Page 14

The journey passed without incident , which, unfortunately, meant endless hours with little respite from her own thoughts. It became swiftly apparent that James’s solution to what had happened between them was avoidance, for he rode through the ceaseless drizzle with his hood up, and he took dinner at the inn in Willowford in his room while she ate with Bronwyn and Taryn in the one they shared.

Which was perhaps for the best. To pretend that it had never happened. And to keep their distance from each other lest it happen again. Not that she wanted it to happen again after he’d been such a prick about it.

Her companions continued to hunt for more information on the new market that James had alluded to that could compete with the bridge, but beyond confirming that the rise of negativity toward Ithicana was not limited to Sableton, they discovered nothing. Debating the possibilities was impossible, for Hazel rode in the carriage with them, which meant that Ahnna was left to stew over the puzzle.

It couldn’t be Amarid, given recent aggressions. Nor Cardiff, for that border was closed to travel. There were many other nations farther north, but they were all tiny, and even combined, they were nothing compared with accessing Maridrina and Valcotta. Picking at a scab on her bruised knuckles, Ahnna considered the possibility James hadn’t meant a new market, but rather a new way of accessing existing markets. Which meant transport using ships rather than the bridge.

Shipping had always been the bridge’s greatest competition, but while the Amaridians, and occasionally the Cardiffians, risked the Tempest Seas to avoid the tolls, Harendell had historically only done so during the calm season. They could afford to pay, so there was no need to lose lives and vessels to the storms. Except what if that had changed? What if the Harendellians were investing in a fleet capable of weathering high seas? What if they saw the inevitable losses as acceptable in the face of the bridge’s tolls?

Questions Ahnna couldn’t hope to answer in a coach trundling down a muddy road, unless she went to the source himself. Leaning her head against the window, Ahnna watched James riding his horse, his eyes on the trees surrounding them. Unbidden, the feel of his lips against hers came rushing back, along with the hard press of his fingers against her back, nothing about him hesitant.

Nothing about him afraid.

An ache formed low in her belly, and more to punish herself than out of any interest, she asked, “Hazel, how would you describe Prince William?”

Her maid looked up with a start from the garment she’d been mending. “Oh, he’s very handsome, my lady. The muse of many artists, or so I’ve heard. Once you are wed, it will be a blessing to sit across the breakfast table from him every morning.”

Bronwyn started coughing, and Taryn barely suppressed her laughter behind her hand.

“I’ve no doubt.” Ahnna shot both of her friends a glare. “But I am more curious as to his character.”

“Oh!” Hazel looked down at the needle and thread in her hands. “Well, of course he’s very princely.”

“Of course,” Bronwyn murmured, and Taryn elbowed her in the ribs.

“Everyone speaks of his great wit,” Hazel continued. “A tremendous conversationalist. Very popular with his fellows, for he is always surrounded by others.”

“So just like his brother?” Bronwyn said with a straight face.

“Oh, they are nothing alike at all, my lady,” Hazel answered, then made a face, finally hearing Bronwyn’s sarcasm. “Do not hold Prince James’s taciturnity against him. He spends most of his time with soldiers, whereas William is at court, and therefore more comfortable in the company of ladies. It’s an unfair comparison.”

“So I’m coming to understand.” Bronwyn glanced out the window, then her eyes met Ahnna’s. “You might need to pick another argument if we are ever to hear a word out of him again.”

Ahnna’s cheeks warmed. “I’ll pass. Silence is preferable.”

Bronwyn grinned and said, “I don’t foresee that as an option.”

A rap sounded against the glass, and Ahnna nearly started out of her skin. James had reined his horse close to the coach without her noticing. She slid open the window. “Is there trouble?”

“No, we’re here. As we round the bend, you will get your first glimpse of Verwyrd and the Sky Palace,” James said, his eyes forward. “You mentioned an interest in seeing it, and this is perhaps the best view now that the clouds are clearing.”

Here. Already.

