Chapter Sixteen.
 

Ballor carried everything in off their travel cart, letting Liset get the horses while Cook tucked Xahar onto a sofa.  It had been a long trip through the snow from the dragon clan's mountains but it had been worthwhile.  It had been a long, strange two months in between the knighting and then as well, with Liset going to help the princess and him learning how to get along with a normal woman again.  He wasn't sure he had it right but she only giggled when he mixed her and Liset's likes up.  He heard a quiet footstep behind him and turned, finding himself pinned to the side of the cart by his girlfriend, being kissed ardently.  He finally pulled back to breathe, panting hard.  "Huh?"

"I missed you," she said slowly and clearly.  "I nearly chased you down."  She kissed him again, showing him what she had learned in her time as Lady Pegnis's personal assistant.  Being the assistant to the official concubine had been very enlightening.  She made him drop the bags in his hand and wrapped them around her, and he got the idea, going with it by squeezing her and stroking her back under her cloak.  She grinned when she pulled back this time.  "Better."

This time he turned her and kissed her instead, making her moan as he pushed her into the side of the cart.  He pulled back to stare into her eyes.

"If you're going to molest my guard, you're going to have to do the honorable thing and marry him," Xahar yelled from the doorway.  "Let him carry stuff inside first.  Then you can help him bathe."

"Boss, get your own stuff," he complained, picking his lady up and carrying her up to his room.  Xahar only laughed so he knew he wasn't in trouble for it.  He tossed her onto the bed, making her giggle. "Will you do the honorable thing and make me an honest warrior?"

"She'd better," Liset said from the doorway. "Or else I get to hurt her for playing with you.  Letter from your mother, Ballor."  She handed it over with a smirk.  "We're expecting royal visitors within an hour so lock the door."  She walked out, closing the door behind her.

"I will make an honorable warrior out of you, but you've got to introduce me to your mother and you've got to put a lock on your door," she said.  She scooted over so she could take the letter from his hand, reading it.  "Well, one of those won't be a problem.  She just moved to a new village.  Said the old one got upset at her for you working for Xahar.  She's up by the creationist mages?"

"We were up there earlier this year," he offered, taking the letter back to read.  "I'll work on the lock tomorrow."

"That's fine."  She pulled him down to kiss him stupid, making him grin. "Tell your boss he doesn't have to dance for us.  I'm not really concerned about the fertility stuff."

"Sure," he agreed gently, kissing her again.  His mother's letter was put aside and he found something much more interesting to look at.  "If you could fight, you could even travel with us."

"I'm a very good archer and I spent the last month brushing up on my skills," she said proudly.  "I'm going with you."  He laughed and nodded, kissing her.

"No, Miradin, leave Ballor alone.  He's in there with his future wife," Liset said from the hallway, leading the littler feet off and down the stairs.

"It's never boring here," she noted. "I like that."  She rolled him under her and proved how strong she really was.

Downstairs, Xahar was greeting his guests.  "Here, come in, have some tea," he politely ordered, glancing at Liset.  "Go get the other bags.  Put them in the safe?"

She nodded, walking Miradin out to help her.  It was normal warrior woman stuff to be a pack mule.  She looked down at the princess.  "Well, it looks like Sabia will be joining us," she told her.  That got a giggle.  "I've never seen Ballor smile at a woman like that so I guess it's okay."  She lifted the last few bags with a wince and carried them inside, struggling under the weight.  "I need to lift more weights more often," she complained, shoving the contents into the safe and leaving it there.  The princess shoved over the next bag.  "It was a good trip and we made a lot of money, some of which was actually ours since we did things like read."  She winked.  "But we let Xahar take all the credit."

"You should get some too," she complained.

"Oh, he'll give us ours.  But in public he went to perform and we went to guard him.  Sometimes the outer perception of something isn't how it really is inside."

"Like how the Court always seems so pretty but it's got mean people?" she asked.  Liset nodded.  "Can I yank on the hair of the mean people?"

