Yes. Pleasevisit me first thing in the morning,he said.We have much to discuss.
I thought you couldn’t tell me anything further.
Things have changed.His head snapped to his right, and he peered toward the opposite side of the courtyard. After releasing a low growl, he took flight, soaring behind the blue dragon, followed by Glim.
Vera started toward the back entrance, and we climbed the stairs with her.
A soft fluttering sound made me turn.
I swore someone stood among a cluster of spindly trees on the opposite side of the courtyard, hiding among the shadows.
When I blinked and squinted, I found no one there.
25
TEMPEST
We ate in the formal dining room, and I sat beside Vexxion. He’d given me an odd look when I settled on his right, but I couldn’t stay away.
Drask perched on the back of my chair, and I fed him bits of meat.
Vexxion paid me no attention during dinner, instead speaking with Reyla on his left or Brodine, who’d taken a place directly across from us.
“We can sit in the parlor if you’d like,” Vera said brightly after we’d finished eating. A flick of her finger, and the dishes disappeared, cleaned and returned to the cupboards. “Though I assume you’re all tired and would like to go to your suites.”
We murmured agreement.
“Very well. As for your rooms,” she said as we stood, “I’ve prepared suites for each of you. Zayde, you and . . .” Her eyebrows lifted as she glanced at Layla.
“We’re together.” Layla’s worried gaze sought mine.
“She and Zayde will be more comfortable sharing,” I said, and my sister’s soft smile rose.
“Would the young ladies prefer to share as well?” Vera looked Reyla’s way.
“Oh, I’m not with Airia,” my friend said. “Separate suites if it’s not too much of a bother.”
“Don’t worry your mind about it at all,” Vera said.
Vexxion grunted. “Tempest is with me.”
It was all I could do not to ask him why he bothered. I resigned myself to another night facing his back while he slept deeply and I remained awake, mourning.
“Do you have any preference for room location?” my aunt asked Brodine.
“Nope. Whatever you have available will be fine.”
“Very well. Why don’t I show you where you’ll sleep, and then we can meet in the parlor?”
We left the dining room and walked down a long hall that met up with another taking us into a different wing of the manor.
“There are forty suites here, all of them on the third floor, each with its own bathing area,” she said. “I’ll put the ladies in the north wing, the couples in the east, and you, Brodine, in the west. That’ll give you all privacy. This level holds the dining rooms, multiple living areas, and an equal number of parlors, and a large library, offices, and a grand ballroom take up much of the second floor. You should go look at the ballroom sometime. The balcony looks out at the forest, and the gardens are amazing. They used to be, that is. They haven’t been kept up.”
We needed to find staff. Could some of this be done with magic?
“One day soon,” Vera said, “I hope we’ll host a grand party in the ballroom, and everyone will come. You’ll see, things will get better.”
They would. I had to believe it.
