A light breeze. Sunlight warming his hand. Birdsong. Firm comforter under him. Soft cotton over him.

Lucivar slowly opened his eyes and stared at the white ceiling and the smooth, exposed beams. Where . . . ?

Out of habit, he immediately looked for ways out of the room. Two windows covered by white curtains embroidered with morning glories. A door on the wall opposite the bed he was lying on.

Then he noticed the rest of the room. The pine bedside table and dresser. The piece of driftwood turned into a lamp. A cabinet, its top bare except for a simple brass stand for holding music crystals. An open workbasket stuffed with skeins of yarn and floss. A large, worn, forest-green chair and matching hassock. A needlework frame covered with white material. An overstuffed bookcase. Braided, earth-tone rugs. Two framed charcoal sketches—head views of a unicorn and a wolf.

Then he frowned. What the hell was he doing in Jaenelle's cabin? Yes he knew that he needed to be healed but shouldn't he be at the Hall where there were healing rooms and everything that a healer should need? He puzzled over that as a door opened in the room beyond. He heard a woman's voice say, "All right, go look, but don't wake him."

The wolfs gaze was intent for a moment before it let out a pleased whuff and trotted out the door.

He barely had time to gather his wits when the woman pushed the door fully open and leaned against the doorway. "So you've finally decided to rejoin the living."

She sounded amused, but if the rest of her was anything to go by, the hoarseness in her voice was caused by strain, fatigue, and overuse. Painfully thin. The way the trousers and shirt hung on her, she'd probably dropped the weight far too fast to be healthy. The long, loose braid of gold hair looked as dull as her skin, and there were dark smudges under those beautiful, ancient sapphire eyes.

Lucivar blinked. Swallowed hard. Finally remembered to breathe. "Cat?" he whispered. He raised his hand in a mute plea.

She raised one eyebrow and walked toward him. "I know you said you would find me when I was seventeen, but I had no idea you would do it in such a dramatic fashion."

"What the hell are you talking about? No don't answer that. But do tell me why we're here and not the hall where you can be looked after."

"The Hall?" Jaenelle gave him a wary look and spoke like she was testing the word.

"Yes the Hall. The family seat. The place that you live with your family. You do remember that place don't you?"

Another puzzled look, "I know the Hall… But Lucivar how do you?"

Now he was pissed and needed to move. He flipped the blankets off and swung his legs over the side and tried to stand. The floor dipped suddenly and he almost flattened Jaenelle.

"What the hell are you doing? You have been in a healing sleep for two weeks."

"You've been taking care of me for two weeks without any help?"

"You were easier to take care of when you were a sleep."

"What the Hell was father during this… Forget that. Where was Daemon?"

Her body arched and her breathing hitched. That one word and she could almost feel the memories attached to it but still too far from surface to grasp. "Daemon?"

"My brother… Don't you dare tell me that you don't remember him since he is your Consort."

Her hands let go luckily Lucivar landed sitting on the side of the bed. Daemon. She knew that name. Consort? She didn't have a court let alone a consort. But that name it belonged to the title. She turned suddenly to the eyrien that for never being in Kealeer before knew far too much or too little about what he was talking about. "Lucivar tell me exactly what you last remember."

The hourglass above her Sapphire Jewel. She wasn't asking out of mere confusion … Witch was asking… A highly skilled black widow was asking and he was not about to tell her before talking to their father. "I'll tell you after we go to the Hall and The High Lord is there to hear this as well."

Thankfully, he didn't understand anything she said after the first Eyrien curse she flung at him. "You're not well enough to go that far yet."

"Then send for a damn coach because I think the sooner the black widows of the family know what the last thing that I know is the sooner we can get this whole mess figured out."

"Has anyone ever told you how much of Prick you are?"

"I told you that the first time we met."

Well damn he actually remembered something that did happen. She was beginning to wonder since most of what he was telling her seemed … she didn't know what it seemed but a good whack in the head might actually do him some good. And since she couldn't do that she called out on thread,*Father?*

*Witch-Child?* concern flowed back on the thread. Concern that Lucivar wasn't as healed as he thought he was when he left flowed back.

*I need a coach.*

Panic now flowed freely*How soon do you need it?*

Jaenelle looked Lucivar up and down. Then looked outside at the sun. *Beal can bring it. That would give you time for a nap.*

A nap. She just made his heart go to his throat and she wanted him to take a nap? *I'll come with Beal unless there is reason you don't want me to come?*

A feeling of annoyance flowed back *That will be fine.* then she closed the link. "Papa will be here soon."

"Great. Now how bout some clothes while we wait."

Jaenelle help to get him dressed in clothes that although not his fit fairly well… if being baggy meant fitting well. Grumpy he sat the table while Jaenelle heated up two bowls of broth and a wedge of bread.

"You know you could ask Mrs. Beal to pack you something more substantial."

"Mrs. Beal?"

"You're telling me you don't know who Mrs. Beal is?"

"Oh no I know exactly who she is. What I'm wondering is how you know who she is?"

Lucivar swallowed hard. There was something about how she said that that didn't sound quite right. "I think I'll explain that when the High Lord arrives."

She let out a sigh, "I thought that would be your answer."

Some of this comes from the books and the rest comes from my mind. I wanted to start off as close to the book as possible before taking it a different direction. Hope you enjoy.