"Only your grandmother can advise you on that," she offered. "I don't do much with the court because I'd insult everyone within a few hours."  Miradin nodded at that.  "Ask her, she might be able to help."

"She's got the sniffles and can't get out of bed or be seen.  They don't want me to catch it."

"The healers have these masks they wear.  You should be able to get one of those and see her now and then," she offered.  Miradin smiled at that and hugged her.  "Here, shove the last two bags over."  They were shoved over so she emptied them into the safe, getting the clink of the top lock closing.  "Well, dirt, it's full," she complained, dragging the last bag to the main safe and emptying it through the hole.  "I'll tell him I had to do that later."  She went back to check the cart, then got some help from the groom pushing it into the garage and stables.  Then she took the princess back inside.  "Hey, boss, safe's full.  I had to dump the last bag straight into the bigger one."

"Sure," he agreed, grinning at her.  "Did you hear, the queen has a head cold."

"I did.  Miradin wanted to know if she could use one of the healer's masks to see her," she asked her mother.

Thinian nodded.  "That's how her son does it, she should be able to too."  She picked up her daughter.  "Were you outside?"

"She graciously helped me heft and tote the spoils of our trip inside," she said dryly.  Liset sat down and crossed her legs.  "Boss, there's going to be a wedding."

"Who's getting married?" the Numfrian queen asked.

"Ballor and his lady, Sabia."  She grinned at her boss. "I heard her saying something about being a good archer too.  Looks like you may have a third guard."

"That's great," he agreed, grinning at her. "If not, I'll let him build a small house on the estate and he can live there and find and train his replacement."

Liset leaned over to hug him.  "I'm not leaving, boss. You'll still have me, even if he does retire to raise warrior babies with her."  She got up and headed into the kitchen to get something to drink for them, finding a young woman in there.  "Gee, Elevan, you've changed!"

The girl chuckled.  "I'm one of the Princess' ladies in waiting, ma'am."

"Liset, honey, don't ma'am me.  I'm not a Lady."

She nodded and shook her hand.  "Can you help me carry the tea tray?"

"Sure."  She grabbed one side while the lady got the other, letting her walk backwards into the meeting area.  "Tea."

"I love you," Xahar teased.  He gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, getting a dirty look.  "Majesty, this is Liset, one of my guards.  She went not only to make sure no one kept me this time but also to do some mild entertaining herself by reading to some of the clan's servants."

"That's very thoughtful of you," she agreed, shaking her hand.  "Xahar said much about you while he was with us."

She rolled her eyes.  "He always does when he gets nervous.  Babbles about Ballor too.  People think we're together when he does that."  The crown princess and the queen both cracked up at that.  "Boss, need me? I'm off for a long bath."

"Go for it," he assured her.  "Do I need to tend to the horses?"

"The groom has 'em," she reminded him.  "I checked my mare, she's fine.  Getting bigger."  She bowed politely then left, heading up to her room to get warm and clean. That's where she found Cook.  "Hiding?"

"Yup," he said, pouring more water in.  "Sabia still here?"

"In Ballor's room.  There's going to be a wedding soon," she noted, grinning at his sly look.  "Not out of necessity but definitely a wedding soon."

"I'll start plans for a cake," he promised, handing her the last bucket.  "No one in my kitchen?"

"One of the ladies in waiting.  Oh, remind him that the safe's full?  Again?  We need the money counter in."

"Sure, later. You bathe and rest.  I'll bring dinner up the stairs for you."  He left her alone to get into the tub, heading down the back stairs to start on dinner.  Xahar would be starved.  Ballor would be starved for different reasons.  Liset would need to nibble for a few days.  He looked around his kitchen and groaned.  He went to take the monthly household money from his cabinet and bounced it in his hand.  "More'n enough," he decided, grabbing his cloak and boots.  He headed to stick his head into the drawing room.  "Boss, heading out for food.  Gonna be a while."

"Sure, Cook.  Let me know when. I might have to step out tonight too."  He nodded, disappearing outside.  "He's a great guy.  Does wonders for my picky nature."  The crown princess laughed.  "You don't think so?"