Ahnna swallowed hard, her heart racing. Not in anticipation of seeing the Sky Palace for the first time, but because very soon, she’d be meeting the prince she was to marry.

A sudden surge of empathy for her brother filled her for how he must have felt on Southwatch the day Lara had arrived, knowing nothing about the woman he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with. Yet as that long-ago moment rose in her mind’s eye, Ahnna was again struck with the anticipation her brother had radiated as Lara’s ship had docked. As though every unknown about the Maridrinian princess made her more, not less, desirable.

Ahnna wished anticipation filled her stomach, but the feeling was all-too-familiar dread. Not because William was an unknown to her, but because she was an unknown to him. Beyond her name, no one in Harendell knew anything about her, and in her heart, Ahnna knew that she would not elicit the reaction Lara had when Aren had first set sights on his new wife.

Ahnna was too old, too tall, too scarred, and she couldn’t help but remember what Keris had told her about Queen Alexandra. She didn’t choose you, which means no matter what you do, you will never be good enough for William in her eyes.

And then Verwyrd appeared.

All Ahnna’s thoughts of her own inadequacies fled as she stared out the window. Next to her, Bronwyn whispered, “Fuck me, that’s something.”

The road had curved to run along a ridgeline, which offered them an unobstructed view of the river valley below. The vast Eldermoor River split into two, creating a large island that contained the city of Verwyrd, which was surrounded by towering walls that provided additional protection on top of the swiftly flowing waters. Twin bridges joined the island to the mainland, both heavily fortified, with towns sprawling on both the east and west banks. All of which would have been impressive if not for the structure dominating the center of the island. It rose like a massive tower, perfectly symmetrical, and yet even from here, Ahnna could tell that it had not been made by the hands of men. Nor was it a natural formation created by the earth.

No, much like the bridge that had dominated her life, the Sky Palace had surely been created by God or some higher power, the massive column of smooth rock seeming to touch the clouds. Carved in its side was a spiraling path that led to the top, on which a palace made of gleaming white stone was perched, the stained-glass windows of its spires sending rainbows of color dancing across the sky as the sun struck it. Colored banners hung from the sides of the tower, all royal purple to indicate that the monarchs were currently in residence.

“How do you get to the top?” Taryn asked, pressing her hand to the coach window.

“I usually walk,” James replied. “However, there are small carriages pulled by mules accustomed to the heights that transport those who don’t wish to subject themselves to the exertion. It takes about half an hour to climb.”

“Not particularly convenient,” Bronwyn muttered. “Imagine all that effort to get up and down every day.”

Ahnna barely heard, her eyes all for the reach of the tower and the view one must have from the top. She’d always gravitated to the peaks of the mountains in Ithicana, or even to the bridge top, for seeing the vastness of the world around her had always put her at ease. Reminded her that she was of little consequence to the earth and sea and sky, just a speck of creation. “It’s beautiful.”

Sensing eyes on her, she turned her head to find James regarding her. He looked away as their eyes met, gaze fixing on the Sky Palace. “You don’t agree that your home is beautiful?”

“The Sky Palace is one of the great wonders of the north,” he answered, though it was no answer at all.

Ahnna returned to her examination of the tower and the palace atop it, though curiosity burned through her at James’s response. His face was impassive, but the slight tightening of his grip on the reins suggested his thoughts were less than calm.

Which was perhaps fair. The journey to retrieve her had been disastrous, a ship lost and dozens of soldiers killed, as well as the Victoria taking significant damage. As the most senior officer, he’d be held accountable for the losses, and though there was nothing James could have reasonably done to predict or prevent any of what had happened, a reprimand might be in his future. And of course, there was that which she prayed would remain unspoken.

“Has anyone ever fallen off the top?” Bronwyn asked, breaking Ahnna from her thoughts.

“Generations ago, throwing criminals off the top was a method of formal execution,” James answered. “Though the practice ceased when the city was built up beneath, for obvious reasons.”

“So, no one falls off anymore?”

