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I looked at them. “Enough!” They turned to look at me and Daren bowed, out of reflex most likely. It wasn’t often I took that tone, but when I did I got the attention. “I did not say take your brother I said take I rider. I cannot force you to do so, but if you do not you will not have much luck on your hunt as there will be a Dragon in the air tracking you. Daren will be following on foot just see that attempts to lose the dragon are not successful.  That I can and do order! No one here can change that order. So you had best get with the others and work out who is going with you. In fact from now to the end of the meet there will be a dragon on wing following you any time you try to leave the grounds without a rider accompany you. You are a target! You need see that and be responsible! The attacks are leading to a war, they are looking for ways to hurt us, don’t go making it easy.”

Mike shook his head. “You are over reacting! Just how do you get off lecturing me when you are running around? We are not children we know how to fight.”

I said. “When did you kill a demon? Any demon?” He blinked. “My first was when I was five. I had killed a dozen before I sat the tests. I am bonded. My dragon is just a thought from. That said when did I go out alone? When have I even been in the yard without a guard?” He blinked. “I know I am a target. I do not like it, but I know it and I accept it. Here and for that matter when at home I am in sight of the palace guards when there is not assigned just to me. I am a racked Commander and a Knight, yet I have a guard. You will take a rider with you when you leave the grounds or there will be a dragon in the air tracking you. It is not up for debate.

Mike said. “You have no right to.”

Garth said. “Yes she does she is a Knight of the Realm according to the treaty she has the right to order any security changes she finds needed. Furthermore she is right. This is just what I was trying to tell you all. We cannot have them going off out there this year without an escort. Thank you General Nastice I will see that orders are issued that no hunting parties are allowed to leave without a rider. I am glad that someone here can see the danger.”

Mike shook his head. “I still say you are over reacting, but I will go find Keven and let him know you are joining us. We are meeting at the west gate in an hour. I can just hear it now. They are going to love this. Having to bring my little brother along to babysit.” He didn’t quit mange to stomp off, but it was fair and Jeffery wasn’t looking upset so hopefully it worked.

Jeffry shook his head. “How much of that was just for me and how mad is he really? I am not going to be insulted that you want the hunts supervised just because it happens to be my son that is putting it together. The show will help with the others though, so well done. If I didn’t know Mike and Daren I would have thought they were fighting. I trust you know they weren’t Highness?”

I shook my head. “Why is it that even when I drop your title you have to use mine. That is not needed. Yes I knew, but the only way to make it work was for me order it publicly. I could not be sure how you would feel, but your son and Dale would make it an issue if they could. This hopefully will stop them. Daren I know these aren’t your thing, but you do need to go unless they find some else.”

Daren bowed. “Thank you Highness.” I shook my head and he smiled. “When you do this the crown is there and that makes it the fit title for me to use. No matter what you say, you do have one and it shows, for all you don’t mean for it to. Now with your leave I will go change. I do not look forward to it but feel much better knowing they will be watched, even if I end up having to track them. A rider being there makes it far less likely there will be a problem.” He stood there looking at me.

I shook my head, but relaxed a bit as well. “Go on you clown, and know that there is no way they are going to get out unseen even if Mike can’t tell you of the plans. Garth will see that all the exits are watched and there are none he doesn’t know.” This time he saluted me then left.

Steven said. “Thank you for looking after him and I will see what I can do about the lack of a guard. I didn’t realize he was still ducking them. Did you really kill a demon when you were five, Highness?”

I flushed a bit and said. “Well in truth it was more likely the arrow and the window it went it came in threw than the knife I stabbed it with, but it was still alive when I stabbed it. The one I killed when I was seven was more like my first kill, but my siblings would always correct me when I said it was. Either way you see I didn’t have sense enough to run even before I could use a real blade.”

Steven laughed. “Somehow I can see that. Yet at least you do acknowledge that it was silly. Now then just if those fools don’t go hunting demons to prove they don’t need a rider with them”

I shook my head. “I didn’t even think of that, but I don’t think many of them will go for it. The ones from the borders have likely had plenty of chances to kill one. They are not likely to go looking for them.”

