting again. I felt magic and wondered why." He disappeared.

She nodded, going back to watching the fun and festivities. She finally got up to go home. She nodded at the bride's mother, the Lady of the Manor of the Northern Duke's lands. She kissed her on the cheek. "I'm going to go home and rest. They're still having fun. The two mages showed up."

"Do be careful. It's very late."

"I'm fine. If I get kidnaped, I have a dagger." She smiled at the older woman, going to find her horse and go home. All the horses were on a line in the courtyard so she whistled quietly. Two lifted their heads. Hers untied herself and walked over. "Thank you, dear. Let's go home." She mounted and rode off, adjusting her skirts so she wasn't too showy. She hated to ride sidesaddle but she was in a dress. She made it halfway home when someone got in her way. Just a single figure. She grabbed her dagger. "Yes, Stranger?" she asked. "Are you lost?"

He looked up at her. "We're looking for a young woman who knows us."

"There's a wedding happening a few miles away. They're probably there if they live locally." She stared at him, and felt his friends around them. She sighed mentally. She did ask the Knight for help but he was staring at someone else. She walked her horse closer. "You may ask at their gates to find the one you know. Most everyone is there right now."

She walked her horse around him. He grabbed her leg so she kicked. "I'm not yours to touch." He tried to pull her down, and managed it because she was properly sidesaddle. The men grabbed her but she fought back. She got a few down. She kicked one in the face when they tried to lift her. "Hell no!"

"Such language," one sneered. "From a lady like you?"

"Not a lady." She kicked another one and then bit someone, getting free and rushing off. They laughed and chased. She concentrated and magic came up. She knew what she should do. She turned and let herself glow, staring at them. They backed up slowly. She took a deep breath. "Go away. Now. Leave these lands and never come back."

"We don't have to. We can do that too," one sneered. So she sent an attack at them. Those ones screamed. So did she. That hurt a lot to cast. That left three. She was weak feeling but she was not going to be sacrificed or raped or anything else tonight. She still had her dagger. She got one trying her and then stabbed another. That left the last one, who had a sword and was sneering at her.

"It just means I don't have to share."

"You'll never have me."

"Going to cut your own throat?"

"No, you won't survive. I'll be fine." He lunged and she ducked then threw some dirt at his face, making him bat most of it aside. That helped a bit, gave her some room. The man advanced again and she stood there for a second then launched a better physical attack. She still felt weak.

"Aww, poor little girl."

"Yes, one who mostly raised herself." The man smirked. So she went back to who she was underneath the duchess. The feral little one she had started out as. He smirked at that until she took a chunk out of his cheek by biting him because he got too close while trying to grab her. She got his sword from him and stabbed him a few times.

She let out a shriek and huffed. "Men are vile and you prove it." She stomped off, taking her horse back and mounting up then riding off. She spit the foulness out of her mouth but that happened when you bit someone. She made it home and nodded at the guard. "Shut the gates. We have idiots on the road." He gave her an odd look but did that. "Thank you."

She handed over her horse at the stables and stomped inside to go bathe the blood off. She had a few cuts and scratches from them. She had some good bruises. And she'd had enough for quite a while. So she went into her tub to get clean and cry. No one could hear her up there. It was well past time for her to cry and get lost for a few hours.

The maids in the upper hallway shared a look and went to tell the housekeeper. They could barely hear her crying. The new housekeeper was an older woman who went up to check on their mistress. If she had been ...harmed they'd have to help her heal. If not, perhaps it was just stress. They hoped it was just stress.

***

Legara came out at the summons the next day, staring at the squires. "What's happened now?" she asked sarcastically.

"When you came home last night did you see the robbers we have reports on, Duchess?"

"Was that the nasty things that tried to stop me? Yes, I did see them. Pity they saw me too." She walked off. "I will not think on this today." She went inside and went to rest in bed again. She had given herself a great headache from the crying.

The squires shared a look then went to report that. The Head Knight gave them an odd look. So they added onto the report. She looked tired and like she had been crying all night. He sent word to Knight Brandles, who was up there somewhere today. He was helping clean up the mess and took the note from the squires to read, then nodded.

"That figures." He handed it back. "She's within her rights to defend herself." They nodded, letting him handle it. The Head Knight hadn't asked him to talk to her but he'd pause there on the way in. He looked at the gate guard. "Is she well?"

"Not sure," the head guard said. He walked closer. "She came home bloody from another event or something. Went right to a tub. Not sure about anything."

"Do we think they touched her?"

"She was riding sidesaddle and limped as she walked but it looked like she had been pulled from the saddle. I don't think she got touched. I can go ask the housekeeper. I know she sat with her last night." Legara herself came out. "Ma'am."

Brandles looked at her. "I need to know if have to go desecrate their corpses to defend your honor."

She snorted. "I don't have that anyway. And no, they didn't get beyond bruising me. I'm going to quit wearing dresses at all. Apparently my dresses are a curse." She walked off again.

"I'll let the king know," he said, staring at her back. He looked at the head guard, who was staring at her too. "I'd hate for my sister to look that tired."

"I'll let the ladies in the house help her, Knight Brandles. They're women and they'd understand." He nodded, riding on to go make a report.

***

The King looked at the duchess walking in wearing a pretty-looking formal suit like the other Dukes were. He opened his mouth then sighed and shook his head.

"It's not just being up here that gets my skirts bloody so I won't wear a skirt anymore." She went to her seat, nodding at Paki, who sighed loudly. "This way I don't have to get more blood of any of my skirts." She sat down, being much more comfortable this time.

The Knight Protector came out to stare at her. "You do look nice in that, Duchess." She smiled at that. "Many female knights do the same thing."

"As I've said before, if I didn't have the title I might've asked to join their ranks."

"You would've been a credit to us then as well." He went back into the chalice.

Paki looked down at her. "Is that really comfortable?"

"Yes, quite." She smiled. "Very comfortable. Looser than the ones I usually wear to spar in." She sipped her wine. "I know some won't like it but I pity them getting blood out of their skirts. My maid would enjoy not having to do that again."

Paki nodded. "That actually makes a lot of sense. If I could do that I would." That got some talking started. She rubbed her stomach, looking down at it. "Maybe after I birth you." She sipped her water and settled in to be comfortable. Of course, she was having more pains.

A few women noticed and one came over to look at her, touching her stomach. "Rhythmic pains? Always spreading from the same spot?" She nodded. "You're in labor, dear. Get the healer, I think the queen's in labor," she called. A duo of healers ran in to check.

"Pre-labor so it'll be sometime this week," one said happily.

Paki looked at her. "You're too cheerful." The healer patted her with a smile. "All right. Stay close, just in case all this sends me into labor."

"Yes, my Queen." They settled into free spots at the table. One dowager to a Lord's title pouted at her seat being taken. "We're her healers. She's in pre-labor," the healer said.

"Oh." She waved a hand with a smile. "Yes, do sit closer to her. We don't need to see her going into her dangerous times." The healer looked confused. "During the birthing is the most dangerous time of any woman's life." She settled in a free seat near hers, smiling at the queen. "You're strong enough to last."

"I hope so. My husband will be morose for months. If not years." She sipped her water, wincing as a new pain started. A healer came over to check. "That felt stronger."

"That's the first real contraction. Hours yet." She checked and timed it. "Probably the morning, my Queen."

Paki huffed but nodded. "If it must take that long. I don't like pain." She looked around. "Our next one may be by surrogate." A few married women smiled at her. She sighed as the pain stopped then started again.

"Oh, that's faster than I expected!" She helped her up and up to her suite. The king followed but got kicked out after a few minutes. So he came back down there.

One of the elderly duchesses looked at Legara. "Dear, should we find you a wife perhaps?" she asked quietly and gently.

"Not as far as I know but I've never tried that," she said with a smile. "I loathe getting blood out of skirts. So I've quit wearing them."

She smiled and nodded. "That's very reasonable. You have seen too much of it." Legara nodded. "Well, maybe someday soon a husband will show up."

"We've all been looking." She smiled, waving her water glass around. "I've found a few for others."

"We've seen and heard. Well, maybe they'll have nice relatives to introduce you to at the weddings."

"I can only hope. I might even bend to wear a dress again for them." The duchess smiled at her for that.

The king looked down. "Is that a bruise, Duchess Legara?"

She looked at herself then at him. "Where?" He waved a hand. "Oh, that, yes. Thank you for noticing, Sire." She went back to sipping her water then put the glass down. She could feel the glaring. She smiled at them and they ducked down. She'd deal with that later as well. "Sire, should we all wait while we're waiting on word of her health?"

"If you want. I don't mind. We can make breakfast too. Or have leftovers. I seem to do that." He dug into his meal for a few minutes then went back upstairs. Only to get kicked out a few minutes later. "I will be seeing my child born!" he said firmly, they all heard him say it. A few husbands smiled at that. It took a few hours but the king came down looking tired and sweaty.

"She and our daughter are both healthy!" he announced, getting cheered for it. He smiled. "It'll be years before the next one according to her. So no rumors or hopes getting up." He went back upstairs. "Go home when you're ready. Legara, go to the wedding next week. Wear a dress."

"Maybe," she called. "But I can attend in your place, Sire." She considered it. "Where is it?"

"Southeast," Myar said. "That one princess that we all wanted to see in a tower. She's marrying someone from the islands."

"Oh, that's charming." She smiled. "I can do that I suppose. They're very nice people." She smiled at the Head Knight, who was staring at her then at his senior knights.

"Legmas?"

"Can't. I have a family wedding to attend."

He sighed but nodded. "Brandles?"

"If I must, sir."

"Thank you. We only trust a few of you to be able to help her if she runs into another problem that gets her messy."

"I'm pretty sure that's why I quit wearing skirts," she said dryly. "Let me go home to rest. I'm sure the godparents ceremony will be soon." They all sighed and went to rest for the night. She made it home and inside before anyone could nag her.

***

Chapter 16

***

Legara showed up, stepping out of the carriage in her pants suit outfit, nodding at the staring king, who looked horrified. "In case I got attacked on the way here, Sire." She curtseyed and walked up, smiling at him. "Duchess Legara of the West for King Leonar."

"That's fine, dear, and I understand fully about being comfortable while you travel. My wife would do the same thing."

"I've had to handle a few problems so it was easier and safer." He smiled and relaxed. "Though I do usually wear pants anymore. Skirts get so messy." He laughed, nodding. She handed over the letter. "My king would be here but his daughter was just born a few weeks back. Her mother is trying to steal her from the father so she can make the babe rest and act like a normal child." She smiled.

"I think many of us did that," he agreed, reading the note. "He's most gracious."

"We try." He laughed but nodded, letting her be taken to her room. She was alone. Brandles was behind her. "I'll need a couch or something for the knight who's supposed to be guarding me. He's handing a few thieves to King Malivan." The maid giggled. "Oh, no, he's not mine. He's dating someone. He's just there to make me not have to fight someone."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'm Duchess Legara." She smiled. "I'm not mean in the least, dear." She nodded and left her to clean up and change. She looked at her clothes then nodded and picked out a dress. Maybe it'd be peaceful tonight. She hoped. She freshened up and came out, running into Brandles. "Good timing. Go get cleaned up." He went in to do that. "You have a couch."

"That's fine. I've slept on worse." He came out cleaned up in his formal armor, following her down to the meeting reception. She smiled at their host. Who beamed at her for being in a dress. She spotted someone and groaned. "Oh, that thing's still alive. Pity," she muttered. She moved to greet the bride and thank her for the hospitality and give her the well wishes of her people. Then the groom and the queen. They went to mingle, her finding the ones from Numra. She smiled at them. "How goes things?"

"It's going better than we hoped. Our queen is very strong. How is your king? Isn't the baby due soon?"

"Just born two weeks ago. She's a healthy little loud thing." She smiled. "The king is always stealing her from her mother."

"Aww. That's sweet. I'll tell our queen so she can send blessings."

"Please. The child will need it. Our king is ever so fussy." She laughed but nodded, moving on to talk to someone else. She went to talk to others she hadn't met yet. She found one from one of the island countries. She smiled when he stared at her. "One of my grandfathers came from your people."

He smiled. "That's sweet, dear. You are?"

"Duchess Legara of the West in King Leonar's kingdom." She held out a hand. "Yourself?"

"Tremaine." He kissed the back of her hand, making her blush. He smiled. "Your king couldn't attend?"

"His first child is only two weeks old."

"Ah! He's fussing over the mother?"

"He's fussing over the baby. She won't let him fuss at her yet." He smiled. "He's ever so fussy over Paki."

"That's sweet." He nodded at her guard. "Yours?"

"Guard. We had to cross King Malivan's kingdom."

"I've heard." He walked off with her talking to her about her people. She invited them up for a diplomatic meeting if he wanted. Which pleased him greatly. Pretty northern women who were pale and delicate? His people loved those sorts. They blushed so prettily, just like she was. He stared at her. "Are you that innocent?" he teased.

"Not fully but I've never been flirted with that way before." She was still blushing. "I've barely had anyone flirting with me really."

"They were stupid then. You're a beautiful woman."

She smiled. "Thank you."

He winked and walked off. "I will see you tomorrow at the reception?"

"I hope so. Unless something evil happens, and I hope it doesn't. Blood is so nasty." He laughed but nodded. She walked over to the staring king. "May I train with the ones in the morning?" she asked.

"You ...spar and train?"

"Yes. I have to. I'm responsible for our western border's protection." She smiled. "I'm not great, but I'm learning a lot."

"I wouldn't mind. Go ahead, dear."

"Thank you, Sire." She bowed and walked off to find someone else to talk to.

"How unusual," the king said, going to tell his queen. "She spars. She's got the western border to protect?"

"Yes. Their kingdom has been quartered by duchies and they have minor duchies under them that help them hold their quadrant. If she's got a direction in her title, she's an overseeing duchess." She smiled at him. "My sister often has tea with one of the ones from their Eastern edge. That one has had problems with King Mayly a few times from the gossip she shared."

"We should keep them apart."

"I think that's the knight's job."

"Good. We don't need a fight." He went to talk to other diplomats. She was clearly ignoring a few on one side of the room but then walked over to kiss one on the cheek before walking off again. King Homer looked amused. The ones near him got nodded at by the knight as well. King Mayly's oldest son tried to say something so she said something with a polite smile that made him back off quickly. The knight was staring over her head at him.

"Knight Brandles was ever so nice to agree to protect me this trip," she said happily enough. "He's tried to take a few battles from me." King Mayly's son went outside to huff out there. She walked on, smiling at a few people. One winked at her. "He's very nice. I'm glad our knight protector stole him from his father." She smiled at him. "Thankfully you're my cousin too."

"I am," he agreed. "I like my future wife too much to date you, Legara."

"I know. Thankfully." She got something to drink and went to talk to the ones around King Homer now that the problem had been banished. She smiled at him. "He actually tried to tell me I couldn't beat a thief just yesterday, King Homer. His father would be proud of him trying to use manners and logic to make me quit kicking that one." She grinned. "Your duke raised some very nice sons and daughters. Stahni said she's really enjoyed talking to Knight Brandles' sisters."

"I'll tell him you said that, dear." He smiled. "You're much more perky than I expected."

"Someone compared me to a fire breathing dragon the other day so I had to pout." The king choked but it was on laughter. "Duke Myar's second son wants to be a bard." She smiled. "He came to ask how to rhyme things."

"Oh, dear." He put down his cup while he laughed. "I've heard that sort of rumor as well, Duchess." He smiled at her. "Very good of you to help the future bard."

She grinned. "His father is almost having mental fits trying not to talk his son out of being a bard but he is a nice young man. Almost fourteen. Very sweet, has good manners." She smiled. "He was thinking about sending him to your academy that does the other training to see if he could find something else to do."

"I'll send him information on our favorite academy, which may have music lessons but they're more known for engineering." He patted her on the cheek. "Did you have problems on the way here?"

"Only a few. Knight Brandles had to go hand over a few bandits." She sipped her drink. "I'm busy setting new fashion standards at home for women's pants suits. Paki did give birth to a baby girl two weeks ago. Both are healthy."

"That's great news. I'll send him blessings when I get back." She smiled, going to talk to others. He looked at Brandles, who gave a subtle shrug. "What a handful."

"Yes, but she's usually fun." He gave him a wide-eyed look. "My girlfriend likes her pants ideas." He went to follow her some more.

