Page 19 of Valdemar

“It’s not a competition!” Koto protested.

“A girl isn’t going to see it that way,” Delia replied with authority.

“Then we need to find something she can do,” put in Sai. “Besides look beautiful.”

“I’m working on that,” Delia replied. “She’s a bit of an enigma; Jelavan told me she really didn’t open up to the Tayledras, either.”

Kordas frowned. “I hope for her sake she doesn’t just become Rothas’s accessory. That won’t be healthy for either of them.”

“That’s not in our power to decide,” Isla reminded him. “There is no one, true way applies to individual relationships too.”

“Maybe. Probably.” Kordas smiled at his wife. “I guess I’m just prejudiced because you can do everything I can.”

“And backwards, in skirts,” she teased.

The whole table chuckled, but not loudly enough to draw the attention of the other diners.

Restil returned his attention to his neglected food, but what Sai had said, about Rothas being a potential weapon, stuck with him. I need to become his friend, not just his mentor. He needs someone in his life who can tell him “no” in a way that he won’t dismiss. Will Lythe do that? I don’t know. But I do know it’s too risky to depend on her being able to.

• • •

“Good work out there, Beltran,” Kordas said quietly, as he and the Herald walked through the vegetable gardens in the darkness, bringing with them Lythe’s breakfast out of the remains of the supper.

“My pleasure, sir,” Beltran said sincerely. “In my opinion, sir, we have a good handle on the boy, but we need to get a fuller picture of the girl. Also in my opinion, if there’s trouble, that’s the direction it will come from.”

“Mm-hm,” Kordas agreed. “A dark horse indeed, is that one. I’m glad Delia is taking charge of her. Delia’s not one to be trifled with, and all that time spent with the Old Men, the Healers, and Alberdina has made her very shrewd.”

“Shrewd enough to beat me at kingsmen,” Beltran said ruefully.

“Shrewd enough to beat me at kingsmen,” Kordas admitted with a laugh. “But more to the point, all that time spent with people who have seen every trick manipulative people play has taught Delia a lot about seeing manipulation in action and what to do about it.”

“Hopefully there is nothing to see.” Beltran sucked on his lower lip. “One thing, though . . . I think we need to put some sort of guard on Lythe while she sleeps. Rothas is going to be busy all day, and she’ll be left alone, unable to wake, in a bed. Not all of us are angels . . . if you catch my meaning.”

“Mm-hm. Good point. I wonder how she feels about dogs?” Kordas wondered aloud, thinking that a couple of mastiffs might solve that problem without tying up a human with work to do.

“What if she’s a cat person?” Beltran retorted.

“We’ll have to consult Sydney-You-Asshole,” Kordas replied.

And he was only half joking.

Perhaps . . . less.