Free Heroes Return by Moira J. Moore Page B

title is held by Her Ladyship. That’s the end of it.”
    “There is always something to be done,” the man said in a tone I found threatening.
    But Dane didn’t seem to feel it. He just rolled his eyes. “We apologize for disrupting your work.” It was a clear dismissal of the discussion. “Come along, Shintaro, Dunleavy.”
    So the Dowager had been telling the truth when she said Fiona didn’t have the affection of all the tenants. I hated it when the Dowager was right. She was such a nasty creature that it seemed fitting that she be wrong about everything.
    But were the tenants correct in their perceptions? That was the question. I didn’t want to think Fiona was actually failing in her duties. I liked her.
    Not that it was any of my business. My sole job was to help Taro channel events. It was not my place to even think about politics.
    Well, unless things got violent. Then it would become my business whether I liked it or not. I could just see the two of us running from a crowd of furious whalers. They’d all been big and strong and handy with their instruments.
    “Sorry about that,” Dane said. “There were many in the community who made it clear they would be unhappy with any titleholder who wasn’t a Karish. There are those who believe there is magic in the bloodlines that protect them.”
    “I thought we’d be getting away from the use of casting here,” I said.
    He frowned. “Why would you think that?”
    “Why wouldn’t I?”
    “Spells have always worked here.”
    That was an odd way to put it. “It only became well-known in High Scape over the past couple of years.” Though there was evidence casting had been practiced by some for years. Maybe generations.
    “How odd,” said Dane. “But then, I heard High Scape is an odd place. Everyone so crowded together, it’s sure to make everyone strange.”
    What an unusual opinion. “Do you believe spells actually work?”
    He looked as though he thought that was a ridiculous question. “Of course.”
    Of course. Sometimes I felt like the only person who hadn’t.

Chapter Six
    I woke to the sensation of something stroking over my right eyebrow. I opened my eyes, a little befuddled, to see Taro leaning over me.
    He smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
    I didn’t mind. I felt loose and warm and utterly comfortable. The simple, light touch felt nice. And now that I was awake, his finger moved around more, down the slope of my nose, over my lips, along my jaw.
    I smiled at him.
    And Lila walked in, cutting short any possible further activity.
    That was going to get annoying.
    The maid curtsied. “Her Ladyship and His Lordship invite you to join them for breakfast in the sitting room.”
    I guessed that meant we were supposed to get up.
    “We’ll be there shortly,” Taro told her, and she curtsied again before leaving.
    I wondered if that was hard on the knees.
    “Are they really supposed to just walk in like that?” I asked as I scrambled out of bed.
    “Aye. You’re supposed to ignore them unless you absolutely have to talk to them.”
    “But that’s so rude.” All of it. The servants just walking in. Our ignoring them.
    “It’s what everyone expects and feels comfortable with, I suppose.”
    “I’m not comfortable with it,” I mumbled. And the other side of that coin, it looked like privacy was something else we were losing to this post. Really, was this woman going to be popping in on us all hours of the day?
    We found Fiona in the sitting room, drinking coffee, while Dane sat on the floor tormenting his young son by tickling him. The boy was gasping as he laughed and I wondered if that was good for him. They both did seem to be enjoying themselves.
    “I’m in the mood to celebrate,” Fiona announced.
    “I always enjoy celebrations,” said Taro. “They do make life much less dreary.”
    I glanced at him. There was something vapid about his tone. I wondered what, in particular, was bothering