King Homer looked at his assistant, who was gulping some water to keep from laughing. "I can see why she'd want pants. Easier to have fights in." His assistant nodded at that.

***

Legara showed up for sparring with her weapons. "Arms Master, may I join in?"

He stared at her. "You're a duchess."

"I am. Duchess of the West in King Leonar's kingdom." She shook his hand. "I'm taking private training with an arms master and my home's guard team but I should take the time to learn from others."

"Good idea," he admitted. "Let me test you, young lady." He looked at the weapons. "Weakest one?"

"Bow from horseback."

"Bladed?"

"Knives. I've had to but I'm better with a sword."

"We can test them." He moved them out to test her skills. She wasn't bad, making him nod as they switched weapons. "You act like you can dance."

"I can. I was taught. I never get to," she said sarcastically. She ducked to the side and came up to get him from behind with a kick. She smiled at him. "I'm learning."

"Good." He nodded. "You'll do. I'd like to test your knight."

"Ask him. He's not *mine*. He's here to keep me from having to deal with things."

He nodded, waving someone over. "Work with her."

"Yes, sir." He took her to work on. "That was pretty fancy."

"It works well with a skirt to keep it out of the way." He laughed but nodded, working with her. They had some diplomats watching but others joined in. That darker skinned man from the islands came down to join in. He had his own sword. That fighter put them against each other since that seemed to be his intent.

He smiled. "Sneaky little kitten?"

"Sometimes I have to be. I guard our western border." She attacked and he nodded, getting into it. Not wanting to hurt her, and she wasn't trying to really hurt him.

"Do it like you mean it, Kitten. Put out that passion our people gave you."

She blushed. "I haven't gotten to use that at all." He snorted. "Seriously." She dove back into it, making him moan in pleasure as they fought. Especially when she won and smirked at him. "Thank you, kind sir." She bowed to him then looked at the one watching them.

"Your footwork is good," he said. "Your balance is weak. Your back is too stiff." He stared at her. "But not bad. Fixable." He came to help her with that. That diplomat stepped back to watch.

Brandles looked over from his own training match. Maybe he'd have a word with that one later. None of them would mind if she took a foreign husband. He got back to his own match, nodding at the knight there. They were fairly evenly matched but he had learned a few things from her.

"Do all of your people dance?" that knight demanded with a grin.

"I learned it from her, watching her fight off someone."

"Hmm." He looked over then at him. "Yours?"

"No. My duty. My cousin. I have a girlfriend."

"Interesting." He got back into it, nodding. "You have good trainers." He heard a moan and looked back,. She had beat the one working with her. "That's our trainer for the squires. She beat him?" he called.

"Yes," someone else called back.

"I tripped," she called with a wave. "Sorry!"

"Never apologize for winning," the arms master ordered as he came over to work with her. He was much better but she needed the push to be better. As she had asked for. He finally let her go with a nod. "Go get pretty for the luncheon."

She bowed. "Thank you for the training time, Arms Master." He smiled and patted her on the cheek. She walked off, limping almost. Brandles went with her. "I need to have a quick bath then change."

"That's fine. Maybe they'll have someone who can handle your hair."

"I do my own half the time still. It's fine."

"If you're sure." He didn't watch while she bathed but he did come over to help her wash her hair. She could barely move one arm. She moaned, shaking her head and sinking into the scented, bubbled water. "You need it.
Not like I'm looking." He let her rinse off and went to do his own cleaning up. He noticed she was staring at her mother's pendant. "No," he said, covering it. "If it's that urge, don't. It could insult someone."

"I don't feel like I need it for protection. For some reason I feel like a cat's going to show up." She looked at the bed, where said cat was resting. She looked at her dress choices, picking out what she wanted. He handed over another one. "That's too immodest for daytime."

"It is not. Things are looser down here."

"I only brought three changes of outfits for each time." She picked out a prettier day dress and put it on, doing up her strings before sitting down to do her hair. Simply bunned then some perfume and a necklace and earrings. She stood up, stepping into her shoes then nodded at him. He nodded back, waving a hand. She walked down to where the luncheon was, smiling at the queen since she was in there. "Thank you for letting me train with your people, my Queen."

"You're welcome, dear. You take many lessons?"

"I have a tutor and my guard team I train with."

"That's good for you, dear." She smiled. "You look very uptight."

"I can be. I don't want to seem too immodest."

"You're fine, dear. Go sit and relax." She curtseyed and went to her assigned table to sip some water. The queen was very amused. That knight was a bit paranoid. She had no idea why but thankfully King Mayly only glared at her before taking his own seat in a corner. The duchess ignored him completely and his glaring. The knight stared at him though. Very interesting. Some history there? She waved the knight over. "Should we watch for ...amusing things to happen?"

"He's tried to capture her a few times to own her, ma'am," he said quietly. "Which she never lets us handle for her. She was going to blow up his house at one point to make him leave her alone. I'll make sure he doesn't get near her."

"That's fine. We can warn our own guards to make sure she doesn't get pounced." She looked over. "She's very old to be so pure." She cast a slight spell at him to get him to talk about that interesting young woman.

"Not fully pure," he said quietly, staring at her. "There was a needed energy at one time. Though she would hate me for sharing that."

She swallowed. "But..."

"Only for the good of the kingdom, ma'am. Can you have a delicate talk with the one who seems very interested? If that's his intent, it won't be very good and I'd hate to see her defend herself from him?"

"No, he would not be interested. Is she interested in a lover?"

"She's looking for a husband," he admitted. "We all have hopes she'll meet one somewhere like this." He smiled.

"Many have." She nodded. "Oh, there he goes." The knight walked over to intimidate the king. She herself had to get up to sneer at him, making him stomp off again. Then she sat down and sipped the water again. She went to talk to the older brother of her daughter. "She's not fully pure but hasn't really been touched," she said quietly, drawing him aside. "Apparently there was something that needed virginal energy."

He shivered. "We hate such things."

"It was for the good of her country."

"I can understand how some have a duty." He smiled. "I will be gentle if I woo her."

"She could probably use it. She's marriage minded."

"Even more interesting. I know a few who would be charmed by her innocence." He smiled. "Thank you for warning me."

"I don't want an incident where she's hurt and crying."

"No, I would not make promises I cannot keep." He went in there and was seated near her. He moved the place cards to sit next to her so they could talk. "Kitten. Are you sore?"

"A bit but nothing unusual." She smiled. "I take training most days. I'm used to a sore shoulder."

"Good." He casually looked her over. "You look very buttoned up, almost uncomfortable."

"I prefer some modesty. I'd rather have people stare at all of me than my chest. Besides, it's daytime. Fancier dresses with showier things and jewels are for evening events." She sipped her water, smiling at him behind her glass.

"True." He nodded at the ones coming in. He looked at her. "Does your kingdom do much magic?"

"Many of us have small gifts but not really. The king's trying to talk a mage from Hovar into staying with us. We've seen him a few times to help with things."

"That's sweet." He teased the back of her hand to see what she did beyond blush. He saw her shiver and her skin pinken. He winked. "You have the sensuality of my people in your blood."

"Yes, but I have a few others too. Unfortunately I don't even have a journal from that grandfather."

"That's a pity. There's much my men can do for a woman like you."

She smiled. "If one wanted to pursue and woo me, I would not mind that. I'm told you're all fiery and temperamental."

"We can be." He smiled. "We do live with more heat daily and it soaks into our bodies."

"We have some heat but only for a few months. I'm in the mountains." He nodded at someone coming over. She smiled and let him refill her water glass. "Thank you." He nodded and walked on to refill other glasses. She sipped and put it down again. "So, do you have an official position? I've met many diplomats who didn't and socially it's a bit fascinating how things are structured."

"Would you mind if I didn't?"

"No." She grinned. "Titles are nice but I need to know what to call you if I'm asked by others."

"Tremaine."

"Tremaine. I'm Legara." She held out a hand for him to shake. He smiled at her, kissing the back again. "That will take some getting used to," she said, blushing again. "I've only been kissed on the cheek."

He smiled. "Then you are missing out." He winked at her, looking smug. "How do you scream, Kitten?"

"Usually not very well but that could be because I'm using my own hand. I'm told another's hand would make it easier." He moaned at that, kissing her deeply, making her moan back. "Oh, that was...that was actually great." She blushed bright red and grinned sideways at him. He patted her cheek and let her have her water to sip. He had clearly robbed her of spit.

"If no man has claimed you yet, they are very stupid, Kitten."

Behind them the knight was looking up and asking any higher being why he was chosen for this.

After the lunch there was an outside dancing event. Which the steamy lover really wanted to see how she moved. "I know none of the local dances," she admitted. "I hardly ever get to dance at events at home." He smiled, taking her to show her the way his people danced. She kept up with him, looking fantastic against him.

Brandles looked beside him at the growl. So maybe the mage was a bit jealous? "He's been wooing her with fancy words that make her blush," he said quietly. The mage glared at him. "I can only step in if she's in danger and can't handle it."

The mage huffed but nodded, going down to take her from him. "Excuse me, I need to ask her something," he said smoothly, walking her off to dance with her. "Duchess."

"Sir." She smiled at him. "Big problems? Your cat was napping on the bed." He spun her out then pulled her back, staring at her. She started to blush from that intense stare. "Is something wrong?" she asked quietly.

"No. I wanted to dance with you."

"I'd gladly give you a dance whenever you want. You haven't seemed to want."

"Oh, I want." He stared at her, pulling her closer. "Their sort are usually over-eager in bed."

"If you're sure. I'd have no experience with that in any manner outside the one you helped me with." She got free at the end of the dance, bowing to him. "Would you like another dance?"

"I..." He swallowed. "I don't know." He left to go think about that. Did he really want her? To make her his?

She went back to the other one. "He's a diplomat that's helped our queen and a few others." He smiled. "People keep wanting me to see him but he's not interested."

"Then he's stupid," he assured her. He took her back out to dance. It was different. Less dangerous definitely. Less intense in a few ways, more intense in others. "You are still very buttoned up. You hide your passion behind all the clothes."

"Anymore I'm wearing pants all the time. It's easier."

He hummed. "Skirts have advantages though. Much easier to get underneath them."

She smiled. "I wouldn't know that either. I've never gone up anyone's skirt."

He smirked. "Or had anyone up yours?"

"No. Not really. There was a moment but that's all it was."

He hummed. "So you're an impure innocent." She tipped her head. "That's sexy of you. You need a man who will teach your body how to be passionate and fiery."

She smiled. "I'd just like one that likes my body."

"Many like your body." He looked her over again. "I would like it in less clothes."

"I'll try that for the dinner event." He grinned at that. The dancing was drawn to a close. She bowed to him, walking off with a glance at him to go rest before the dinner event. She had to really clean herself well and do something with her hair. She had one of the dresses Paki had made her get in her trunk but she wasn't sure that wasn't too forward.

Did she want to lead him on? She'd be leaving in a few days. She'd heard of flings but she wasn't sure if that was what she wanted. Though it could lead somewhere. She could flirt and not do anything. She curled up on the bed, letting the cat pick her spot to nap with her.

Brandles looked at her. "He's flirty and if you want to pounce him, I don't think anyone but the mage will mind."

She looked at him. "Why would he mind? He doesn't want me. Or doesn't seem to want me."

"I'm sure that's why he was jealous."

"He was?"

"Yes. That was jealousy, Legara." He patted her foot. "Nap. I'll get you up an hour before dinner." She nodded, letting herself drift off on her confusing thoughts. This is when she could use someone like Paki. Who'd probably tell her to pounce the guy.

Dinner that night was a bit more uptight. The bride was upset with someone so her brother, her passionate flirter, was helping soothe her with the queen and a few others of their people. The rest of them were relaxing and talking while eating the actually fantastic food. Legara looked at her plate then at the women around her. "I need to learn how to cook this. My cook's never even attempted a fish this soft." She ate another bite, tasting it. "What is that flavor?"

They smiled, going over what the dishes they had were and how you made them. She got up to get some paper and came back to take notes. It charmed them a lot. She tucked the notes into her purse when dessert came out, moaning at the flavor. The ladies were still smiling happily at the young woman. If she hoped to get a man, she needed to be able to cook for him when he wanted a real meal.

The dancing started and Legara was looking around but enjoying talking to new people. They were wanting to dance, there were professional dancers out there right now. She watched one, looking confused. The older woman she was talking to giggled. "That's to show passion, dear. To show how hot you can make your lover."

"Oh, that's why I don't understand." She sighed and nodded. "Some day." She went back to talking to her. She was a grandmother of the groom. She understood those urges.

The grandmother smiled at her. "You look like you could be from my husband's people."

"My grandfather came from a small town in the Alegerin islands," she said with a grin. "He ran off to get away from something going on, Grandmother's journal never said. But they met at inn he was sheltering in for a few days. Then he had to travel on to wherever he was going. They ran into each other a few years later and he was more settled and took to her. He talked to her for weeks about becoming his until she finally agreed to take him home to her Northern Tribes family." She grinned. "My mother came to be and married a man from King Leonar's kingdom."

"That's sweet."

"Sweet was they talked during their first dance and it lasted longer than the musicians. I always thought that was romantic." She smiled. "My father had the title."

She nodded. "That happens. I raised my husband up from being a wine grower." She shrugged but smiled. "Sometimes the worthy come from lesser stock. The groom here is one such. Such a nice boy."

"He seems like he is. I wish more of ours were as gracious as he is." She grinned a bit. "It'd be nice to have other women to talk to sometimes. There's not many in higher positions right now and almost none my age outside the queen."

"That can happen. Someday you'll have a spouse."

"Some day one will appear somehow," she agreed happily. "We all hope!" The grandmother giggled, patting her on the arm before walking off to get a drink. She felt a hand go around her waist and looked then turned and punched that person, making him fall over. "Eww." She checked herself over. "And you tried to untie me in public? How disgusting!" She walked off tying her strings better. "Sorry to cause a disturbance," she told the queen.

"I'm surprised his grandmother let that man-shaped being get that close to you." She frowned. "Are you well?"

"As long as I'm not dirty." She turned. "Did he mess me up?"

"No, dear, you're fine."

"Oh, good. I'd hate to have to change and ask someone in town to do the wash for me. I'm not sure how much they'd want and how long it'd take." She walked off shaking her head.

"We do have laundry people here," the queen said.

Legara looked at her. "I'd never impose, ma'am. I'd hire someone local so I'm not seeming to be an imposition or begging." She smiled. "It's how I was raised. A guest is never pushy."

"No, dear, you're not in the least." She spotted that king. "Oh, dear. Here, stay with me for a bit."

"Yes, ma'am." She settled near her. "That dancing, how did you learn that?"

The queen blushed. "It's taught by your lover usually. It's a courting dance, dear."

"That's very passionate. My people need something like that." The queen patted her hand. She looked around, not spotting Brandles. That was odd. She looked at the king huffing over. "Oh to have my sword," she muttered. The queen giggled. "Not the first time I've needed one thanks to him." She sipped her water, clearly putting on gloves when he got close enough. "Can anyone learn those dances?"

"If they don't take themselves too strictly, dear." She glared at the king, who glared back. "Do not cause a spectacle, King Mayly."

"She's going to belong to me."

"I doubt that," Legara said dryly. "And if you try, I have *grand* plans to blow up your castle. And the experience to do that." She smiled. "If I heard right, your kitchen's on the left hand side facing the palace, about halfway up the hallway? Correct?" He flinched and backed away, looking horrified. "Did you think our western border protected itself? With all that's happened thanks to you in the last year?"

She sipped her water then put the glass down on the tiny table. "That's been my job and you've caused me all sorts of stresses, King Mayly. Enough that I actually had to cry once about it. Just the once, but that was more than enough." She stared at him. "I would leave me be please. Before I have to shame my king the way you've shamed your people. Not that he wouldn't thank me for taking you on, but I'd be shamed for disturbing a wedding that way." She stared at him. "Do have a better night."

"I challenge you to a duel then, *Girl*."

"Hmm. Anyone have a sword I can borrow?" she called. "He's challenged me to a duel." A few people laughed. She looked at the queen. "Where would you like us to have it?"

"Your knight," she said, looking around.

"I'm good enough for this, ma'am. I just need a sword." She stood up, taking off her jewelry to put into her bag and her gloves. "Where, my Queen?"

"The back gardens," she said with a point. "Porter, show her where she can handle this mess and get her the sword she carries?"

