came down the stairs, pausing at the entrance to the sitting room. “I’m packed.” She sighed. “It looks like it’s going to pour. I hate riding in the rain.”
“Then I suggest you hurry,” Reid said. Since they didn’t own a carriage, Kamden had no choice but to ride.
Duke Ellington came up behind Kamden. “Change of plans. Instead of Royce, I’ll be escorting Kamden. Along the way, I plan to send messages to my men, readying them for war.”
“Are you ordering them to convene here?” Dexter asked.
“I am. Expect the first wave to arrive tomorrow.”
Chapter Five
After bidding her father and sister goodbye, Reid entered the great hall. Ackley and Dexter were sitting at the long table, each with a drink in hand.
“Where’s everyone?” Reid asked, sitting alongside Dexter.
Ackley chuckled.
“What?” Reid asked, not sure she wanted to know.
“Gordon is attempting to cook us something to eat while Mother and Idina hover over him, driving him nuts.”
“That’s why we’re out here,” Dexter said. “Too many cooks in the kitchen.”
“Do they even know how to cook?”
Dexter slid his cup to Reid. She took a sip, then gave it back.
“Gordon is like me,” Ackley replied. “He can cook if necessary. A skill we both learned from our time traveling in the army. Idina and my mum can’t even make tea.”
“Huh.” Reid turned to face Dexter. “What about you?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Are you asking if I can cook?”
“I am.” She needed to learn more about this man who would be her husband.
“I can. Like Ackley, it’s a skill I learned in the army. What about you?”
Reid shook her head. She was useless in the kitchen.
Idina stormed into the room with a stack of bowls. “Apparently, we are eating like commoners in a tavern.” She tossed the bowls on the table with a loud thud before spinning on her heels, exiting the room with a dramatic flair.
A moment later, Gordon entered, carrying a cooking pot. “We’re going to serve ourselves,” he explained. “Idina couldn’t handle carrying bowls filled with soup from the kitchen to here.” He quickly glanced over his shoulder, making sure his sister didn’t overhear him.
“Lady Reid,” Leigh said as she came into the room. “You look well.” The queen mother wore a dark blue dress, her hair resting in soft waves down her back. Reid had never seen Leigh with her hair down before.
“As do you.” Reid inadvertently peered at Leigh’s neck, trying to see if the woman had healed from Eldon attempting to strangle her. With her hair down, Reid couldn’t tell.
Idina returned carrying a handful of spoons, which she flung on the table. “I’m not serving anyone.” She plopped down next to Ackley.
“It’s okay, sister,” Ackley said. He leaned forward to pick up a bowl. “I can serve you. My head isn’t so far up my arse that I can’t help out.”
Idina whacked him. “My place is in a war room, not a kitchen.”
At that, Dexter raised his eyebrows. “Do tell.”
“I’m exceptionally good at puzzles and games of that nature. I love helping my brothers and breaking codes. Working in the kitchen, serving others…not so much.”
Ackley slid a bowl full of soup in front of her. “Can I serve anyone else?”
“Since you’re offering,” Leigh said as she sat next to Idina, “I’d be honored for my son to serve me.”
With a flourish, Ackley slid another bowl in front of his mother. He then proceeded to serve everyone else at the table before serving himself.
Idina noticed her mother wasn’t eating. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “Prince Dexter, you have not been formally introduced to my mother.”
“Since we’re all family,” Leigh replied, “let’s do away with the titles, shall we?”
Dexter nodded. “Sounds like a good idea to me. It’s nice to finally meet my aunt.”
Leigh smiled. “You look like your father.”
Reid took a bite of her soup. It was rather bland. However, it was better than what they’d been eating over the past week.
“What’s going on in the City of Buckley?” Gordon asked his sister.
“Our soldiers are in the barracks at the castle,” Idina answered. “Everyone’s accounted for except the hundred soldiers Eldon took with him.”
“Does anyone in northern Marsden know what’s going on in the south? We went into a tavern to try to hear the local gossip, but there wasn’t any.” Gordon slurped a spoonful of soup.
“No one is aware of the events in Axian. People believe the king is there for the wedding, nothing more.”
“I met with the Melenia officers. There are five hundred Melenia soldiers in Axian. We