burden settle into place. He set aside his dream of a simple life with Isabel and accepted the world as it was. He was the Sovereign of the Seven Isles—and he had a war to win.
“Let’s go get breakfast.”
He opened the door leading from his bedchamber into a large circular sitting room. There was an arch on the opposite side leading to an entry hall with a door on the far side. To his right was an arch that opened into a large formal dining room with three crystal chandeliers hanging over a long oak table. On his left was a heavy bound oak door. The sitting room had a fireplace in the center with a stone chimney rising into the ceiling. On one side of the fireplace was a low table with couches on two sides and overstuffed chairs on the other two. Colorful tapestries, probably from New Ruatha, hung over the black granite of the walls. Brass lamps stood at intervals between the tapestries, providing ample light.
Boaberous stood when Alexander entered.
“Lord Reishi, it’s good to see you well again.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. Report,” Alexander said.
“Your rooms are secure. There’s only one entrance from within the Keep,” he said, motioning toward the door in the entry hall. “The balconies are inaccessible except by flight. I’ve posted two Rangers at the door and four on platforms above your balconies.
“Commander P’Tal is still incapacitated, but the healers tell me he’s mending. I’m aware of only one immediate threat. The Rangers reported that a serving girl was murdered last night within the Keep. They’re investigating.”
“It’s always something,” Alexander said with a frown.
Adele came bustling in and smiled broadly when she saw Alexander.
“Lord Reishi, it’s so good to see you. We were all worried sick that you wouldn’t wake up. I’ll send word to your mother right away.” She turned and called out into the other room, “Lena.”
A young woman of about nineteen came into the sitting room. She wasn’t quite as tall as Isabel, had dark brown hair and soft brown eyes, clear skin, and a timid smile. She was beautiful but still unsure of herself as a woman. Her colors were clear and bright, vibrant with life but also revealed the nervousness and uncertainty of youth.
“Yes ma’am?”
“Lena, this is Lord Reishi,” Adele said, turning back to Alexander. “With your permission, Lord Reishi, Lena will be your maidservant. She is well-trained and has served on my staff for many years.”
“I trust your judgment, Adele. Pick your staff as you see fit,” Alexander said, then turned to Lena. “Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you, Lord Reishi,” she said.
“Lena, run and tell Lady Bella that her son is awake,” Adele said.
Lena nodded and headed out the door in the entry hall.
“You must be famished,” Adele said. “I’ll have the chef start breakfast right away. I suspect your family will be joining you shortly, so I’ll be sure he makes plenty. Is there anything in particular you’d like?”
Alexander shrugged with a smile, “Maybe some eggs.”
“Of course, I’ll get breakfast started and be back with a pot of tea,” Adele said, as she whisked out of the room.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that,” Alexander said. “It just doesn’t feel right having people waiting on me.”
“You have more important things to worry about,” Isabel said.
Alexander and Isabel were sitting on a couch sipping tea when Duncan and Bella arrived.
When Bella saw her son, she put her hand on her chest and closed her eyes to fight back tears. She hugged him fiercely and then held him by the shoulders at arm’s length.
“How do you feel? Are you having any light-headedness, dizziness, or confusion?”
“I feel fine, Mom, just a little hungry.”
“You had us all pretty worried, Son,” Duncan said, “especially after Esmer died.”
“Who’s Esmer?”
“He was one of Kelvin’s wizards, a healer,” Duncan said. “He tried
“Let’s go get breakfast.”
He opened the door leading from his bedchamber into a large circular sitting room. There was an arch on the opposite side leading to an entry hall with a door on the far side. To his right was an arch that opened into a large formal dining room with three crystal chandeliers hanging over a long oak table. On his left was a heavy bound oak door. The sitting room had a fireplace in the center with a stone chimney rising into the ceiling. On one side of the fireplace was a low table with couches on two sides and overstuffed chairs on the other two. Colorful tapestries, probably from New Ruatha, hung over the black granite of the walls. Brass lamps stood at intervals between the tapestries, providing ample light.
Boaberous stood when Alexander entered.
“Lord Reishi, it’s good to see you well again.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. Report,” Alexander said.
“Your rooms are secure. There’s only one entrance from within the Keep,” he said, motioning toward the door in the entry hall. “The balconies are inaccessible except by flight. I’ve posted two Rangers at the door and four on platforms above your balconies.
“Commander P’Tal is still incapacitated, but the healers tell me he’s mending. I’m aware of only one immediate threat. The Rangers reported that a serving girl was murdered last night within the Keep. They’re investigating.”
“It’s always something,” Alexander said with a frown.
Adele came bustling in and smiled broadly when she saw Alexander.
“Lord Reishi, it’s so good to see you. We were all worried sick that you wouldn’t wake up. I’ll send word to your mother right away.” She turned and called out into the other room, “Lena.”
A young woman of about nineteen came into the sitting room. She wasn’t quite as tall as Isabel, had dark brown hair and soft brown eyes, clear skin, and a timid smile. She was beautiful but still unsure of herself as a woman. Her colors were clear and bright, vibrant with life but also revealed the nervousness and uncertainty of youth.
“Yes ma’am?”
“Lena, this is Lord Reishi,” Adele said, turning back to Alexander. “With your permission, Lord Reishi, Lena will be your maidservant. She is well-trained and has served on my staff for many years.”
“I trust your judgment, Adele. Pick your staff as you see fit,” Alexander said, then turned to Lena. “Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you, Lord Reishi,” she said.
“Lena, run and tell Lady Bella that her son is awake,” Adele said.
Lena nodded and headed out the door in the entry hall.
“You must be famished,” Adele said. “I’ll have the chef start breakfast right away. I suspect your family will be joining you shortly, so I’ll be sure he makes plenty. Is there anything in particular you’d like?”
Alexander shrugged with a smile, “Maybe some eggs.”
“Of course, I’ll get breakfast started and be back with a pot of tea,” Adele said, as she whisked out of the room.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that,” Alexander said. “It just doesn’t feel right having people waiting on me.”
“You have more important things to worry about,” Isabel said.
Alexander and Isabel were sitting on a couch sipping tea when Duncan and Bella arrived.
When Bella saw her son, she put her hand on her chest and closed her eyes to fight back tears. She hugged him fiercely and then held him by the shoulders at arm’s length.
“How do you feel? Are you having any light-headedness, dizziness, or confusion?”
“I feel fine, Mom, just a little hungry.”
“You had us all pretty worried, Son,” Duncan said, “especially after Esmer died.”
“Who’s Esmer?”
“He was one of Kelvin’s wizards, a healer,” Duncan said. “He tried
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