Miradin looked at him.  "You eat like the palace rabbits.  Why?"

"Because most of our dancers are trained that way," the queen told her gently.  "That way they stay strong, but don't overly grow muscles, and they get the energy they need to dance.  Mages eat a lot of bread, dancers eat a lot of greens, and warriors eat a lot of meat because that's what their bodies need."

"Thank you," she said politely.

"You're very welcome, Miradin.  I wish my daughters had been half as curious as you are.  It would have made them more fun to teach."  The little princess smiled at that and hugged her, then crawled up beside Xahar to cuddle into his side.

"Ready for a nap, Miradin?" her mother asked.

"No, naps are for the brother.  I'm being good and polite."

"You are," Xahar assured her firmly. "Very good.  You helped Liset a lot and you've been excellent today."

"Can Liset help me find my next armor then?  This one's getting a bit small and there's no more room to let out."

"Sure.  Tomorrow?"  She beamed and nodded.  "That's fine then.  She'll probably get up late but it'll be fine."

"Thank you, Xahar," she said politely.  "I like coming down here to help you guys. You're always doing neat stuff."  She heard someone squeal and looked around.  "Is she okay?"

"I think that was Sabia, Ballor's fiance," Xahar said patiently.  "I'm guessing he just tickled her."  Both older women chuckled at that.  "He likes to tickle.  He grabs me all the time to tickle when he thinks I'm being too tempting."

"You?  No, never," the queen said with a smirk for him. "Can we all go to the market together?"

"If you'd like," he agreed.  "Liset can take this one shopping while I walk you around."

"That would be wonderful," she agreed happily.

"We'll send a few of the knights with you as well so you don't get rudely shoved by someone trying to take Xahar again," Thirin noted dryly, staring at Xahar, who only looked innocently back.

"It's been weeks since anybody tried," he assured her.

"I'm impressed.  None of the dragons tried to keep you?"

"One young one but she thought I was a comfy pillow," he said smugly.  "She was just hatched a few days earlier."

"I'm sure that was cute," Miradin said, grinning up at him.  "Too bad no one could paint that so grandmother could see."

"I'll be sure to tell her all about it the next time I see her, or you can tell her if you want."

"Okay, I will," she said firmly.  She looked at her mother.  "That's okay, right?"

"Of course.  We'll figure out a way for you to go in and see her as soon as we get back."  She heard the jingling of horse armor and sighed.  "Sounds like the knights are back."

"Hmm, sober?" Xahar asked.

"Hopefully or else I get to run training for a week," Thirin said smugly, grinning at him.  "I'm sure they'll have fun."

"If not, I'll ride back there with you," he promised.  "Just in case."  Both older women nodded and Miradin yawned. "Finish your tea.  The knights are here."  She yawned again but finished her tea.  "What time should I come up tomorrow?"

"Maybe just after lunch," Thirin offered.  "I know you won't be getting up too early with as much time as you just spent traveling in that little cart of yours."  Someone knocked, politely, on the door. "That can't be a knight," she said, getting up to answer it, waving Cook back. "Yes?" she asked.  "Did you need something?"

"I'm here to take a criminal into custody," he said firmly, glaring at her.  "You are?"

"The Crown Princess.  I'd lose the sneer before I make you lose it for good, young man."  He arched an eyebrow up.  "Now then, you think there's a criminal here?  In a dancer's house?"

"Yes.  Numfria was overthrown. The Queen and her sons are wanted back at the palace to face charges."

"What charges?" Xahar asked, coming out of the study and shutting the door, having locked it behind him.  "I was just there.  Her people were quite happy with them and were doing quite well and prosperous."

"This is no business of yours," he said snidely.

"It is, I'm one of the dancers," he said calmly, taking Thirin's sword and stabbing him in the gut.  "Now, you'll explain yourself to me or to one of the mages from there," he sneered.  "I will protect her."

"You...not one of us," he gasped, clutching at his arm.

