Chapter 3

R o was distracted by Gabriel slipping out of the sitting room and into the foyer. She raised her hand to interrupt her aunt. "Just a moment, Aunt Vi. There seems to be something happening outside."

"Breakfast, maybe?" Aunt Violet said.

Ro shook her head. "I don't think so." She leaned to one side, trying to see better.

Gabriel returned, followed by a pair of royal guards who were dragging a child between them.

She frowned and stood. "What's going on?"

Gabriel's stern expression didn't give much away. "You aren't going to believe this, my lady. The archer has been found."

Gabriel stepped aside and the guards thrust the young boy forward. His hair was mussed, his clothes dirty, and it was clear he'd been crying, but Ro recognized him all the same. He was the page who'd waited on her and Gabriel when they'd gone to see the warhorses at the stable arena. She sucked in a breath. "Kieran?"

"I didn't mean it, my lady, I didn't," he sobbed.

She crouched down in front of him. "Hush now, no tears. Tell me what happened."

"I was practicing in the gardens." He wiped his hand under his nose. "It was early, and no one was out there, and I didn't mean it."

"You were practicing with a bow and arrow?"

He nodded, eyes red and tearful. "I never would have hurt you, my lady, I swear it on all the warhorses in the stables. Please don't let them kill me."

Ro frowned and looked up at the two guards. "I don't know why you'd think your life was in danger, Kieran. No one is going to hurt you."

The guards stared at their feet as they stepped back.

"Trying to kill the queen is treason, my lady, but even if it wasn't, I would never try to kill you. I swear it." His lower lip quivered.

Ro's heart ached for the boy. He reminded her so much of JT when he was little. She used the edge of her sleeve to wipe his eyes. "Kieran?"

He sniffed. "Yes, your highness?"

"I know you wouldn't." She put her hands on his shoulders.

He nodded, a little hiccup escaping. "I t-think you're a very good queen."

She smiled. "Thank you, Kieran. I think you're a very good page for the royal box at the arena."

He bowed, a little shaky. "Thank you, your majesty. I do my best."

He was absolutely precious. When he was upright again, she wiped one last tear from his face. "There is one thing I'd like to know."

"Anything, my lady."

"Did anyone tell you to go practice in the garden?"

"No, my lady. I…I did that on my own." His chin wobbled. "Some of the other stable boys were going, so I went, too."

"That's all right, no need for tears." Impulsively, she pulled him into her arms and hugged him. "Everything's fine, Kieran. You're not in trouble, I promise."

He nodded against her shoulder. "Thank you, my lady."

She gave him a final squeeze before letting go of him and getting to her feet. She raised her brows at Gabriel. "I guess we can rule out the assassination attempt."

Gabriel, being Gabriel, didn't look quite as convinced. "I'd like to talk to the boy myself."

"Don't say anything to his parents, all right?"

Gabriel shook his head. "He has no parents. The children sent to work here are generally sent because they're orphans."

"Oh." Her heart went out to the little boy. The aromas of coffee, cocoa, and food spilled through the room as footmen arrived with their breakfast. To Gabriel, she said, "Get him whatever he wants to eat and drink, and then take him into the private dining room. You can speak to him there." She leaned in. "Be kind to him or I will not be happy."

Amusement sparked in Gabriel's eyes. "I understand, my lady."

"Good."

Gabriel put his hand on the boy's shoulder and guided him to the sideboard where the food was being set up.

Ro looked at the royal guards who'd brought the boy in. "I don't know what you said or did to him, but guards in my employ don't bully children."

They both shook their heads. "No, your highness."

"You're dismissed."

They left and she turned back to her audience. "I guess that's that. We should get Uldamar back here as soon as possible."

Posey, Violet's friend and Ro's newly appointed secretary, stood up. "I could go get him. I know where his quarters are."

"That would be lovely, thank you, Posey." Ro gestured to everyone else. "Please, all of you, get some food for yourselves. You don't need to wait for me."

