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Rick said. “So that the boy’s name. You must have been close, given how you hid the picture in Gather’s and won’t talk about it. Then first loves are always touchy. But that you keep his picture like that. I mean you heard of mine. Yet you just tried to tell me you didn’t know how that got in the book. So is he near?”

Dev looked at me as I moved around the room setting a few small things on the bed. I had taken my books, my clothes, and a lot of the things from John but that was it. there were other trinkets and pictures here. Then my jewelry boxes. Yes some was family, but Mom nor Lily seemed to want it and it was mine. There were items that I had been too young to wear and some I was to old for now but I was going to take them. “John wasn’t my first, but he meant a lot. His family wanted us to wait until after school to make everything official, and we saw no harm in it. The time wouldn’t matter. Yet it turned out it did. He was killed in a demon attack two years before I was sent to take the tests.” Rick looked at me and start over, but his hand on my arm, making it clear he would hug me but realized that it would hurt right  now. “Yes that is why you had to push me so much, but you were right to do so then, just as you have been now. I told Quin about him, but I just. I am still too angry to talk about it most days. All the boys he were with were hurt, and two others also died from their wounds. There is nothing to say it was targeted and like I said this was before they started pushing. I was young and in pain. I wanted a target. I couldn’t get to the demons but I could the other boys and a few of then I already had a grudge against. Those actions might just come up. No matter that I had tried to make adamants before I left, not all can be fixed. After all I was not the only one acting in pain.” I smiled a bit as I set the last box down. Dev looked at it then at me. I shrugged. “He and mother have had ten years to take it back, they haven’t so I might as well keep them, for all they are Family items.” I smiled a bit as I saw Oliver looking at the crest on the box. He would recognize it from the dress, as he had helped me get ready for the ceremony. “No Oliver, none of this can be used here. At least not now, that dress is not coming here either, but yes some are for it. For all what I use worked well, these will be better the next time I needed that gown. There are more combs in that box and they can be used. That should help when you feel something more is needed.”

Oliver bowed. “Yes Ma’am, I was just wondering if you had that dress made after that crest or just how it happened.”

I said. “The dress is related. I just took it but not the jewelry. I felt I had the right to dress, but that my sisters should have a chance to have these. A lot here came to me when I was too young for it to look right. Tradition here is that a young lady receives a full jewelry chest when she turns fourteen. A lot of mine was old items, but that was what I wanted. Yet after the tests it just didn’t feel right to take it. Now though I am going to.” I started to the door. “Dev do you mind seeing them back? I know I got them lost on the way but I do need to get to the library.”

Dev said. “No problem sis, and I will see that whoever they send for this has help. That way Mom and Irirs will know it is authorized. So maybe will raise a bit less of a fuse should they notice.”

 I nodded, for I had not even thought that, just wanted to save the house staff as they had to be swamped. Before I could say anything Irirs said. “This part of the house in not open to guests. Let me.” Dev moved a bit, so she could see him. “Oh they are with you. I should have known. Quite the group. Odd you brought them here. Isn’t it a bit early in the day?”

I said. “It is my fault. I wanted Rick and Mat to look at a painting. I am sorry that we interrupted you, we were just leaving. Thank you Dev, I didn’t even think of how it would look, just knew the staff here has to be busy so didn’t want to add to it.”

Irirs winkled her nose. “You! What are you doing here? And looking like that! With the people that came with that Glacier Princess, none the less. Just how does it happen that you are with them. Whoever she is, certainly never heard of. Not in the family at all yet titled. As if. I still don’t know what brought them out.” Dev started laughing louder so she turned on him. “What your problem and just why would you bring them here.”

I shook my head a bit smiling, fighting back my own laughter. “As I said I wanted them to see a painting. It is nothing sinister. I did not realize that there was a problem with them being in the halls here. Nothing was said of them being closed when I was told I could make use of the library.”

I looked at Henry who had come up behind her he shook his head but said nothing. “No, the hall is open but I did not think to find them in it. Then it is hard to know what would interest them. I just can’t believe you know them just how did you come to? I know they are with that party.” I dared not look at Henry for fear I would lose control. Just where was she that she didn’t see me yesterday? “What was so interesting about the painting?”

I said. “The prints of the early battles are useful in telling us what was seen. I wanted to know if they saw what I did in one of them. Yes they came with me from Glacier.” She looked at me and shook her head. “Yes Irirs, with me. Glacier has been my home since I bonded with Ryder. Did you not hear about that? Mike knew so I thought you all did.

Irirs frowned. “I am sure I would remember if I was told you were in that place. Just what in the world. So you are bonded again. Is he one of them? That why you are there?”

That did it I started laughing, which made her mad, but I couldn’t help it. Henry said. “I read every one the letter when it came, as there had been months without one. You were there, Irirs but must have been too busy with your dress that also came to hear. Ryder is her dragon, not a person” She turned. “Yes I said dragon.”

I was able to stop laughing. “Sorry. But that was just too much. I didn’t even think of that. No we are not a part of either of the Units. They are both under my command for this trip, but those assignments are not permanent. As to the rest, it should be making the rounds. For all Quin and I never formalized our relationship it was recognized by the court and I was given his titles. I still do not know just how. Now then I had best be going least Jeffry thinks I forgot.”

Henry said. “No need to worry about that. He sent me to tell you he will be a bit late. Keven really threw a fit and it is taking time to get them convinced that they are not going to be held in the grounds.” I looked at him. “No, we have no idea, after all they did go on the hunt, but somehow made it sound like they had to get an exception to do so. Don’t worry it will get sorted. You were right, and most do see it, just those few are proving hard to get talked down.”

Irirs looked at him. “What? You mean we really do have to have a guard with us now? That is. Just why on earth do we need a guard to go shopping, and what is it to her? She can’t go issuing orders here. Just what is going on.”

Henry shook his head. “It isn’t like that. You are free to go to the stalls, just if you leave the grounds you need to have a rider with you, just as the hunting parties have been doing since the demon activity picked up. It makes perfect since to see that everyone has a way to get help. I just failed to think about it before. It is not going to stop anyone from going where they want to. At most there will be a five minute delay as the wait for the rider to get the gate, if they don’t have one with them.”

Irirs shook her head. “You mean they thought to go without. That is utterly foolish. Every knows it isn’t safe out there. Just what. Don’t you worry I will see that the ladies hear of it. they will get them straight. Of all the reckless things. You don’t go asking to get killed!” She turned and flounced away.

I shook my head. “I do hope she wasn’t after something important. I see she hasn’t changed a bit. I had best go so I can have those reports found.” I looked at him. “Um, I am out of line but um. She is going to eventually make it to Mother, you might want to. I am sorry about all this.”

Henry shook his head. “It is my mess not yours. I am the one who did not tell them you were here. The staff will be happy to move what you need. Now do excuse me, you are right I should get there first, or I will never hear the end of it.” He left and I put my hand on Dev.