"It's on its way, ma'am." The maid came out with it. "That's fine. Thank you. This way, ma'am." She followed him. He got out of the way. She turned to look at the angry, drunken idiot king. He lunged and she spun, holding her skirt with her free hand. The porter was amused but she was good enough. She injured him greatly, many little cuts, then one serious one. "Ma'am."

"I have no intention to be known as an assassin of kings," she said. "Even poor ones." She stepped back. "Do you yield?"

"Kill me," he sneered. "You'll still be mine."

"Next time I'll just use my bow. It's my weaker weapon but I do train with that as well." He tried to get up and whined because that hurt. She put her sword at her side, staring at him. "Are you done, do you yield? Will you leave me be?" she demanded. "Forever. I'll be reporting this to others as soon as I get home of course. Then we'll see how much you get cooperation with things."

"I'm sure he'll yield," King Homer said as he joined them. "Won't he," he said, staring at the man on the ground.

"She should kill me."

She sighed, looking at the king. "Thank you for helping me, King Homer. I do not want to be an assassin." She looked at the porter then at the king. "What is the queen's will?"

"That he leave the palace probably," the porter said. "He will yield, Duchess."

"Thank you." She bowed to him. "And for your attendance." She took the cloth he held to clean her blade and looked at King Homer. "Some day my cousin will have to protect the western border. I hope she doesn't have to deal with him." She walked off. King Homer went with her. She handed the maid her blade once it was back in the sheathe. "Thank you for fetching that, dear," she said quietly. "You were most kind." She sat down and finished her water. The queen stared at her. "I demanded he yield." She remembered to put back on her jewelry.

"He's down and injured but should live, if the dirt on him doesn't cause an infection," King Homer said. "My own daughters will want to take lessons."

She smiled. "Duke Myar found me my tutor. Though, pants are easier to fight in."

"I saw that. You looked good." He smiled at the knight coming out. "I was grilling him about eligible women he had around him. Sorry."

"I know you two knew each other as children," she said with a hand wave. "The same as he knows I can take a battle. He's tried to tell me to let him handle things a few times," she finished sarcastically. "He always loses though."

Knight Brandles looked at her. "Who?"

"King Mayly. He yielded." She got more water and smiled at the server. "Thank you." He poured more and left them to talk. "I did not cause too great a mess, ma'am."

"If you had ripped up that part, I wouldn't have minded. That part is being redone next year anyway, dear. It'd just give me an excuse."

She nodded. "It could use some pretty bushes to highlight the river."

"It could, yes. Maybe some vines. I was thinking grape vines between the trees."

"Oh, off to the left? Those were a darling area to sit and read probably so the vines would give shade for a sitting nook," she said happily. "I can only grow ivy but I've been trying to train it over the cave I used to play in."

The knight shook his head. He looked at Homer. Then at the queen. "Should I take her to flee the rumors?"

"Don't you dare," the queen said with a smile. "It's every woman's right to protect herself from men who should know better and be cleaner." The knight nodded, stepping beside his charge to guard her. "Now I see why you showed up in pants."

"I'm starting to believe skirts are a curse. Half the time I wear one they get messy." She pouted but drank some water. "Is your daughter all right?"

"She's fine, dear. Just some nerves." She patted her on the wrist. The king was led around the party to his suite to clean up and rest for the rest of the event. They'd let him leave that night.

Legara got taken out to dance by Tremaine, who smiled at her. "You were busy, Kitten?"

"A bit because he forced me to be." She smiled as she took his hand to dance with him. He moved. "I have no idea how to do that. I'll make you look bad."

"Follow along and let that passion out of you finally," he ordered, staring into her eyes. "That dress is much nicer than earlier's. You were right about that." She smiled at that. "That necklace highlights your skin. Let it out, Kitten. Dance with me, show me what you're made of."

She did stare back and let him lead, dancing with him for a few songs. He moaned at one point but she hadn't stepped on him. He smiled down at her. "You are sensual," he said in a husky voice. "You will make a fine lover." He kissed her hand. "Tomorrow night before the wedding?"

"If you ask me nicely perhaps." She smiled up at him. "I'm not the sort to hop beds."

"Hmm." He moaned and nodded. "We will see what tomorrow brings." She smiled, going inside with the other guests. He noticed someone staring and tipped his head at that mage. He could tell a fellow magic user. The man stomped off. "Maybe he'll finally prove his worth to her." He strolled off. "If not, she seems like she would howl pleasantly for me."

Legara was let into the room and sat down with a sigh, smiling at the ceiling. "Well."

Brandles looked at her. "He's intoxicating."

"Yes he is," she agreed quietly, looking at him. "Thank you for the backup."

"It's not a problem. I should've been there to take the challenge too. I'm going to get yelled at."

"Why? I could've stood up and kicked him around instead. I can take a duel."

He grimaced. "I am the knight, Legara. I'm here to protect you. I'm here to stop people from touching you against your will. Including dirty kings who're very drunk. The king is going to have my head."

"He will not. You were catching up on family news." She flapped a hand, petting the cat. "Did you nap all night, dear?" It yawned at her and snuggled in. "That's fine. If that's what you want. Until I have to get undressed." She looked at him. "It'll be fine. You were busy. He'll understand that. You might get some picking on but you're probably used to that."

"Probably," he agreed then huffed at the knock. "Who is it?" He went to check, letting the mage in. "I think he wants to repossess his cat, Legara."

"If she wants." She smiled, scrunching her fingers in the soft fur. "Your human is here, dear. He might want you back." The yawn she got was amusing then the cat stretched, shifted, and went back to sleep. "Sorry."

"You're dancing with him like you're in bed and petting my cat," he said. "I'm very confused."

"Why are you confused?" she asked. She sat up, staring at him. "I've done nothing wrong."

"That cat is one of the two things that's tied to my magic."

"I did not know that and I was only petting her. She decides where she wants to nap. I'm not forcing her to stay with me."

"Not what I said or meant," he growled. He pulled her up, staring at her. The knight pulled her away gently, staring at him. "Butt out."

"I'm very confused here," Legara said. "You said, blatantly said, that you were going to be studying things for years. That it was important to who you are that you had to study said things. That you'd never be available to be around even for friendship as you put it. I do not understand where this jealousy is coming from."

He stared at her. "She's obviously claimed you."

"That's her decision. I do not make her do anything. If she's nearby I pet her. I treat her well when she's around me. I did not mean to adopt your cat from you."

"Not the point," he growled. He pulled her closer again. The knight got between them again. "Do it again, be a dog."

"I'd hate to hit you for that," she said firmly. "When everyone was pushing you at me, you said blatantly that you were not interested. So why the growling now?"

He stared at her. "That is not what I said."

"You said you had to study for years yet. You probably weren't going to be around for years yet. Did you expect me to hold my life for that?"

"I..." He swallowed. "No."

"Then why are you growling at me? It's not like you've ever paid any attention to me outside that one embarrassing event!"

He stared at her. "I did not pay attention to more than the energy," he said quietly. "I would not want to embarrass you." She stomped off to go to the bathroom.

"That was probably the wrong thing to say," Brandles said dryly. "Because you just said she didn't matter enough to pay any attention at all to her when she was at her most vulnerable."

"You know..."

"I do know. With a new bond to the Knight Protector, and a strong one, I did get a bit of bleedover from that."

"Oh, god," she muttered.

"Just enough to know what was going on, not how. Though I've wanted to punch the king for how poor he made it for you." He looked at her then at him. "You've had months to make a move. Months talking to her. Being friendly with her even. Now you're very disturbing as you've went against everything you've said and done in the past to suddenly be jealous of a man you don't even know."

"He's a magic user. He's probably going to drain her."

Well, you helped make sure I can't be sacrificed again," she said bitterly as she came out of the bathroom. Still dressed and in jewelry but her hair was down. "I wasn't sure if you looked or not. I suppose it's good I had some privacy that night. It wasn't exactly comfortable but it was my duty to do." She stared at him. "You, yourself, said that you weren't interested. Then just admitted it again. So why are you jealous that someone may actually want me? Damaged parts and all?"

"He probably wants to suck your energies out."

"Well, the other two that helped said if I have to keep defending myself that magical part of me would be dying off anyway."

He glared. "That's not what that meant."

"It was. I asked what they meant. They explained it. How I can be one or the other but not both at the same time and the more times I have to use the battle skills it leeches the energy from my magic by tainting it with the blood I've had to spill. One was very honest that she's seen warriors who were nearly ancient who have not the level I've had." Brandles moaned at that, wincing. "I do what I have to do. That night was another duty. I had no desire to ever repeat it or the humiliating feeling it brought."

"It's not like that usually. Magic sharing that way can be beautiful," he said. "It's soul touching."

"It wasn't. I was basically held down and was a vessel being used. Which I accepted would happen. That's fine with me. Some day I'll find someone who won't mind that happened and take them as a spouse. They'll see me as a vessel for children." She shrugged. "I still don't understand why you're jealous."

"I did not hold you down that way, Legara. I guarded you to make sure you weren't harmed." She stared at him. "I did."

"It felt like being bound down. I suppose that's protective." She shrugged again. "What do you want me to say?"

"Say no to him."

"Then what? I spend a few more miserable years alone? Wondering why people giggle in bed? Until I die in a battle?" She walked off again, going back to the bathroom. "Let me get less pretty."

Brandles looked at the mage. "I won't have her upset," he said. "She's like my own sister and if she was, I'd have punched you for helping with that rite." He stared at him.

"Stay out of it," she ordered.

"Fine." He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at him. "If you want her, have her. She could use anyone good in her life. Some brightness and happiness. Something beyond the next time Mayly or someone breaches our borders. Or the next time there's thieves on the road that she had to take on herself, and beat seven of them."

"Eight. Though I ended up having to bite one." She came out without the jewelry on and her hair brushed. "That was the night I decided to quit wearing skirts. Riding side saddle is dangerous." She looked at the mage again. "You said you were not interested. I took you at your word. I'm not the girl who'll cling to your legs as you walk away. I enjoy our friendship and you teaching me things. I enjoy your cat likes me and my cat and dog. I don't know why you're getting pushy because someone else wants me suddenly."

"He's probably going to hurt you."

She stared at him. "It seems like you care."

"I do care!" he growled, pulling her closer again.

"Let. Go," she ordered coldly. He let her arms go. "Thank you. I'm a bit sore." She grabbed her comb to go back to her hair. She stroked through it, trying to appear calm. "Brandles, I handled it as all women would have to if we didn't want to be used and murdered to be left beside the road." He gagged. "Which is why I did not do more than aid the report. I knew they weren't going to do it again. That's why I wasn't going to think on it."

She looked at the mage again. "You're either confused or feel things that you won't admit. I have no idea what you're feeling. I have no idea why you're feeling it. Or how. Because you said you weren't. Yes, I'm looking for a spouse and if it comes with a preview of what I should be able to expect that's great.

"It'll hold me through the long winters of being a wife with a husband that cares more about your womb than you. Which many men do." The mage looked confused again. "As you did not put yourself forward, did not ask or even hint that you may at some time become interested, how was I supposed to know anything?"

"My cat...." he started.

"Likes how I scratch behind her ears and how my cook feeds her. She cuddles very well. She's very calming. Your cat liking my petting doesn't equal you liking me at all beyond friendship and a bit of mentoring as far as I knew. You've never shown a thing toward me beyond that. So why are you jealous?"

"I don't want you hurt."

"As you yourself noted, my magic isn't the sort that can be easily taken from me." He slumped, staring at her. "I don't believe he has any interest in my magic. Or any other gifts I might have. For however long I have them. Now, I'm a bit upset and I'm going to lay down. Unless you're going to pretend to be your cat, have a good night. Brandles, you're still on the couch."

"Is that true about her magic?" he asked quietly.

The mage nodded. "It can be. I don't know how they'd realize but each of us do things slightly differently." He stared at her. "I'm not against being with you myself."

"Then you should have said that."

He nodded, looking at his cat. Who was glaring at him. He picked her up to pet. "I know you hate sharp voices." The cat jumped down and went back to her pillows. He huffed, looking at her. "I'm not uninterested. I never was."

"How would I know?"

"Point." He swallowed. "I..." He looked at her. "I still have to go study things. I'm due somewhere tomorrow." He rubbed a hand over his face. "Damn it, I feel magic."

She looked around. "Yes, so do I." She looked at Brandles. "You, stay here."

"Like hell! It's my job to protect you."

"If it's magical, you have no gifts," she ordered. She stood up. "Let us go see what the problem is." Someone knocked. "I'm hoping that's not convenient." She opened the door, finding her flirting friend. "Tremaine."

"Legara. That's not me. It's a curse on my sister trying to be called in." He looked at the mage. "Is he yours?"

"No. He said he had to study things for years when I asked him about the Knight Protector's plot to have him take me in."

He scowled. "You have a what?"

"The Kingdom's. Sir Greens protects and binds most of our kingdom together."

"That's very...old fashioned."

"Yes, but we do mostly appreciate him. He's meddling but was a knight so that's reasonable I suppose." She looked at Brandles, who was shaking his head. "Can we help with that curse? I know almost nothing but I can help if you wish."

"No." He shook his head. "We'll have to defeat the creature."

"Which I actually seem to handle well." She smiled. "Not the first." She waved a hand. "Let me get my mother's necklace."

"No," the mage ordered. "Leave it. It could harm it or the protections on it."

She looked at him. "I may need the protections on it."

"Leave it." He walked out with her arm in his hand. If she insisted they'd let her help. She may know something that could destroy it. "That spirit destroying spell may help," he admitted.

"I can try." They nodded, going to defeat the demon. "Brandles, go save the kitchen from whatever's burning. It feels like they stopped something. Everyone's asleep." He went to do that then come back to help. The demon was in the dancing hall. She walked in shaking her head. "Must you really destroy a happy event?" she asked dryly. "It's one of the best I've ever attended."

"You're not one of us."

"Yes, thankfully. My kingdom would hate me being a demon." He smirked and lashed out at her, missing. He frowned at his hand then at her. "What? Did you miss?"

"You're not a virgin."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. Thank you for reminding me of the third worst night I've had in my life." He tried to hit her again and she avoided it then tried something. It made the demon yell but not die. "Grandmother's journal swore that worked on your kind." She hummed, looking around. Then at him. "I guess I'll have to do the harder one. Won't you just give up and go away?"

"She'll be mine."

"People are not to be owned."

The demon snorted. "I could own you."

"I doubt that as I'd never give in. If humans can't make me you certainly can't." The queen came in and got knocked back but Legara got in the way and protected her from the second spell. "No. I do not believe that's a good idea. She's very sweet to help me earlier."

The demon glared and tried to hit her so she fought back. The demon laughed at her attempts. "Let's try something unique then. I wanted to see what this one did." She incanted and cast the summoning spell. He screamed as his testicle exploded from his sac and fell to the floor. "Hnmm, summoning does work the way I expected."

She cast the other one. It didn't come. She concentrated and tried again. This time it came but it hurt. Oh, it hurt. She nearly fell down before the demon did. "Fuck," she muttered. Then she held her ribs. "All right. I should've brought my sword." The men came in. "Thank you for helping."

"Only women can fight him so we got the minions," Tremaine said. He came over with her mage to help dissipate it but it was dead. He stared at the one lump of flesh. "What did that?"

"Summoning does work the way I expected. I suppose that'll help the next time I'm surrounded by men."

"Only when you're alone please," Tremaine said dryly. "You are very amusing."

"Most people just consider me pushy and annoying." She helped the queen up. "Are you all right?"

"How did you do that?"

"My grandmother's journal said to use that against spirits. Is your daughter all right?"

"She should be." She went to check.

Legara snuck back to her room while the others dealt with everything else. She hurt and wanted out of this dress. She could see if they needed her some more after she changed. She was on the floor when Brandles found her, the cat nudging her with her nose.

"Oh, crap." He went to get the mage. "She's on the floor?"

"Why is she on the floor?"

"Your cat looks worried?"

He went to go check on her instead of being nagged by the two more native magic users. "Oh, no." He tested. She was alive. Just worn out. He picked her up to put her into bed. Brandles came in. "She should be undressed."

"Not like I've seen her that way." He stared at him.

"Neither did I. She only took off the overdress."

Brandles sighed then hit him in the face. "If you *ever* mistreat her that way again I will end you. Fancy mage powers or not, I will find a way to end you and make you suffer during it. Am I clear?" he demanded.

