In The Beginning, Gail Daley [red white royal blue .TXT] 📗

hair and blue eyes. She took one look at Violet, staggering under the weight of her new pet and told her sternly to put the calf on its own feet. "You will damage its dignity, carrying it around," she informed her.

Violet glared right back at her, clutching the calf. "She’s too weak to do it by herself. She’s starving."

Mistress Leona’s eyebrows rose. "And how do you know that?"

"I can just tell. Mother says you know about Dragons. Do you know what she’s supposed to eat?"

Mistress Leona looked over at Katherine. "You’re sure she’s not related by blood? I could swear that’s you standing there."

Katherine grinned back at her. "That’s my girl."

"I was planning on all the children having rooms on the second story with us, but I think Violet and Jelli had better have a room with ground access so Jelli can go outside to use the bathroom," Katherine told Mrs. Grayson, the housekeeper who was watching the show along with several other upper servants.

"I’ll prepare the blue room next to Mistress Leona’s," the housekeeper replied.

"Have someone bring ground bean curd, meat and milk mixed with about a quarter pound of butterfat to the room also," ordered Leona, "so we can feed this calf. We will also need several old blankets and a bale of hay for bedding. Well, come on girl, bring her along." Leona turned and went down the hall toward her rooms, followed by Violet, still lugging the calf.

As soon as everyone had settled into their rooms, Katherine had summoned all clan members who worked the estate and formally presented Zack and the children to the Clan.

Resting her hand on Zacks shoulder, she announced, "We now have an experienced military commander to handle our security. When the rest of our new members arrive, we will also gain several experienced soldiers to assist during raids by the Wilders up in the hills. Since Zack will accompany me when I travel to Parliament, he will name a deputy to work in his place." She beckoned a short older woman forward. "Zack, this is Lolli, who has been handling security until now. I’m sure she will be glad to explain what has worked in the past."

Zack nodded to Lolli. "I hope we can get together tomorrow to go over what steps have already been taken. I need not tell you I will be depending heavily on your expertise while I learn the ropes."

The woman nodded. "I usually take night reports after breakfast. Will that work for you, Lord Zack?"

"Yes, that will be fine."

Katherine had then shown her new family around the living spaces; even Violet who had reluctantly left her sleeping pet to join them for dinner.

Afterwards all the children went upstairs or into the recreation rooms. Katherine and Zack had a meeting with Leona in the family parlor about Violet and Jelli. The argument began as soon as the door closed on the children. Leona wanted Violet and Jelli to go to the training center for Dragon Talkers as soon as possible but she ran into opposition from Katherine.

"No, not until she is at least twelve," Katherine stated flatly.

"She has to begin the training as soon as possible," Leona countered. "The child has enormous potential; she must learn to discipline her gift or the consequences might be dangerous to her and everyone around her!"

"How fortunate that you are here to begin that training," Katherine retorted. "Look, Leona, she hasn’t had the kind of secure upbringing that most clan children have had. Violet lost her parents very young, and quite frankly, that Grouter’s was not the best place for a child with her sensitivity. She must have time to recover her sense of security and learn she is loved before I will allow her to be subjected to the rigid discipline imposed on trainees at the Dragon training center."

Leona snorted. "From what I saw just now, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. That child seems quite strong willed to me."

"Yes, and I intend to see she retains it—"

Zack, who had been listening in silence while the argument raged, finally spoke. "Katherine is right. Violet may appear strong, but she is still having nightmares from her experiences with Grouter. She stays with us."

"You always were a stubborn, willful child Katherine," Leona remarked. "So, tell me are you planning to drag the child and the dragon back and forth to town with you when you serve in Parliament?"

If she thought she was presenting them with a problem, she was mistaken. Katherine just smiled, recognizing defeat but not rubbing it in. "I will use the family estate outside of town since it will be better for all the children, not just Violet."

Leona made a rude noise and said, "If you will excuse me then, I foresee a long day tomorrow and I need my rest. Good Night."

When Katherine checked on Violet and Jelli the next morning, she was appalled at the amount of vegetable mash, ground meat, bits of butter and spilled milk covering the child’s torso and clothing.

"I'm making Jelli some breakfast," Violet announced proudly. She had both arms up to the elbow in a large bowl mixing the ground bean curd, meat, butterfat and milk for Jelli’s meal.

"Good morning, Violet, Jelli", Katherine said, casting an indignant look at Leona, who shrugged.

"The child needs to learn how to care for her pet," Leona said in answer to the implied criticism.

"Well, find her an apron to protect her clothes. I expect Morgana still has those her own children used," Katherine said, referring to the woman in charge of butchering meat for the Lodge. "And make sure Violet takes a bath and soaks those clothes in cold water to get out the blood before she comes down to breakfast."

The next day was a busy one. The Lodge’s nursery had not been in use since the new babies born just as the war started had grown out of the need for it. The nursery was the primary day care center for clan members