“I didn’t say that,” James replied.

There was a coolness to his tone that stifled conversation. Ahnna and her friends watched out the window as the carriage began its descent into the river valley. Their escort formed up to either side, the caparisons on the horses fluttering and the soldiers’ armor gleaming in the sun, and it wasn’t long until the sides of the road were filled with civilians. They cheered and threw flower petals as the coach passed, with endless choruses of “God bless Ithicana” and “God bless the good princess” filling Ahnna’s ears. Their words reminded her that Harendell held to religion in a much more performative manner than did Ithicana, where God and the Great Thereafter were accepted truths, with little time spent belaboring the details. Yet she couldn’t help but question if the sentiments were genuine, given the resentment toward Ithicana she’d seen in Sableton and Willowford.

The crowds grew as they entered the town, the coach wheels bumping over the cobbled streets, which were lined with buildings made of timber and river stone, the walls thick with ivy and their roofs made of neat thatch. The people were shaded by drooping trees that Taryn, who’d been to Harendell many times with Aren, told her were called willows, and many wooden boxes filled with flowers of every color did a fair job of covering the scent of humanity.

They reached the bridge, which had heavy fortifications manned with uniformed soldiers, and while the gates were open, Ahnna didn’t miss the murder holes in the stone above as they trundled beneath. The Eldermoor ran deep and swift, several boats visible upon it, and then they were in the city of Verwyrd itself. The capital of Harendell.

The buildings in the city were larger and taller than those in the towns, though made the same way, and Ahnna marked the finer clothes on those watching and calling their well-wishes. It was picturesque, but the charm was much reduced by the stink of shit, animal and human. The press of humanity in Verwyrd was still repulsive to her, though Taryn and Bronwyn, both used to cities, seemed unmoved by it.

The procession paraded her through the city streets, rising toward the base of the tower, which was encircled by a low wall. They passed between the gates, and Ahnna’s eyes jumped over the many buildings made of stone and wood, the scent of horse strong.

“The royal stables are here,” James said as they drew to a halt. “We’ll abandon this carriage for one designed for the climb. Horses do poorly with heights.”

He dismounted and handed off the reins before opening the coach door. Ahnna’s heart hammered, her mouth dry and throat tight as she took James’s hand. She stepped down, not failing to notice how swiftly he let go of her once she stood on the ground.

Dozens of soldiers in uniform waited in neat rows, as well as grooms with their heads lowered in deference, all of them bowing as she straightened her tunic, though she saw the curiosity in their eyes as they took her in.

“This way, Your Highness,” James said, then offered her his arm, his reluctance to do so made apparent in the tightening of his jaw. As though having her hand on him was the very worst thing he could imagine.

Ahnna understood, because she felt the same way. But she did it anyway, hoping that her sweating palm wouldn’t be noticeable through his coat. She allowed him to lead her to a smaller but significantly more ornate carriage pulled by a pair of bored-looking mules with peculiar rubber coverings fitted over their hooves.

“We use mules in the bridge,” she said because the silence only made the tension between them worse. “Donkeys, too.”

“Those two are named Buck and Brayer.” James gestured at the animals. “My sister, Virginia, always names the new teams. Buck, he’s the one with the darker nose, bites, so mind yourself around him.”

The mule in question chose that moment to bray loudly, revealing yellowed teeth. Ahnna smiled, though the animal provided only a heartbeat of levity before her anxiety returned in full force. Climbing into the small carriage, she settled on the thick velvet cushion, James sitting across from her. Bronwyn and Taryn climbed in, and out the window, she watched Jor clamber up with the driver. He looked exhausted, dark shadows marring his eyes, and she’d not failed to notice his endless coughing. He needed rest, but he wouldn’t get it unless she ordered him to bed. Which she fully intended to do.