"Mica!" he shouted.  "There's danger to the queen!"

The mage appeared in a flash of smoke.  "Really?  Why?"

"This one said her throne was overthrown and she's being charged."

"Why?" he asked the man lying on the ground with the serious wound.  He did bind it for him, then stepped on it. "You'll tell me.  I will not put up with this in my new town."

"The mages took over," he gasped.

"The mages were already in control.  The king was a mage," Xahar said calmly.

"He was probably more a wizard than not, but he was powerful," Mica admitted.  They looked down at their victim.  "This won't be happening."  He looked at Thirin.  "You'll need your guard.  The palace was under attack too."

"Liset! Sabia!  Ballor!  Cook!" Xahar yelled.  "The palace is under attack!  Guard the women here!  Ballor, join me!"

"I'll go," Liset yelled.  She came jogging down the stairs, tying her vest back up.  "Ballor, guard the women!" she yelled.  "I'm following him."

"You go, I'll guard 'eme," Cook promised.  "I can work with Sabia."  Ballor came running down the stairs and the three left, taking their horses with them.  He looked at the person on the doorstep.  "Are you helping us, Mage Mica, or going back to the assault?"

"I'm heading back.  Guard my queen, both of them."  He disappeared again.

Xahar stopped in at the city guard's office.  "Do we not know that the palace was under attack?" he asked dryly.  They all jumped up and stared at him. "So Mica said when he came to help us protect the Numfrian queen.  Apparently they've had a small magical coup over there."

"Go, we'll follow once we shut down the market," the head guard assured him.  He nodded and headed off at a dead gallop up the street.  The guards rang the bells, telling everyone that there was an attack. It was the plan for the city in case something happened.  Within minutes the city shut down, the gates were closed unless you were a guard or a Knight, and there was no way for anyone to get out.  They followed Xahar up to the castle, wincing at the damage being done by the mages.  "Shit, it's them," he said in disgust.

"Oh, there'll be hell to pay for killing the Queen's flowers," another one noted dryly.  "Where's Xahar?"

"Probably working his way closer to the royal family," the Captain said as he joined them.  "Dive in, stop those hurting others.  The mage academy is here protecting."  They nodded, diving into the fight. Any mage from the academy would be wearing the school clothes or they'd be Mage Mica.  They knew both those conditions.  The others, well mages were still human and a good conk on the back of the head still worked to knock them out.  They heard someone shout from inside about seeing the King and shuddered.  That wasn't a good sign.

"Oh, hell no!" Xahar shouted, and you could hear something explode.

"I told him to learn control," Mage Mica was muttering as he ran that way.  "I told and I begged.  Well, let's hope he only hurt the bad guys."  He dove in, punching someone who was wearing Numfrian colors.  "Who are you?" he demanded.

"My mother, where is she!" she yelled back.

"At a dancer's house," he told her, looking her over.  She wasn't a mage, you could tell.  "Save the royals here, then we'll go to her.  Your brothers are around here somewhere."

"If I know them, they put themselves in the way of the princesses so they'd be protected.  Neither one of them are the best fighters."  They ran into the audience chamber together, stopping the idiots in there from attacking the Crown Prince and the King, who was gasping and holding his chest.

"King," Mica shouted, heading over to check him over.  He got waved off.  "He needs a healer," he shouted.  He raised his hands and the remaining stupid people hit the ceiling with a thud.  Then he let them drop.  He looked at the prince.  "Your father needs a healer."

"My father does," he agreed.  "They killed the last one."

"Call mine," Xahar panted.  "The others?"

"Upstairs, near Mother."  He looked at him.  "Go.  I'll get the healer."

"Fine."  He tugged on Mica's sleeve, leading the way up the back passages.  He found the group behind a door and kicked it in, going after the people trying to take on the Knights surrounding the queen.  He slashed a few, knocked a few aside, and then gutted another for bending over her body.  He turned, looking at the others. "Try me," he ordered coldly.  "Find out what I learned while dancing."  A few backed off but one stepped forward.  "Oh, goody, you again.  Your father have a hand in this, Keivghn?"  He attacked mercilessly, cutting into him and making him bleed multiple times before he got his sword up to block him.  That's when he took off his head.  He even spit on it.  "I feel better now.  Much more secure."  He looked around.  "My queen, are you all right?"

