There was a second’s silence, and then a shocked murmur from the crowd of holders and from the legions behind Gaius.
Gaius murmured, “The first appointed female Steadholder. Isanaholt. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
Isana flushed. “It does, sire.”
“And your brother is going to be busy with his new duties. Someone needs to assume control. I see no reason anyone could object to you. Rise, Steadholder.”
Amara smiled, as Isana stepped aside. “Tavi of Bernardholt, please step forward.”
There was an eager murmur from the crowd.
But no one stepped forward.
Amara frowned. “Tavi of Bernardholt. Please step forward.”
Still, no one did. Gaius arched an eyebrow, and Amara shot a helpless look at Isana. Isana closed her eyes and sighed. “That boy.”
Gaius said, “Are you sure he wanted this reward, Cursor?”
“Yes, sire,” Amara said. “He told me he was trying to return some sheep, so that he could use them to help him save some money for a semester at the Academy. That’s why he stumbled onto things to begin with.”
“I’m not offering him a semester. I’m offering him patronage. He should be here.”
Isana blinked at Gaius. “Patronage? To the Academy? My Tavi?”
“The finest center of learning in all of Carna,” Gaius said. “He can study there. Grow. Learn all that he needs to lead a successful life.”
Isana said, “He doesn’t need the Academy for that.”
“Yet that is his wish, Steadholder Isana. And that is his reward. He will be Tavi Patronus Gaius and be trained at the Academy.”
Isana nodded and said, “Yes, sire,” but her expression was worried.
Bernard frowned, looking around for a moment. Then pointed and said, “Sire. There he is.”
Everyone turned to look to the north of Bernardholt.
After a moment’s silence, Gaius asked, “That is this Fade, with him?”
Amara nodded. “Yes, sire.”
Gaius frowned. “I see. Cursor, why wasn’t the boy here?”
“He, um. He seems to be rather independently minded, sire.” “I see. And why is he doing that, instead of accepting his reward.” Amara fought to keep a smile off of her lips. “Sire. He’s a shepherd’s apprentice. I suppose he’s doing that because it’s what he set out to do.”
And so the First Lord of Alera, surrounded by subjects, Citizens, and Knights of the Realm watched in silence while Tavi drove home Dodger’s little flock of ewes and lambs, the shaggy-haired Fade loping along behind him.