The Shattered Way (Champions of the Crystal Book 7)

Chapter 11.3

The dinner went fairly well, though Sabrina wished Kashmia had let them seat themselves rather than following a formal seating plan, leaving her staring down the length of the table at Ford, much too far for conversation. She had Urdun on her right, with Kashmia beyond, and Baldaran on her left, with Hyan and Kadir beyond him. Ford had Katiri and Lira for neighbors, with the youngest siblings in the middle. She also wished that Hyan would be more discreet about whispering in Kadir's ear, but at least Kashmia was too caught up in her conversation with Urdun to notice.

I'm bored witless, Ford remarked when the dessert course was served. Let's not linger at table.

I'll plead exhaustion. It'll have the virtue of being true, she thought. You don't want a rematch?

No. I want to go get some work done, he replied.

As soon as everyone had finished—except Seuréa, who was mostly playing with her food—Sabrina stood. "I thank you all for coming, especially those of you whom I had not met until tonight. I hope you have all enjoyed yourselves, and I hope we will all meet again soon. But I'm afraid I must get some rest, and I know it is past Seuréa's bedtime as well."

The Inheritor looked up with a frown, but her protest was swallowed in a yawn. Her siblings chuckled.

"I must especially thank Kashmia for her hard work in arranging this lovely meal," Sabrina continued. "And now, I bid you all good night. Feel free to remain as long as you like."

Everyone rose, and Ford came around to her end of the table and took her hand. Hyan said, "Good night, Sabrina. Are you pregnant?"

"No," Sabrina said, surprised. "Just tired."

"Overworked," Ford corrected her. "Rest assured, Hyan, as soon as we're able to announce that an heir to Bathir is on the way, we will do so." Then he frowned. "Should I be asking you impertinent personal questions as well?"

Hyan grinned. "Go ahead if you like. I have no intention of answering, though."

Ford made a disgruntled harrumphing noise that Sabrina had never heard from him before, and they made their way out of the room. "She wouldn't, would she?" Sabrina asked.

"Shards, I hope not. That would be all I need," Ford replied. "I liked Kadir though."

"What about Urdun? He seemed nice."

"Very correct. Very circumspect. He and Kashmia will make a perfect couple," Ford said. "I have a meeting with him tomorrow after his presentation to discuss Avestar's watergem imports."

"At this rate, we may not have the first wedding among your siblings," Sabrina said.

"Oh yes we will," Ford said. "Kashmia told me that she felt she should wait for me to choose a bride before arranging her own marriage. I believe she thinks you will take her place running things at court."

"I hope not!" Sabrina said. "I want to go focus on Bathir when this is over. Baldaran will just have to find a suitable bride to do that."

Ford grinned. "It's been pointed out to me that I made off with the most suitable bride. I'm so glad I insisted on getting married before we did this!"

"Me too," Sabrina sighed. "Ford, why are you calling all your siblings home? I thought you didn't want them here."

"I want to find out what's going on. Every single one of them has had at least one instance of unexplained absence in the last six months. If there's something going on, I want them here where they're safe. Niara's giving me a hard time, but I'll send the military after her if I have to. And Marie is hopefully safe where she is."