He wanted more than that, of course. Expected more by now. She just wished she could conjure up a little more enthusiasm.

Talia Abbott and Trey Archer were on guard outside her room. Raisa paused in front of her door and smiled at Talia. “How is Sergeant Greenholt settling in?” she asked. Pearlie Greenholt, Talia’s Ardenine girlfriend, was new to the Fells. The former weapons master at Wien House, she’d been named sergeant under the new Captain Byrne.

“She likes it well enough, Your Highness,” Talia said with studied politeness. “Thank you for asking.”

Raisa raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Talia snickered. “She says it’s too bloody cold up here and she’s tired of walking on a slant all the time. Plus she misses the fresh fruits and greens we had year ’round at the Ford. Says all the turnips and cabbage give her the farts.”

Raisa laughed, knowing Pearlie would be mortified if she knew what secrets Talia was sharing with the queen of the Fells. But Talia, at least, was short on formality.

Back in Raisa’s room, her bath waited on its burner, steaming in the chilly air, but Magret was nowhere to be seen. She must be down with one of her headaches, Raisa thought. She ordered a light supper sent up, and wearily stripped off her riding breeches, jacket, and underclothes. As she sank into the hot water, her thoughts returned to the question that had been deviling her since she lost her temper with her advisers.

Had she made the right decision in putting Han Alister on the Wizard Council?

Would Han be able to help her on the council, or would he be shunned as the outsider he was? Or worse, murdered for his arrogance? Averill had made it clear he disapproved. It was what Han had wanted, but…

She must have fallen asleep. She woke to a hard rap on the door, and assumed it was supper arriving. Climbing from her bath, she toweled off and shrugged into her dressing gown. She walked into the sitting room, but when the sound repeated, she realized it came from the inside door to Han’s suite.

She put her lips to the door. “What do you want?” she said.

“I believe we have an appointment, Your Highness,” Han said through the door.

Appointment? Oh. Right. It was time for their rescheduled tutoring session.

Blood and bones. She wasn’t ready to face another evening with a cold, distant Han Alister. It was just too painful.

“This isn’t a good time, after all,” Raisa said, looking down at bare toes peeking out from under her dressing gown. “Could we meet later in the week?”

“I need to talk to you. Now,” he said brusquely. After a pause, he added, “We had a bargain, right?”