Claudas was there indeed, along with his nanny. Nan -- a darling, old soul who, in spite of her age, seemed to have no trouble keeping up with the rambunctious younger -- was hunkered down on the floor with the boy. Wooden soldiers and horses were spread out before them, many of them already "dead," if laying on their side was any indication.
It seemed Tristan and Madeline had walked in on the climax of the battle.
"What happens if you kill all of the soldiers?" Nan was asking, voice full of patient amusement.
Claudas took careful aim with a marble, using the small, round stone as a sort of cannon. "You give up, of course!"
Nan chuckled, although she was quick to stand when the noble pair made their entrance. She curtsied deeply. "My Lord and Lady."
Claudas's grin nearly split his face in two, and he leaped to his feet to wrap his arms around both of his parents as best he could. "Guess what! There was this spider that was on the table, and it was so big it could have eaten a cat! No! A dog!"
