In Which Dea Reads It Twice

May 27, 1192

"Uncle Conant!" Dea hadn't seen her uncle since he'd graduated from university, so she pushed her thoughts about why he was here to the corner of her mind and accepted his embrace. Besides--surely if Uncle Farilon were to deliver a claim, he'd do so himself? If he even wanted to!

Uncle Conant had just decided to pay them a visit now that he'd no longer have to deal with her father. Yes, she'd tell herself that until proven wrong. "How have you been?"

"Quite well! In fact, I'm to be a father come January."

"You'll be a wonderful one." Far better than hers, no matter why he was here. "Pass my congratulations to Meraleene?"

"I shall. I do hope the baby gets her lovely red hair." Her uncle grinned--but quickly regained a face of business, one eye darting to her grandfather at his desk. "Though, forgive a new father's excitement; we can talk more about the baby and everything else at dinner. I have a letter from Farilon for you."

Dea's heart faltered. Danthia had talked him into making his claim after all. "Oh?"

"It's here on the desk." Her grandfather pointed, then leaned back, as if he feared its touch would set him aflame. "I haven't read it."

"Have you, Uncle?"

Her uncle nodded. "I was there when Farilon wrote it."

That could have meant anything or nothing.

Dea unfolded the note against the desk's surface, then brought it to her eye, her uncle's light and careless letters the same ones she remembered. I, Prince Farilon of Naroni, Son of King Roderick and Queen Laralita of Naroni...

She swallowed. This was very much a declaration. But, she forced herself to keep at it.

...hereby declare that in light of the death of my half-brother King Ietrin, I pledge to...

She blinked. There wasn't a thing wrong with her reading, and she'd known that since she'd worked through her first book of fables at four. But, she had to read it again.

"Grandfather!"

She handed him the letter knowing that he'd want to read it for himself, but her glee left him no chance to do so.

"He's not going to make a claim! He says he supports me as queen and that he and his descendants will maintain their rightful places in line after me!"

"What?" Her grandfather scanned the page for himself, his grin widening with each word. "My God! Conant, why didn't you reassure us?"

"It was supposed to be a secret until Dea knew. Danthia thinks Farilon sent me here with a claim--and I don't envy him when she finds out the truth."

Well, Dea would make sure she didn't touch him. Surely the woman wasn't so dim as to make a personal enemy of the Queen of Naroni! "Uncle, you must give him a kiss for me."

"And one for me as well!" Her grandfather added as he stood and stepped around the desk--something he'd surely never said of a son of King Roderick! "Dea, if I were to die right this minute, I'd go out a very happy man."

"But don't die this minute, as I will need your counsel at first." She paid him a firm hug. Her uncles' support had been a welcome surprise, but her grandfather's had always been steadfast. "Let's go tell Mother together."

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