Page 36 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)

R o wasn’t exactly running, but she was hustling as quickly and as regally as she could in her pale turquoise gown and matching slippers. What slowed her down was the fear of losing the circlet of diamonds and trillianites that felt like it was perched precariously on her braids.

She’d been informed in the middle of a late breakfast with some of the professors that the neph queen, Perza, had brought the signed alliance agreement back in person. The signed alliance agreement was fantastic, but Ro hadn’t expected it to be delivered by the queen herself.

Ro decided to take it as a good sign, and so she had dropped everything, excused herself and headed for the portal to greet Perza. At least JT was still at the breakfast to cover for her until she could get back.

Fortunately, footmen were apparently already at the portal with parasols to shield the queen from the sun until she was safely inside the palace.

Ro slowed as she reached the entry hall. Wouldn’t do to be sweaty.

The doors were open, and the queen, along with a beautiful young woman, was being ushered inside.

Their gowns were slim columns of muted blue and gray gossamer fabric that shimmered in the light, drifting around them as though caught on a subtle breeze.

Both wore strands of the trillianites that Ro had gifted to the Caer Wyld.

Another good sign, Ro thought.

She clasped her hands before her. “Queen Perza! What a delightful surprise. I did not expect to see you again so soon. Welcome to Castle Clarion.”

Perza smiled and held out a large envelope.

“Thank you. Here is your copy of the agreement, all signed. I apologize for coming unannounced, but I was so eager to see your kingdom and my daughter, Ghylla, was just as eager to visit, so I decided to take the opportunity. I do hope we aren’t interrupting anything.

You did say my daughter and I would be welcome. ”

“You are, most definitely.”

“Really, if you want to just put us in a sitting room until you have time?—”

“Nonsense. Any ally of Summerton is always welcome here.” Although Ro had to wonder if this was a ploy on Perza’s part to introduce her daughter to JT.

The young woman was beautiful, but that didn’t mean JT would fall in love with her.

“Are you hungry? I was just having breakfast with some of my professors. I’d love for you both to join us, and I know they would enjoy meeting you. ”

Perza put her hand to her heart. “I really do not want to intrude.”

“It’s not an intrusion, I promise.” Ro decided to test her theory. “My son, Prince James, is there as well.”

“Well, in that case,” Perza said brightly. “It would be lovely to meet him. Wouldn’t it, Ghylla?”

“Oh, yes.” Ghylla smiled shyly, her cheeks pink.

Ro prayed she wasn’t opening a can of worms by inviting them, but good relations were important, and JT would need to meet them sooner or later.

She motioned for a footman. “We need two more places set in the royal dining room. I don’t think you’ll need to tell the kitchen, though. There’s plenty of food.”

“Right away, your highness.” He bowed and left.

Ro tucked the envelope under her arm. “Let me show you the way, ladies.”

Another footman opened the door as they arrived at the royal dining room. He glanced at the two women. “Shall I announce your guests, your highness?”

“No, I don’t think we need anything that formal, thank you. I’ll introduce them.”

He bowed and stepped aside. She and the neph walked in, causing everyone to rise.

“Prince James, professors, we have been honored with unexpected guests this morning. May I present Queen Perza and Princess Ghylla of the Caer Wyld. They have graciously come bearing the signed alliance agreement. We are now officially allies.”

There was bowing, curtseying, and applause. JT came over to greet the women. “Good morning, your highnesses.”

It wasn’t lost on Ro that his smile got bigger when he looked at Ghylla. “Ladies, my son, Prince James.”

He grinned, mostly at Ghylla. “You can call me JT. If you want.”

Ghylla batted her lashes at him and offered her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince JT.”

He took her hand and kissed her knuckles but laughed as he finished. “Just JT.”

Ghylla ducked her head demurely. “You can just call me Ghylla.”

“Come on,” JT said. “They’ve set a place for you next to me. I’ll escort you.” He offered his arm.

Not surprisingly, Ghylla took it.

Ro glanced at Perza, who looked about as pleased as a mother could look. “Your daughter is lovely.”

“And your son is quite handsome. And tall.” Perza took a quick look at Ro. “You think I brought her here on purpose, don’t you?”

Ro did nothing to hide her amusement. “Didn’t you?”

Perza sighed. “I brought her so she would stop pestering me about meeting your son. She’s done nothing but talk about him since she found out he existed. Her father was about to lose his mind.”

Ro snorted.

Perza shook her head. “I shouldn’t have done it. I know I’ve overstepped by coming here without a true invitation, but you were so kind and?—”

Ro put her hand on Perza’s arm. “I get it. You did what you had to in order to preserve your sanity. And your husband’s.”

“Yes,” Perza said with obvious relief. “Thank you for understanding. We owe you. I mean that. Your kindness will be repaid.”

“We mothers have to stick together.” Ro leaned in. “Even more so now that we’re allies. Also, allies don’t need an invitation to show up here. I’m sure the kitchen and housekeeping would love a heads-up, but we’ll figure it out.”

