On the last day, dusk was closing in as Dorrin caught sight of the house. Her guards picked up a canter, riding ahead to announce her return. Dorrin held her mount to a walk. The guards had not reached the house yet, but lights flickered in the windows of the great front room. They had not known when to expect her … Who was there at this hour?

Torches appeared on the porch, and mounted torchbearers rode out of the stableyard as she came to the ford. Light glittered on the moving water; rain had fallen here, and swifter water tumbled over the stones, knee-high on the horses. Torchlight lit someone … a visitor … in red and silver. A royal? Then she was close enough to recognize Duke Serrostin. Had he come to demand his son’s return?

“They thought you might not be back for days,” Serrostin said, sounding more cheerful than she expected. “I’m on the king’s business, my lord Duke. He’s decided to make a progress, and you are the fortunate first domain he will visit.”

Dorrin had a moment of stark panic. The king? Here? When? Surely not before Queen Arian’s visit to Tsaia …

“He plans to come between the queen’s visit and Midsummer Court,” Serrostin went on. “And perhaps he’ll have time to visit Konhalt, depending on when the queen leaves.”

That left time to prepare. “Thank you,” Dorrin said. “We will welcome him, of course. Do you know how many will travel in his party or how long he will stay?”

“Not certainly, though he said he did not intend to impoverish his people; he will bring supplies with him. Possibly the prince, certainly one or two peers, a small staff; he’ll send a courier with details a tenday before he leaves.” Serrostin turned his mount to parallel hers and lowered his voice. “I’ve seen Daryan.”

“He’s matured,” Dorrin said.

“Yes. He informed me very firmly but with perfect courtesy that you had jurisdiction here and I could not take him away without your consent since there was no proof of maltreatment.”

“He thought that’s why you had come?”

“Yes. I finally got a word in to reassure him. Since then he’s been a gracious host in your absence, since both your kirgan and Gwenno Marrakai were out of the house.” He smiled at Beclan. “Hello, Beclan. Daryan said you were wife hunting in Lyonya.”

“I was not! I was just … I had the chance…”

“He was teasing,” Dorrin said. Beclan subsided.

“So tell me, my lord, do you know when the queen will come?” Serrostin asked. “We had thought she planned to leave Chaya within days after the marriage.”

He must have missed the courier sent to Mikeli, Dorrin realized. “I have news both good and bad,” she said. “But let me save that for a private conversation.”

“Of course.”