He held his nose. "I..."

"Am I clear?"

"Yes. Are you going to warn the flirty one?"

"She might have scared him off. If not, that's up to her. Though I doubt he'll be following her home." He left them to it. "I'll sit up for a bit, ma'am. That way no one tries anything stupid like Mayly might."

"It's fine, Sir Brandles. Your Duchess?"

"We had to lift her into bed. She's passed out."

She went up to check on her. "Hmm. The battles are getting to her."

"The two that helped a few months back warned that the battles were taking out her magic," he said quietly.

"That's mostly a state of mind. Plenty of us fight, boy."

"I have no idea about any of that!"

"Do you like her? Even a tiny bit?"

"I think so. I'm..."

"Stupid. And young," the queen told him. "If you had to sacrifice your studies for a bit to help her would you?" She noticed the cat. "Well, that answers that question."

"It's my familiar but it adores her somehow." He shrugged. "I don't know."

She cast at him. "Speak the truth, boy. Do you adore her as a proper husband would?"

"Yes but I'm not ready."

"Well, she won't wait. Why would she waste what little life she has?"

"She should die an old woman."

"No women like her die of old age," she snorted. "She dies in a battle or she dies protecting those she considers important. How did you even get messed up in this?" He slumped and had to tell her thanks to the spell. She considered it then slapped him. Then a second time. "She was too delicate to stick up for herself."

"She volunteered."

"Yes, she's that sort." She nodded. "So's my daughter. Which is why that curse hit her instead of her sister, who created the problem." He slumped again. "Are things that wrong up there?"

"She...."

"I'm well aware of why and the means of bonding someone to a guardian protection spirit. That's why we ended ours. It was costing too many their lives to keep him alive."

"Theirs is healthy and strong. He was going to fade. She volunteered."

"Because that's her duty." Legara moaned, holding her head. "No, you rest." She knocked her out. She fought it off. "Huh. That takes experience."

"She needed to rest. She was exhausted at that time," he defended. "I did not harm her. Would not harm her."

"You're a mess, boy." She concentrated and felt the real him. Which made the cat howl. "You hush." She tested him then nodded. "If you don't have her, someone like Tremaine would love to show her what a real woman has in her life if she's lucky. It's really her choice though." She smirked. "Island men are very passionate about things. You're a bit colder and stiff. Though so is she.

"She could use the passion in her life. It'd keep her warm and keep her magic from being eroded by her doubts about battles." She looked at the girl then at him. "She could definitely use more fun in her life. If she were my daughter I'd rather have her have a fling with Tremaine than you. At least he knows it's not for real and he'd just show her how good it can be." She walked off. "Are you here for your king, sir?"

"No, ma'am. I just came to talk to her." He slumped, staring at her. He could help her heal. It might bond them together though.

"Magic is not the cure to everything, boy." She left to get what she'd need to help that one feel better.

"Yes, ma'am."

She snorted as she came back with some cool cloths for her. "Talk to her tomorrow." He nodded, disappearing but leaving his cat there. She looked at the familiar. "Does he do that often?" The cat nudged her then stared at her. "She's fine. Just resting. Do you often visit her?" The cat snuggled in on top of her.

"Yes," Brandles said as he came back in with the other things she needed carried. "The cat is often at her house. We all thought he was weird to allow it."

"He is. It shows he's mooning like a school boy." She grimaced at him. "You have no magic yourself."

"No. The Knight Protector actually adopted me to flirt with her but we're second cousins. He didn't realize. His second flirting attempt was that mage." He stared at her. "He'd love her to be happy."

"I'm sure he would. Is he a relative?"

"No. Her mother had been a priestess of his until she was let out of her vows."

"Interesting." She spotted the necklace, walking over to look at it. "Oh. That explains why she's so different."

"That was her mother's. She inherited it."

"And the mixed magical blood gifts it seems. She has some of that grandfather's, some of that grandmother's, some of yours, some of that mage's." She put it down. "I'll talk with her in the morning about all this. If he's been tutoring her, he's missed some important topics." She went to check on her daughter again. Tremaine looked at her. She waved a hand. "That mage has no idea about anything. He lets his familiar rest with her often and said he had to study for years yet."

"Of course he did. Many men are selfish and expect women to wait on them."

"She's very mixed magically."

"I figured with her story about her grandmother and grandfather." He grinned. "I only enjoy her beauty and body, not her magic."

"Good. Her mother had a pendant for a Celestial Priestess. She inherited it."

He blinked a few times. "Well. That would explain...oh, she's so mixed."

"Yes. Probably. I'll talk to her tomorrow, explain things that mage hasn't. He's young." Tremaine grinned. "You, go rest." He nodded going to do that. "That explained how she cast that one spell though."

***

Legara showed up the next morning. "Ma'am, you wanted to speak to me?" she asked quietly as she entered the drawing room.

"First, you're not an imposition. You haven't done anything wrong. Quit worrying, child." She pointed so the younger woman sat. "When did your mother pass?" she asked gently.

"When I was eight. My paternal grandmother the next year."

"Hmm." She nodded. "No wonder you didn't get the instruction you needed."

"My father was lost in his grief. They made him take a few stepmothers to try to get another heir, who aren't Bound so they can't hold the title. I love them but they're unable. I have a cousin."

She nodded. "There's things that no one ever mentioned to you, dear. Many things no one ever told you about magic."

"I learned from their journals."

"That's the sort of thing you talk about, not write down." She cleared her throat. "First, that battle burnout you have? That's what's taking your magic. Not being in battles. I've been in many myself." She stared at her. "That is you're tired of battles and it's making you feel more like a warrior so you're mentally eroding your other skills."

"So if I have to keep defending...."

She held up a hand. "You are both, Legara. You have to remind yourself that you're both. Like the grief that ate your father, the battle grief is being allowed to eat at your magic because you feel you're becoming a warrior." She stared at her. "Frankly, that's not a problem. Battles happen sometimes but you should not do it on your own."

"It's my duty."

"It's your duty with the others."

"I do let them help. I call on them for aid more than I want to. I feel I should be more able to handle it."

"You're one woman, not an army."

"Yes but one woman who has to defend herself against that idiot king and other problems. Or men."

"As any woman would," she agreed with a nod. "You just have more than one manner to do so." She smiled. "That is battle trauma, child. Not a foregone conclusion. That is you wearing it out, pushing it down really." She poured them some tea, serving her. "There, drink. I doubt you've eaten even though you should have."

"I'm usually still at sparring practice right now. Then I'd bathe and eat."

"You must power the magic, Legara. Food is important. You're skinny because you're not eating."

"I'm skinny because every time I sit down to eat and rest another attack happens." She did sip the tea and moaned. "My paternal grandmother made tea like that." She looked up.

She smiled. "It's tea for those with overextended gifts. Which you do have. You've been using some very heavy, hard magic. Higher level and very much for masters instead of students."

"He's yelled about the spirit spell before."

"Hmm. Yes, we should teach you others."

"I learned how to summon."

"I remember." She smiled. "That's a lot of fun. I'll have to remember that myself. Summoning takes very little energy. It can be used a few ways in battles." She smiled, sipping her own tea. The girl did the same thing. "There's other things you should be told about being magical. Have you not heard how to cleanse your magic if you get exposed to dangerous magic?" Legara slowly shook her head. "Damn it. That is a basic lesson, dear. It'll take months to teach you."

"We can write?"

"We can." She smiled. "It'll help you greatly. And probably that idiot mage that wants you but he's too scared and stupid to step up."

"I..." She blushed.

"I heard about the sacrifice, dear." Legara glared upstairs then at her. "You're not the first to sacrifice that little bit of flesh for a good reason. How they treated you afterward was wrong however."

"It was what it was. I didn't expect it to be more than clinical. He had to guide me to protect my own magic. I thought he was just binding mine down so I couldn't interfere or misplace the energy. The king did what he had to do and then went up to his fiancee's side afterwards. That's all I expected it to be. Most new husbands aren't as kind as they were from what I understand."

She stared at her. "My first was my husband. He made it feel good, made me feel good. He helped me bathe afterwards. He made sure I felt nothing harmful from it."

"Paki, our queen, made sure I didn't get hurt or feel bad. We're friends, have been for years."

She stared at her. "I'm not saying the king should have fussed at you, dear. I know you don't want that. Your aura speaks of it." She looked up and sighed then pulled it back in. She smiled. "You've done that?"

"A few times. Sorry." She sipped more of the tea. "I didn't expect anyone to fuss at me. I'm told many husbands just handle it then go to sleep."

"That's a faulty man then." She finished her tea. "Drink." She did and did nibble on a cookie. "Good girl. You do need to eat." She went over what men should be doing. Including that idiot mage, who should have fussed a bit to make sure she was fine and whole magically. The fact that there were three made her sigh. "They went for fast instead of over time?"

"He might've died within two months."

"I can understand that. It does cost you all magically to be tied to him."

"Yes, but the benefits are great. I've had him send me help during battles when I asked. I've had him warn me of things."

"Why did you have to ask?"

"He was paying attention to another problem I suppose. There was also an imposed blockage of some kind. Slight but there. I broke it to ask for help to rescue the king."

She blinked a few times. "You did what?" Legara told her. She huffed. "Where was your knight?"

"He had been on maneuvers. He came back with me to finish the problems off."

The queen stared at her. "Were you trained for that?"

"It's my section and my former sub-duke. It was my duty to see to. Though, yes, slightly at that time. I've taken more since then."

"Your kingdom has more than one knight?" She nodded slowly, looking confused. "If I or my husband travel, we have a few with us."

"He came up to check on me. That was his choice."

"He's dumb." She giggled, shrugging a bit but looking down. "Is he born noble?"

"Formerly a knight. He was from a...dalliance of our former king. But the old king died when I took out the attempted consort that was corrupting him. And then helped our Knight Protector with a battle. He had me remove a necklace he was wearing and he turned to dust."

"Child, your kingdom has knights."

"Yes but they weren't doing it. I had to handle my last attempted stepmother because she was poisoning the whole family. All the staff too." She got another cookie to nibble.

"You should have let the knights handle the consort."

"I didn't let them handle the third one either."

The queen looked at her. "I need to talk to that knight."

"Please don't. He did try to keep me from that one."

She smiled. "I need to paddle your king and your head knight."

"I've said a few times if I didn't have the title I would've tried to become one."

"Yes, I can see that." She stared at the young woman. "We'll come back to that. Tell me about what happened after the sacrifice?"

"I went to my guest room and bathed a bit then went to bed."

"No one checked on you?"

"Not until Paki did the next day. I felt fine."

"Yes, but you probably felt used."

"I..." She looked down. "I feel like I'm a bit broken."

"You're not. Many women test drive someone before their wedding. You just got less from it. So he just pierced you and then fingered you?"

"It took a bit. With the binding of my magic to make sure it went right, it took my attention."

She hugged the girl. Legara rested against her shoulder, feeling like it was a motherly thing. She missed her mother right then. "We are going to talk about this. You are not broken. You're not dirtied. You just missed out on the good parts of that. Most kings would've fully bedded you. Not let the mage guard your magic and then just use a royal finger." She snorted, pulling back to wipe off her cheeks. "I need to spank him greatly. And that mage. That is basic teaching about sacrificial acts."

"He may not have been taught that."

"I'm going to beat his mentor if he wasn't." She huffed but calmed herself down. "They both should have checked on you."

"I think that's why he sent Paki."

"I think she was more worried you'd steal her husband."

"She does care."

"I know. It shows in your aura." She cast the spell to read the girl better, finding all that she needed to know. "You need someone to gentle you. Tremaine would be overpowering."

"It's nice to be flirted with."

"It is." She smiled at her. "You need a man like him in your life. One willing to make you quit studying and come have fun." She sighed. "If he was marriage minded I'd set it up to happen the day after my daughter's." Legara giggled, shaking her head. "I know but you snatch the good ones before they're taken."

"Which is why I've found some for the others who needed one."

"Not one for yourself?"

"I barely even get asked to dance. I'm a bit plain and odd looking among my own, who aren't sure if I'm not a feral boy underneath the skirts. This is the most fun I've had at a wedding. The second to that was one where his familiar showed up suddenly to protect me from Mayly after I had to punch his son."

"I heard about that." She smiled. "That was seriously the most fun wedding until this one?" Legara nodded. "Why?"

"I usually sit on the sidelines waiting to be asked to dance and it never comes."

"Your men are so stupid." She sighed, shaking her head. "Tremaine and the others should go up to visit and make them all jealous. There's nothing better than a passionate man to make boring men jealous and treat their wives better. Maybe he'll find a wife up there he'll like."

"Dresmilla. The Duke of the North's niece. His brother's by ...we're not really sure but don't talk about it because his wife was infertile due to lumps in her body. She's ever so sweet and delicate. Just the most delicate flower, who has the dirtiest mind ever. She's twenty-two, has good manners, and can drink a sailor under the table. Not that her uncle knows that. He took her in when her father died a few years back. No gifts but it runs strong in her family."

She blinked a few times. "When I send up the diplomatic mission, introduce them if she's still single."

"Like me, most of the people up there seem to see us as odd. We sit on the sidelines at events. Even at the palace when she has to come."

"Did you before your father died?"

"Sometimes. I'd like to not go to as many of them but the king insists. Usually when I'm out of clean laundry so my dress is a bit...showy."

"You're young. You haven't drooped due to children yet. You show that off." She smiled and patted her. "I've sent back a thank you note for your help with King Mayly being a pain last night. It'll meet your king before he can start trouble." Legara beamed at that, nodding some. "And for last night though I didn't mention more than you had helped my daughter during a crisis. They really don't seem to appreciate you enough."

"That could be my bias experiencing it."

"Or it could be that many of your people are stiff and uptight." Legara nodded at that. "Fine. I'm sending up a diplomatic mission, with Tremaine in the lead, right after the wedding. If that boy of yours doesn't do what he should and step up, have Tremaine. Then hand him to your friend."

"I don't think he truly likes me. When he was first up there as a diplomat he had plenty of the court. The next time we saw him he just knocked me into a magical nap a few times. He taught me a few things but I don't think he likes me at all. He said he had to go study for years yet."

"Then he's an idiot. His familiar loves you."

"I like her as well, but he's not the cat."

"With a familiar, yes he is." Legara blinked at that. She nodded. "There's a bond there, like you with your Knight Protector. Unless he doesn't understand how to do things he can experience what she does."

"Oh. Well, that's awkward."

"If he didn't step up he's an idiot." Legara shrugged, looking down again. "I'm going to talk to him in a few minutes to make sure he knows what he's actually doing."

"He seems to. His master, Master Aremis, showed up to help Paki survive her mother's curse."

"She hated her marrying the king?"

"Her own mother had been emotionally destroyed by being forced away from a true love because he was of no rank. Paki's mother saw how destroyed she lived and cursed her daughter to never have the same problem so she'd never get with a lower ranked person. The king had been a knight."

"Oh, damn it." She rubbed her forehead. "Well meaning but stupid." She nodded. "That figures. Do your people get any formal education in your gifts?"

"No. Only about half of us have them."

"That's actually a very high rate. Hover kicks out children who don't so they skew the amount but the rest of us barely have a tenth to a third in some cases. If at all." Legara frowned, looking confused. "Yes, many of you need an education. Well, I'm sure we can help that as well. Master Aremis was neglecting his duty to magic by not instructing anyone in anything."

"He gathered herbs with a healer who wanted to talk to him and probably do other things."

She blinked a few times. "No, it's our duty to magic to instruct people with gifts who don't know what they're doing, child. He should have sat you down, and all the others he found, to make sure you knew what you were doing."

"He was rather annoyed with me. He was slow getting there and Paki was getting sicker so I went to get him after that battle with that third being. I became his relief driver while he rested in the back of his trailer."

"If that irritated him, he should've realized you care for your friend. Hovar would never put up with that. He trained among my people. I have *got* to talk to him." She looked at her. "That explains why you can fight off the sleep spell I tried to use last night too." Legara shrugged, looking embarrassed again. "The consort, blonde, pretty, too much jewelry?"

"No, ma'am. Dark haired, pale skin, pretty but evil."

She considered it. "I may know that group."

"He recognized her picture."

"Was he there when you took out any of them?"

"The third one. He hadn't yet. I felt it was a threat." The queen stared at her. She shrugged. "It was my family they were threatening and they're the ones that told Mayly to have me. Until we found my cousin Pris, I was the last one of my family."

