Prior

He liked showing Danna the palace, and she hadn’t pressed more conversation on him regarding his reaction to Annalise. It was good, that she was pregnant. It was good for her and for Cammadan.

“Prior,” she said, as they wound back into the fortress of the palace, “where are you taking me?”

“There are a few more people I want you to meet,” he said. She raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Come on.” They walked to another apartment, and were greeted by a Sister of Rana.

“Hello Commander,” the sister smiled.

“Hello Sister Ara,” Prior said gently, “who’s around today?” The sister let out a loud sigh and from the gallery above them a loud shout came, Danna jumped. Prior grinned.

“Uncle Prior!” A boy came charging down the stairs leaping from the a middle one. He had golden blond hair and Prior was smiling adoringly at him while he put him down.

“Sir Chase,” Sister Ara said, chastizing the boy. “That is not how you greet the General! What would your Papa say?”

“I’m sorry,” he said bashfully, but then saluted. “Sir,” his little voice went serious. Prior laughed, Chase was so very much like his father when he put his mind to it.

“Cadet,” Prior saluted him back, “I’d like you to meet Danna, she’s very special to me,” Danna smiled. “Danna Finn, this is Chase Dugarry, my godsson.” Danna smiled and knelt down to shake Chase’s hand.

“I’m pleased to meet you Mistress,” Chase said and took it.

“I’m pleased to meet you too,” she said gently.

“Shall we inspect the troops?” Prior said and scooped Chase up. “Thank you, Sister,” he nodded to Sister Ara who nodded they walked through into another room. Two slightly older girls were sitting by the hearth, reading books, one with strawberry blonde hair in curls, and the other, dark haired in a guard uniform. There was another boy running around them in a circle, with a wooden sword swinging it wildly.

“Jack is trying to slay a dragon,” Chase said by way of explanation, “But Calla also said he must do so silently.” Danna laughed. Prior sighed, he’d been away for a while, but Calla Pantona maintained her control over the others, it would seem.

“Prior!” The red haired girl stood up and walked over to the them, the other girl, Elodie Graves-Willis merely glanced at them and returned to her book.

“Lady Calla,” Prior bowed.”Why must Jack slay his dragon silently?”

“Because he was being far too loud, and Althea and I were trying to read!” She rolled her eyes. She turned to Danna. “Who are you?”

Danna

Danna felt a shudder of power as the little girl’s eyes met hers. Lady Calla was not even 10 years old, but she radiated power, more power even than a dragon, maybe.

“She’s Danna,” Chase said as Prior put him down, “She’s Uncle Prior’s friend. This is my cousin Calla Pantona, that’s her brother Jack, and that’s Althea Graves-Willis, she’s not in our family but she stays here anyway.”

“Althea is my family,” the little Viscountess objected. Danna smiled. “Jack, come say hello.” Jack paused and walked over. Calla clearly had some of her father, and though but, it was obvious Jack had almost none, he looked more like his cousin than his sister.  

“You wouldn’t be able to slay a dragon with a sword,” Danna said. “Their scales can’t be pierced that way, they’re like armor made out of stone.”

“You’ve seen a dragon?” Jack gasped. Calla groaned and went back to her book, clearly sick of the discussion. 

“Seshi, the great lord of Dragonkind is my friend,” Danna said. “His own claws or teeth could kill one of his people, but it’s really his fire that’s his best weapon. So to slay a dragon you need a sword made of dragon bone, or fire.”

“I see,” little Lord Jack nodded, “Calla! Can you conjure fire for me?” He ran off to his sister and Chase went after him.

“They’re adorable,” Danna said. Prior smiled. “This place,” she drifted off.

“Some mix of Athena and Prince Eric,” he explained. “They were both lonely children who tightly bonded to their closest companions, they wanted a safe place for their own to all grown up together.” She nodded. “I want you to be safe here, too, if it’s what you want.”

“We have to start somewhere,” she said. He laughed. “Can we go lie down now?” He laughed.

“Yes, my dearest,” he said