Shield's Lady

easiest, fastest and surest method of handling this situation was to force Sariana to face reality.

    Sariana swept into the breakfast room and realized just how late she was running when she saw the Avylyns already gathered for the meal. Five silvery blond heads turned toward her and five pairs of dark eyes took in the grim look on the face of the man striding through the doorway behind her.
    “The luck of the day to all of you,” Sariana said with all the cheerfulness she could manage. No one in the room could imagine how much effort it took. Her normally strong self-control was very shaky. She didn’t quite trust any of her emotions or feelings. She had known the moment she opened her door and found Gryph on the other side that life had suddenly become precarious.
    The only positive thing she could find in the situation was that she was becoming accustomed to the unpredictability of her life these days. Nothing had been straightforward or predictable since the day she had learned she had failed to make the cut at the academy. The only thing she could do was hold on to her self-control. At times it seemed that it was all she had left.
    The Avylyns made the proper greetings and then burst into exuberant chatter as they discussed the success of their annual ball.
    “It came off superbly,” Lady Avylyn chortled with great delight. “I was just telling Jasso that we were right not to stint this year. Not a soul suspected that we might be having a few trifling financial problems.”
    Lord Jasso nodded his head in satisfaction. “Quite so. You were right, my dear. Everyone was most impressed, I’m sure.”
    “Well I, for one, had a wonderful time,” Mara proclaimed, her eyes darting to Gryph’s face as if to be certain he had registered her comment. Sariana realized the younger woman was slightly miffed about Gryph’s lack of interest in being socially introduced to her friends and acquaintances. Sariana also suspected that Mara had developed a rather deep curiosity about the Shield.
    “You always have a good time as long as you dance every dance,” Bryer told his sister.
    “I didn’t see you sitting on the sidelines,” his mother said with a complacent smile. “You did a turn with every young lady in the room.”
    Bryer grinned. “What did you expect? I was merely fulfilling my responsibilities as a host.”
    Luri spoke up. “I don’t see what’s so great about dancing. Waste of time if you ask me.”
    The yellow-eyed krellcat, Luri’s constant companion, yawned in agreement and tucked its furry, sinuous body into a more comfortable position on the boy’s arm. The small creature eyed Lucky with surreptitious interest, but apparently decided hunting would not be permitted at the breakfast table. The cat went back to dozing.
    “Give yourself a few more years, Luri. You’ll change your mind,” his brother said.
    Luri opened his mouth to respond, but his attention was distracted by the lizard on Sariana’s shoulder. “Hey, you really like the scarlet-toe, huh, Sariana? I knew you would once you got to know it better. I told you they make great pets.”
    “Lucky seems to have adopted me,” Sariana said, examining the contents of the serving dishes. “I feel guilty leaving it in the cage now. The poor thing always looks so forlorn when I leave it behind.” She helped herself to a cup of tea and a breakfast muffin and politely ignored Gryph when he sat down across from her.
    “Did you have a good time last night, Sariana?” Mara asked with a direct look. “I saw you earlier in the evening but lost track of you later.”
    “You know I tend to keep earlier hours than the rest of you,” Sariana said. She sipped tea with careful restraint, aware that Gryph was helping himself to large portions from each of the bowls.
    “Sariana!” Lady Avylyn gave her a scolding glance. “You don’t mean to tell me you went to bed early last night? What about your friend Etion Rakken? He was looking forward to dancing with you again.”
    “I doubt that Rakken knew what he was missing,” Jasso said with a knowing smirk. “The banker was as drunk as a keenshee bird in a gullberry patch by the time the ball ended.”
    “ As it happens I had business to attend to last night,” Sariana said. “Business I think we should discuss right after breakfast. If you would all be so kind as to come to my office as soon as we finish here, I would appreciate it.”
    “Business,” Mara repeated with a groan. “Who