“Oh, I promise we aren’t going to impose on you quite that much. Once Ghylla’s spent a little time with him, I am taking her straight home.”

“In the meantime, let’s introduce you all around.”

That easily took fifteen minutes, but as always, the palace staff were on top of things, and when Ro returned to her place, a new, covered plate sat waiting. There was one for Perza, also.

Footmen moved in to lift the lids as soon as the two women sat.

“What is this?” Ro asked.

The nearest footman answered her. “Spring omelets with farmer’s cheese, potato galette, smoked flamefin, and fresh melon from the royal gardens.”

“Thank you,” Ro said. She watched Perza inspect her food. “If that’s not to your liking, I can have the kitchen make something else. It’s no trouble.” She pointed to the platters of pastries in the center of the table. “I can vouch for the baked goods, too. They’re always delicious.”

“My plate looks wonderful,” Perza said. “I couldn’t be happier. Thank you for inviting us to eat with you. You are too kind.”

“I try to treat others the way I’d want to be treated.” Ro picked up her knife and fork and cut into the omelet. She ate while some of the other professors engaged Perza in conversation. Ghylla and JT had yet to stop talking to each other.

She missed Gabriel, but he and Denworth were working on ideas for the meeting with Anyka. Aunt Violet and Posey were preparing an apartment for Ecclesia, who had yet to show up or acknowledge Ro’s request.

Naturally, Ro missed Uldamar, too. She hoped he was doing all right. She hated that he was in Malveaux, hated the danger he was in.

He deserved some kind of recognition after this. Perhaps the Royal Badge of Merit. And a vacation. Where would a wizard go on vacation? She had no idea, but if he wanted to get away, she bet Gabriel would offer up Starfall.

At the rate things were going, Uldamar would probably get there before she would.

A new, much less happy thought came to her. What if this mission taxed Uldamar so much that he wanted to retire? What would she do if she lost him? She took a ragged breath. She couldn’t think like that.

Breakfast came to an end, but because of the professors wanting to talk to Perza and Ghylla, it took another twenty minutes before they were actually able to leave.

“Mom,” JT said. “If it’s all right with you, I’m going to take Ghylla on a tour of the castle.”

“It’s fine with me, but nothing outside. Right, Perza?”

“That’s right, but Ghylla will know where she can and can’t go. And as long as she has a parasol for protection, a short visit outside should be fine.”

“Great.” He offered Ghylla his arm again. “Right this way, Princess.”

Ro gestured toward the door. “I’d be happy to give you a tour as well, if you’d like.”

“I would love that. Would it be odd if I asked to see the kitchen? I’d love to see how yours runs.”

“Not odd at all. Let’s go.”

The kitchen tour went as expected, ending up with them tasting three different desserts that were being made. Perza was thrilled, asked all kinds of questions, and was already talking about changes she planned to make when she got home.

Ro took her through the least sunny parts of the palace, making the final stop the library. It only seemed fitting to Ro, since the book discovered here had led her to the neph.

“I have to admit, I don’t spend the kind of time I’d like to here, but once things calm down, I plan on changing that.”

“What a magnificent space,” Perza said, doing a slow turn as she took it all in. “I would spend all day here if I were able.”

The stained glass windows filtered shafts of color across the room.

Ro nodded. “Wouldn’t that be something? I think especially in the winter, when there’s a nice fire going and you’ve got a cup of cocoa…” She could picture a day like that. She hoped very much it was something that actually came to fruition.

“Sounds like paradise.” Perza smiled. “Your home is wonderful.”

“Thank you.” Ro had already been toying with the idea of inviting the Wyvern to Willow Hall. She wondered if the neph might like to come, too. If the logistics could be worked out. Willow Hall was particularly sunny. But maybe if they stuck to nights?

It was something to be decided in the future.

She was about to ask what Perza would like to see next when a footman came in, bearing a silver tray. Atop it sat an envelope.

He presented it to her. “Your highness. A letter has arrived from Queen Anyka.”

Ro was reluctant to pick it up. Had Uldamar been discovered? Her stomach churned at the thought. She took the envelope. “Ask Lord Nightborne if he’d come to my office.”

“Right away, your highness.” With a nod, the footman left.

Perza wrung her hands. “I must tell you, Queen Anyka wrote to us as well. We invited her, just as we did you. To see what she had to say for herself. She did not pass my husband’s test. That told us all we needed to know.”

“Sounds like her,” Ro said. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“We wouldn’t have allied with her. It was simply for informational purposes.”

“It’s all right,” Ro said. “I would have done the same.”

“Thank you for understanding. Now I must find Ghylla and go. We have taken up enough of your time.”

“Maybe you should stay a little while longer,” Ro said, wishing she knew what information the letter held. “If something’s happened and Queen Anyka has officially declared war, it’s only fair as our newest ally that you find out as soon as possible.”