As the group got up, JT approached, cup and saucer in hand. "Here, Mom. Half coffee, half spiced cocoa, just the way you like it."

"Thank you. I need this." She took it from him, putting it straight to her lips. The morning had already been long, and the caffeine was welcome.

"So the kid accidentally shot an arrow toward you?" JT's brow was bent in disbelief. "You think that's true?"

"I do. He's not just any kid. He's the page assigned to the royal box at the stables. He waited on Gabriel and me the other night when we went to see the warhorse display."

"And how was he that night?"

"As sweet as pie." She took another long sip of her drink. It was half-gone. "Trust me, JT. This kid is not a killer."

"If you believe him, that's enough for me." He smiled. "Go get yourself something to eat, Mom."

"You, too. And Aunt Violet."

He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "She's in line."

"Good."

Before long, everyone had a plate and a drink and had returned to their seats. While they were eating, Gabriel and Kieran emerged from the dining room. Gabriel gave Ro a quick nod, then escorted the young boy out.

When Gabriel returned, Uldamar was with him, and they were talking. No doubt Gabriel was explaining what had happened. Then they, too, got food and drinks and settled in.

Ro hadn't taken much food. She was tired and stressed and those two things were doing a number on her appetite. She ate a little bit of scrambled eggs, a few bites of the vegetable hash, and a pastry that seemed like a cross between a biscuit and a scone with butter and blackberry jam.

One of the footmen refilled her coffee cup for the second time. She nodded her appreciation, but it would be her last cup. She didn't know if it was the stress or the caffeine, but she was starting to feel jittery.

She popped the last morsel of biscuit into her mouth and gave her plate to a footman to take away. She washed it down with a swig of the coffee-cocoa mix, then rested her cup and saucer on a nearby table. She didn't want to discuss matters of state with the footmen present, so she got to her feet. She held out her hands. "Please, keep eating. We'll have our discussion as soon as everyone is done. I'll be back shortly."

She left the sitting room and went directly to the private wing of the royal apartment, to the smaller sitting room. From there, she stepped out onto the balcony. She needed to breathe fresh air and clear her head before this talk about how to handle things with Queen Anyka.

Being shot at certainly hadn't helped things, even if it had just been an accident.

The door opened and Gabriel joined her. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I don't know if it's wise for you to be out here. It's a very open space."

"Kieran isn't an assassin. No one is trying to kill me. Which is what I hope you explained to Uldamar."

Gabriel scanned the land around them, his gaze intense. "I did. Uldamar said he wanted to speak to both of us as soon as possible."

"About what?"

Gabriel shook his head. "I don't know. Another of the professors came up to talk to him, so I didn't get to ask. I got the sense that it wasn't a conversation he wanted to have with a lot of people around."

She frowned. "That doesn't sound good. Now I'm really curious. I wonder if it's new information about Lady Cynzia's book."

"Or Lady Cynzia herself." Gabriel shifted his gaze to Ro briefly before going back to being on the lookout. "If there's any chance that she's still alive, it's something we should look into. You know Queen Anyka will."

Ro thought about that a moment. "I agree. But if Cynzia is really still around, how has she stayed hidden for so long? And why? Enough time has passed since she was incarcerated at Tenebrae. Would the Grym really put her back there? I don't feel like Anyka would. Anyka would put Cynzia to work."

"Which is why, if there's the slightest chance Cynzia is alive, Anyka will be hunting for her. Anyka has to see anyone who can wield that amount of magic as a valuable resource. As to why Lady Cynzia would stay hidden…maybe the price of all that dark magic became too much for her to pay. Maybe she was done being used as a tool of the crown. It could be that she wanted to be done with it. To shed the weight of all that and live a simpler life. Who knows? I'm sure that's something Uldamar could answer better than I."

"I'd love to hear his theory." She sighed. "I suppose I should get back in there."

"Are you all right?"

"You mean why did I come out here?" She smiled, briefly. "I just needed some air. It's been a day. And the day has only begun."

"Very true."