The carriage began moving, soldiers opening wooden gates to allow them into the spiral path leading upward. An elaborately patterned iron fence with gilded leaves was bolted to the side, but it was low enough not to disrupt the view as they began to circle higher and higher. It gave her an incredible vantage of the city, and Ahnna picked out the enormous cathedral at the southern end of the island, then the river, then the entire valley, which was forested except where land had been cleared for farms.

The wind gusted, rattling the windows of the carriage, and Ahnna stiffened as the spiral made a strange moaning sound, eerily similar to the wind within the bridge. Taryn met her gaze, acknowledging that she heard it, too.

Around and around they circled, taking Ahnna higher than she’d ever been in her life, the countryside spread all around. Forests broken up with checkerboards of crops, all of it lush green.

The carriage shook as the wind blew harder, and then the mules turned into the tower so that they were enclosed on all sides in a tunnel. Sliding open the glass, Ahnna reached out and touched the stone, which was smooth. “Bridge stone.” She shook her head. “Aren said that Devil’s Island was made of the same. I wonder how many such monuments to higher powers exist in the world.”

And how many had been lost to time.

The carriage navigated the last spiral, then exited into a courtyard formed of polished white rock fitted together so perfectly, the walls appeared nearly seamless. It stopped before a low set of stairs that were at least two dozen feet wide, at the top of which stood an older man in a uniform similar to that which James had worn the day he’d arrived in Northwatch, but with more medals and a crown upon his head. A man familiar to Ahnna not only from their single brief meeting, but also from all the statues and portraits she’d seen of him since arriving in Harendell.

King Edward.

At his left stood a striking woman in a royal-blue gown trimmed with ermine, a glittering tiara woven into her light-brown curls. She was of average height but so painfully thin she appeared gaunt, her green eyes sharp as tacks. Alexandra. And it struck Ahnna then that she’d seen nary a portrait of the queen since arriving in Harendell. Which…felt strange. Ahnna set aside the thought for later consideration, eyes skipping over the retinue of men in uniforms and women in lavish gowns, searching for a face to match the portrait she’d received of William.

The carriage door opened, and James stepped out, someone shouting at an incredible volume, “His Royal Highness, Prince James, Major General of His Majesty’s Royal Army, Sixth Division, and Protector of the Realm.”

“Fancy.” Bronwyn accepted James’s hand to step out, Taryn following, the same loudmouth shouting, “Her Royal Highness, Princess Bronwyn of Maridrina, and Lady Taryn of Ithicana.”

Trumpets abruptly blared, accompanied by vigorous drums, and when they trailed off, the man shouted, “Her Most Royal Highness, Princess Ahnna of Ithicana, beloved sister to His Royal Majesty, King Aren of Ithicana, the Master of the Bridge.”

Never in her life had she been announced in such a fashion, but there was no time to consider the Harendellians’ choices as her eyes fixed on James’s gloved hand.

You can do this, she told herself. Ithicana needs you to do this.

She closed her hand over his fingers, allowing him to draw her out of the carriage, everyone silent as her boots hit the smooth white stones of the sprawling courtyard. Ahnna bowed, keeping her eyes on Edward’s polished boots once she’d straightened.

Everyone was silent, and her heart skittered as she realized that there were at least a hundred courtiers in the space, all dressed in uniforms or finery, the jewels glittering in the sun a jaw-dropping display of wealth. All staring at her with undisguised interest.

And judgment.

King Edward cleared his throat. “Long has Ithicana been a strong and true ally of Harendell, and we welcome Princess Ahnna and her escort with all our heart. We invite you to treat our home as your own, and to celebrate your arrival, we will dine tonight with our dear friends and family in a private banquet to honor both Ahnna and the great nation of her birth.”

Ahnna inclined her head, repeating words she’d memorized a lifetime ago. “I thank you for your hospitality and gracious welcome, Your Grace.”

Edward gave her a grave nod, then turned, Queen Alexandra taking his arm as they walked inside the palace, trumpets blaring in triumph that echoed between the walls surrounding them, then up to the minarets that touched the clouds. A pretty young woman with light-brown hair the same color as the queen’s followed at their heels, the cane in her hand tapping lightly along the floor, the diamonds in her tiara glittering as she walked alone—undoubtedly Princess Virginia.

