Page 32

“Four days,”Toren said firmly.“Be sure you are alone.”

“I will.”Ber pushed away from the wall and entered the disguise room.“But tell her to arrive two hours before this particular time. If our current guests haven’t left, I’ll be headed to a court dinner around now.”

“Very well.”Another hesitation.“Good eve to you, Ber. Try not to mess this up.”

“I alwaystry, but success sometimes eludes me,”Ber said, then closed the mental link.

He wasn’t in the mood for conciliatory words.

Between all he’d overheard in the tavern and Toren’s latest message, Ber had a great deal to consider. But no time to do so. He had to hurry out of his disguise if he hoped to prepare in time for dinner. With Tes insisting on meeting him here, he couldn’t afford any additional scrutiny. Particularly concerning his whereabouts.

Tes bidthe others a quick farewell as soon as dinner was done and then headed out of the private dining room. Weariness weighted her steps already, and she still wished to check on Speran before she slept. Though little had happened to physically tire her this day, there’d been enough emotional turmoil for three training sessions.

“Wait!” Ria called, hurrying out of the room behind her.

Was something wrong? Sudden concern rooted Tes’s feet to the floor. “What happened?”

“Everything is fine,” her friend reassured her as she caught up. “I’m sorry to worry you. There was something I forgot to show you while you were in my workroom earlier.”

Tes released her breath with enough force to make her shoulders sag. “Thank the gods.”

“Do you have time to go see it? We can walk to the nursery after.”

“Sure,” Tes agreed.

“I hope you’ll like the gift,” Ria said, worrying her lower lip with her teeth. “If you do, I’ll have it sent to your room.”

A gift? What could Ria have for her? If it was in the sewing room, her friend had probably made her a dress or some such. It wouldn’t be the first time. Yet Ria usually had her do fittings for those, and there’d been none. So what, then? Curiosity and expectation had Tes pondering the mystery all the way into the workroom.

Once inside, Ria led her to the private side chamber where she kept her most secret designs. The queen waved her over to a side table holding a simple trunk. “I had Mehl lift this up here earlier. The healer said I should wait a couple more weeks before picking up anything heavier than Elna.”

Tes nodded absently at that standard bit of advice. Her focus was on the mystery situated directly in front of her. “May I open it?”

“Please,” Ria said, smiling.

Breath hitching with expectation, Tes released the metal clasp and lifted the lid. She was greeted immediately by the sight of…brown? The dull fabric was folded as neatly as an elaborate gown, though it was more the type of thing commoners wore. Another disguise, perhaps? She lifted the bundle from the chest and unfurled it with a flick. Oddly, it didn’t make a single swish or rustle in the process.

“I know it looks rather boring,” Ria said in a rush. “But I found an interesting spell in one of the magic tomes I’ve been studying, and I found a way to turn the technique to a new use. The cloth makes no noise no matter how much you move it. There’s a more elaborate court gown created with the same spell deeper in the trunk.”

A surge of emotion clogged Tes’s throat. She could only stare down at the humble fabric, unfamiliar feelings nearly overwhelming her. Her friend had gone to great effort to create this specifically for her. For her safety, no less. It would be perfect for sneaking through the Centoi palace without being heard.

“Oh. And I…” Ria twisted her fingers together nervously. “I added another enchantment to prevent the fabric from being, ah…tangled. Especially the skirt.”

The confession surprised a snort of laughter from Tes and eased some of the heavier emotions choking off her voice. “I’m sure to be safe if I attempt to kidnap another magic-wielding tailor.”

Ria grinned. “I’m both proud of and embarrassed by the way I trapped you in your own skirt so I could escape.”

“You should be proud,” Tes said. “It was clever. And I appreciate being saved from another alteration mage’s cleverness in the future.”

“So you like it?” Ria asked. “It is rather plain.”

“That’s what I need most.”

Tes draped the dress over her arm and peeked into the trunk again. After a bit of digging past another simple outfit and several underthings, she found the lovely court gown. It was the bold blue-green color favored by Centoi royalty, the shade dark enough to be daring for a princess, since only the king or queen could wear the full tone. Tiny jewels dotted the fine fabric, but even when she shook the gown out, they made no noise.

It was both a statement and another form of disguise.

“Though I confess that this is equally useful. Elaborate court clothes tend to be uncomfortable and loud. It’s amazing,” Tes said in awe. “I can’t imagine when you had the time to do this. Thank you.”