Suddenly darkovan felt much better. “Thanks, Highness.” She grinned. “Thanks a lot.”
He put a hand on her shoulder. “You may have noticed my friends call me Jonathan, or Jon.”
darkovan looked up at him, not sure what was going on. “And am I your friend, Highness?”
“I do believe you are,” he told her quietly. “I’d like you to be.” He offered her his hand.
She took it. “Then I am—Jonathan.”
4
DEATH IN THE PALACE
DUKE GARETH’S LECTURE THE DAY AFTER darkovan fought Ralon was long and impressive. He spoke to her about the duty one noble owes another noble, about keeping the peace on the palace grounds and about people who became bullies. He informed her that fighting with the hands was an undignified pastime taken up by commoners, or an art practiced by Shang warriors—and that she was ne