"I've met Pris during a diplomatic visit. Very cute girl. Very uptight the same way you are."

She smiled. "She is like a younger me some days. She insisted she stay with Stahni, Paki's sister, at the palace to share lessons."

"That could help both girls since you're not ready to be a mother yet probably."

"I would raise her with all the love my mother gave me."

"I know you would but a child is a lot of work." She nodded she knew that. "Fine." She waved a hand. "We'll talk to that mage, make sure he's actually educated in a few things he should've learned. Like training other people."

"He's given me some books to go through."

"That's not how you train people, dear."

"That's how I learned what I know of now. The family journals."

She stared at her. "Which is why you're missing a lot of basic lessons. He should have shown you those."

"He has done a lot of them. I've learned how to project."

"Which is not a basic lesson. Basic lessons are things like shielding and strengthening your magic, and the basics of how to touch magic and feel it around you."

"He did show me that one. He used a ball on his hand that I absorbed. He did tell me it was intimate before he showed me."

"I know full blown mages who're married who never do that sort of thing. Let me get him in here."

"I don't want him embarrassed."

"You sit." she ordered with a point. She sat back down. "At least for now. Eat another cookie, dear." She poured them more tea and did nibble another cookie while that mage was found and handed over by Brandles. "Thank you, Sir Brandles."

"Welcome, ma'am. Am I needed?"

She smiled. "Do warn your king we're showing up soon for a visit."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sure your people will really make ours feel uptight. Do you need the duchess? Some of the older ladies were going to teach her how to properly cook for a husband."

"For a few minutes. Then they can show her. It'd do her good." He nodded, closing the door and going to tell them. "A few things. That consort?"

"One of Magdaline's. Three of Magdaline's actually." He sat down next to Legara, the only seat available. She shifted over for him while sipping her tea. "She used that same spirit rending spell on at least one of them. And their spirit protector that came with them for some reason. He came out to challenge her to a duel one night during dinner from what I heard." Legara nodded at that. The queen looked confused. "I was summoned not long after that, ma'am."

"That's...why do they have one?"

"It was in a crown that consort brought. They were going to merge ours and theirs to merge the two knights. I pried out our's stone to let him free and they fought in the smithy. Then I leant him some energy."

The queen blinked. "How?"

"I stepped into his aura."

"They have some who're very bound and some who're less bound. She's so bound it could've killed her if he had passed over. They lost three to that."

"That makes more sense why you preserved him." She licked her lips, considering it. "Did you not read Coxney?"

"No. Why?"

"Who taught you the rites for sacrifices?"

"I...Master Aremis handed me a book by ...I want to say Gladra."

"Oh, that piece of trash. No, that's not how it's supposed to go." He stiffened, wincing as he glanced at Legara. "You didn't *hurt* her but you didn't help her either. There's checking on her and making sure she was healthy the next day."

"I asked. She told me it was her duty and expected nothing else than what happened."

"Yes, which causes another problem. Then you feel like an innocent that's dirty and unworthy. Which has been feeding into the battle burn out she has, which is affecting her magic by pushing down on it. And I would not normally share this with you but I expect you to work on her training. It is our *duty* as magicals to train others we find."

"I..."

"It is our *duty*," she repeated, staring at him. "King Hovar knows that. He trained among us." She stared at him. "I was going to paddle your ass for things but now I see you're only half trained. So we'll work on that. You can accompany us up on our diplomatic visit within months." She smiled. "If not, I'll send you books and expect you to read them with her while you work on her training. She doesn't even know how to shield."

"I learned that last year."

"I learned that in my first week. As should you both have."

"Oh. She relies on her mother's amulet."

"Yes, it's to a Celestial temple."

"Sir Greens, our Knight Protector, said my grandmother was a priestess to a moon goddess, and it meant my mother made a good priestess for him."

"A Moon priestess?" She went up to get something and came back with it and the amulet, letting her see it. "Oh, that is. Oh!" She sat up straighter. "I know of that order." She clicked her tongue. "The temple was taken out by a political overthrow situation. Most of them fled to Hovar's kingdom but I suppose some went other places."

"Which meant my mother was born in ours and was taken as a priestess." She put it on. "It seems to protect me." She touched it. "If I'm feeling encouraged to wear it, I often have to handle something."

He reached over it take it off her. "I'm here. You're not getting into another battle." He handed it to her. Then he looked at the queen. "I'm eager to learn."

"Good." She smiled. "Now you have to decide if you want that one or not. If not, I'm handing her to Tremaine and they'll marry the day after the other wedding."

He growled. "My familiar adores her."

"That's not saying much, boy. Even though I doubt you know how to properly experience with your familiar." He blushed, shaking his head. "You trained only under Aremis?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"He's an idiot."

"I wouldn't say that but he is very...peculiar."

"Yes, he's an idiot. Hovar should have him killed."

He hung his head but sighed and nodded. "Is he that bad? He's got a new young student."

"Yes. The first lessons is always how to feel your magic in you and how to harness it to make shields in the second."

"I...I learned how to feel it in myself. Then I learned how to tell which one of his was going on. He had many artifacts in his old office that used to leap out at me so he finally taught me how to shield from it."

She stared at him. "I'm talking to Hovar myself. He trained under my same tutor. He should know that." She got up to call. "You two talk like adults. If you end up kissing, that's fine." She waved a hand as she went to call him.

He looked at her. "So I suppose I'm learning more."

"That's fine. It's interesting to learn," she said, sipping more tea.

"I...." He swallowed. "I would like to see you formally." She stared at him. "I'm not sure it's practical at the moment. I don't know why I expected anyone to wait. I didn't even ask you to."

"I would've said no if you had. I do need to work on an heir soon. Before I'm too old or die in a battle."

He turned to stare at her. "How many have you been in? You've mentioned that before." She shrugged but put the tea cup down. "Legara?"

"A few. When needed. I don't particularly like them but they do happen thanks to Mayly and others recently."

"If I could read your mind," he said.

"I'd hit you for it. That's very intimate."

"Yes it is. Which is why I never learned." He touched her cheek. "It is not that I don't want you. I do. I want to claim you, to brand you as mine magically, to make sure you never leave my side, to share with you magically and physically, to watch our children grow and you change with them, all that. I...."

"That sounds like ownership."

"I'm a possessive man."

"I need someone who truly wants to be with me. Who likes me for who I am. Who'll stand beside me. Who will raise our children if I die like my mother did in childbirth."

He touched her cheek. "I want that. I want so hard." He smiled. "But I'm not good for you."

"Really?"

"I'm...I'm very possessive. I'm very mean at times. I study long hours. I never seem to do more than that or come rescue my cat from your bed."

The queen came back shaking her head. She swatted the mage. "Yes, that want is good. It's natural. It's right," she told him. "You studying all the time is wrong. It means you learn nothing." She sat down. "That urge to paddle you is back." He slumped, shaking his head. "Hovar is not pleased with your master. He's going to check on his teaching methods and the others used. He also had no idea that her kingdom had half of them with gifts." She stared at him.

"I thought most did."

"No. Hovar kicks out most people who don't in yours. Most kingdoms that have magicals have maybe a tenth to a third."

"Oh. I was not aware of that." He looked at her then at the queen. "I would appreciate learning what I haven't. Then I can go teach her and others?"

"Some of it." She stared at him. "You both have some messed up things but you can learn. Legara, do you want him that way?"

"I have no idea, ma'am. And I really left that up to him as he said he didn't want me."

"Oh, I want," he assured her, staring at her. "My desires aren't pure though. You'd end up hurt." He looked at the queen, who was staring at him. "I'm fighting off urges like that book by Christoffen talks about, ma'am."

She raised an eyebrow. "Why would you have those?" She tested him. "And we see another curse." She ended that, making hin growl. "Were you actually turned into a human?" He glared, shaking his head as he got up to stomp off. "Rebuild your shields. That's from one of his many idiotic artifacts," she called after him.

"I need to beat many people." Legara handed her a cookie. "That's good of you, dear." She stared at him. "I'm having Tremaine guard you tonight with your knight." She nibbled. "I've told him to not flirt as hard."

"I didn't mind. It made me blush but it's nice to be flirted with at all."

"If he didn't tone it down he'd be under your dress with you during dinner some night." She finished that cookie and drank some of her tea. "Did anyone talk to you about things between men and women?"

"Some of the older duchesses."

"Probably not enough then." She got up to close the door and came back to instruct her as she had her daughter. It made the young duchess blush but she needed it.

***

Chapter 17

***

"Sire, we return," she said as she walked into her palace, smiling and bowing at him. "It was a grand wedding. Very fun." She smiled. "I met people who knew about my grandfather's people. I learned how to cook many dishes from the older women there. I met some fantastic people."

She smiled, taking the fussy baby to hold. "Yes, dear?" The baby burped but snuggled in, falling asleep on her. "That's better, yes." She looked at the king, who snatched his daughter back. The baby started to fuss again almost instantly. "You look amused."

"I had a letter from your host, a complaining visit by King Mayly and two others, and then one from King Homer yesterday that praised you for letting King Mayly live. What happened?"

"He challenged me to a duel during the first night's reception and dance. In front of that queen."

The king blinked then nodded. "Well, you let him live."

"I demanded he yield."

"He's probably embarrassed," Paki said as she came in. "You look nice for having traveled all week."

"We stayed at an inn in King Hovar's kingdom. He wanted to talk to us about what I had been taught so we overnighted there. Apparently some of his people aren't teaching the things in the right order."

"Oh, dear," she said. "Is that why Sir Greens was so upset about you?"

"It could be that I helped the princess from under a curse before her wedding?"

"That could have been it. Though he's been fussing for days."

"Sir Greens," she called. He didn't come out. "Okay. He can fuss." She looked at the ruling duo, shrugging. "I have no idea, my lieges. I was good. I was polite. I introduced our people and we're getting a visit soon from them."

The Knight Protector showed up, glaring at her. "I say not! They're mean and wrong!"

"They are not!" she shot back. "They're darling people who do nothing wrong. They're a lot nicer than most of ours are. They cook better food too." He glared. She glared back. "Are you mad that their queen is magical?" He spluttered. "Or that I helped their princess with a curse she took from her sister?"

"You..." he spluttered. "How could you?"

"I was there, I was one of the few not affected. It needed a woman's touch to get rid of. I helped! It's what I do! It's why I helped you and others for the last few years of my life!" He slumped, staring at her. "I swear, I should take Tremaine up on his kind offer to be my house husband and move down there so I learn to make better food from his aunts."

The Knight Protector moaned. "They have evil. There was great evil around you and you weren't wearing your mother's pendant."

"Yes. The princess took a curse meant for her sister. It came up right before her wedding. The whole palace but five of us were frozen in time. It took a woman to defeat. The queen and I fought it off! What did you expect me to do? Knight Brandles made sure everyone else was safe. The two other mages there helped with something in another room.

"We freed the princess and I passed out like one from the pain of a broken rib. Which was found out the next day when someone touched my side and I nearly fell down again. Then Tremaine made me go see a healer by dragging me to one when I said it was nothing unusual. The only evil around me was all the desserts that were so fantastic I nearly made myself sick."

"You passed out?" Paki asked.

"I broke a rib."

"How are you wearing stays right now then?"

"The healer fixed it."

"Oh. That's good of them. Did anything else happen? I keep hearing the same name."

"I'm not sure. We'll see when they come up for a visit." The Knight Protector glared at her. She glared back. "At least he appreciates me for more than my sword." She walked off shaking her head. "I'm going home. If there's an attack, I'll expect a knight to handle it. Pris, I'm going home," she called. "Are you coming?"

"No," she called back. "I'm fine. If they're mean to me I'll knock someone out with something I steal from a knight."

"Okay, if you're sure. If not, come home and bring Stahni as well, dear." She walked out and got into her carriage, going home.

Pris came down, looking at the king and queen. "Why did you have to upset her? She looked happy when she came in. Shouldn't she be happy more often? Especially since she's nearly died for you two many times in the last two years?" She went to the kitchen.

The king and queen shared a look then sighed and nodded. Brandles came in and bowed. "She's in a mood?"

"She wasn't until she got here. She nearly got married off to the queen's non-lineage son. Or that mage but he's learning things they should've taught him long ago and didn't among them." The Knight Protector scowled at him. "I felt you being mad. Why?"

"She's not normal."

"She is normal. That's how she normally is. She's just happier now. You've upset her again. She's as upset as she was the night she nearly got taken off the road by seven men after a wedding." The Knight Protector shuddered, going back into his chalice. Knight Brandles looked at the king and queen, taking the fussy baby to cuddle. "You hush." She settled down on him. "Sire, why is your child feeling uneasy with you both?" He walked off taking the baby with him.

"Someone come check us for magic," Paki ordered. Someone did and found it, ending it easily enough. They both sighed and realized they had been assholes. "I'll go see her and apologize in the morning," she decided. "Check the baby?"

"She's so fully bound she'll never get spelled," the mage who had helped said. He stared at them. "King Hovar sends his greetings," he said with a smile. "Our usual diplomat will come up with the other diplomatic visit as he's studying with them at the moment."

"Did he finally decide he wanted Legara?" Paki asked.

"No. He's still on the fence but she does have a non-prince who'd love to stay with her and teach her magic. He's very good to her. Even though he hasn't touched more than her cheek, neck, and hand." He smiled. "Our other diplomat got very jealous and annoyed at him flirting with her."

Knight Brandles brought in the baby for him to check. "Only a dirty diaper. We really must loosen her bond though. It could harm her." He did that and the baby cooed happily and settled in to love on the knight. "You're good."

"I have six siblings."

"Then you're good." He walked off talking to her, making her happy. The mage looked at the king and queen again. "That level of bond never would've allowed her to grow and develop. I've instituted a shield against it sucking too hard at her." He nodded at the knight that came back out. "You bound too hard to that one. It would've kept her in a child's mind forever."

"I felt. It's fine. I did that with Legara until she broke it."

"And yet, she had to come get help," the mage said dryly, staring at him. "Instead of you sending her one?"

"You're interfering," he warned.

"Hmm, yes." He smiled and nodded. "To save people I am." He bowed slightly. "I'm also of your grandson's line, Sir Greens." The man tried to link to him and then shouted. "Exactly. You need to talk to the other ones to get fixed from whatever someone tried on the king and queen. It clearly spread." He smiled at them.

"Tremaine will be here to woo her properly during the visit if our diplomat doesn't." He said something in Tremaine's native language, making Paki blush. He walked off happier. "I'll check for more remains of that spell work. It feels like Master Aremis, who got disgraced recently."

"That's fine," the king agreed with a nod. "What did he say?"

"Tremaine was sure his kitten was really a hellcat, she just had to be shown her claws and purr." She cleared her throat. "I don't see her purring."

"You do."

"Yes, but I'm more...open than she is."

"She's never had the chance."

"She was with us when we had fun."

"Yes, but you didn't encourage her to join in. The same as the dancing here at events. No one asks her. Some people need asked, Paki." He got up to go get his daughter. "It's my play time."

"Sure." She waved a hand, thinking about that. Had she kept Legara from having fun with them by not showing her how to have fun and inviting her? Maybe.

***

Legara looked up at the sound of a sigh. She moved her feet so the mage could sit down and stare at her. "Long day?"

"Very long day. I missed so much." She nodded, letting him relax however he wanted. He hesitated then put his head in her lap, letting her pet him like she did the cat they shared. The queen had been right, it was soothing. "They wanted you to wear something pretty when they came up," he said quietly.

"I probably will." She looked down. "I'd never shame the family by being hideous on purpose."

"Good point. Can it not be showy?"

"For an evening event, you don't wear high necklines."

"That's a shame. I'd like to be the only one who saw those."

"I'd never let anyone touch them without permission and I'm not your possession."

"True." He relaxed again, letting her go back to petting him. "I liked you in that pants outfit you left in."

"Thank you, it's very comfortable."

He nodded. "It looked like it." He stroked over the thigh under his head. The dog came in to stare at him then huffed and hopped up on her other side, getting more petting than he did. He pouted but he reached over to pet the dog too. She smiled at him, petting him once the dog was asleep, still reading the book the queen had given her.

He had things he wanted to tell her, how he wanted to help her do a cleansing ritual every year so he could get her more dirty again. How he wanted to claim her by marking her as his. How he wanted to take her upstairs right now and make sure she got pregnant for him so he could claim her. He kept it inside because it was dark of him. He didn't want to be dark. Not around her.

