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“Don’t go anywhere alone,” replies James, “unless it’s close to The Ranch. And by close I mean within sight. If someone goes into town, they take another with them. Tomorrow I plan to go see Ceryn early in the morning.”

“I’ll come with you,” Jiron says.

“Fine,” he says. Suddenly a big yawn escapes him. “Any questions?” He can see they have questions in their eyes but none speak them. “In that case, I’m heading to bed.”

“Good night James,” Tersa says.

“Good night to you all,” he replies and then heads to his room. After he leaves the front room he can hear them beginning to talk in greater detail about what went on as well as the events in Willimet. He finally makes it to his room and closes the door. Getting undressed quickly, he wriggles under the covers and is soon asleep.

Chapter Eighteen

_________________________

The following morning finds Illan out with the recruits putting them through drills. Ever since he moved the practices from outside of James’ window, he has been able to get a good night’s sleep.

Getting out of bed, he puts on his clothes from yesterday and goes to the kitchen to have breakfast. Ezra has a plate ready for him and he takes a seat next to Arkie who is in his high chair. “Has Dave come out of his room?” he asks her.

“Haven’t seen him sir,” she replies. While they were gone she had Roland fix an oversized pantry with a pallet for Dave. She felt the master of the house shouldn’t have to share his bed.

He’s worried for his friend. The last few days on the way back, he had been quiet and moody. He continues to think on his friend until something wet and soft hits him in the side of the face, the side facing Arkie.

He turns to see Arkie there with a big smile on his face and another handful of his breakfast arched back and aimed at James. “Don’t you dare,” James says to him, amused.

“Arkie!” his mother cries just as he throws it at James.

He ducks but not fast enough and a handful of squishiness hits him in the head just above the ear. Arkie lets out with a jubilant squeal as he reaches for yet another handful.

Ezra rushes over to him, intending to punish the boy for treating the master of the house in such a manner. She begins talking to him rapidly in the Empire’s tongue and the smile on his face quickly disappears. Grabbing the arm which has the handful of food poised to hurl at James she slaps his hand.

Dropping the food, he looks to his mother, eyes beginning to well tears and lets out with a cry.

“I’m sorry sir,” she says to James.

“It’s okay,” he replies, more amused than upset. “I was going to head out for a bath anyway. Don’t be too hard on him.”

“He has to learn right from wrong now,” she says. Giving her son a stern glare, she sees him reaching for another handful of food. She brings her hand close to the one reaching and holds it over his hand as she gives him that look. The look all mothers give their kids when threatening a punishment if they don’t stop what they’re doing. Obviously Arkie hasn’t learned the subtle nuances of facial expressions yet and takes the handful.

Slap!

Her hand comes down and strikes his hard. Not hard enough to hurt, just hard enough for him to know he did wrong. “No!” she says sternly.

After getting the food mostly out of his hair, he hurriedly eats the remainder of his breakfast as he watches mother and son out of the corner of his eye.

Crying, Arkie looks to his mother, hurt and upset. His bottom lip is out and tears stream from both eyes. He begins reaching for another handful and her hand again moves to hover over his.

You better learn kid, James thinks as he puts the last forkful of eggs in his mouth.

Never taking his eyes from his mother, Arkie moves his hand closer to the food and she raises her hand slightly while at the same time cocking her head to the side. “No,” she says.

Pulling his hand back, he gives James a hopeful look.

“Don’t look at me,” he says. “I may be master of the house but she’s your mother.” To Ezra he gives her a quick smile and then gets up from the table. Patting Arkie on the head