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come into her own.
    “ You know what is expected of you?” the queen asked.
    Tulani licked her generous lips . “I have an idea.”
    “ I am sure you do.” Reminda grinned. “You will be rewarded.”
    “ The reward is in the trust Your Majesty has given me.” She bowed her head respectfully, but Reminda saw something fierce in her eyes.
    “ My precious jewel.” Reminda looked out a large window to the velvet skies. “V’sair is my precious jewel. This may be your destiny.”
    The girl looked up proudly. “I know,” she said simply.
    “ You’ll do.” The queen’s cool fingers touched the girl’s forehead. Something tingled between them; an understanding was exchanged, words unnecessary. “You’ll go to your lady grandmother.” Bobbien would watch out for them and keep them safe, the queen knew.
    “ I had thought of another place.”
    “ Ah?” The queen tilted her elegant head.
    “ He will want privacy, I think.”
    “ But is it safe?”
    “ I feel safe.” Tulani shrugged in typical Quyroo fashion.
    “ Just so. Where?”
    “ I know of a place.”
    “ Stay away from the eastern provinces,” the queen told her, and glanced up to watch her husband and his brother argue. She thought to add, “And Staf Nuen.”
    They walked to the center of the room, Reminda’s eyes searching for her son. She glided away from Tulani and over to her husband, who opened his wide embrace and enfolded her in the security of his arms.
    “ You have spoken to the girl?” he asked, dismissing General Swart and the others. He was done with his brother and his tiresome temper.
    Without a backward glance, Staf walked away. Reminda watched her brother-in-law’s face turn a violent shade of purple.
    The king kissed her hand and rubbed it against his face. “You give me great pleasure.”
    “ No regrets for mating an outsider?” she asked, flirting with him. Though they were in a room filled with people, the entire court surrounding them, they felt as if they were alone.
    “ Never.” He picked her up, oblivious to the crowd, and carried her toward their chamber. Before he left he turned to his open-mouthed son. “What are you waiting for? Your lady mother gave you an errand.” Then he left them all, his laughter bouncing off the stone walls long after he disappeared.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
    Staf Nuen tapped his gloved hand impatiently against his enormous palm. His eyes narrowed with hatred at his nephew. He watched General Swart leave the hall and wondered what was bothering the older man. The king’s bastard followed him out like an obedient puppy. Though Staf was often at odds with the general, perhaps there was room for discussion now. Swart was a hardliner, fighting the coming peace talks, but his unwavering loyalty to Drakko was legendary. Perhaps if he could get him alone, they could reach an agreement. As far as General Vekin was concerned—well, he was an insect, and Staf couldn’t wait to crush him into a pulp. He still needed to speak with four more of the generals and was optimistic about their point of view.
    “ What errand does he attend to?” Pacuto growled rudely.
    Pacuto would make any Darracian father proud. Tall as his father, with a devious mind, he was a bold warrior who never played by the rules. He was known for his tryath, a curved dagger he had mastered. He could carve a man’s head from his body, and the victim wouldn’t even realize it until it had landed in his lap. His single brow gave him a perpetual scowl, and his bad temper made him one of the most feared army captains. He hated the king’s sons. Though Zayden was no threat to the succession of the throne, he longed to kill the smug bastard. His fisted hand itched to grab the royal braid and lop off his insolent head. It was an abomination that the king insisted he be treated equally as those born of noble birth. He despised his sickly looking, blue-tinged cousin, the prince, with equal