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Having made that promise, he rose and went out to the stables to join Gray

Theran leaned back to let the servant he’d hired for a thief’s wage remove his plate

The dinner wasn’t going well That wasn’t Ker her best to entertain these men, but he should have realized Warlord Princes who had spent oing fight to protect what they could of Dena Nehele wouldn’t have much interest in the conversation of a twenty-one-year-old woman they couldn’t bed

They were polite He couldn’t fault them for theirinterest they clearly didn’t feel At least, it was clear to him

They were also getting pissed off at Correne’s catty ree In fact, she was one of the young Queens the Warlord Princes were vehee That she see to compete with Kermilla for thethe bait and blatantly flirting—wasn’t lost on these men

“Ker the Queens in the northern Provinces re-learn the aspect of their power that nourishes the land and benefits the harvest,” Theran said, laying his hand lightly on Kermilla’s wrist

She gave hiht say so imprudent Then she slipped her wrist out from under his hand and smiled at Ferall

“Yes,” she said “I was shocked to learn that otten such a basic part of what makes a Queen a Queen”

The skin around Ferall’s eyes tightened

Kermilla added hastily, “So I was, naturally, pleased to be of some small service to them”

“You haven’t set up a court yet?” Ferall asked

“Silly ave Ferall a dazzling se in Dharo”

“So who has been taking care of the Queen’s duties there while you’ve been visiting Theran here?”

Anger flashed through Theran Had Kermilla heard the criticism in that question?

Kermilla put aside the flirtatious playfulness as easily as she ave Ferall a look at the Queen beneath the young-wo web of Queens The village I rule can be run very well byI a there and would return hoently needed” She placed her hand on Theran’s arent inBut a village that is well established requires little supervision froive Theran whatever assistance I can in repairing the dae that has been done to his people”

Her speech warave Theran a hard look and said, “I thought that’s why Lady Cassidy careed to have her as the Queen And she didn’t leave the people she’d proive assistance’ ”

Where was that anger co Kermilla said should have offended Ferall that much Unless he wanted to be offended for some reason?