"No, dear, I'm a bit scared," she admitted.  "He was going to protect me."

"Bull.  He's never protected anything in his life.  He tortured his own son once."  He checked her over.  "The last I knew, your husband was ailing but a healer was being found for him," he said gently.  "Your son still lives and Thirin, Miradin, and the Numfrian Queen were still at my house with Thirin's knights coming to save them and Cook and Sabia in the house."

"I thank you, dear.  Now, go find my missing daughter and clear the palace."

"As you request, my queen."  He bowed and hurried out.  "There's a missing princess," he shouted as he ran past a knight.  "The queen's fine so far."

"Thank you," he said, looking at him.  He looked at the nearest guard.  "Wasn't that Xahar?  He can fight?"

"The dances are used to train fighters," Mica offered as he walked up the stairs.  "What does the missing princess look like?"

"Depends on which one," the knight admitted, ducking into the bedroom.  He came back out.  "Blonde, seventeen summers, shapely, strong, does know how to defend herself."

"Good.  I like that idea.  I hope our princesses all learn as well," he said, following Xahar out.  He saw him heading for a grove of trees and went after him.  "Xahar!"

"Stay back!  This is enchanted!"

"The princess is blonde and seventeen."

"I know.  I know her. I taught her how to throw a man on his back last year," he called back.  "Go back to check on the King!"  He ran out that gate and found the princess pushed against a tree and someone threatening her with a dagger.  He didn't stop, just rammed his sword into the guy's back, then braced a foot on him and yanked it out.  "Come, princess. Your mother is worried and your father was ill."  She started to cry, clinging to him as he walked her back inside.  He paused when he saw another force at the castle's gates, giving her a little shove.  "Go back to your mother's side.  Go, now!"  She nodded, running inside.  Xahar ran for the front gates, stopping the nearest Knight.  "Hans is here?"

"He's taking advantage of it," he said grimly.  "The King?"

"The last I knew he was injured and a healer was being found.  Most of the princesses are with their mothers.  I killed Keivghn when I found him over the Queen."  The knight nodded at that.  He understood that feeling apparently.  "Can we hold them off?"

"Only if we can get a mage to help."

"Mica!" he shouted.  "Mages, here!"  He pointed and a few came running.  "Another invading force.  We have to stop them."

The mages got together to talk quietly, then they nodded and headed for the walls and the walkways, going to do something from there.  More mages flowed out and saw where they were headed so followed.  An older man came out, flipping his hair back behind his pointed ears.  He looked at Xahar.  "I'm the combat instructor."

"Good, that's fine.   King Hans is at the gates."

"Interesting.  They decided?"  He nodded.  "Fine.  We'll work on him from the walkways.  You go out and distract him for ten minutes."

"Are you insane?" the Knight shouted.  "He can't get out!"

"I can so.  There's the hidden passages through the arbor.  Any particular need for distraction or will dancing on the walls help?"

"Do whatever you must," he ordered, giving him a shove.  "Now."  Xahar ran off, heading for a nearby set of stairs.  "I guess he's going for a distraction up high."  He looked at the knight.  "Form ranks in front of the gate.  If they're coming through, that's the entry point."  He nodded, gathering his fellows and the guards to form the ranks for him.  He knew this strategy very well.  The mage added a few of his students to their ranks then headed up for the wall to coordinate the attack.  "Now!" he shouted when Xahar started to dance.  The mages started to mumble and make arcane motions in the air.  The air grew heavy.  King Hans fell from his horse from a crossbow shot, and the army down there went insane until the mages sedated them.  The teacher looked down at the army, then nodded at the guard that it was safe, so the gates opened and they went out to tie people up.  A few woke but they were easily dispatched and the one playing dead was quickly surrounded and killed as well.