They heard an alarm going off and got up to go see why. The ones trying to burn the house went down to her bow and his magic. Only a tree got burned and it got put out. Then they went back inside to rest. Though he did send a curse at whoever had sent that group. It didn't hit who he wanted it to. He frowned, staring at her. "That was King Homer."

She blinked a few times. "Really?"

He nodded. "It hit him personally."

"Brandles will be upset."

"Maybe."

"It could endanger his family."

"You could invite them for a visit."

"I could, yes. The girls would like to talk to his sisters again." She grabbed her writing desk to write that out. "I'll go tomorrow."

"Go tonight, dear."

She looked at him oddly then nodded. "I can do that." She went up to put up her hair and grab a few things, like her boots, then went to grab her mare. It wasn't a long ride. Fairmy's house looked burned as she passed it. That was not a good sign. She found the other family together but worried.

"Well, I was going to invite you to visit," she said. "The girls would love to talk to Knight Brandles' sisters. And Stahni thinks your eldest is cute too." The duke stared at her. "For some reason some of your people showed up to try to burn *my* house. Thankfully we fought it off. It looks like Fairmy's burned. What's going on?"

"Levan's sons got out. They're trying to take out King Homer," he admitted.

"Then come visit."

"I have to be here."

"The mage with me earlier sent a curse at whoever tried to burn us and it was King Homer. Come visit before I tie you up and carry you back with me." She smiled. "Do pack," she told the wife. "Now." She ran to do that. "Get the important things. Just in case." She smiled at the Duke, who was scowling. "I'll sling you across my saddle and bring you with me. I'd hate to see your son storm his former country. I'd help," she offered with a smile.

"Now, let's go?" He stomped into the house. But he did bring out his wife and children. They had bags packed. He added some of their family things and artwork. Some of the jewels. "Anything you leave here will be destroyed or stolen. Bring it," she ordered. The duke went to get the rest to send with them. She nodded at that.

The family went off in two carriages. The duke tried to stay but she knocked him out and tied him up, putting him over her saddle to ride off with him. She did make sure the house was locked up. His guards nodded at that. "He'll be across the border with his son. Watch their house." They nodded at her. "Thank you."

He started to wake up after a few miles. She poked him again and he went back out. "I can't do that too often, it could kill you. So stay down!" He woke up as they caught up with the carriages heading across the border, nodding at the guards there. "This is Knight Brandles' family. King Homer is fighting with the sons of King Levan."

The guards winced but nodded. "They're going to visit him, Duchess?"

"Me." She smiled. "Stahni thinks their eldest is cute." The guards went 'awww'. "If you see him, tell him to come for tea and bring his girlfriend. If you see other refugees, tell Duke Calers. Let him fuss at them. They have a guest house and his wife had been a nun from somewhere so she can handle refugees and let the king know." She rode off. The duke got down and went to the carriage, going with them. She grinned at her good deed, going home with them.

***

Knight Brandles looked up from training at the cleared throat of the arms master. His brother was standing there. "Are you on messenger duty?" he asked, grinning as he walked over to hug him.

"No, we're joining you here. King Homer was drunk and decided to claim a lot of land. He tried over here and missed. He tried at home, got a few noble houses. He got Fairmy's house." The knight winced. "Ours may be fine. Not sure. We got evacuated. I have the note for the king." He waved it. "Also, Duchess Legara said to come for tea, bring your girlfriend to let Mother fuss at her, and to bring the girls so I can remind Stahni I'm three years older than her and even if I am cute, we're both too young."

He bllinked a few times. "Sure." He walked him into the throne room. "Sire, my brother brings a message from my father."

"What's gone on now? I've heard about fires."

"King Homer was supremely drunk and decided he wanted to claim things that weren't his," the boy said, handing over the note and stepping back. "Also, Duchess Legara wanted the girls for tea time so I could remind one we're both too young to consider me more than cute, Sire."

The king looked at him then nodded. "Nearly there though." He read it over, then sighed, handing it to the knight. "You knew him?"

"I did and he was a philandering drunken idiot when he was younger. I'm glad I didn't join him in it, Sire. I'd hate to be an embarrassment my mother would take out. As she promised when she thought I might go his way." He handed it back with a grimace. "Is Fairmy all right?" he asked his brother.

"We think he's with his daughter. No real clue."

"How many of you came over?" the king asked.

"The Duchess invited us for a visit." He grinned. "She's showing my mother what she learned from some aunts she met at a recent wedding."

"That food is fattening but damn good," Brandles told him. He sighed. "I nearly didn't fit into my armor and I restrained myself." He hugged his brother to him when he heard the squeal from Stahni. "Pris's cousin wanted you two for tea."

The boy looked at her. "We're both too young to be cute to anyone."

She pouted. "I am not!"

"Bullshit," the king said dryly. "At least three more years, Stahni."

"Fine." She pouted at him. "You are handsome."

"Thank you." He grinned. "I put on good things today to be a messenger."

"We can ride back with you." She looked at the knight. "You can follow us."

"You can take a carriage," the king said.

She scowled at him. "Riding singly is safer." She looked at the brothers, grinning at them. "Give us twenty minutes to put on better clothes." She ran up to do that, making Pris squeal too. They did that, packed bags, and went out to get their mares. The brother was waiting on them so they mounted up under his watch and rode off around him. The knight pulled on better clothes as he stomped out to follow them. They definitely needed a chaperone.

The king came out to look at people. "Apparently King Homer went after some of his people and a few of ours. So Knight Brandles' family is visiting Duchess Legara. Go help any refugees coming over." They took that order from him to ride out and share it. The king went back inside. His wife was looking confused. "Knight Brandles' family is in thanks to King Homer trying his people." He kissed her until she moaned. He grinned. "Legara invited the girls for tea."

"That's sweet of her. It means the baby will sleep."

"Not through what I have planned for you," he said, walking her off to have his way with her. She swatted him but he was tired of not having her daily like he had been. She wasn't sore any longer. The baby was nearly three months old. He could enjoy his wife and not get her pregnant.

Chapter 18

***

The diplomatic visit was in. Everyone was amused with that. The refugees from King Homer's former kingdom were still mostly around. Including Duke Brandles. Who was handling things at home from a distance. They were rebuilding after King Homer burned part of the palace down with him and his wife in it. And King Mayly in it with his present torture victim/wife. So that was fun going on. Thankfully that wouldn't bother tonight.

Legara breezed in, curtseying to the king as she took off her cloak. Her dress tonight wasn't *too* showy of cleavage. It was a bit bright of blue, very soft, and clung to her chest and waist like it was desperate. She smiled. "Are the diplomats happy, Sire?"

"So far they seem to be." He stared at her. "That's...very pretty, dear."

"Thank you, Sire. I got it from their people." She smiled. "It's a bit thin for winter events. But it's still warm." She went into the dining hall, taking her usual seat since her name was on it. She smiled at the staring people. "What?"

"Is that from their people?" the nearest lady asked. She reached over to feel the fabric. "A bit thin but nice enough for in here."

"I did order it from down there. They have some wonderful designs and the food," she moaned. She smiled. "I swear, I would've eaten myself sick. Some of the nice aunts even taught me a few things.'

"That's wonderful, dear. Did you meet someone nice?"

"Yes, I did." She smiled. "A few of them." The woman giggled. "I introduced Dresmilla to the queen. I'm hoping one of her sons finds her funny and nice."

"She is," the duchess agreed. The visitors came in and they all stood up to bow to them. They took their seats, Tremaine smirking at Legara, who blushed but grinned back. "Ooooh, he's pretty, dear," she breathed.

"He's a good dancer and he can speak well too." She sipped her wine. The Knight Protector was still pouting so his chalice was in a room being guarded. She got up and walked over to the Duke of the North, taking his niece over there. "Tremaine, this is Dresmilla, the one I told your mother about."

He smiled and kissed the back of her hand. "Charmed, dear. You were highly thought of by your duchess." The girl giggled at that. "You seem very sweet. This is my younger brother, Prince Joha."

"Pleasure," she said, shaking his hand with a smile. "Welcome to our kingdom."

"It's a pretty place. Very nice trees and the like." He smiled. He was a bit young but he was cute.

Tremaine winked at her. "He's still learning how to be a true man of our people but he'll grow into one very shortly."

"He's adorable," Dresmilla said happily. "I'll speak to you later during the dancing?"

"Of course," Joha said happily. "I'm an excellent dancer."

Dresmilla grinned at that. "I like to dance too." She went back to her seat.

Tremaine stared at her. "You wore something of ours."

She smiled. "I look fantastic in it, of course I did." She went back to her seat.

"If I'm too young, our cousin should certainly flirt," Joha said with a sigh of pleasure. "She's pretty."

"She's very pretty. And fun I'm told."

"Oh, that'll be nice. Their duchess and knight were a bit stiff but fun enough. I really liked it when she beat the squire's arms teacher."

"It was rather hot," Tremaine agreed happily. "I was happy to spar with her that day."

A nearby Duke, of the East, looked over. "She sparred while she was in for the wedding?"

"Yes. She took the time to learn from new people," Tremaine said with a smug look. "I sparred with her myself and lost. Our arms master for the squires lost to her. She tried to apologize but our arms master was very pleased with her skills." He smirked. "She handled herself beautifully in there and on the dance floor."

"She never dances up here."

"Yes, she said no one asks."

"Well, that should change." He looked over at her. "Is that your fashion? My daughter would look nice in that and it's not showy like the ones from Numra she's currently fascinated with."

"It is. She found a tailor down there to make it for her." That mage walked in. He was more confident and a lot more tough now. They had all ridden on his training so he was better. He'd watch to see how she handled him and if he actually asked her to dance tonight. He could compare it to his own. Dinner was finally served. The pasta was a bit chewy but not too bad. They'd had worse. They had at least tried. That was nice of them.

The rest of the dinner went better, mixing their two food styles. At the dancing he let Joha ask the pretty duchess out to dance with him. He watched his protégé work his magic. They were holding hands as they danced one of his peoples' dances.

They never fully touched their bodies beyond the held hands but they stepped around each other, staring at each other. The next one was a more passionate dance and she was out of breath but agreed to try that one. She didn't know the steps. They looked good enough. She taught him her dances and that was fun too. They were happy to talk and dance. Her uncle was sniffling.

Tremaine walked over to Legara, holding out a hand. "I believe I miss our dancing together, Kitten."

"I did too." She took his hand, blushing when he kissed the back of it. This one was one of hers so she taught him the steps, making him grin as he followed along. Then came one of theirs, making her blush as she took his single hand to hold as they danced and stared at each other. He was smug again and she was getting out of breath from it. He stepped back at the end, holding out his free hand. She took it and he winked, going into the next dance. Which made a few watching people moan.

The mage was growling but he hadn't asked. He knew he had to actually ask her to dance and not just expect her to sit with him. The queen had been most firm in instructing that mage in how to properly treat a woman he was interested in. He got a poke from one of the diplomats, going out there. "May I?" he asked, cutting in and taking her hand. He danced with her. "You do this much better than I do."

"Thank you. I've practiced for a long time." She moved around him, still holding their joined hand as it went over his head. She ended up in front of him again, their hands crossed and him taking her spare one to move down the line with her. She noticed him staring. "What?" she asked quietly.

"I want to be the reason you're not breathing right tonight," he said quietly. "The only reason you're breathing hard tonight." She blushed at that, but shook her head. "Are you sure?"

"I have no idea."

He growled, pulling her closer against his chest. It wasn't part of the dance. "Say yes, let me show you what I want to do to you."

"I...."

Tremaine came back to cut in himself, grinning at him. "You're holding up the floor." He danced off with her. "My men are often the cause of much jealousy," he told her with a wink and a grin. "I think we have done that again." He looked at his little brother. "She is twenty-one?"

"Just about twenty-three." She looked over. "Isn't he seventeen?"

"Yes. That's a fine age gap." He kissed her cheek, making her moan at what he hissed in her ear. "Do you want him, Kitten?"

"I have no idea. I'm still very torn, Tremaine." She looked up at him. "But I know I can't really leave my people. My home."

"I can agree with that. I could like it up here." He looked around. "So many pretty women." She smiled at him. "Though you shine more." He dipped her then pulled her up, going back to the dancing. She giggled. The next dance was all about passion. He moved into it with her. "Just like I showed you, dear."

She nodded, following his lead. He moaned at how well she did. He wasn't the only one. Paki moaned too. The Duke of the North was nearly sobbing at his niece being able to keep up with the young, hot, sexy man she had been introduced to. They were both spectacular looking couples. She looked around then at him again. "I think we're the only two couples out here."

"They know we are sexy and cannot compete," he said simply. "I am very sexy. You are very sexy. Those two are cutely sexy. No one else can handle us."

She blushed at him, shaking her head. "You're so naughty."

"But correct." He winked at her again. "I should steal you both to my suite tonight. Yes, both of you."

She stared at him, mouth open. "I have no idea if he'd allow that."

"He would enjoy that." He pulled her closer at the end of the dance, kissing her. He walked her back to hand her back to that mage with a smug little grin. "You should both come join me for drinks later."

"I've never done that."

"That's a shame. You should."

"Maybe." He let Legara get some wine to sip then took her out to dance with her. "They're hot in bed but it never lasts," he said in her ear. "They like multiple positions then don't cuddle afterward." She moaned at that, staring at him. "I can do the same thing and be there."

"If you're not studying?"

"I think we can work that out." He kissed the back of her hand like he did, making her smile but not blush. "I know I can't flirt that same way."

"You have your own strengths but I believe I left up to you if you wanted to be with me for real."

"He'd only be for fun, I'd be there for good," he assured her.

"His mother offered me him."

"I heard. It made me growl at him. He laughed." He pulled her into a good kiss, making her moan the same way. "I can do the same things he can but I'm less flashy. Take me home tonight, Legara. Let him find his easiness."

"You've had plenty."

"I have and now I want a full, filling meal. You're more than a banquet I want to experience nightly."

"Yes but will you in a year when the next studying calls?"

"Yes, I can be. I'll study here."

She stepped back to stare at him. "Are you being honest?"

"Yes. I need to go back there to pack things but otherwise I'm going to be here. I'm your diplomat for now." He stared at her. "Please?" She stepped back into his arms, letting him dance her off again. The staring people were already talking but they ignored it. "I have so many dreams that are not meant for public hearing," he said in her ear. "I want to dirty you so much I have to do a cleansing ritual with you yearly," he murmured.

"I want to make you so filthy a bath doesn't even cut all the body fluids. I keep dreaming of you pregnant and watching the changes." He swallowed hard. "I see myself feasting on your flesh until you beg me to stop." He stared in her eyes. "I know I'm possessive, I growl. I'm intense in a different, maybe a bit darker, way. I want to go home with you and stay there."

She blinked then nodded. "I..." She licked her lips. "I don't think I'd mind."

He kissed her, deeply. "I will bind to you, in whatever manner you want, if you let me do mine."

"I think I can probably accept that."

"Good." He sighed. "I'm still jealous of him." He stared in her eyes but he smiled. "Did you want to take him up on his offer of us having wine."

"I think wine in that case was our bodies."

He shivered. "That's...well." She grinned. "I haven't but that man must be using a spell to look that sexy."

"You manage most of that level."

He smiled. "That's a good point to hit I'm sure." He went back to dancing with her. "I'm an idiot for what I said before, Legara. So wrong of me. I apologize." She nodded. "I want to join our familiars."

"I don't have any."

"Yes you do. And I need to pick up my other one." He kissed her hand, staring at her. "One month back there then I'm coming back?"

"I think I can stand that."

"Good. Before then though, I'm going to bind us together so you're mine. That way I know if you're in trouble." He nuzzled her throat.

"Are you Other Blooded?" she teased. "They're said to like the taste of blood."

"No but I would like to blood bind us," he said in her ear. "That way our children really do inherit both of our gifts." He stared at her again. "Would you mind that?"

"You speak of more than one."

"I was thinking maybe three?"

She blinked. "I could like that. Childbirth is dangerous."

He grinned. "I can make sure you're healthy through it, Legara. Just tell me yes."

"I believe I may like that idea."

"The word I want to hear is 'yes'."

"I feel like I should add on after that," she teased.