Dev laughed. “Trust me they aren’t going to go hunting them. There is little hunting done on those hunts. I am just glad that Keven finds me strange, for all there was a time it upset me. I do hope that there are no problems, but glad they will have a way to get help.”

I said. “It truly is not about who is organizing the hunt. It just makes sense that there are watchers on the talks. Titles bring threats, and that triples as war comes closer.”

Jeffery nodded. “I know it, and I have no problem. In fact given the way my son seems to find demons it is welcome. I do not know how he manages, but it has happened a bit to often the last few years. Three this year alone. It is just a wonder he has come back.”

I frowned a bit. “Sir, I fear your number is off. I have heard of five parties he was at that were attacked, all of which he left unharmed.” Know he and Henry are looking upset, but he has a right to know, if he truly doesn’t.. From what I could get Keven was present at all of them, but the rest involved were different. No, wait Dale was at three of them, one being in Soda. It was only the second time they had an attack there in five years. “I’m sorry that made it sound like I was tracking him. Truly I am not, but I am trying to track the demons. It just so happened that I was at one of those five and the reports of the others had some names listed.”

Jeffery said. “I didn’t think you were just wondering why I hadn’t heard of them. I wonder if any of those are among the three I know of. Three was too many. Five is. I would like to see those reports, if I could. You are tracking the demons?”

I nodded. “It started out with wanting to know what types were being seen but then I had to see if there was a way to tell why they were attacking where they were. Thanks to Steven’s researches we might just be close to that answer. However we have types of demons that match nothing in the records. I expected that for the small ones, but not the medium ones, yet it is all class. That is just looking at the ones that are confirmed. It is worse in the sightings, but then that is expected. I have the reports, if you can meet me in the blue room by the library in an hour or so I will glad to let you see them. You can see the map then to if you wish. Right now I need to get my weapons put away and explain what I just did to my guys. I know it is going to mean more work, but if it saves even one person it will be worth it.”

Henry nodded. “If I had of been thinking it would have already been in place. Now then we had best go say that yes it is true, all wanting to leave the grounds needs to have a rider with them.”

Garth said. “They can just ask at the gate if they don’t know any. Don’t worry there will be plenty that are willing to volunteer. Heck I bet I will have a list waiting for me when I get there.”

Steven nodded. “Now not that I mind a bit, but as I know I am going to be asked how are you a ranked night never having placed in the international games?”

I said. “The treaty says that Ranking in the Fay court will stand for all Meetings. I am recognized as a commander in Fay as well as in Glacier, therefore I am a Ranked Knight as my title is Red Knight.” I shrugged. “In truth it is a stretch, but I thought it would work for this. I forgot that by claiming it I was giving myself the power to set it as policy for everyone.”

Henry said. “I don’t see where that is a stretch, that is the rules. If you are addressed as a Knight by the Fay then that is your rank. That is indeed a recognized Ranking in the law, for all you didn’t know it at the time. In fact that is how Matter Ranked.”

I nodded. “I remember that, but I thought it was a war time allowance as the games could not be held. I will see you later. As I said I will be in the library in a bit if you want to get those reports. Right now you don’t want to be seen accepting messages from me.”

Jeffery nodded. “I would like to see that map as well. I never thought there could be a pattern, but it makes sense to look for one. Keeping a list of types seen is something we have done for years. I will bring a copy with me. It shouldn’t take me much more than an hour to deal with whatever Keven’s yelling is causing.” He left letting me.

I shook my head a bit as Dev came with me. Dev said. “It is not a good time for you to be with Jeffery without a ready escape. I am going to see you have one. Just what are they up to? He sure is trying hard to look friendly now. I don’t like it.” He looked at me closely.

I smiled a bit. “That isn’t needed. Oliver will just tell me that Rick need to speak to me if I need to get out of there, but yes you can come see what we have. It is not secret.” He just stayed with me as I went to my room and took off my weapons, letting Oliver put them up.

I looked at Mat and Rick. “I know Daren let everyone know what is going on. Any object to being included on the list that can be drawn from? Garth said he would have plenty of volunteers, and they are going to know the land, but I want at least a few.”