Xahar dropped the crossbow he had taken off a dead guard and looked around, then he ran down the stairs and inside, going to check on the King.  He found the Crown Prince and stopped him.  "Your father?"

"His heart gave out," he said simply.  "Mother?"

"I left her with guards but I killed Keivghn."

"Thank you.  I don't know why he was up there."

"She thought he was there to guard her."  He followed him up the stairs, going to find a mirror to make a mage call back to his house.  "Cook?" he asked from the Queen's sitting area.  "Are they fine?"

"They are, boss.  When can they come home?  Miradin's sobbing."

"Soon.  Tell them it's been stopped.  Let us clean up some mess.  Tell Thirin her husband and mother-in-law survived," he said quietly.  He broke the call and hurried in there.  "I told Cook to keep the women at my house for a few more minutes.  Miradin's sobbing brokenly."  He looked at the queen.  "Are you feeling better?  She wanted to come tell you a story later."

"I would be more than happy to cuddle her," she said quietly.  "Who was that invading?"  Xahar pointed at Keivghn's body.  "I see.  Perhaps you were right."

"About him, I am," he agreed dryly.  "I've known him a bit too well over the years."  She nodded at that wisdom.  "What can I do to help, my queen?"

"Go clean the blood off, child.  Where are your guards?"

"They started out right behind me," he admitted, shrugging. "I'll find them next.  Are you all right?"

"Just scared, dear.  Go clean up before I let a fussing daughter help."  He shuddered and headed into her bathroom to do that."

"There's plenty of knights who could use some tender care in the healer's wing," Frederick pointed out.  "Also, the Numfrian Queen's daughter is here.  She's a very good fighter.  I sent Morganis with her to Xahar's house to check on her mother and drag her brothers that way, just in case they had to evacuate."  His mother nodded at that.  "His heart gave out, mother."

"I know, dear."  She stroked his face.  "We'll figure things out later.  For now, clean things up and make sure the fighters all get fed tonight, even the mages."  He nodded, going to order the staff around a bit.  It'd ease some of his tension.  She relaxed and looked at her daughters.  "All will be fine.  He'll do well in the job," she assured them, blinking hard to stay awake.

"No, mother, not you too," one cried, clutching her hand.

"Child, it's just the sleeping potion I've been taking to get well.  I drift off now and then," she said gently.  "Make sure Xahar finds both his guards, dears."  They nodded, going out to make their presence known and to help where they could.  None of them were squeamish, not even the most delicate of them, and their mother had made sure they could sew injuries as well as tapestries.

Xahar found Mica and his guards, who were both tied up.  "Overeager young guard?"

"Yeah, basically," he admitted, severing the ropes for him.

"Hey!" someone shouted.

"They're my personal guard," Xahar told him. "Back off!"  The guard went pale and ran for his commander, who looked out and waved at them.  "He tied them up!"

"He's new, Xahar.  He's sorry.  Are they okay?"

"Just asleep," Mica offered.  "Only some small injuries."  The commander nodded.  "I'm heading back with my students."

"The queen said we're feeding you lot tonight," a knight yelled.  "The princesses said so."

"Fine," he said, shrugging a bit.  "One less I have to budget for. I'll make sure our kitchens will fill in for any inconvenience."  He looked at Xahar. "I'll be right behind you."  He nodded, getting his friends up onto their horses and taking off with them to check on the house.  Mica went to make that call to his school and check on the other teachers, who had it well in hand.  "My queen is at Xahar's," he told them.  "I'll be right back."  They all nodded, giving him knowing looks.  "Behave and set up a watch here.  We've been invited to dinner."  He headed off, walking off the stresses of the day on his way there.  He could always get a ride back.  He found his Queen and her limited family hugging each other.  "Majesty, have you called home yet?"

"I can't reach anyone," she admitted.

"I can."  He walked over to the mirror Xahar usually used, concentrating and coming up with an image of one of her daughters.  "Highness, your mother, brothers, and sister are safe."

