Crito looked over the paperwork, struggling to read it. After five years of working with tutors, it seemed like he would never be able to read like he should. A couple of the young princes took turns acting as an aide and reading for him. Prince Remtani had made him prince-general and wasn’t going to let a reading problem dissuade him. They were both living at Dragon Castle now with either the rulers of the other kingdoms or their representatives. Emeton’s health was doing better. His seizures were under control, but he wasn’t going to let the stress of dealing with the other rulers cause him problems so he’d appointed Remtani as regent. Remtani had turned around and promoted Crito to prince-general. After the initial shock of having the first general who wasn’t a prince or princess in two thousand years, most agreed Crito was the best man for the job. Crito added a second army captain to each of the cities to add accountability. Each that he’d appointed was an honor guard to help with corruption. He’s also appointed two under generals to help him. Merton was to oversee the cities in the south while Miklin was assigned to the north. Both seemed to be working out. Prince Remtani knocked and entered without waiting for Crito to say anything. “Where’s Zin?” “Jow’s supposed to be helping me today, but he has another sore throat. Prince Janta took him down to Sen-gan for Shunati to look at him.” “Do you need someone else?” “Chapado’s coming after she drops Marna off at school. Jow will probably be back up this afternoon.” “Let me know if you need help.” Crito glared at him. “Have I ever not?” “Yes, but I don’t have time to list them. I know you know what you’re doing.” “How’s Princess Ann doing? Is it firedeath?” “No. Everyone’s out of quarantine. The loss of her belly fire was just a side effect of her shedding. She’s also pregnant. Thailyn said that aggravated things.” “Tell her congratulations for Chapado and me.” “I’ll tell Drepal. She’s the mother. Cari says it’ll be a boy and he’ll be another white wyrm but he’ll have black hair like Mishtali.” “Can she tell that?” Remtani shrugged. “Jerta’s been working with her and he thinks she can.” “When will Princess Jaidu shed?” “Probably in about six months. After the problems Ann had because she didn’t recognize it, the healers are watching her closely.” “How will that affect the adoption plans?” “It shouldn’t. That should be done well before that.” “Good.” “Orti’s excited about getting a little sister. He doesn’t understand she’s older than he is.” “How will that affect the succession?” “Orti’s a blood relative so he’ll still be first.” “What about any other children you two have?” “We aren’t having any more. That nearly killed Jaidu.” The healers had used the spell Chapado had used in the white wyrm project to help Remtani and Jaidu have a child of their own. But due to complications caused by Jaidu’s problems compounded with problems she’d inherited from Shay, she almost hadn’t survived giving birth. Remtani said they were done and would adopt from then on. “I mean, what about the children you adopt? How is that set?” “It would be by order of adoption rather than age. Though usually, that’s the same.” Crito noticed the prince kept rubbing his arm. “Problems with the tattoo?” “It itches.” “I thought you weren’t supposed to feel it.” “I’m not. Nim’s redone it three times. Thailyn and Shunati have both checked it each time. Raylee thinks it’s from that spell that had been put on me and the way Ann removed it. The healers are all looking into things to help, but I may just have this removed. I still can’t see how I can be a dragon brother.” “Apparently the council can. Sir Pt’this was the one to recommend you. They talked to both Princess Ann and Lady Sapphire. Both agreed with him. And maybe the council will come up with another way to indicate you’re a dragon brother. They can’t expect you to deal with the itching the rest of your life.” “I’ll talk with Nim when he returns this afternoon.” Nim had replaced one of the council members recently. “Good. Did you need something?” “I wanted to let you know, we’re both expected down in Sen-gan next week.” “Next week? Why?” “A naming ceremony for Pt’this and Sapphire’s little one.” “She finally had it?” “Last night.” “I guess that’s why Shun didn’t scry me. Boy or girl?” “A girl. There’s also going to be a wedding.” Crito raised an eyebrow. “Who?” “Ter and Shuli.” “They finally found someone they weren’t related to?” He and Chapado had similar problems when they’d gotten married. They’d had Thorgrey the college head do it. But it turned out that he was a great uncle to Shuli’s birth mom. It was boarding on being too closely related. “They’ve decided to use the elves’ wedding house at the college. Uncle Tolin still wants at least a simple ceremony. Irkali is performing that. It doesn’t matter she’s related since they’re using the wedding house too.” “Bupa.” Leesar came running in. “Horsies here, Bupa.” “Grandpa,” he corrected. “What horses, and why are you here?” Crito picked the girl up. It was odd being called grandpa when his own son was only four. Through Chapado, Thailyn and his family had all become some level of great-grandchildren. “Horsies.” Leesar pointed out the window. Thailyn entered. “Sorry. Lee, don’t run away from Daddy. Jamis and Yilina are here to talk with you two.” “Horsies,” Leesar repeated. “Unicorns,” Crito corrected her. “Not corns, no butter,” Leesar insisted. “She’s confused,” Thailyn said. “I feel like a girl in a shirt,” Jamis muttered. Crito was surprised he understood him. He was learning Ertonian with Marna but he was far from fluent. “Shh. They all wear them,” Yilina insisted. “What can we do for you?” Remtani asked. “I’m now the primary lead stallion for the herd. We’re here on behalf of all the herds. We’ve come to talk to you about a treaty with all the kingdoms of the hidden lands.” Remtani nodded. “Our ambassadors are in Sen-gan at the moment. Thailyn, is Ann up to travel yet?” “Is she okay?” Yilina asked. “She shed recently and it was difficult,” Thailyn explained. “She should be able to come up tomorrow. Pt’this won’t be able to make it, but Emissary Ti can fill in for him.” Jamis nodded. “That will be fine. We didn’t expect it to get done in a day.” He smiled. “And it will give my wife a chance to catch up with friends.” Remtani took the unicorns to meet the other rulers while Thailyn went back to Sen-gan with his little girl. Crito would need to talk with the duty clerk to adjust the guards for the guests. He went back to his paperwork, determined to figure out what it said before his wife returned.