him the morning before and made a decision. "I need to speak with the queen as early as she is able. Tell her it is about the matter we discussed yesterday."

A communication monitor lowered in the main room a half hour later. The

screen once again remained dark, but the queen's voice emanated from it, her voice clearly weak. "I have meetings with several Parliamentarians and a long session with a host of physicians this morning, Mr. Archer. This had better be important."

"Physicians?"

There was a pause and Archer could feel the chill of the royal frost, but she did finally respond. "Pain management and a progress report on my son."

Archer bowed his head, uneasy with her unexpected confidence. But at least she spoke of her child now with the absolute confidence of one who expected his existence to continue. He only wished she had more of that optimism for herself. He was the sort who was unwilling to give up, but then he'd never faced the enemy she was dealing with.

"I need to go into the city," he said. "To obtain the information you requested."

"That can be arranged. You wish to go this morning?

"Yes. And I want to take Talia with me."

"Absolutely not." Her tone wasn't nearly as weak as it had been the moment

before.

"She needs to get out of here for a bit."

"She needs to remain under my protection. I a.s.sume she told you."

'Yes. Just as I a.s.sume this matter is still private knowledge."

There was a long pause, then, "Regardless, she is in danger and until you can

get me the information I require, I must insist she stay here."

"Then it is impossible for me to get you that information. Because I refuse to leave her here."

"You do not think I can maintain her safety?"

"You do not think I can?"

"I have far greater numbers to watch over her."

"Many of whom you cannot trust. You know you can trust me. Your guard has

performed well so far, but if even one person knows of Talia's real connection

to you, she will be in danger."

There was another long pause. Archer knew he had a strong bargaining position. Catriona urgently needed to know what Emrys's role was. Was it

more than a game to him? Only Baleweg could give them the answer.

Archer tried another tack, gentling his tone. "Talia is overwhelmed, Your Highness. If she can leave the castle even for several hours, she will have a chance to get her bearings and put things in perspective. We will be with Baleweg. You know he is committed to her safety. If he feels she is threatened

in any way, we will return here at once. And he is best equipped to determine the danger she is in."

This time the pause was shorter and Archer sensed that he'd gained ground.

Finally there was an audible sigh and he released the breath he'd been holding.

"I insist on sending a guard escort to and from the Old One's residence. "

"Not if you expect him to be there when I arrive."

The queen swore and didn't bother to lower her voice. Archer smiled. He'd

won.

"I do not like the position you have put me in, Mr. Archer. More stress I do not need."

"Neither does Talia and she's far more unaccustomed to dealing with it."

The frost returned. More like a deep freeze. "This is an extremely undesirable

situation and I will not forget or forgive if anything goes awry."

"Dock my pay." Archer swore he heard a surprised snort. He fought his own

smile. For the first time, he felt there truly was a family bond between Catriona and Talia. The queen had her sister's sense of humor.

"I just might," she said. "I want you back here no later than midday."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Do not test me, Mr. Archer." The monitor shut off and whizzed into the

recessed area in the ceiling.

"What was that all about?"

Archer turned to find Talia standing in the doorway, looking delightfully rumpled. "Did you finally get some sleep?"

"Yes." She yawned hugely, blushing as she covered her mouth. "Sorry."

Archer grinned and went to her. He pulled her into his arms, wanting nothing

more than to tumble her back into bed. But he knew he was on borrowed time.

"I got you a present."

She smiled, surprised. "You did?"

"We're off to see Baleweg."

"We are? Me, too?""You, too. I need to ask him some questions, information the queen asked me to get yesterday."

"I never asked you what happened during your meeting," she said. "I can't

believe I forgot."

"You've had one or two other things to deal with." He could have kicked himself as shadows crossed her lovely face once again. He leaned in and kissed her soundly. "But for the next couple of hours, no worries about all that."

"I can't believe Catriona is letting me go."

"I have good bargaining skills."

Talia looked over her shoulder at him. "I just bet o.

"Hurry and dress. I'd join you, but we'd never get out of here."

"A shame that," she said, imitating his accent.

"I can remedy it later."

"Yes," she said, sashaying into the bathroom. "You can."

Archer noticed that Talia enjoyed the ride into the city far more than she had

enjoyed the ride out of it. Her head was tilted back and she reveled in the feel

of the air rushing over her skin.

Archer also noticed the queen had sent a guard out, although they were trying hard to look inconspicuous. He let them trail him until they were well into the city proper. Then he turned to Talia and said, "Hold on tight, sweetheart, these streets get a bit tricky." It took him longer to lose them than he'd thought it would, but he managed it all the same. He looked to Talia, whose eyes were a little buggy, but she had handled it well, all in all. He parked in an alley, then put the shield up as soon as he helped Talia over the side. "Let's hope he didn't take off."

Talia looked at him in surprise. "Doesn't he know we're coming?"

"Do you really think there is anything Baleweg doesn't know?"

They knocked at his door, but no one answered.

Talia looked crestfallen. "So what now? Do we go back?"

"Ah, well, look there." He jogged down the hall to the tall window, then