Alert: Scout is especially cute in this one.
Saberin: Kane's 10-11, Scout's a year, everyone else is in between.
Aubery: It helps that the story's already written. Just a matter of editing and posting.
Raider: Last night I typed up a oneshot of Gabby. Just waiting for the story to reach a point to put it up in the Themes :) Also Jenny, she went to Araluen as soon as she heard Gilan was promoted.
AER: Such a quest for Crowley...
Gold: As always, thanks for such epic reviews :) Keeping the story happy for a bit...after all Found is about the families :)
Aubrey: You'll have to see :)
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.
Lina made her way to the seamstress. As promised, Tina had a series of sketches ready. Lina looked over them. She'd have to choose three so that Tina and her staff could put together samples for her and Cassandra to examine the next day. It didn't take long to pick out which would be the most functional and left Tina to do her work. Finding she'd finished her tasks for the day a good couple of hours before dinner, Lina went to a garden and sat on a bench. Lina rubbed her sore arms and wondered when it'd become easier to hobble about without wearing herself out so much.
"Hello Cassandra," Lina said without turning around.
"How'd you know?" the crown princess asked as she came into Lina's view.
"I recognized your footsteps."
Lina made no formal acknowledgement of her friend's title. Cassandra didn't ask for any. She sat on the bench next to her. "Ace and Daniel have decided they are my personal guard. I've spent the afternoon evading them."
"What are you doing now?"
"My real personal guard has them on a special mission. They are to deliver a very important message to Gilan."
"Does Gilan know?"
"I ran into him after his meeting with you. He was all too happy to take a break from his mountain of paper to entertain the boys."
Lina laughed. "Are you sure Daniel isn't too much for you? He's the responsibility of Liam and me technically. We can…"
"Nonsense I've got a staff on my side and Daniel has more fun playing with Ace."
"I suppose you're right."
"Do those make your arms hurt all that bad?"
Lina noticed she was still trying to get feeling back into her shoulders. "I guess I never used the muscles much before."
"Maybe you could find something better suited."
"Sean gave those to me. I'm sure he arranged for the best Hibernia had to offer."
"Well then, I'll see about the best Araluen has to offer."
Lina smiled at the quiet rivalry that still existed between Araluen and Hibernia. She always tried to stay out of it…at least officially "Have you checked in with Rosalina at all today?"
Cassandra nodded. "Just briefly. She was braiding Scout's hair."
"Scout hates having her hair braided."
"I think our girls are equally stubborn but Rosalina's older and more experienced at getting her way."
The two laughed. "We'd better get to dinner," Lina said after a while. She got the crutches and stood them up. Cassandra touched the wood gently.
"What are those markings?"
"The old Hibernian language. It's just an old story about the Fianna Éireann warriors. I guess Sean wanted them to look ceremonial or something."
"Who are the Fianna Erie...Era.."
"Éireann," Lina offered.
"Who are they?"
"Hibernian legend...they are said to be a discreet group of hunters, bandits, and mercenaries who ruled over the kingdom of Dromorth in Hibernia. They are thought to use magic to overcome every enemy from goblins to high rulers."
"Sounds like the people of that academy you were brought up in."
Lina nodded. "It's probably why Sean chose the legend."
"I still think Araluen can do better."
Lina felt a little dizzy as she stood up too quickly. Luckily, Cassandra didn't notice.
The two went to the dining hall only to discover they were the last to arrive. Duncan sat at the head of the table with Horace at one side and Liam on the other. He had Daniel and Ace standing in the small space between him and Horace, the two giving a detailed report of their day. The boys' smiles were wide and their eyes bright. Scout herself sat in Duncan's lap. Rosalina had clearly either forgotten about or cut the younger girl's afternoon nap short. She leaned heavily against the king of Araluen with her eyes drooping. Rosalina did a great job with Scout's thick dark hair. The braids would hold until the next day for sure. Lina and Cassandra took their seats next to their husbands.
Gilan and Jenny were there. Lina hoped the royal chef had been alerted to Jenny's presence. The meal would be one of his best if he had been. A chef could cook meals for dignitaries, kings, emperors, jarls, famous warriors, and beautiful ladies of court without hesitation…however bring in another celebrated cook and they panicked with need for approval. William and Rosalina sat with perfect posture next to their mother. Halt and Pauline sat next to Lina with Kane on the far end. It put their adopted son across from Prince William. The boys chatted animatedly about a hunting trip Halt and Crowley had promised them the next day.
"I can take Scout, Your Majesty," Lina offered as she sat. Duncan hugged Scout.
"No I'm not finished."
Lina smiled. "She's not even related to you. How can you have such attachment?"
"Don't challenge me, Nerilina. I'll have you banished from Araluen."
"Perhaps I'll leave of my own free will."
"Did you decide you don't like it here, then?"
"Oh no, I like the country well enough it's the king that's barking mad."
Usually Duncan's guard would be all over anyone who openly insulted him and they'd be punished severely…however the dinner was a private and friendly affair. Lina would never insult Duncan were it a more public setting.
Duncan just smirked at her wit and stood Scout up in his lap. Her eyes widened and she giggled. "You're my best scout, right?"
"Right!" Scout agreed in her highly pitched voice. The tiredness she'd displayed before was forgotten.
"You want to go on a mission for me?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Go over to Kane and tell him to stop harassing the future king of Araluen."
Their attention turned to the older boys. Scout gladly left Duncan's lap and ran to the boys. She jumped into Kane's lap and put her tiny hands on his face. "Lea' Willeem alone," Scout ordered. Kane had always had a soft spot for Scout. Instead of repelling her he pushed her out of his chair and scooted it in further so when she squealed and tried to get back into his lap it was impossible. They all laughed, including Kane, as she pounded her tiny fists at him in protest. He began poking at William and the boys playfully 'fought' each other while Scout tried to break it up. Scout shrieked with pleasure as she recognized their actions as a game. Her realization didn't stop her from continuing her mission.