Is William not here?

“Your Highness,” James said, offering his arm.

Ahnna took it, her fingers pressing against the hard muscle of his forearm as she discreetly scoured the faces of those she passed, searching for one that might belong to the man she was supposed to wed.

“He’s not here. Look straight forward and smile,” James said softly. “The sharks are circling.”

Ahnna jerked her face forward, plastering on a smile even as her mind raced. Why wasn’t William here? What did that mean?

Had he learned what she and James had done?

No. No, if they’d been seen, she wouldn’t be here now.

They walked up the steps and into the palace, only a lifetime of training pulling Ahnna away from her thoughts enough to notice the thickness of the oak doors they walked through, the murder holes they walked beneath, and the watchfulness of the heavily armed guards who flanked it. Even having a palace in the sky was clearly not enough to render it safe.

White stone gave way to thick carpet, their boots making soft thuds as they walked down a high-ceilinged hall, the stone walls decorated with countless portraits of unsmiling Harendellians in elaborate attire, their eyes all seeming to watch her. To judge her.

They reached a set of open twin doors framed by grim guards holding spears, and James steered her inside, Bronwyn and Taryn following. A servant shut the doors behind them, and Ahnna took in the space, which she suspected was what the Harendellians referred to as a drawing room.

The room was as high-ceilinged as the hallway. The wall opposite the door held floor-to-ceiling windows with an incredible view of the southern end of the valley, the blue drapes that framed them made of velvet so thick it would obscure even the brightest of the sun’s rays. To her left was a fireplace big enough for her to walk inside, the mantel made of carved marble with blue veins that matched the curtains, a low fire burning against the faint chill in the air. None of the furniture matched, all made of different polished woods and rich brocades, but rather than making the room appear haphazard, it made Ahnna feel as though she’d stepped into the space of a collector with exquisite taste.

And even more gold.

Edward and Alexandra, as well as Virginia, waited for them in the room, along with several guards and even more servants, all standing dour-faced with their backs against the walls. Alexandra’s tiara caught the light, the enormous diamonds glittering like stars, but it was the symbol of the faithful hanging from her neck that stole Ahnna’s attention. A circle with a spiral weaving inward to surround a yellow diamond the size of a pigeon egg. The icon was familiar to Ahnna, for it represented the path through life to the Great Thereafter, all goodness drawn to the glow of divinity. She’d never seen it worn as jewelry, though that might be because Ithicanians wore little jewelry at all. It did confirm what she’d been told, which was that the queen was deeply committed to the faith.

The doors shut behind Ahnna, and the bland expression on Edward’s face was immediately replaced with a grin. Reaching up, he pulled off his crown and tossed it on one of the plush chairs. “Ahnna,” he said, approaching and taking her hands. “It is my pleasure to finally reunite with my co-conspirator against Silas!” He laughed and squeezed her hands. “We were more than a little disgruntled not to find the Maridrinians in full force at Northwatch. Led the attack myself. Most fun I’ve had in years, though it was over far too swiftly.”

“We did not know you were there yourself, Your Grace.” She wasn’t certain whether to bow, given that he had her firmly by the hands, his gray eyes locked on hers. Though he was in his sixties, there was no denying that he’d been an incredibly handsome man in his prime, his mid-brown hair now laced with gray, and his eyes framed with wrinkles. Again, she was struck by how much James resembled him, though Edward was not nearly as tall or broad.

“I was incognito during the battle,” Edward said, letting go of one of her hands to touch the side of his nose. “It’s the only way I get to do anything fun.”

Despite her anxiety, it was impossible not to be infected by his grin, and she smiled. “Ithicana thanks you for your allyship, Your Grace. It will never be forgotten.”

