Dorian picked up something that looked like a hoe. “Do think we can get more fish when Papa returns?”
The mirth faded from Diara’s face. “I think so,” she said. “Adalia and I were just speaking on the fish we would put in the pond. I do not like to eat fish. Do you?”
Dorian shook her head. “I would rather feed them and watch them swim,” she said. “I do not like to eat creatures that I can pet.”
“But you eat beef and mutton,” Diara pointed out.
Dorian curled her lip. “I know,” she said. “But I do not like to. I do not like to eat anything with eyeballs.”
That brought a smile from Diara. “Then you do have a quandary,” she said. “You know that some people even eat horses.”
Dorian’s eyes widened. “They are horrible people,” she said. “Horses are our friends. They are not meant to be eaten.”
“How is Brillante?”
Dorian smiled broadly at the mention of her blond horse. “She is very sweet,” she said. “I love her very much. But… but when we saw her in the village, she had a companion. Another horse who was her companion. I think she is missing her.”
“Oh?” Diara said. “I did not see another horse.”
“I did,” Dorian said. “A little red pony. When is Papa coming back? I want to ask him if I can have Brillante’s companion. She needs her.”
Diara lifted an eyebrow. “Sheneeds her?” she said. “Or you need her?”
Dorian shrugged and stepped into the pond, hoe in hand. She wasn’t going to answer that particular question, and Diara knew it, so she looked at Adalia, winking to let her know that she was onto her sister. Adalia knew, too. Dorian was learning to manipulate her father, and it was fun to watch. Adalia watched her sister for a moment as the girl began ripping out overgrown plants before turning her attention to Diara.
“WhenisPapa coming back?” she asked softly.
Diara’s smile faded. She had avoided telling the girls anything about Roi’s situation because she hadn’t wanted to frighten them, but the truth was that they weren’t babies. They were young women, and sometimes, young women had to face harsh facts. As much as she was trying to protect them, she probably wasn’t doing them any favors by not being honest with them. They hadn’t really asked about their father until today, and now, she had a direct question.
She simply couldn’t avoid it any longer.
“I do not know,” she said honestly. “He has gone to… There was a skirmish that he has been asked to… The truth is that I simply don’t know. He has gone to fight in a skirmish. That is why his brothers came here. Now, they’ve gone off to help him, so I really do not know when he will be back, but hopefully it will be soon.”
That was about all she could get out. She hoped it would satisfy Adalia, but she could tell by the expression on the young woman’s face that the wheels of thought were turning. Unable to look at Adalia anymore, she turned her attention to Dorian, who had plucked a fish out of the pond to admire its colors, when Adalia spoke softly.
“There is trouble, isn’t there?” she asked.
Diara looked at her. “Why would you think so?”
“Because my uncles were here, and I know they were upset,” she said. “I heard them speaking of an ambush. Did they mean my father?”
Diara didn’t want to lie to her. “I do not know, sweetheart, truly,” she said, unwilling to commit to something as horrible as that word. “We will know soon enough.”
“Are you afraid?”
Diara wasn’t sure how to answer that. She looked at Adalia, seeing an earnest question. After a moment, she simply nodded her head.
“Aye,” she whispered.
Adalia squeezed her hands to give her some comfort, and it nearly undid Diara. Here she was, trying to comfort Roi’s daughter, but the daughter was comforting her instead. As she struggled to regain her composure, she heard someone call her name and turned to see Kyne standing in the open gate.
“My lady?” he said again, quietly. “May I speak with you?”
Diara nodded and stood up, directing Adalia to remain with her sister to make sure she didn’t get into any trouble as she went to Kyne.
“What is it?” she asked politely.
Kyne motioned for her to follow. Diara did, walking beside the silent knight, feeling a good deal more apprehension than curiosity with every step she took. He wouldn’t look at her and he wouldn’t talk to her. They headed out of the kitchen yard, and she was about to ask him where they were going when she caught sight of another knight standing several feet away.