"No, I'm not that dark. We are both possessive. If you're mine, you're mine and I'm just as much yours." He stared at her then walked her off to the side to kiss her. "Tell me yes."

"I.... I'm a bit dizzy right now."

He grinned. "Good. That's definitely in my favor." He stared down at her. "Belong to me. Make me yours. Let me bind us." He stroked up her cheek then over her ear. "Please," he finished quietly. "I know I'm not exciting or as flirty as he is..." He looked at the man walking over. "Yes, Knight Brandles?" He wouldn't try to smite the interfering knight even though he wanted to at the moment. He knew the knight cared about Legara.

"Just checking on her. A few of the older women are looking this way very worried."

"I'm proposing."

"Just remember, I will smite you if you harm her." He stared at him until the mage nodded. "Good." He looked at Legara. "Are you sure you want me to go?"

"Yes. We should probably talk. He wants to belong to me."

He grinned. "You're possessive over your things, dear, so that's a good thing." He went to reassure a few others before they stomped over.

Duke Myar grinned. "I had that same possessive growl. I've mellowed over the years." His wife hit him on the arm with a scowl. "I haven't?" he teased. She walked off to get one of the diplomats to dance with her. He watched, enjoying her teasing him by flirting with another man. She clearly wanted him to remind her she was his later.

He glanced at the new couple on the floor then at the new couple in the corner. They were fine. Dresmilla squealed at something and slapped him but he kissed her and she calmed down and let him go back to dancing with her. Her uncle came over to interfere but she said it was fine. He had said something slightly rude so she had corrected him. He wouldn't do it again.

That duke was glaring at the young man, who didn't back down at least. They went outside to talk like men, and the duke to threaten the younger man. Dresmilla huffed and went to stop that but the duke's wife stopped her to talk to her about men things. They still interrupted the talking and when they came back in, the Duke wasn't pleased but he was at least amused. Dremilla looked like she had been kissed until she was out of breath.

Her aunt was sniffling but happy looking. Tremaine was looking at the corner but also flirting with a few ladies who weren't married either. When the two in the corner came out together, she came to dance with him, making him laugh at what she said but nod. He winked at her and kissed her gently then handed her back to the mage. He was stalking her growling anyway. He went back to his current flirting targets. So many women who needed some fun in their lives to be less uptight.

***

Legara walked into her house that night, pulling down her hair. The mage followed, taking her hair things from her hand and taking down the rest of it. The housekeeper stared at him. "I'm helping her tonight," he said with a charming smile.

"I know your sort, sir. I will poison you."

"It's fine, dear," Legara said, kissing her on the cheek. "We're talking of binding together."

The housekeeper stared at her then nodded. "We'll ignore the giggling. Innocent girls always giggle." She walked off looking happier with that. She wouldn't have approved of her mistress having many male visitors but he was the first and only so far.

"I've never had anyone so innocent they giggled," he said in her ear, then kissed it. "Lead me to your suite." She took him up there and let him in, petting all three animals. They flopped together on the bed while he unbuttoned her dress. "I like their style on you. You should wear more of them."

"I got a few." She looked back at him, holding up the front of the dress. "What do you want to have happen tonight?"

"What I want and what I *crave*, Kitten. Two different things." He kissed the back of her neck, making her blush but duck her head down to give him access. He moved her hair out of his way, nibbling over the tender flesh until she was shivering. "Let me see you."

"Soon enough." She did let the dress fall. "I thought you had looked."

"Not like I saw any skin that night," he said quietly, staring at her, turning her around to stare down at her. "I was wrong to ignore your comfort and needs that night, Legara. I was trying to be good by not looking. I didn't want you to be more embarrassed." He stroked his hands up her cheeks, holding them. "I want nothing more than to be yours. For you to be mine." He breathed in. Then let it out slowly.

"I need better self control before I pounce you." She grinned. "Please let me see you?" She let him remove the under clothes. She kept her chemise on but he took that from her too, making her go bright red and cover herself. "Now I see that some goddess has blessed you." He kissed her collarbone, then her lips. "You are fantastic." She moaned into the next kiss, his hands in her hair holding her in place. "Become mine."

"I think I said I would."

He kissed her gently. "Let me have all of you tonight?"

"I think that's why I'm naked?"

He grinned. "I could keep it below that but I don't have that level of control. I want to mark you with my teeth all over, make little bites to remind you that we're together tomorrow when we get out of bed for dinner."

"I have guard practice tomorrow."

"You can skip it."

"It's a special trainer coming in. We can leave the bed for that. You can do your studying while I train." She stroked over his chest with her left hand, the right pushing her hair back. "Then we'll come back to this?"

He hummed but nodded. "That would work for me but you'll be sore tomorrow." He kissed her again, pulling her hard against his chest. She leaned into it and he devoured her mouth, showing her how to open-mouth kiss as well. One his hands drifted out of her hair down her back to pull her tighter against him, making her clutch his waist.

He picked her up and took her to the bed then huffed. "Really?" he asked the pets. She giggled. He sat her down and moved the dog then the two cats. They were chilled. He checked, still alive. He checked for other things and stopped the spell. His ex-girlfriend. "I have an ex who is a jealous bitch. I never even got this far with her and she's jealous. I'll be talking to her when I get back."

"Did she hurt the pets?"

"No. I made sure and they're protected." He swallowed. "Let down your shields?"

She stared at him. "Is that wise?"

"Yes. I want you to be bare before me." He kissed her again, dropping his main shield. She dropped hers so he dropped the rest of his. Their pets got warm on their side of the bed while he laid her down.

"Let me see you as well? I'm feeling a bit too naked."

He smiled, taking off his clothes. It wasn't as pretty as hers but he was okay at it. He stood next to her, letting her look. "I'm not as tough as some knights," he said.

She ran a hand over his stomach. "It's good though. Very comfortable to sleep on." She looked up at him. "You're also bigger than I imagined."

"Oh, Kitten, I'm not huge but I'm good." He laid down next to her, pulling her to him to start kissing her again. He stared at her. "I want to blood bind us."

"Why?" she asked, stroking over his shoulders and chest gently. She looked up at him. "That sounds almost evil."

"It's not. It will bind us. I'll be able to tell if you're upset at some little boy flirting with you. Or if you need my help."

"So I'll be able to feel you having fun with the girls in the court?"

"I have no intention of that. I'm loyal when I'm with someone. This is permanent, Legara." He kissed her. "I'm yours no matter what. For good." He pulled back to stare into her eyes. "All yours. You'll be mine. All mine." He kept the growl inside this time. "I want to hold you down and make you scream for me," he begged. "I need to calm myself down." He took a deep breath. She kissed him during it and he moaned, clutching her to him again. "Please say yes."

"I want to know more about it. Especially as you have to leave again to pack things."

He stared at her, flipping them so he was on top of her, staring down at her. "That wait will be agonizing." He kissed her gently then pulled back. "We can do the wedding however you want. I'd prefer quiet and here instead of some huge spectacle. Just us and a few friends." He kissed her again. "And soon."

"We do have to consider the heir."

"You're not getting pregnant for at least a year," he assured her. "There's a way I can make sure you can't, I have to apply it each month."

"Will it end the dreaded times?"

"Unfortunately not." He kissed her again. "I'll have you come to me at the end of your dreaded times and I'll apply it each month until we're ready to have a child. Until you're ready for me to defile your womb with my seed. That night, I'll possess all of you until you're ready to beg me for it.

"After I've coated you with my seed, after I've defiled every part of your body," he said quietly, making her shiver. "Then we'll do a cleansing rite so the child gets the best of our skills, our purest magic. At the end, I'll take that last bit of defilement and have your womb filled." He stroked her cheek. "I want to dirty you so much."

"I...."

He kissed her hard. Then he bit gently on her shoulder, moving lower to do the same to her upper chest on both sides. She flinched at a few but she was panting hard. "Become mine, Legara. Let me become yours."

"I..yes."

"Good girl." He smiled at her as he leaned down to lick around then over a nipple. She moaned, pushing up against his tongue. He suckled gently before switching sides. That one got the same treatment before he bit her between her breasts and sucked harder there.

He moved farther back, nipping and sucking around her stomach, leaving his marks wherever he went. He moved back farther, kissing her pubic mound. She pulled on his shoulders, making him look up. "Do you object to me making a feast of you?"

"What?" she panted. "I..." He came up to kiss her. "I don't want to kiss you after you've bitten my toes."

He smiled. "I'll get to them another night then." He kissed her deeply. "I'm going to feast on you in a minute. Make you scream for me."

"I don't think I can."

"Oh I know you can, Kitten." He grinned down at her then moved back to spread her for his view. He took a careful kiss, then nipped a labia before diving in to kiss her womanhood with his tongue. She let out a yelp. He grinned. "Not quite there yet." He kept going, exploring the whole area.

He wanted to see her writhing above him, trying to get away from his tongue while trying to get it deeper at the same time. He moved up to tease the little, delicate bit of her that was coming out to expose itself, sucking gently at first then harder, making her pant. He moved his fingers into her to tease her while he sucked, playing with everything at random.

He watched as she fell apart under him, smiling at that. He kissed her gently, deeply, cleaning up his mess. He moved back up, biting at new spots and both nipples this time, making her pant and nearly shake. He kissed her. "Taste yourself on me," he told her.

"See how much I enjoyed you and you enjoyed me. Later can you taste both of us together because I will be." She shook her head but he smiled. "Yes I will be. A good man always cleans up after himself, Legara." He moved his fingers. "Ready?"

"I don't know!" She was still panting hard.

"It won't hurt this time," he promised, sliding gently into her. She was gasping and wiggling so he pulled her hips back down against his, sliding in the last few inches. "There." He kissed her, letting her get used to being filled. He pulled back to stare at her, pulling back to thrust in again, staying gentle this time. "All mine now."

"Oh!" She was scratching up his shoulders. "What is that!"

"That's me. It figured he was so weak he didn't move while in you." He leaned down to kiss her again, pushing in harder just the once. It made her squeal. "I knew I could make you make those noises."

"I feel like I'm a wanton harlot."

"Even if you were an inn girl you'd never be a harlot. You're mine after all." He grinned, letting himself pleasure her as she needed and deserved. He was good to what was his. He'd prove it to her. She came again and started to cry so he hugged her and soothed her, still working himself in and out of her because he couldn't help it. "It's just me. You're all mine." He kissed her, making her clutch him. "Do you have more in you?"

"I don't know."

"We'll find out then." He smirked, pushing in harder. She shivered, grabbing his shoulders harder. She ended up flipping them over so she was on top. "I like that position too." He moved her hips. "Like you're riding, Legara." She moved. "No, not trotting. Ride me like you're cantering easily up the road on a fun ride."

She shifted her movements and moaned at that. "Yes. That's good. There." He enjoyed that, it let both hands touch her again, teasing her breasts and stomach until she was shivering and needy and had no idea how to get there. One gentle finger came down to tease her little nub and she yelled in pleasure, stiffening up. He moaned as he followed.

He relaxed, letting her fall against his chest to hold her, kissing her again. He moved her sweaty hair off her cheek and neck, kissing her until she was ready to talk to him. "You will not go a day without pleasure if I'm here," he said quietly. "Every day I'm going to feast on you and feed you my seed." He stroked her cheek again.

"Some day soon I'm going to show you that you like me defiling other parts of you too." He ran his thumb across her bottom lip. "Tomorrow night perhaps. Or early next week. Give you time to enjoy learning how each one works first." He kissed her again, shifting them onto their sides. "Rest. You need rest to recover."

She nodded, tucking her head against his neck but under it. He smiled, covering them both with the sheet. Of course, her cat decided to settle between them. "Really?" he asked the cat. "Must you?" It settled in to nap so he petted her. The dog got against his back. His cat got the spot above their heads. He shook his head. The pets were rather amusing.

***

Chapter 19

***

He was at his home, packing things. He looked around, he had too many things. He wasn't even sure which books were his any longer. He had books everywhere. And papers. He sighed, starting another box. At least his other familiar was there with him. He was staring at him like he was ruining his life.

"Your mate is there," he was telling his cat. "It's the one she runs away to go cuddle up to. You like how she smells, you bathe her each time she comes back." He stared at his tomcat. "Really, you'll enjoy it. Just don't bother her cat and dog. They're unofficial familiars but she doesn't realize it yet."

He packed another box of books, sighing in displeasure. "How did I do this to myself?" He got another box sent in by the maids in the dormitory. He had enjoyed living in this building with the other students but he had a home to go to now.

He felt someone coming up the hallway, someone older and more powerful. He glanced at something on his wall then went to answer the knock. They were probably there for that honor cord that marked him as a teacher and diplomat. "King Hovar," he said, letting him inside. He had expected this visit. "Sire."

"I've heard congratulations are in order on your upcoming wedding?" He smiled at him. "Good! It's about time."

"Sire...."

"Do hush." He smiled at him. "I'm happy you're happy, cousin. I'm told she's a charming, tough young woman who will probably tie you to a chair a few times when you annoy her."

"Possibly, if I let her." He blinked at him, sitting on a box. "I know it's sudden."

He waved a hand. "You're staying their diplomat. You can study there." He looked around. "It looks like you have part of a library already started." He stared at him. "Thank you for finding the idiots who only think they can teach. Did my former classmate hurt you too badly to correct things?"

"No, sir." He blinked at him. "I know you want..." He stood up and reached for the ribbon on the hook on the wall.

The king took it from him and put it around his neck. "No, you're keeping that." He stared at him. "You earned that. Quit fussing about it, boy." He smirked. "How is she?"

"She's good. It's...it's ...I'm having urges that probably still aren't acceptable but I want her so much," he sighed, staring at him. "It's like she's magical to me beyond all of this."

"Which is actually love." He smiled. "Good! We worried we'd have to take you out for going dark because you never found a balance. You're partially already there because of Aremis. Who was a huge idiot." He patted him on the cheek. "What's keeping you here?"

"Packing. Figuring out how to get everything there."

"We can ship your library." He stared at the cat then at one bottle, handing it over. It got put into a special box and padded so even if it got turned over it wouldn't spill. He sealed the cork with wax too. Then he sealed the box. "Your mother's on her way."

"Oh, no," he moaned, shaking his head. "I've felt my former girlfriend too. She tried to curse her."

"I heard from her too. She was sneering that she has so little magic."

"She took down three of Magdalines's people in a month. Two on the same day. One with a dagger."

The king blinked. "Oh." He smiled. "So she's very magical, just untrained?"

"They don't train gifts there and the ones who could have died. Their knight protector is having some sort of fit about your classmate's peoples. I have no clue!" He shrugged but smiled. "But I still want to bind her to me and do filthy things to her."

"Yes, we've all had that urge. My first spouse walked around muttering about not being a candlestick holder I owned."

"She told me that but I reminded her she'd own me just as much."

"True. My first wife never figured that out." He stared at him. "She's a Moon Priestess?"

"No. Her grandmother was. They fled from all that." He waved a hand in that direction. "Somehow she met her husband, had her daughter, who was taken in as that knight protector's priestess, then she got let out of her vows so she could marry and have Legara." He sighed. "She's strong but she's had to handle too much," he said quietly.

"I can agree with that. Even with you standing there?"

"I didn't act fast enough against the one who was still corrupting things," he agreed. "That's why she took the third one out then went to drive Master Aremis to the palace since he was wandering around picking herbs."

"I heard about that from him." He stared at him. "We can send you everything else. Grab the basics you can ride home with."

"I can't do that with the cat."

"You can. He'll stay with you. Or go give him to her then ride home." He clapped him on the arm. "Be a good example, teach things that should be taught. She and I have both decided they need that. Tremaine's staying up there to do that."

"Great," he said dryly. "The one that'll make me jealous."

"Yes, he likes to make men jealous." He grinned. "His mother was most happy with her as well if you falter. She's looking forward to a daughter-in-law from up there."

"Her other son with the diplomatic visit found one."

"That's even nicer. She'll have two strong daughters-in-law. I could use a few too. I should go visit her, flirt with her and make her husband jealous." He left. "Hurry up before your mother gets here tonight."

"Yes, Sire. Thank you." He looked at his cat, packing his things first. Then he traveled back, handing her the cat. "You behave," he told his main familiar. "Do not bother her pets. Be a good boy. Learn to love the family. I'll be back in a few weeks. I have to avoid my mother." He disappeared again.

