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"I’ht now?"

"Nothing"

"Nothing?" I exclai hiotten so close

"Nope," he said cheerfully "It’s out of my hands I found what I needed, proved that Deanna Jones didn’t buy the gun Fro Cal Jones’s house right now and questioning hiet in the way of the fine ood newswell, at least as the case’s progress went It wouldn’t be easy on Deanna to learn the truth about her husband "And women," I said "There are probably women in blue there too"

"If you say so"

"Thanks, Enrique I really appreciate it I honestly didn’t think it could be done"

"Don’t get all emotional," he said in that brisk way of his "At least not until you see the bill"

We disconnected Attitude or no, Enrique had been a good call on Roland’s partwhich once again brought about the sadness over the turn into do for it at the moment, not with all my other problems And anyway, I had a loose end that could norapped up

Taking outspell, calling to Deanna I had no control over her but she’d responded to e listening for it After several ave up and sadly suspected she wasn’t coer as she’d been to get answers, it wouldn’t have surprisedEnrique around while he worked She ht have discovered for herself what her husband had done If so, I hoped she’d nowrestless and sad in this world There was enough suffering here already

I tried as hard as I could the next couple days to stay away from the Otherworld Wil visited off and on, and Jasfor clothes for her Tim and Lara often appeared, still in the throes of their love, and Kiyo returned with reports about the Otherworld, reassuring ressing sht, he came to my bed, and I found the return of our fierce sex life went a long way toward taking my mind off my laundry list of probleive in The call to , and even Kiyo adile hold on the Rowan Land, I needed to visit and connect with it to reinforce our bond By that point, I needed no urging My own body was telling me as much I still felt weak and drained, my dreams haunted by cacti and cherry trees

I took Jash yet forto the Rowan Land, however, insisting she would stay in the Thorn Land untilshe was secure there Kiyo was still going with ht us before we could leave

"There’s a few things you should probably know," she said uneasily Her nervousness was likely due to the fact that I hated being troubled with the day-to-day running of a kingdo about the fear in her eyes told me she also kneouldn’t like what she had to say

I sighed "Go ahead"

"II’ve heard fro Dorian a number of times"

Kiyo shifted uncoer run downand betrayal ca all the worse because in the end, he’d gotten exactly what he wanted: the Iron Crown had done its job He probably wanted me to take still more lands

"What’s he want?" I deer in a partnership"

"Well, that’s just it Since you are - were - allies in the war, he says he deserves some of the spoils of your victory"

"Hewhat?" My fury increased "He doesn’t deserve anything I was the one on and used the crown"

She nodded, still looking like she wished she could be anywhere else "Yesbut he argues that he was the one who sent you to get the crown And that his armies lost as many lives as yours"

That last point silenced ht with mine His people’s families mourned those casualties as ht that had nothing to do with the, of that I was certain, but I was indebted to his subjects

When I didn’t respond, Shaya continued "So hold the Rowan Land"

"Oh, are they?" Of course Dorian would have swooped in "I never asked for that"

She shook her head "Nonetheless, you need it Many are still having trouble accepting your rule There’s a lot of seething resentely because of the sizable presence Rurik sent to keep control Dorian’s helping with that"

I’d meditated with the Thorn Land as soon as I’d arrived,me feel a little better, but the pressure and continued political co me I wasn’t doe food producer, and he wants part of that"

"That doesn’t sound so bad," I said tentatively

"I’ he wants it at lo prices," said Kiyo, speaking up for the first time

Shaya nodded "He does And he’s entitled to it to a certain extent But his current deer the Rowan Land’s economy Maybe that’s not an issue It all depends on what you want for theates What did I want for those people? I wanted thes to return to nor in the middle?" I asked Shaya

"Most likely"

"Then do it"

She bowed her head in acknowledgment, and I knew that’s what she’d already known had to be done She was sih theeveryone that ultimately, I still held the authority around here

When Kiyo and I finally made it to the Rowan Land, I felt the land’s relief and welco n of the Rowan military but plenty ofthe order Shaya had told me about They bowed lohen they saw dom’s citizens Only, Katrice’s subjects didn’t bow out of respect and deference There was fear in their eyes, confusion in so a few that their actions were forced

Rurik was still in residence, personally overseeing the occupation I felt secure in his control and listened as he explained what needed to be done next I understood it only a little better than the econo I’d need a governing body here soon Picking that staff would be a problem Shaya was one in a million, but even she couldn’t be in two places at once Seeing my dismay, Rurik hesitantly added that Dorian had offered to provide people for the job My expression at those words gave Rurik all the answer he needed

The Rowan Land’s energy continued to flow into me when I set out to have my meditation session with it The nature of the connection was sidom’s feel was totally different The Thorn Land was harsh - filled with life, yes, but life that fought fiercely against the elements for survival The Rowan Land was softer, its life bursting forth easily and radiating through its enie," said Kiyo, following arden behind the castle "Look"

I paused and glanced behind me Where I’d walked, flowers had blossorassy path I knelt down, inhaling their heady scent "Why’s it happening?"

"You’re its ruler You’re giving the land life and energy"

I thought about how being here hadme toobut this doesn’t happen in the Thorn Land I don’t have that kind of effect"

"Don’t you?" he teased, a mischievous smile on his face "You make it rain"

A meht While connecting with the land, I’d had sex with Kiyo, and the energy fro the dry spell and sending much-needed rain that made the people and plants flourish

I smiled back at him "Looks like we don’t have to worry about that today This land doesn’t need as much help"

He slipped an arine the results if we did Extra credit"

Leaning down, he brought his lips to h passion I feltI pictured what it would be like to reenery, here in the sunshine Would a bed of red flowers fill the ground below us? AgainI kind of wanted to find out, but I also wasn’t codom yet I didn’t want to risk discovery of entry Reluctantly, I pulled away from him

"Another time"

After a few round while he waited, closingmyself to the world around me We are one, I assured the land I ah me and lost track of time When I finished, I was startled at how far the sun had ed, looking at ease as he watchedup "I’"

He stood as well "It’s no probleht I wasand content

After another check with Rurik, Kiyo and I headed back to the Thorn Land Here, he parted fros" He assured me he’d be back in Tucson as soon as he could, but I saw the look Jashts: more reports to Maiwenn

Jas, I impulsively set out alone to where I’d communed earlier with the Thorn Land It had been on a distant part of the grounds, one of my favorite places, in the shade of a mesquite tree Its perfume rivaled that of the Rowan flowers, and around it stood cacti in all shapes and sizes, so like sentries

Al

A chill ran down my spine as I stared at the flowers on the cacti They forht around where I’d been , the petals in all shapes and sizes The floere beautiful Exquisite

And none of them had been there earlier