Later that night, after a pleasant dinner at which Daryan served, his wrinkled brown thumb uncovered as he handed platters around, Dorrin took Duke Serrostin into her office and related all that had happened while she was in Lyonya.

“The elf queen dead! I cannot believe it—they’re immortals—”

“Not with a sword in their vitals,” Dorrin said bluntly. “It will change Lyonya; Kieri doesn’t yet know how, but it’s clear the elves are in disarray, with no elvenhome. What King Mikeli needs to know—though he should have had a courier by now—is that King Kieri intends no change in his own policy toward Tsaia.”

Next morning Serrostin started back for Vérella. “I’ve had a very pleasant several days here, my lord Verrakai,” he said. “It’s not what I expected, very homelike.” The laughter of children sounded from the kitchen garden as they spoke. “Our king will enjoy his time here, I’m sure, and I’m glad I had this chance to meet with Daryan and reassure him I was not as upset with his … his Kuakgan influence as I had been earlier. A father’s panic, for which I hope you will forgive me.”

“Of course,” Dorrin said. “Any father would be upset—and angry—to have a son first injured and then defiant.”

When Duke Serrostin and his escort had ridden across the ford, Dorrin turned to her squires. “We have work to do,” Dorrin said to them. “In addition to the usual patrols, we must prepare for a royal visit, and I find no record of any such in the rolls. So you, and Gwenno when she comes back from patrol, will be helping me with this. Food, housing, supplies for the king’s entourage, fodder for the extra animals, some kind of welcoming ceremony. And safety, of course. Beclan, you’re to find a place to go on legitimate business while the king’s here … the new middle road, perhaps. Have you ever surveyed anything?”

“No, my lord.”

“Time you learned. Since you’re going to inherit all this—” Her arm swept out, indicating the entire domain. “—you’d best know how big it is and every part of it. I’ll start you with Sergeant Natzlin: she’s good with a rope.”

“A rope?”

“For measuring distance. You can practice with the house and stableyard for a day or two. Daryan, it would be good for you to learn this as well, but I have another errand for you.”