"That's good, why wouldn't they be?" she asked, looking very confused.

"We were told there was a coup by the mages?" he offered.

She shook her head.  "No, one tried last night and father fried him to a crisp, Mage Mica.  Is she there?  I'll get Father for her."

"Please," he agreed, going over to help his queen up and over to the mirror, summoning a chair for her to sit in.

"Dear," she said, looking miserable. "Are you all right?"

"Just fine," he said with a smug look.  "Some young outland idiot challenged me to a duel.  His shields weren't up to lightening and the rain was appreciated.  How did you hear?"

"People came here to drag us home, said that there had been a coup," she said frantically.

Mica coughed.  "It could have involved King Hans since he also tried to invade today, interestingly enough on that timing."

The king nodded. "I'd say so.  He alive?  I'd like to talk to the man," he said with a cold smirk.

"Um, no, actually.  Xahar shot him and killed one of his sons.  The other one was pretending to be asleep so the guards killed him instead of knocking him out.  He learned the fighting portion very well."

The queen looked at him.  "Do I detect a hint of attraction, Mica?" she teased, clutching his hand.  "Dear, Merth is here."

"I wondered where she had gotten to.  I think she had help from one of the senior mages.  Maybe Bashir.  Is he there?  We can't find him either."

"I haven't seen him but that doesn't mean anything," Mica admitted.  "Anyway, your queen and the princess here are quite safe, as are your sons."  He nodded at that.  "Do you wish them to cut their stay short? I can charm their boat if you'd like, Majesty."

"No, Mica.  She can stay for now.  I'm sure there's going to be some sort of state funeral there and she can be our envoy at this time."  He looked at her.  "Should I send more of the unmarried sons?"

"You could," she offered.  "They've got a number of princesses here."  She called Miradin over.  "This is the youngest daughter of the crown prince, Miradin.  She was quite fierce in her defense of me.  She grabbed a pan out of the fireplace and stood in front of the door to stop anyone who might try to come in.  She got our daughter quite well when she burst in."  The king laughed at that and smiled at the young girl.  "Our daughters need to learn how to fight.  The women warriors here are quite good.  They've just knighted a woman recently.  The first one this generation but about the fiftieth overall.  All their princesses take self defense as well."

"It's very good for your balance," Miradin offered politely.  "You're even darker than Mica is," she said.  "Are all your people like that?  We have people who look like bread dough around here a lot."

The king smiled at her.  "We do tend to be a bit darker than bread dough down here, Miradin.  That's a very good question.  I hope some year soon you can come visit and see more of our lands and people.  It'll make you a better queen."

"I'd rather be a warrior, sir.  Queens have to do boring stuff, like sew and chat with people, and take dancing lessons for the stupid, boring dances.  Warriors get to do exciting dances and go out to talk to people and meet new people instead of talking to the same boring people every day."

"I'm sure you'll change your mind when you find a boy you like," her mother said patiently.  "I said the same thing until I took up with your father."

"Really?  But you don't do boring queen stuff, mommy."

"No, dear, I don't, and I never shall.  Even when I'm the queen I don't do boring things.  I'll be practicing with the knights, and so will you."  She patted her on the head.  "If she's too heavy I'll take her back," she offered.

"No, I've missed having children this age," the queen offered with a shy smile.  "All mine are grown and I'm desperate for grandchildren."

"My husband's family are all quite fertile and we use Xahar to enhance fertility right before the wedding night.  Being around it all the time would probably make them extremely fertile and you'd be overrun with grandchildren."

The king laughed. "I like the sound of that.  Marry off one of the boys, dear, and if you can Merth as well."

"There's no eligible princes in this kingdom," Miradin told him.  "My baby brother's still feeding off the mommy."  The king chucked at that. "But we do have some very nice Lords and their sons, and a few knights who are nice and talk to me now and then, and even a few squires who are very good and deserve the title more than the drunken sots who pretend to be knights for my grandparents.  She can have one of the nice ones."  She looked at her mother. "Mommy, introduce her to the nice guys.  Let my fencing teacher help.  He told me which knights to stay away from."

