Free Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop Page B

so he held his ground until the other man took that last step and grabbed a fistful of his shirt.
    “You guard her, Ranon,” Gray said, his voice so rough it was hardly recognizable. “You hear me? First Escort or not, Theran doesn’t care enough about her to do what’s right, so you guard her until I get back.”
    “Where are you going?” Ranon asked.
    Gray’s smile was razor-sharp. “I’m following my Queen’s command. I’m going to talk to somebody.”
    *I will take care of Gray,* Vae said, using a private psychic thread aimed at him.
    Ranon waited until Gray rounded the corner of the house. Then he rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. After days of observing Gray and Cassidy’s silent argument, he wanted to talk to someone too. But he’d have to wait until Gray returned—or until Talon rose this evening and could take over the watch. Then he would go to his grandfather’s house, and Yairen would make a brew of spiced whiskey and coffee, a drink the old man only made when men needed to speak to other men about difficult matters.
    He had no right to interfere between a man and a woman, but Cassidy was also his Queen, and he needed guidance in order to walk this particular knife’s edge.
    He crossed the yard and knelt on the other side of Cassidy, who ignored him and continued to explain to Reyhana something about drawing out the full root of a weed.
    “Look,” Ranon said quietly, “you probably don’t want anyone with a cock within twenty paces of you right now.”
    “That is correct,” Cassidy said, still not looking at him.
    “If you promise that you’ll do nothing to hurt yourself because you’re upset with Gray, I’ll leave you in peace.” Soon after she’d come to Dena Nehele, she’d worked her hands into a bloody mess because she was distraught over something Theran had done. The court had learned a hard lesson that day, and he wasn’t about to let it happen again. “Cassidy?”
    “Why would she hurt herself over a man?” Reyhana said, bristling with challenge.
    His temper sharpened. Reyhana wore Purple Dusk; he wore Opal. He couldn’t allow a challenge to go unanswered, even if the girl was a Queen. Especially because the girl was a Queen.
    “Sister, you’re being disrespectful,” Cassidy said.
    “But—”
    “No,” Cassidy said. “Prince Ranon has reason to ask the question, and as one of my First Circle, he is within his rights to challenge me if he believes I am acting in a way that will cause me harm.”
    “Oh,” Reyhana said in a small voice.
    “Are you asking as one of my First Circle?” Cassidy asked, finally looking at him.
    He shook his head. “I’m asking as a friend.”
    Emotions flashed in her hazel eyes, which turned tear-bright for a moment—and he wondered if anyone in her previous court had given her more than duty.
    “In that case, I give you my word as a friend that I won’t act imprudently because of this quarrel with Gray.” She hesitated, then added on a psychic thread. *This quarrel with Gray upsets me, but it hasn’t hurt me.*
    He nodded to indicate he understood the difference. “Then I’ll leave you Ladies to your work.”
    When he turned toward the boardinghouse, he froze for a moment before he strode across the lawn. With the exception of Talon and Theran, the rest of the First Circle was waiting for him.
    “Is the Queen all right?” Powell asked when he joined them.
    Ranon nodded.
    “Is there anything we should do?” Archerr asked. “Powell, you’ve read those Protocol books more thoroughly than the rest of us. What do you say?”
    “She gave her word that she wouldn’t do anything to hurt herself,” Ranon said quietly—and felt some of the tension ease in the other men.
    “Can we scrounge a couple of chairs and a small table from somewhere?” Shaddo asked.
    “For what?” Archerr asked.
    “I noticed flagstones under the big tree,” Shaddo said. “They’re grown over some, but I think that area used to be a place