I stood in the entryway of our beautiful, peaceful cliffside manor and stared at the mountain of luggage.
"It is one night," I said, crossing my arms as my nine silver tails swished behind me in disbelief. "They are staying for exactly fourteen hours. Why does it look like they are moving in?"
"Preparation is the key to victory, Little Rose," Rurik declared proudly, dropping a massive, heavy canvas sack onto the marble floor. It clanked ominously. "I have packed Vali his hunting knife, a whetstone, and a raw elk flank in case he gets hungry at midnight."
"He is six, Rurik. He does not need a hunting knife for a sleepover," I sighed, picking up the heavy sack and handing it directly to a nearby guard to hide.
Next to Rurik, Cassian was levitating a pristine, leather-bound trunk. The Serpent Warlord looked entirely stressed. He had cast a localized warming spell on Jasper, who was currently wearing three layers of wool despite the pleasant coastal weather.
