* So, Father Garshom, what comes after amulets for the wyverns? Is their presence really the reason the King of the Green Elves, Queen Margo, and the Sahkuhl are here together? *

"No, there's more," the old priest sighed. "They originally wanted to sit down at talk with Duke Sven, Prince Willam, and Prince Andray about a combined effort to remove the Regent and rescue King Stephano. That plan has now been superseded by something more urgent." He paused.

I waited a few seconds and then decided not to play games. * Great dramatic pause, old man. You've just used up your dramatic pause allowance for the day. What has happened? *

"The Regent has changed kingdom law to lower the coming of age to 16 for immediate members of the royal family. It appears that she wants to lure Cat Rider into Nordweg sooner than next year so she can eliminate him, and maybe Willam too."

* Oh, that's just great. We have a spy, that pendant started working despite not being worn around Willam's neck, or they have someone who can scry too. *

"I think it's the last. Everyone in Willam's troops volunteered to take the goblin truth potion. They are all clear. Cat Rider destroyed Willam's pendant this afternoon, as soon as we found out about the law change. That leaves scrying."

* Dang. *

"You just said dang, Fuzzy," one of Garshom's bushy white eyebrows floated upward.

* As a divine beast, it behooves me to set a good example. Trust me, I would rather say something far fouler than that, preferably about Queen Griselda's sexual preferences involving her revolting practice of raping kittens, puppies, and ponies. Those are far worse than her petty adultery with Magus Keleher. *

"Well, if you put it that way, I guess I can overlook your use of excessively mild language despite the extreme provocation," Garshom pronounced in his most authoritarian voice.

Then we looked at each other and had a good laugh. Of course, I don't make any noise when I'm amused, except an occasional "snck snck scnk" noise through my nose.

* Well, Father, do you know where I might find my boy? *

"He's inside," Garshom pointed with his thumb to the Grammar School. "He's been arguing with everyone that he doesn't want to be king. The only person who is on his side is Motley Owl."

* What? Does even Wren think he should be king? *

"She's quite certain he needs to be king and has some great arguments in support of that stance."

* Oh dear, he'll be in a bad mood. Maybe I'll stay out until morning. *

"Don't," Gershom said immediately. "He'll spend the night worrying about you."

* Him? Worrying about me? He's the one without a leg and an eye, not me. *

"You should know better than that, Fuzzy," the old priest reprimanded me. "Worry is seldom rational. He worries because he loves you. You're his closest family."

*Oh. * That caught me by surprise. * Could you open the door for me, please? *

I strolled into the classroom we had made into our bedroom to find Cat using the scrying crystal. He looked up when he heard me.

"About time you got back, grumpy puss," was all he said.

* Was Willam's pendant all solid or was it potion-based? *

"There was a vial of Aqua Bellum inside it," Cat Rider put the piece of silk over the crystal ball.

* Excellent! * That would make things easier for me. * Does Griselda wear hers to bed? *

"Yes," Cat gave me a funny look. "The only time she takes it off is when gets in or out of her corset."

* Have you been watching your stepmother changing clothes, young man? *

Cat had the grace to at least blush, "well, yeah."

* So what time does she change to get ready for an evening court affair or bed? *

"Right about now, since she's just finishing dinner with Aricia, the Archbishop, and Magus Keleher. She should go upstairs and either get ready for dancing or go to bed."

* I want to experiment, * I laid down next to Cat so I could see the crystal. * Take the silk off. I'll drive the crystal this time. *

"You worry me, Fuzzy, when you sound this gleeful."

* Hmph. *

I dropped into the scrying trance and found the Regent going to her quarters, followed by two ladies-in-waiting. I was happy to see that she was planning on going to bed. I waited patiently for her to take her pendant off. The second she did, I was ready with a spell Cat taught me years ago: * εασιλι, μει ἰν λτσε βλιζζαρδ σνιε ὀπ ἁρ ὁλλε! *

At first, it looked like I had failed because nothing happened. Then I heard faintly the sound of someone laughing as if to approve of my nasty little attempt. Slowly, the tiny little storm cloud gathered over her head, and then the snowflakes began to fall, and the wind swirled around her head, whipping the ends of her long hair into her face.

"Oh, Fuzzy, that's splendid," Cat grinned. "We should find Willam and show him this. How long are you planning to keep the storm going?"

* I wasn't planning on stopping it, ever. *

"Seriously?" Cat gaped.

* Cat, that evil woman wants to kill you and your brother and your father. There's no reason at all to be kind to her. If I could, I would go to the palace right now and kill her and her mage. There needs to be a reckoning, one that does not let her continue in this life. She's a murderer and the only way to stop a killer like her is to kill her. *

"Dang," Cat said.

* What did you say? *

"Well, I was thinking of saying something far fouler, but I recently overheard someone lecturing Father Garshom about appropriate language, and decided to take it to heart." He smiled at me with a look of perfect angelic innocence.