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“That’s all well and good once the spring tithes co now!” Kermilla said
“But the winter tithes were paid not o,” he protested “What happened to that income?”
“Abetween htened out as soon as I talk to her after Winsol, but for now I need two or three hundred gold marks to tide me—”
Shock in his eyes Panic as the front door opened He bolted out of the chair and alet out of the room
She heard her mother’s voice—and her father’s Too low to hear the words, but she recognized the tone
A minute later, her mother walked into the roo her chin in a subtle challenge After all, her ht wear Summer-sky too, but she was just a witch, not a Queen
Her iven you all the financial help we can It’s time for you to take responsibility for yourself, especially when you’ve taken responsibility for so many other people’s lives now I love you, Kermilla, and I love your father But I will divorce him if that’s what I have to do to protect your brother and sister’s future I will do that”
“You won’t help me at all?” Kermilla asked
Her ive, and there won’t be for several h the days of Winsol?”
Kermilla nodded
“Good,” her mother said “It would have hurt your father terribly if you only caet money”
TERREILLE
Cassidy ca in the roo to the kitchen, where the servants were ht snack
It stung that Gray had been right to insist that she take a nap During the first four days of Winsol, she’d visited a dozen villages in the Shalador reserves and the two southernmost Provinces; she’d listened to children in each of those villages sing the saes with the residing Queen or Warlord Prince to see the new loaning libraries and other improvements; and she’d felt overwheles’ main streets in order to see the Queen known as Shalador’s Lady
A couple of sneezes thisdoith a chill froue while she attended the perfor, since it was the last official function she would e until after Winsol, but when they returned hoo to bed and rest for the afternoon—and Shira had agreed with him
Her breathinghad felt a little raspy and her chest had burned when she coughed, so she didn’t argue with the brew Shira hadsome sleep, she wandered into the kitchen to find her court and family
Devra looked over, then pulled two baking sheets out of the oven and set thehter You look better for the rest”
“Uh-huh” Cassidy was so focused on the baking sheets, she barely heard her h, baked golden brown and full ofWas that chocolate?
“Chocolate chunk cookies,” Maydra replied as she continued to blend and stir ingredients in a big bowl on the counter “A special Winsol treat that’s made in Dena Nehele”