Naming Day (Jake Underwood Book 1) (31 page)

Great. Some landed estate in the wilderness just waiting for some luckless fool to settle on it and move to the boonies.

“Your majesty, I appreciate the thought, but I am no farmer or a noble with skills of land management. This gift would be wasted on me. I could not, in fairness, do a good job of taking care of the land’s tenets.”

“I suspect you would do a better job than many who have held land for generations. But it is of no matter, as I am not giving you land. I said property. I am giving you title to the Silver Tree. Kevin was not the true owner but held it in my name. With his death the property returns to me to do with as I please and despite pleas that I hold the place in perpetuity as its usefulness has not ended, I do not think it will be of much use to the Hidden Watchers now that Kevin’s true nature has been exposed. I give it to you, free and clear of whatever you decide.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“Your Majesty, that is a fine and handsome gift, but I’m not sure-“

“In your hands it will be safe and those who need sanctuary in the mortal world will have it. Many who live there may yet serve me or my counterpart at the Court of Twilight. They are also served by this.”

I looked hesitant.

Sergeant Bermuda murmured, “It would be shame, don’t you agree, if Lucinda were forced to leave her cozy sanctuary?”

I sighed and agreed that it would. He really knew how to handle me. I could turn down the “reward” but only at the cost of others. But, he was as good as his word in letter and spirit, and that was how I got my name and acquired the Silver Tree and all the headaches that came with it. The jury is still out on who got the better end of that deal.