her. The server patted her shoulder and said, “Welcome to the clan, Lady Roarcroft.”
Alice rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me that I didn’t just gain another title.”
Kadenz chuckled and started in on his meal. “Get used to it. Titles are the key to life on Dyango. My mother has five, my father four and I have three.”
“Kadenz, when are you going to return to work as a judge?” Karoon sipped his caf and flicked his gaze up and toward his son.
Kadenz sighed. “In a week. I will need help with the winery, the harvest is imminent.”
“I will send the regular workers back this afternoon. When are you going to resume full duties as Alpha?”
Kadenz made a face. “In about a week.”
Karoon laughed. “Fair enough. We have missed you, and to think, it only took a little thing from an alien world to bring you back to present day.”
Alice made a face and kept working on her breakfast. She ate as much as she was comfortable with and set the rest aside.
Kadenz grinned and lifted her plate from in front of her, pushing his own empty plate away.
She sipped at the caf and offered Kadenz some. He nodded, and she poured until his cup was full.
He drank some of the caf and gestured with his chin toward the door opening.
Denitha swirled in and stopped next to Alice. “Did you mean what you said about giving instruction to young ladies?”
Alice felt the affirmation running through their clasped hands.
Kadenz gave her fingers a squeeze in case she missed his mental urging.
“Yes, Denitha. I did indeed mean that I have given instruction. Would you like me to engage in something of that nature right now?”
Denitha inclined her head. “Please. I have a deportment class in the atrium. The ladies would love a little musical instruction, but I lack the skills.”
Alice got to her feet, kissed Kadenz and nodded to her new mother-in-law. They left the Judges Roarcroft to finish their breakfasts.
Outside the breakfast room, Alice asked, “You ate earlier?”
“I eat at dawn. Karoon is normally with me, but he waited until you and Kadenz woke before taking his meal. I am guessing he wants to ask my son a few questions.”
Alice smiled, “He did.”
“You and he have bonded?”
“If that is what you call it here.” She chuckled at Denitha’s grimace. “Yes, we linked minds and the link is growing stronger.”
“I am sorry to take you away during your bonding time, but you have a full day ahead and this won’t make a difference.”
Alice laughed. “Fair enough. I am guessing we get some alone time after my life is settled?”
“You will have at least five days together, but after that, he must resume his duties and you have to begin yours.”
“I have duties?”
“As Alpha female, you do indeed. You are responsible for the education and wellbeing of all women in the clan.”
“Wow. That is unexpected.”
“You will have a hard road of it as well, not being Oefric and all. I will be here to help you during your adjustment.”
That was all the warning she got before Denitha opened two doors into a large atrium. A gathering of teenagers in long gowns greeted her. Several instruments were also waiting for her, surrounding the outer edge of the room.
Denitha made the introductions quickly. “Ladies, it is my pleasure to introduce my new daughter, Lady Alice.”
Alice inclined her head as the girls curtseyed. “It is my honour to meet you. What instrument shall we learn first?”
Several arms lifted in the air. Alice pointed to one young woman with dark brown hair. “Yes?”
The girl smiled, “Angitia Weatherscore, age ten. I would like to learn the harp.”
“Angitia, that is a good place to start. Would anyone care to work on rhythm?”
Two more girls were given percussion blocks and they were able to hold a solid beat. “Surprisingly, there are many practical applications to learning to keep a beat. You can use it for dancing, housekeeping, walking and keeping
Alice rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me that I didn’t just gain another title.”
Kadenz chuckled and started in on his meal. “Get used to it. Titles are the key to life on Dyango. My mother has five, my father four and I have three.”
“Kadenz, when are you going to return to work as a judge?” Karoon sipped his caf and flicked his gaze up and toward his son.
Kadenz sighed. “In a week. I will need help with the winery, the harvest is imminent.”
“I will send the regular workers back this afternoon. When are you going to resume full duties as Alpha?”
Kadenz made a face. “In about a week.”
Karoon laughed. “Fair enough. We have missed you, and to think, it only took a little thing from an alien world to bring you back to present day.”
Alice made a face and kept working on her breakfast. She ate as much as she was comfortable with and set the rest aside.
Kadenz grinned and lifted her plate from in front of her, pushing his own empty plate away.
She sipped at the caf and offered Kadenz some. He nodded, and she poured until his cup was full.
He drank some of the caf and gestured with his chin toward the door opening.
Denitha swirled in and stopped next to Alice. “Did you mean what you said about giving instruction to young ladies?”
Alice felt the affirmation running through their clasped hands.
Kadenz gave her fingers a squeeze in case she missed his mental urging.
“Yes, Denitha. I did indeed mean that I have given instruction. Would you like me to engage in something of that nature right now?”
Denitha inclined her head. “Please. I have a deportment class in the atrium. The ladies would love a little musical instruction, but I lack the skills.”
Alice got to her feet, kissed Kadenz and nodded to her new mother-in-law. They left the Judges Roarcroft to finish their breakfasts.
Outside the breakfast room, Alice asked, “You ate earlier?”
“I eat at dawn. Karoon is normally with me, but he waited until you and Kadenz woke before taking his meal. I am guessing he wants to ask my son a few questions.”
Alice smiled, “He did.”
“You and he have bonded?”
“If that is what you call it here.” She chuckled at Denitha’s grimace. “Yes, we linked minds and the link is growing stronger.”
“I am sorry to take you away during your bonding time, but you have a full day ahead and this won’t make a difference.”
Alice laughed. “Fair enough. I am guessing we get some alone time after my life is settled?”
“You will have at least five days together, but after that, he must resume his duties and you have to begin yours.”
“I have duties?”
“As Alpha female, you do indeed. You are responsible for the education and wellbeing of all women in the clan.”
“Wow. That is unexpected.”
“You will have a hard road of it as well, not being Oefric and all. I will be here to help you during your adjustment.”
That was all the warning she got before Denitha opened two doors into a large atrium. A gathering of teenagers in long gowns greeted her. Several instruments were also waiting for her, surrounding the outer edge of the room.
Denitha made the introductions quickly. “Ladies, it is my pleasure to introduce my new daughter, Lady Alice.”
Alice inclined her head as the girls curtseyed. “It is my honour to meet you. What instrument shall we learn first?”
Several arms lifted in the air. Alice pointed to one young woman with dark brown hair. “Yes?”
The girl smiled, “Angitia Weatherscore, age ten. I would like to learn the harp.”
“Angitia, that is a good place to start. Would anyone care to work on rhythm?”
Two more girls were given percussion blocks and they were able to hold a solid beat. “Surprisingly, there are many practical applications to learning to keep a beat. You can use it for dancing, housekeeping, walking and keeping
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