“You will call me Eddie when we are among family,” he said. “For we are family now, yes? Or close enough to it, assuming Will doesn’t get lost in a wine hall on the way to the wedding. The little shit will miss his own funeral, a corpse puppet hauled about by the fools he calls friends so that they might drink on his credit.”

Ahnna blinked, even as the queen snapped, “Edward!”

“What?” he demanded, looking over his shoulder at Alexandra. “He is willfully embarrassing us with his behavior, and Ahnna deserves to know the sort of man she’s about to be saddled with. Thank God Ithicana has delivered us a woman with strength and character, else Harendell would be destined for a string of useless kings who spend the people’s gold on wine and whores.”

The queen’s mouth drew into such a tight line that it all but disappeared. “If you would show him but a little kindness—”

“Kindness?” Edward’s grip on Ahnna’s hand tightened almost painfully. “Alex, it is your excess of kindness that has turned our son into the drunken barnacle that he is. Five years of hard duty on the border fighting Amaridians where no one cares about his blood, only about his rank and skill with a blade, would do his character a world of good. Turn him into a man rather than a boy who suckles the golden tit of privilege every goddamned day of his life.”

Ahnna bit the insides of her cheeks, barely able to process the information that had just been poured into her ears, much less think of anything appropriate to say, silence seeming the most prudent course of action.

“He is the heir.” Alexandra hissed, clutching at the pendant resting against her chest as though it gave her strength. “The heir is to be protected!”

“So you keep telling me, and so has he been,” Edward replied. “However, that does not excuse him from his duties to the crown. Find him. Remind him.”

“Father, I can find—” James started to say, but he fell silent as the king’s eyes shot to him.

“You have your own actions to answer for, my son,” Edward said. “Alex, find William.”

The queen inclined her head. “As you say, Your Grace.” Then she strode from the room in a swirl of skirts, guards scrambling to open the doors ahead of her.

The moment the door shut, the mood of the room shifted, and Virginia said, “Well, I daresay, you couldn’t get a more honest introduction to the family, Ahnna. And truly, Father, was that necessary? The golden tit of privilege? Really?”

“It’s the truth!” Edward answered.

“Perhaps, but it sounds like something you thought up during a sleepless night and have been waiting for just the right moment to deploy. I can tell when it’s off the cuff as opposed to something you composed while sitting on the privy throne, you know.”

Edward snorted. “Ahnna, this is my daughter, Virginia. Mind yourself around her, for her wit cuts like a knife.”

The Harendellian princess approached, and it was then that Ahnna realized that the young woman’s eyes were not entirely focused on her. Blind. Or, she amended as Virginia pushed her father out of her way and gripped Ahnna’s arms, near to it. She pulled Ahnna into an embrace, either not noticing or not caring that Ahnna was stiff as a board. “Welcome, Ahnna of Ithicana. I look forward to glorious stories of your adventures, which are surely far more exciting than anything I’ve ever experienced. You shall be the sister I always wanted, because brothers are wildly irritating.”

Ahnna felt her whole body twitch, remembering how she’d said something similar to Lara when she had arrived. Did Virginia suspect her intentions, as Ahnna had of Lara? Was this all an act to gain her trust? To cause her to lower her guard?

She was spared responding as Virginia launched herself at James, arms going around his neck. “Irritating, but I am so happy you are alive, brother. I hope you slaughtered a dozen of those Amaridian fuckers.”

“Ginny, language,” the king murmured, though he seemed amused by her response. “From George’s explanation and Jamie’s report”—he pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket to examine—“we have Ahnna to thank that your brother still breathes.” He scanned the page. “Knocked him forcibly off the ship before it exploded, then guided him to safety through shark-infested waters, and then…sailed with skill and bravery through a storm to escape the Amaridian fleet.” He shoved the page back in his pocket. “Look at you playing the damsel in distress, my boy!”

James’s cheeks turned a brilliant red. “Merely giving credit where it was due, Father.”