Legara looked at the cat, smiling as she petted him. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sweetheart. Let me introduce you to the other two." She walked in talking to him and petting him. He jumped down, giving her a funny look. He did find his mate with the dog and other cat, huffing at her. She lifted her head to stare at him then put her head back down with a light meow.

That cat climbed in on top of her to lap her clean of the weird scent. She let him but the other cat came over to sniff him, getting a growl. "Be nicer," Legara warned. "You can roam anywhere you want in the house. There's a kitchen cat. I'd never let you out into the stables or outside but you have to be nice. They live here too." The male cat stared at her just like his master then huffed and went back to bathing his mate. "Your master would do the same thing if I let him."

The dog sniffed the new cat and lapped him then went back to her nap. Her cat sniffed him again and snuggled in against his back between him and the dog. That cat stared at her then at his mate, who shifted to let him bathe her ears again. He'd learn to live with them. She went back to practice. "Sorry. His other cat."

"It's nice mage sorts have pets," he said, waving her to come back to practice. She did that and it was nice enough. She could handle things until he got back.

***

The mage was packing his clothes when his mother got there. She walked in without waiting for him to open the door. "I felt you, Mother."

"So tell me about her? Is she nicer than the girlfriend I liked?"

"Yes, quite." He looked at her. "She's strong. She has a duty she believes in. She's nice." He grinned. "She puts up with my ways and makes me speak of things to her instead of just assuming she knows. I had to nearly beg to get her and keep her." He went back to packing. She stopped him by pulling him away. "Mother, she's not weak like my former girlfriend thinks."

"She's barely magical."

"She's not. She's never been trained. They don't do that there. I had to teach her how to project."

"Oh." She blinked. "So she's strong enough to protect herself?"

"And has. Her first magical battle was against one of Magdeline's group."

"Oh." She shuddered. "That's bad. Why?"

"She sent a few over there to take over the kingdom apparently. One went to try to become her stepmother, one went to the king, and one was in a village corrupting them. She took out her stepmother and the attempted consort the same day. Then I didn't act fast enough on the other so she took her out too to save her family's honor and sense."

She sat on his bed, staring at him. "She's...oh." She considered that. "Is she nice?"

"Very, Mother. She's a duchess. She's strong. She believes in her duty to her people. She attends a lot of things for the king." He grinned. "You'd like her if you met her. She even got taught how to make some food at the last wedding she had to attend by some of the older aunts. Got flirted with by the son of our king's former classmate Tremaine."

"I saw him recently. That girl he was flirting with, Dresmilla?"

"One of her fellow duchesses. That one's his brother's girlfriend I do believe."

"Aww." He nodded, going back to packing. "Will anything stop this move, son?"

"No, Mother." He looked at her. "I have urges, Mother. I'm still fighting off the one telling me to blood bind to her without any interfering medium." She slumped, staring at him. "I want to have children with her, see how they grow and learn. I want to get her pregnant with my children and totally defile her but then baby her."

She held up a hand, standing up. "Your father said the same thing."

"I'm not like him."

"You are in important ways but not the bad ones. Except for the fact you never speak on things."

"She made me. She and Tremaine's mother. She helped defeat the demon cursing her daughter."

She blinked a few times. "Why?"

"She was there. She could help. It broke a rib and she didn't even mention it. I've got to teach her to tell me about injuries."

She hugged him, then kissed him on the cheek. "I will meet her before you bind, son."

"Then I'd hurry and go there, Mother. The night I get back, I'm going to bind us." She stared at his eyes then nodded. "Both of my familiars are there." He looked at the one who had reappeared. "I don't care if you don't like the dog. Put up with it. We're all living there." His cat snored at him. "She adopted a dog someone kept misplacing and a cat that she thought was my other familiar.

"Aremis and their Knight Protector summoned her to protect Legara at a different wedding reception from King Mayly. She set there and petted her all night. When she got home, my familiar visited again and she took her home with another cat that she mistook for mine from their palace's garden. He's a bit grumpy he's got to share a lap."

"You'll give him spawn to play with soon enough. They'll chase him all over the house and annoy him for different reasons." She stared at him. "Nothing is going to stop you, is it?"

"I'm only about three days from your house by regular riding horse," he said. "She's sweet, Mother. I adore her in ways I never thought I could. Urges to mark her beside the point."

She sighed. "Fine. I'll make sure your things get to you, son." She patted him on the cheek again. "I'll show up to visit sometime."

"We're waiting a year to have our first child."

"Make sure you have that spell correct then, son." She strolled off shaking her head but sniffling a bit. Her son, married. Or nearly so. How had she missed out on so much?

He looked at his cat again, petting him as he went back to packing his clothes. It still wouldn't all fit on his horse. He'd have to get a travelers cart. He felt her being in danger and locked his door then went to help her. The being there sneered at him. Legara was on the ground, injured leg apparently. He sneered back and lit it on fire.

"It has a thing in it, like the last one," she called with a point.

He summoned it to look at. "A summoning amulet. Someone tried to bind it to their will." He walked over to help her up. He looked around then at her. "Are you all right?"

"Bit sore," she admitted, looking at her leg. "I'm suppose to be taking a message to the new king."

"Let Brandles."

"He's been banned. That one hates his father went to visit. Apparently the new guy would have let his whole family be killed instead." She leaned against a tree, letting him help her bandage it. "Thank you for the help."

He smiled. "Only I get to make you sore, dear." He took a kiss, making her moan into it. "Good girl. Where's your mare?" She pointed. He took another kiss before going to grab her and walk her back. He helped her into the saddle. "Be safer? Please?"

"I will be. I usually am."

"Good girl." He took another kiss. "Have a safe trip."

"You too. Is he back there?"

"Of course. He hates sharing." He winked and disappeared.

She nodded, going off again, making sure she had the diplomatic missive. She was still sore but that had happened in the past. She rode into the palace that night. "Good eve," she called.

The guard out there stared at her. "Who be you?"

"Duchess Legara, Duchess of the West for King Leonar. He sent me with a missive." She pulled it out to hold up. "May I?"

"He's at dinner and you're not dressed."

"I hate getting messes out of skirts," she admitted, pulling on a better jacket from her bag. "Pants are much more practical when you have to ride all day." She slid down with a wince. She looked, her leg was still fine. "May I now?"

He glared. "You're a woman." She shot him with her crossbow in the side, barely grazing him. "Oh!" He held it. "You're *her*."

"Why yes, I am." She smiled. "Thank you for remembering me. May I?"

"Go." He got out of her way, tying off her horse for her.

She walked into the dining hall. "Sire." He glared at her. "King Leonar sent me. I'm Duchess Legara, of the West, the usual messenger to your people. Usually to Lord Fairmy and Duke Brandles." She held out the letter. "From my king to you, Sire." She stepped back.

He looked her over. "Pants?"

"It's easier to ride all day in them than it is in a skirt, which would get messy. Or make me look weak enough to be taken by brigands since there's a few on the roads these days." She stared at him. He glared back. She didn't look anything but amused. "I've had to defeat some from King Levan's time near my house."

"Oh." He read the note, then sighed. "They ran."

"Yes, they protected their children by going to visit the son my kingdom's Knight Protector stole to become a knight of ours." She smiled. "Knight Brandles gives good credit to both his natal kingdom and family and ours. I've had him guard me a few times on diplomatic matters. The king now sends him over half the time so he can be fussed at by his mother. And so he can pass on messages from the queen's younger sister who thinks his brother is cute."

"It's not arranged yet?"

"We don't tend to unless necessary, Sire. Why make a miserable marriage when you can make a happy one?"

"Oh." He looked at her hand.

"No, I'm soon to marry. He's packing right now to move up to my area."

One of the women looked over. "You're a Duchess?"

"Yes, I'm the Duchess of the West. The western border is my area to protect and defend. I have four underneath me helping me but I oversee them."

She blinked. "But you're not married."

"We can hold our own titles."

"Oh. That's charming. But that would take fighting."

"Which I'm fairly decent at most of the time." She smiled. "I do take training almost daily for that need."

"I didn't think women could."

"Yes, of course we can. Who else defends us if we can't defend ourselves?"

She blinked. "I have a husband for that."

"Someday soon so will I. I'll expect him to help me defend myself, not take it over for me."

"Oh." She nodded, sipping her wine. "Your queen, what was she before?"

"One of the sub-duchesses of the Eastern region. Her sister took it over upon her marriage. She's young but growing into wisdom and strength. She's sixteen at the moment."

"No parents?" she asked.

"A fever a few years back, ma'am. Paki's father and mother both died of it. She took over then got married so now Stahni's taken that title."

"What if she marries someone from here?"

"They'll work that out. Paki's pushing for her to stay and bring him. His father has other sons. He's also got Knight Brandles as a son."

"Oh." She nodded. "That's an interesting, strong family."

"They are." She smiled. "His mother reminds me much of my grandmother when she was alive." She looked at the king again. "Should I tell him more than 'thank you for welcoming me', Sire?"

"I can write out one to send him tomorrow. What is our duke doing?"

"Presently he's probably fussing over his future daughter-in-law as his son, the knight, marries this weekend. The third daughter of a sub-duke in the Northern region. Very sweet young woman. Bit tense sometimes but fussy at the right times and very sweet. Bakes cookies a lot." She smiled. "I gave them a beautiful quilt I helped some of my maids make."

"That's charming, dear." He stared at her. "Did our King ever meet you?"

"Yes. He made me not kill King Mayly at another kingdom's wedding. It was most noble of him to step in to stop me from becoming an assassin when I got challenged to a duel. King Mayly had been horribly rude to do so in front of their queen at her daughter's wedding."

The king blinked a few times then stood up. "You're her," he said.

"Duchess Legara, yes, Sire. I thought I had introduced myself." She smiled. "As I sit on this border it's usually me bringing messages over."

"He died because of you."

"No, he died because he burned the palace down with himself in it. From what we were told, he was drunk." She stared at him. "It had nothing to do with me. Unless King Mayly was trying to get him back for sticking up for me winning our duel?"

"You won?" he demanded.

"Yes. I made King Mayly yield by force and King Homer enforced that." She stared at him. Then she smiled. "A woman must protect herself from things that she doesn't want to touch her. In that case, King Mayly and his whole family."

The king sat down, nodding. "You're too tough to be a real woman."

"And yet, I am." She waved a hand then undid her jacket.

"You should prove it tonight," he said.

"Sorry, I'm presently injured thanks to a demon on your border that tried to stop me bringing that letter. It was apparently summoned as it had an amulet on and I'm told that's what that means. I'd hate to limp through one." He blinked a few times. "I have no idea about it otherwise. I had some help defeating it as I'm cut but it was removed."

"How badly injured?" She showed off the bandage, making him grimace. "You can stay tonight. I'll write a letter. But I still don't believe you're a woman. You probably have a wife at home," he said smugly.

"No, I'm marrying a man from King Hovar's kingdom," she said dryly. "I need no other but him."

"You can stay over and prove that."

"I'd hate to have to defend myself and create an incident, Sire." Someone tried to grab her so she turned and stabbed him in the neck then put her dagger back. "Messenger duty is often dangerous. Plus all our duchesses and dukes are trained to defend ourselves and our kingdom." She stared at him.

"Thank you for the offer of hospitality. When you send a return one, Duke Caler sits on the border and he'll take it from the messenger. They all know to use the herding paths instead of the road thanks to rocks that have fallen and he's right there." She curtseyed and walked off, getting her horse and riding off. "If he lasts I'd be shocked," she told herself. One of the guards tried to stop her. She stared at him. "I'd move." He got out of her way.

"Thank thee." She rode off again, sighing in pleasure as she got farther away. Duke Brandles was not going to be pleased either. When she made it to his house, she walked in. "Duke, I'm sorry to say I had to stab a guard in the throat for trying to grab me," she complained. "He'll send a return letter to the king soon. Though I did praise you and your son."

She kissed him on the cheek. "I told him to drop messages with Caler and about the road being filled with rocks. About how nice your son is and how he's getting married this weekend. How we're all trained to defend ourselves because the women there aren't. Someone who looks like a thinner, older version of your wife was confused on that point."

He blinked a few times. "Red hair?"

"Thin, sparse white hair. Might've been red by her eyebrows though."

"That's my wife's aunt. Who took over?"

"We heard his name was King Ameldar?"

"That's probably changed. What did he look like?"

"Your youngest son only aged sixty and fat?"

He looked at his youngest son then at her. "That one?" She pointed. "Oh, him. Oh. It's that aunt's husband. No wonder! No, he won't last. People will take him out soon." He looked at her. "Why are you limping?"

"A demon tried to stop me from going but I had some help from the boyfriend." She smiled. "It's a big scratch now."

He looked at it then at his wife, who came over to check it and fuss at her for him. He sighed. "I'm going to tell the son."

"He may not want to go on messenger duty either. The king tried to *invite* me to share their hospitality that night so I could prove I was actually a woman. He expected me to have a wife."

"Yes, that's that idiot husband," he decided. "Is he alive?"

"I only stabbed a guard who tried to grab me when I turned down his hospitality." She smiled. "I doubt he'd treat guests like we do."

"No, he probably wouldn't." He nodded, eating something from his plate. His son came in from duty. "Your aunt's husband took over."

"Is that who that is? Did we send someone and do I have to go rescue them?" Legara waved a hand. "Are they alive?" She glared at him. "It's a fair question. He's the sort that would attack you."

"A guard tried to grab me. I got him."

"Why are you injured then?"

"A demon tried to stop me from going? The boyfriend showed up." She smiled.

He nodded at that. "I'll let the king know in the morning." She wrote out a letter for him and handed it over. "Thank you. You should escape before my mother makes sure your cats sleep alone tonight."

"I was going to. Your father insisted she check the bandage."

"I'm sure he did." He let her go and watched her ride off. He looked at his father. "Do we think it'll be before the wedding or after the wedding? So I know to hire more guards?"

"Hire more guards. There's no telling who'd take over. If he could claim it I could."

"Please don't," his wife begged.

"Please," his second oldest son agreed. "That would complicate it if I give in to Stahni." He frowned. "She's sure she wants a few children but not for a few years yet by the way. Dresmilla was teasing her and asked. They think I don't have honor, Father, and thought I might have done more than kiss her."

"You're too young to have kissed her yet," he said. "Three more years."

"Yes, sir." He grinned at his sister, who grinned back. That got their parents fussing at other things. It'd save Legara and their big brother being fussed at.

***

A week after his son's wedding, Duke Brandles rode into his former palace's grounds with guards. He stared at the people there. "Are we so desperate that you have to co-opt me?" he demanded.

"Yes," one of them said. "You're honest, you can run the kingdom, and you have family."

"Who aren't sure they want to come back to all this." He waved a hand but did dismount to stare at them. "You've all peeved the wife." He smiled. "She's sure she doesn't want to throw more parties. Thankfully she can't get pregnant to get out of them like she did with our first son." He was walked inside.

"What's going on now?" he demanded. They showed him and he corrected things easily enough by sending out orders to end them. By that night they had decided he was the king. He had good diplomatic ties, a strong family, and could make the stupid ones shut up by means of a glare or asking for his daughter-in-law to come beat people if she was as strong as that one was.

By the morning his eldest son had sent in a letter saying he was not their prince, he refused as his present duty to his present kingdom had to come first with his new wife. His next eldest wasn't happy and neither was the woman who wanted him so badly. His son stared at one talking about eligible princesses who could come court him. "I'm engaged to Duchess Stahni. She's Queen Paki's younger sister. Frankly, you're about to make me go live at her house instead." They whined at that. "Sorry! I have a sister who's older. Talk to her." He walked off to find his father.

"Did I hear of this engagement, son?" his father yelled when he spotted him.

"Not yet, Father, and it's official but not noted. We were going to hide it for another two years unless we proved young love was stupid. You have two more sons and three daughters left." He grinned at the staring people. "I'm going to become Stahni's house husband. She doesn't have other relatives. Unless he dies without my sister taking over, then I may come back to spare people." He walked off humming. He went to let his mother yell about all that.

"I suppose that means we have a crown princess," King Brandles said dryly.

"You have two other sons."

"And two daughters older than them and able to run a household or a kingdom. Then one last daughter who will someday be just as strong as Duchess Legara." He stared at his courtier. "Yes, we'll have a crown princess." They bowed and went to draw up rule changes for him to put out. Most of them blamed it on that duchess who had done messenger duty but they all had heard that they could hold their own titles over there. It wasn't just her fault.