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Fergal gave the colt one last stroke down his nose before turning away, Damian’s hand still on his shoulder

Lady greeted the around her Her arms were crossed and she held a ladle Aro ht air

“It’s about time,” she said

Damian danced up the porch steps “Lady, my lady,the wild ones”

She rolled her eyes and stepped aside “If you find ht, you may blame yourself”

Karigan and Fergal went to their respective rooms to clean up, and when they returned to the kitchen they found Gus and Jericho already seated at the table, and Ero sprawled in front of the hearth Damian carved a roast of la revealed pink h Her stomach rumbled in anticipation

Lady, trying to work around the hearth, placed her hands on her hips and declared, “Ero, you are not a hearth rug”

Ero’s only response was to yawn and stretch his long body even longer Lady shook her head

Everyone ate as though famished Ero abandoned hearth duty to sit beside the table He was aze longingly at food as it was consumed by his people Damian and the boys slipped him some scraps

Meanwhile, Damian recounted to Lady the day’s events

“Did you see the patron, too?” Lady asked Karigan, her blue eyes intense

“Yes”

Lady nodded as though she had expected all along that she would

“I didn’t,” Fergal said

Lady reached across the table and patted his wrist “Maybe another time You are both welcome to visit whenever you want”

Fergal brightened “Really?”

“Really,” she said “As your duty to the king allows”