“Ha ha! I jest—I’m sure you acquitted yourself as you always do!” Edward pulled his son into a tight embrace, pounding James’s back vigorously. “On my word, they’ll bleed for this. Katarina has bitten off far more than she can chew with this outrage. If she wants war, we’ll bring it to them, sure and true!”

“Oh, we’re hunting down our foe as the sun begins to gleam,” Virginia sang out, her father joining in at top volume. “With a boom and a crash, and a whack and a scream, we’ll cut down the ’Ridians ’til the blood begins to stream!”

The king broke off laughing, then turned his attention to Taryn. “Lady Taryn, we are so delighted that you are here to attend your cousin. I’ve heard a rumor that you’ve a lovely voice. I’ll make arrangements for you to hear the university’s choir perform, for you are sure to appreciate it.” Then he took Bronwyn’s hands. “Princess Bronwyn. Those Veliant eyes are unmistakable. We’ve several members of your family of various generations married into our noble houses, though from what I’ve heard of your unusual upbringing, you aren’t close with them. I should say, your brother Keris writes the most delightfully entertaining letters. Truly a gift for words, that man, and I hope to keep up a frequent correspondence with him if for no other reason than the joy it brings to my days.”

“That should please him,” Bronwyn replied. “The only thing Keris likes better than hearing himself speak is writing everything that he’s said down so that it can be repeated.”

“Ha ha!” Edward grinned. “Good to see you share his wit. Can’t say the same for many of your relations, though I’ve heard only great things of Queen Sarhina.”

“Always a few bad apples on every tree, Your Grace,” Bronwyn said. “Sarhina is not one of them.”

“It is my most fervent wish that she brings peace and prosperity to Maridrina.”

Ahnna opened her mouth to suggest that his wish would be achieved if Harendell increased its exports through the bridge, but Edward turned to her and said, “Your journey has been long, Ahnna, and you are no doubt in need of rest so that you might prepare yourself for the banquet in your honor tonight. Virginia, would you escort the princess and her companions to their rooms?”

“Of course.” The princess accepted her cane from a servant, then said, “If you would follow me, ladies.”

The younger woman led them out into the corridor, cane making no noise as she tapped it against the thick carpet. They walked to a large staircase that split into two, rising to the second level. Virginia headed upward, mouth moving slightly. Counting, Ahnna determined, the princess obviously having memorized the number of steps, along with a host of other cues to allow her to move about the palace.

Seeming to sense her thoughts, Virginia said, “I was not born blind. My eyes began to fail when I was ten, and I resolved to learn to navigate the world before I went blind, so I am quite comfortable in all of our family homes. I do see shadows and the outlines of figures if the lighting is good, though it is only a matter of time until it will be only darkness.”

Ahnna considered giving her condolences, but instead said, “You seem prepared for that eventuality.”

“Seeing nothing provides a certain degree of clarity.” Virginia stopped before a door and opened it to a room filled with sunshine. “Lady Bronwyn, these are your rooms. Your trunks have already been placed inside, and a servant waits to attend to your needs. If there is any comfort you lack, please do let her know.”

Bronwyn murmured her thanks, then went inside. They carried on down the hall to the next door, and Virginia said to Taryn, “Lady Taryn, you’ll find that your rooms include a door that leads to your princess’s chambers, for I’ve been led to believe that you serve the role of not only her lady-in-waiting but also her bodyguard. Is that correct?”

“Yeah,” Taryn answered, then winced. “I mean, yes, Your Highness.”

“Wonderful. Do let the maid know if there is anything you require.”

They carried on up the corridor, Virginia stopping without hesitation in front of a twin set of doors. Slipping a key from her pocket, she unlocked it and went inside. Ahnna’s eyes flicked back down the hall to where Jor silently trailed her, and he gave a nod.

Entering, Ahnna watched the other princess cross the room to sit on a green velvet sofa. Hazel, who’d obviously been waiting, exited, shutting the doors behind her.

“I have but one question,” Virginia said as Ahnna perched on the chair across from her. “Why have you come to Harendell?”