Queen Almere felt tired. Her husband"s menservants tended to his wounds, brought on by the tempestuous display of arms and strength with his half-brother two days before. She lounged in the nursery, her favorite room to relax nowadays, decorated with fey tapestries and childish paintings, an exquisitely carved cradle, and the little yellow flowered coverlet with lace that Mariette had sewn with her own hands, the first of many gifts for the coming child. A boy or girl? The room next to the nursery was filled with boxes and clothing of all description, lace and cream, yellow, blue and green, even pink in case the baby was a little princess in waiting. There were gold coins and sparkling gems from the Dragon"s Hall, silver and ebony carved toys, little dolls from the far regions of the kingd
