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King Father! This could only be one person.

“Princess Saga.” I fell into a curtsey. “I’m so sorry for talking out of turn.”

“Why?” she pursed her lips as if holding in another laugh. “It’s refreshing. No surprise there.”

“Pardon?”

She quirked an eyebrow. “You’re new. No one knows what to think about you. And that is oh so refreshing!”

“Ah, I see.” I nodded.

“All the ladies are talking about you, you know,” she added and leaned closer conspiratorially.

And I’ve barely been here ten minutes.

I swallowed. “They must need hobbies.”

Princess Saga, thirdborn to King Magnus and Queen Inga, snorted indelicately. “Too true. What about you? Do you have hobbies? And is playing cards among them?”

“I—uh I don’t know many games.” None really, except for what I’d played with fellow slaves. Something told me the princess would not be playing the same games.

“We must change that.”

What in the blazing stars?

“A few of the younger ladies of the Sacred Eight are gathering. We wish for you to join.” Saga stepped closer and looped her arm through mine. “Which means you have no choice but to come.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but then closed it. The princess pulled me from my room and into the corridors.

There would be no time for rest. I would have to play cards with the most highborn lady fae of the land.

What could go wrong?

Chapter 22

The princess managed to pull me halfway down the hall before Clemencia caught up. “But Lady Neve, what about your trunks?”

“I—” I faltered, not sure why she thought I cared about those right now, before realizing Clemencia was grasping for any excuse to allow me to say no to the princess. “Oh, yes! I’m sorry Princess Saga, I must unpack. I’m afraid I can’t go.”

The princess rolled her eyes. “Pish-posh. You can borrow our servants for that.”

I stared at her. “And Clemencia?”

“She can take care of the unpacking too.” Saga eyed Clemencia’s dress, nicer than a servant would wear. “Ladies-in-waiting aren’t allowed in our games. I’ve even ditched my own Clawsguard for the night because he can’t know what we do. But rest assured, Clemencia, I’ll take care of Lady Neve. You may return to the Lisika suite.”

My lady-in-waiting opened her mouth, but nothing came out. The poor thing was speechless, which didn’t surprise me. I felt sure few argued with Princess Saga, and while Roar had wanted Clemencia to stay with me, the Aaberg princess outranked even the Warden of the West.

Bleeding skies. I hoped I could manage without my lady-in-waiting because the princess would not be dissuaded.

“It’s fine,” I told my lady-in-waiting. “Take care of the unpacking. I’ll be back later.”

“Much later! She’ll be dining with us tonight. Do tell the warden!” Princess Saga chuckled, and we set off again.

I threw Clemencia an apologetic look before the princess pulled me onward. We plowed down more hallways and swung around at least a half dozen more corners before she stopped abruptly to stand in front of a tapestry.

“You must tell no one of the place I’m about to show you. It’s only for the Sacred Eight ladies that I approve.”

“I’m not one, so surely I shouldn’t come?” I tossed out my last lame attempt at getting out of whatever would happen.