"Sure, daughter," she agreed patiently.  "I'm sure she'll meet most of them at the funeral and then at the coronation."  She patted her on the head, looking over as the door opened and a guard stuck his head in.  "Cleaned up?"

"No, My Queen," he said formally.  "Your spouse is outside.  I was sent to make sure you were all right."

"We're fine.  Miradin nearly brained the Queen's daughter."  She frowned.  "I am?"  He nodded.  "Which?"

"The King's heart gave out, m'lady," Xahar said from the stairs.  "After the fight."  Miradin started to cry.  "Shh, princess, it was time and he went peacefully.  He made sure you and everyone was all right first."  She nodded, clinging to the queen hugging her.  "I'm sorry, my queen," he said gently.

Thirin patted him on the face.  "It was going to be told to her.  That's a more gentle way than some would have.  Your guards?"

"Both had some minor scratches, nothing more serious that I found when I stuck them into a bed."

Mica grabbed Xahar and walked him off.  "We'll be right back.  The call should continue, Majesty."  He locked them in the kitchen, looking at Xahar.  "You know that explosion today?"

"I planned it that way," he admitted. "The King got me to look at the books now and then when I'm really bored.  That way I can learn other things to help me get free the next time I'm stolen."

Mica looked at him, then gently kissed him on the forehead.  "I want you in my office in two days, Xahar.  That was dangerous, you could have made that room fall in.  I'll teach you personally how to do that right."  He nodded, looking down.  Mica tipped his chin up.  "It was a good beginning strategy but not one you can do when you're trained.  So let me teach you those few things and then you can practice them.  Besides, I've been meaning to show you my office. In two days, after lunch.  If you don't appear, I'll have to summon something to drag you that way, even if you're naked."  Xahar chuckled at that so he gave him a hug.  "I know just the books you'll want, I'll have them ready for you," he said gently.  "I don't want to see you stolen either.  I didn't get to ask, how was your trip?"

"Wonderful.  The only one who tried to keep me was a newly hatched one who thought I was a wonderful pillow.  That's why Liset was complaining about dragon smell the whole way back.  But they did get those thugs who decided I had already married them.

"Good.  They've been doing their annoyance thing for the last few months. They even added new men so they had five."  He grinned at him.  "You're all right?"

"A few scratches, a burn from the arrow's fletching.  Nothing major."  He showed off the friction burn.  "I'm fine."

"I intend to make sure of that in two days.  Then I'll decide where I go from there."  He unlocked the door, letting him out.  "There, go check on them again."

"I was going to bring up dinner but Cook seems to be missing."

"He couldn't stand combat.  I let him stand watch on the house."

"That's fine.  Cook!" he shouted. "It's over!"  He didn't get an answer so went to tap on their door, not getting one there either.  "Crap."  He walked out into the courtyard, looking in the barn.  "The groom's gone too.  Hey, Mica, can you put on some water?  I've got to wipe down the horses since the groom's missing."

"Of course," he agreed.  "Should I get one of our cooks in?"

"No, the taverns will be open later, I'll get something to go."

"From where?"

"The Rose and Crucible.  It's nice and clean.  Liset likes the food there."  He shrugged and walked the first horse out, letting it walk around while he checked it.  He grabbed a rag and dampened it, wiping the horse's sides down.  Then he covered it with her blanket and poured her some food before going to look over the next one.  They hadn't done much with the horses but they still deserved some pampering. His stallion had blood under his shoes so he wiped him down as best he could and sent a note down to his usual smith to come reshoe him tomorrow.  Liset's horse glared at him but he was used to that.  He refilled her food bucket and gave her more water too then headed back inside.  When the young runner came back, he told him to go sit in the barn and watch the horses for the night, paying him a gold for doing so.  He'd see how well he did with them, he might have a new groom already.
 

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To Chapter Seventeen