Chapter 24: Lord Kyros

Zoe opened the door of the great bedroom at seven the next morning, took in the scene, and shut it again.

"I'll come back," she announced through the wood.

"Come in," I said.

"I don't want to see."

"You've seen worse. Come in."

She came in with her whistle, her cousins' goat on a string, and a bag.

"Stavros says breakfast is at the net loft," she said. "Also the goat won't leave me."

"What's its name?" asked Kyros from under the blanket.

"Mister."

"Mister what?"

"Just Mister."

He considered this gravely.

"That's a very good name," he said.

We ate at the loft with Stavros and his sister and six cousins.

Kyros washed the plates.

Nobody said anything about it.

Afterward we walked up to the market, because Zoe had decided that one day was not enough.

The whole of Port Karyos agreed with her.

The morning was clear and the harbor lay flat and bright, with the boats riding easy at their moorings.

The sea followed us along the quay, a hand's breadth below the stones.

I wore the crown only when the Table met.

Today I wore my braid, a plain dress and a basket on my arm.

The fishwives called out to me as we passed.

"Queen!" cried one. "Good morning, Your Majesty! Buy a bream?"

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