Mat said. “Most went over to the barracks as soon as Daren told them, wanting to make sure they were on the list. I can’t believe that he is that bold. Did Keven really? How are you? Daren was worried that you heard, he didn’t think to check who was around.”

I said. “It is a good thing I did hear. I forgot all about the hunts and they are a normal part of the games. Setting one for today was a push, and I am shook. It hit and so I was a bit over the top. I do hope that I didn’t upset Mike too badly. I will have to find time to apologize for it. I dressed him down a bit to much.” I looked at them, then a Dev. “This day has too much pain as it is. I don’t think anything would have happened, but now I know it won’t. Next time though. He is warned now and will work it into the plan. Luckily Keven doesn’t understand the bonds as well as he thinks so it should still work. I need to show the two of you something if you can come with me for a bit.”

They nodded. Rick frowned a bit as I started to the door. “Sure, you know that you just have to ask. Are you sure you are fine without a blade? A knife won’t alarm anyone. I have seen others wearing them.”

I smiled a bit. “I’m fine, I am going to be meeting Jeffry in the library so he can see the reports we have of Keven’s attacks. I don’t want him to think I don’t trust him. His reactions are important. I am not going to get what I need if he is on the defense from the start. Now come on, I said I would be there in an hour and I want you to see this first.” This time they came with me and so I led them down the back halls.

Dev shook his head. “I wonder if Father has ever been back here. I would think he would want a few these paintings out where they would be seen. May I know why they thought the knife was needed?”

I closed my eyes for a bit. “It is the day that Quin was killed. It makes me jumpier, and well you know Keven. So that they would go today.”

Dev said. “It was an attack.”

I shrugged and led them in to my old room. “I don’t think he knows  who I am so I don’t think he know just what he did. However I do think he was planning something.” I opened the door only to stop in shock. He meant it when he said it had not been touched. “I didn’t think he meant it quit like this.  It is that print there  next to the bed I wanted you to see. Also will get someone to take it and the other items on the bed, my rooms latter? Henry said I could take what I wanted and there are some things here I have missed.” Rick had been looking at the paint in shook but that had him look at me. “Yes this was my room. All of this was mine. I would look at that painting each night before I went to bed and touch the flag of Ryder’s land. I wasn’t sure why, just that I slept better if I did. Do you recognize any with Darkeness, other than Graceland of course?” I hope I am wrong. Lord I hope I am.”

Mat “Casimure, but how? I mean they are there so why is that one on that side? It. Why wasn’t it caught?”

I said. “This is the seconded war, I don’t know that any of them but Greacland were on that side in the latter wars. The names were forgotten and some of flags here were claimed by other Countries. That could be the case. But well. We have no records until years after this but those make it sound like an old alliance. Yet like you said if it was the same how did it get missed? Even if they joined after the war there should be a record of Casimure repeating, a mention of it at least I would think. I thought maybe I was wrong about the flag.”

Dev said softly. “I have no idea what Casimure is, but that Red Lion like thing here.” He touched one of the flags on the print. “That was on a pin in Lord Brandon’s tie yesterday. I thought it looked more like a demon and was going to say something, but thought he was upset enough. Given he had found us when I thought we were out of sight.”

Fred said. “I do know what Casimure is and it is there, no they never repented. They were in the next war, but disappeared two years in. They were the slavers. We thought they were dead. You have newer records?”

I took a breath. “We have a problem then. Yet there is a gap it could be that it is different. Yet to use the same name and flag. See three of the members here are on a list of countries that in an agreement called the Casimure accords. I cannot find the details of it, but the oldest record is dated to a few years after the third war the newest is three years old. It could be nothing but I have to bring up. This is going to be a rough meeting. I was hoping I was wrong about the flag. The Lion ids a demon but such are common in talismans to world off evil in some religions. Given what has been going on I am inclined to think that is all the tie pin was. I have seen nothing to suggest there is any issues and the religion backs it. Still if he is bugging you find a way to get him into the study and point it out to him. Might just be better than the kissing. By the way he is just slight less offended of the couple is not the same sex. John and I had a run in or two as well.”