Azhen Kaen was the most perfect example of everything a Yoran man should be I’ve ever seen, before or since. He stood tall, with broad shoulders and skin so white he made Senera look tan. Diamonds sparkled in his gray beard braids like ice crystals, the same color as his eyes. He was an older man, but still handsome, still powerful.

He also had a laevos.

That unnerved me to no end. His gray laevos had been coaxed into a standing position, either by magic or glue. I reminded myself that just as Quur had conquered Jorat using soldiers pulled from Khorvesh, Yor had been conquered by Quur using soldiers from Jorat.

The first governor of Yor, later the first Duke of Yor, would have been Joratese. A footnote that would have occurred less than a hundred years ago. He’d have been Duke Kaen’s grandfather or great-grandfather at most.

Exidhar Kaen looked like he planned to crawl under the table. “I was, uh … I mean, I—” He pointed at me with one hand, still clutching his bleeding nose with the other. “She hit me!”

Of course, it came out more like “She hith may!”

Duke Kaen raised an eyebrow at him, glanced at me, and then turned to Relos Var. “Am I correct in assuming my son just grabbed your newest wife’s ass?”

Behind Exidhar, the royal in blue cleared his throat and started paying attention to his wine. I ground my teeth, wondering if I had in fact punched the wrong man.

Mind you, I wanted to punch them all, but that wouldn’t help me in the long run.

Relos Var seemed unconcerned. “I believe she’s already satisfied any demands of honor.”

“Two minutes,” Senera muttered. “We’ve been here less than two minutes.”

The royals sitting at the same table as Exidhar started laughing, clearly considering the whole encounter delightful. From the way Exidhar Kaen blushed, he didn’t think it was quite as entertaining.

Relos Var acknowledged the laughter with a chuckle. “My apologies, Your Grace, for the excitement. Let me present you with Janel Danorak, my newest wife.”

I managed not to roll my eyes. The pain helped. I didn’t even correct Relos Var about my name.

Duke Kaen smiled at me. “I’m charmed, of course.” A frown crossed his face as he stared at me. “Are you all right?”

I suppose he had noticed the tears.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“Is that so?” He reached out and grabbed my hand.

I gritted my teeth and kept from screaming. Barely.

“You seem to have broken your hand,” the duke said.

“Have I? I hadn’t noticed.”

He stared at me in wry disbelief. Then he started laughing too.

Turning to Relos Var, Duke Kaen said, “I am charmed. Tell me you’re leaving her here.”