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My sister nodded. “We’ll go back now. It’ll draw less attention.”

Everyone offered their congratulations and the high ladies left, then the whores of the Warmsnap Tavern shuffled to the side of the courtyard to wait for Lord Riis. The knights and Filip stood a fair distance away too, huddled against the wind with Anna and Clemencia, awaiting my instructions.

Neve turned to the high lord and waved him over. “Lord Riis, I have a favor to ask.”

He gave a knowing smile. “Might it have to do with your lady-in-waiting and your friend?”

“Observant as ever,” Neve said, unsurprised. “I askthat you take them away from the city. Hide them. I have the prince’s name, but they do not.”

The pain that rippled across her face at the admission was undeniable. Surely, she’d rather the ladies remain here. For her sake, because she would need friends. I would too. But my new wife was cunning and had seen my father’s cruelty firsthand.

Clemencia and the human, Anna, needed to leave. To hide.

“I know where they’ll be safe,” Lord Riis replied and turned an eye to me. “Normally, I’d have one of my sons escort such important figures, but unfortunately, they must stay in Avaldenn.”

“The bleeding Courting Festival,” I muttered.

The whole thing was a ruse my father and brother had devised. One that was not panning out as any of us expected.

“Precisely,” Lord Riis replied. “And I’m already spreading my own guard thin by sending escorts with my employees for their safety.” He waved toward the whores. “Might I ask to borrow a Clawsguard to escort Lady Neve’s friends?”

As a member of the royal family, I was qualified to dispatch any of the elite knights of the Clawsguard. And while I didn’t like the idea of either of them leaving my side right now, Neve wouldn’t rest unless her friends were safe.

“Caelo, come here, please.” I motioned my dearest friend forward.

He joined us, a question in his eyes.

“I need you to escort Lady Clemencia and Lady Anna?—”

“I’m not a lady,” Anna piped up. The human was eavesdropping. She had better hearing than I expected too. “Just Anna.”

I smirked. “Anna, then. To safety. Wherever Lord Riis tells you to go.” I arched an eyebrow at my friend, hoping he’d read into it correctly.

Escort them. Make sure they’re safe. Do not leave them if you sense even the slightest hint of danger.

“Of course, Vale.” Caelo bowed his head. “I’ll confer with Lord Riis, and we’ll set out tonight.”

I turned to my new wife. “Say your goodbyes. Then we return to Frostveil.”

She broke away, leaving me with Lord Riis and Caelo.

“A piece of advice, my prince?” Lord Riis whispered.

“You seem to be full of it tonight, Lord Riis.”

“This night?” His eyes twinkled. “Who taught you to hold your sword?”

I snorted out a laugh. “The toy?”

He’d given me a wooden sword when I was three turns of age, taught me to hold it. Caelo had been so jealous that a moon later Lord Riis had gifted him one too.

“The idea is the same.”

The sword master I’d trained with as a youngling had said as much too.

“You have your moments of wisdom, Uncle.” I offered the familial term I hadn’t used since I was younger as a sign of gratitude.

“Learn what that flash was. If not by StaretArkyn, then seek the House of Wisdom.” He exhaled and his breath turned white in the cold. “I believe you have a close contact there?”