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“I will.” I sipped my wine, wondering how to delicately mention that perhaps he was pushing himself too hard.

As it turned out, I needn’t worry about tact. Anna put down a winning hand of nuchi and Arie looked up from the game, noticing his brother’s arrival.

“Luccan, you look like a steaming pile of gryphon shit!” Arie stood and came over. “Have you eaten?”

Luccan scowled. “I can always count on my brothers to lift my confidence.”

“You didn’t answer,” I whispered. “Have you eaten?”

“Before I came,” he assured us. “I need to rest awhile, though. Gatemaking is taxing.”

He’d mentioned so before, and while I would have to be blind not to notice that Luccan looked as tired, perhaps more so, than me, he hadn’t looked quite this disheveled yet.

“Not that I am not grateful for the work you’ve putin,” I began, “but maybe I should try to find a different way west.”

“Staghorn Castle has gryphons,” Arie supplied. “Caelo can charm them?”

Gryphons didn’t accept new riders easily. Elves charmed them the easiest. Before, when Caelo had commanded ravens, I’d wondered if he was part elf but never asked. Arie’s words indicated I was correct.

“The Vagles would never give Neve their racing gryphons.” Luccan waved a dismissive hand. “They might even deny Vale, and they’re his relations. Besides, there’s no need. I’m fine. You two worry too much.”

“They worry the right amount.” Clemencia rose from where they’d been playing cards. “You need a very deep rest tonight, Luccan.”

The eldest Riis brightened when she said his name. I took a drink, hiding my amusement in my cup.

Clemencia’s father was very strict, and back before she’d left for Riis Tower, she’d claimed he’d never let her be with Luccan, though the pair seemed infatuated with each other. Her father’s reasoning? Luccan was a bastard.

I’d learned that wasn’t true. Clemencia, a female living in the far reaches of the western territory, had not known that the king had legitimized Luccan, Arie, and Thantrel, either. Since then, she smiled more—probably believing that her father would approve of their match.

Even if he did not, I did. I hoped they’d be together.

“I’ll make sure to get plenty of rest, lovely,” Luccan said, his nostrils flaring as Clemencia neared and her scentof snow lilies filled the air. “Using the gateway is your best chance, Neve.”

“Very well. But if you fall over, I’m going to Staghorn Castle and stealing those gryphons.”

That got a laugh out of the brothers, probably because we were all envisioning me trying to subdue a racing gryphon. The mood lightened, and as everyone gathered around the fire, I wished nights like this would not have to end.

But they would. Eventually, the king would call another Courting Festival event. The Riis brothers would have to go to Avaldenn.

I was to go west and hadn’t asked if anyone would want to join. Anna would. Clemencia, too, may wish to return home, although I was still unsure how wise that would be. The queen knew Clemencia, had seen that she attended Vale’s and my wedding and had told her husband. Was the king still out for the blood of those who had witnessed our vows?

Thinking of Vale dampened my mood. I glanced at the door and was unsurprised when he was not, miraculously, there. He was with Caelo, the only person he wanted around him since learning who I was.

I was staring at the door when it opened and Thantrel glided in. He caught my eye and winked.

“Missing my handsome face already, Neve?”

I snorted. “Hardly. I . . .”

I trailed off, not wanting to admit I’d been pining after Vale, a male who wanted nothing to do with me. “Where did you go?”

He hadn’t dined with Anna, Clem, Arie, and me. I hadn’t seen him since our training session.

“Someone had to go to Avaldenn and check that there’s not a Courting Festival event tomorrow,” Thantrel replied as he poured himself a drink and downed it. “We’re still in the clear.”

“Thank the dead gods,” Arie breathed, his glance going again to Anna. “I despise that event.”

“The only person who likes it is Calpurnia Vagle.” Luccan rubbed his temples as if just thinking about Calpurnia was giving him a headache. I could relate. “She is so sure her uncle will give the best match to her.”