"I'd rather not, Mother. This looks far more interesting than anything I had planned for the afternoon."
"Tysha."
"She can stay," Meyrn said, dropping into a chair that groaned under his weight. "She's old enough to hear what I have to say. Besides, I like her. She's the only one in your brood with a spine."
Tysha raised her teacup to him. "Thank you, Lord Meyrn. That's the nicest thing anyone in this palace has said to me all week."
"Don't get comfortable. I'm about to yell at your mother."
"I know. That's why I'm staying."
Sirenyth's blue eyes were blazing now. She set her own teacup down with a click that sounded like a drawn sword.
"If you've come here to threaten me, Meyrn, you should know that I am not some timid northern—"