"The footmen can leave the food, but I need them gone before we have this discussion. It's not for their ears."

"Understood. I'll take care of it."

"Thanks." She looked through the windows, but there was no one in the small sitting room. Gabriel was still on watch. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. She'd have rather kissed his mouth, but they were too exposed. "Thanks for saving my life, by the way."

"I didn't save your life. You moved yourself out of danger."

"Gabriel, you acted immediately to shield me. Had there been an assassin, their next shot would have hit you. Don't downplay what you did. It was very impressive."

The corner of his mouth twitched. "You're welcome, my lady."

"Can you send Larksford out here? I need a word with him."

Gabriel nodded. "I'll send him immediately."

"Thank you."

He went inside, presumably to dismiss the footmen, let the guards in the hall know they were not to be disturbed and to send the Professor of Protocol to her.

Indeed, Professor Larksford appeared momentarily. "You wished to see me, my lady?"

"Yes. Out here. And close the door behind you."

Looking slightly nervous, Larksford did as she asked. "What can I help you with?"

"I'm curious about what's involved in bestowing a title on someone. Am I able to do that? And if so, how? What titles can I give?"

He clasped his hands behind his back, noticeably relieved. "You absolutely can do that. You can convey the titles of Dame, Knight, Lady, or Lord to whomever you choose. There are two ways to go about it. You can bestow the title in an honorary fashion, or you can legitimately transfer the title to someone through the gift of a titled estate."

"Am I correct in assuming a landed title carries more weight?"

"You are, my lady."

"All right," Ro said. "Does the crown have titled estates to give?"

"It does, your majesty. There are quite a few, actually. Without a ruler, none of the titled estates have been conferred in years and a good deal more reverted to the crown when the last landed noble of each died without leaving an heir."

"Which is the nicest of them all?"

"I would say…Starfall, my lady. It abuts the grounds of Castle Clarion. It's gone a bit wild, but there are those who would find that a plus. My understanding is that it has incredible wildlife and tremendous views of the Whistling Sea. I believe it's approximately eight hundred acres and brings roughly two million to the royal coffers annually."

Her brows lifted. That was extraordinary. "Eight hundred? And two million?"

He nodded. "There's a manor house, a large stable, the village of Starfall and a good deal of farmland that's being worked by the tenants. Plenty of hunting and fishing to be had, as well. There is also an abandoned trillianite mine. It's been some years since I've seen the property but I'm sure the Professor of Agriculture could tell you more."

"No, that's all right. It sounds beautiful. And whoever I bestowed that on would become what?"

"The Lord or Lady of Starfall."

Ro liked that. "Is there paperwork to be done so this can happen?"

"Yes, but I can take care of that for you. It is part of my job. Then it's just a matter of an official ceremony, your signature and seal, and it's done."

"Excellent news. I want to do that."

"Very good. I will need the name of whomever you plan on bestowing the title to."

"Of course. Professor Nightborne. In recognition of him saving my life today. Keep it between us for now, please. Also, I realize no one was actively trying to kill me, but he didn't know that and his actions were commendable."

Larksford's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "You would bestow a titled Summerton property on a Grym?"

She stared right back at Larksford, an uncommon anger rising up in her. "Yes, I would. The man would have saved my life. He also potentially saved this entire kingdom with his actions concerning Lady Cynzia's diary. He has been nothing but loyal to the crown and the people of Summerton. Are you genuinely questioning your queen, Everand Larksford?"

He quickly shook his head. "No, your majesty. That was disrespectful of me."

"I understand your concerns, but they are misplaced when it comes to Gabriel Nightborne. I would also like to remind you that my son, Prince James, is half Grym. If you insist on judging people by their ethnicity—"

"No, my lady. I was wrong." His head dropped. "I'll take care of the paperwork immediately."

"I want it by this evening. Now, I think it's time to go in." She opened the door and headed for the sitting room. Larksford followed, going back to his seat. He glanced at Gabriel, who was looking at Ro.

She wasn't sure what he'd think of her gift, but she'd find out soon enough.