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So they were back in Eyota in time to make this last visit and be home for dinner

They rode in slowly, in part to give the guard on duty time to sense their presence but hing and squealing

“Cows and sheep?” Gray asked, reining in before they reached the floating balls of green witchlight

“Looks like it,” Ranon agreed

Gray watched JuliDee evade the Sceltie and dart away froht “Wynne doesn’t see too well”

“Wynne isn’t trying very hard,” Ranon replied dryly “I iine if there was a reason to round up these ‘sheep,’ they’d be rounded up”

James Weaver ca as they dismounted

“We were all putting away our tools and having a glass of ale as an end to the day Would you join us? Or would you prefer so hot?”

“Ale would be fine,” Ranon replied They tied their horses to a post and followed James into one of the workshops Potter and Tanner were there So was Janal from his father and excused himself

Slasses of ale were poured Gray wondered if it was the cost of the ale that prevented thelass Then he realized this wasn’t about drinking This was a ritual aed a day’s work—and the freedom to ithout fear

“There is so we felt you need to know,” Gray said He explained the court’s decision to break from Dena Nehele and for it all day—and would explain it when he and Ranonin the five southern Provinces

James looked at Potter and Tanner, then rubbed the back of his neck “We thank you for the courtesy of telling us”

Ranon studied the men “You already knew”

“In a way,” Potter said “But we appreciate you translating it into human”

Gray looked at Ranon Ranon looked at Gray Together they said, “Human?”

Jaot earlier today was ‘We don’t like the other Queen We’re keeping Cassie So herher territory’ ”

“Marking—” Ranon choked Then he blushed

Potter nodded “Of course, the boys wanted to knohat that meant, so Duffy demonstrated and”

Gray hunched his shoulders and groaned “How many women are mad at us?”

Ja as you don’t pee on any of the houses, I think you’ll be all right”

Theran pounded on the boardinghouse’s front door Dae before someone opened the damn door How in the name of Hell could an animal that small make a noise that loud?

He couldn’t see thenized the psychic scents of Archerr and Shaddo And he felt Talon’s presence

And he felt insulted that he’d been “escorted” here by a guard