But where was Latch? He had clearly been worried about something when he wrote the letter suggesting she might need to wait in Fork Town. Why hadn’t he written again? He wouldn’t leave her, would he?
Piersha cleared her throat. “This way, if you please, Princess.”
Selivia jumped. She had been standing still, staring at the pale floor tiles. The queen’s music still drifted through the closed door.
Fenn wore a worried frown, but she didn’t speak as the Soolen woman escorted them deeper into the palace. Selivia pressed a hand to her forehead, going over everything she and Queen Rochelle had said. She didn’t think she had given away any information that could harm Latch. She didn’t have any blasted information.
They reached a room with a door carved in desert roses. The chamber inside was as elegant as the rest of the palace, with a blond wooden table, turquoise couches, and a window overlooking the sea.
“This is where you will stay,” Piersha said. “I shall instruct the servants to bring you refreshments.”
She glided away before Selivia could ask any more questions.
“I don’t like this,” Fenn said as soon as the steward was gone.
“You should have heard the way Queen Rochelle talked to me just now.” Selivia filled Fenn in on the conversation. She felt agitated, but she kept her voice down in case anyone was listening at the door. “They should be scrambling to welcome me as the sister of their most powerful ally, but she treated me like an untrustworthy child. I think she expected me to give something away.”
“She thinks you know where young Lord Brach is?”
“It certainly seemed that way.” Selivia grabbed the other woman’s hand. “Do you think he’s in danger, Fenn?”
“If he is, you are too.” Fenn glanced at the door and lowered her voice. “I think we should take Mav and stay elsewhere.”
The suggestion was appealing. Selivia had thought she might have to deal with some awkwardness as she got to know her new husband, but she hadn’t expected him to disappear altogether. Added to everything that had happened in Pendark and Fork Town, she had half a mind to fly straight back to Vertigon.
But she had negotiated this betrothal for a reason, and she wasn’t going to give up on it so easily. “We won’t learn anything if we’re not in the palace. We need to find out what’s going on.”
Fenn grunted. “The young lord shouldn’t have brought you into this mess,” she said, “especially not without fair warning.”
Selivia touched the letter in her pocket. “I think he tried to warn me.”
She went to window and pushed open the wooden screen. The lumpy East Isles were visible way out at sea. Storm clouds were building above them, gray and ominous next to the crisp blue ocean. Latch had been trying to tell her something about the East Isles in his letter. She was sure of it. If only he hadn’t been so cryptic.
“Let’s get cleaned up and start asking questions. I’m not going to let Queen Rochelle scare me.”
If she and Latch were going to swear marriage vows to each other, she had to be willing to stand up for him. Besides, his research into ancient magic-wielders could have repercussions well beyond his own safety and the success of their marriage. There could be all kinds of reasons why someone—even the queen—would want him to disappear.
11
It took a week for Tamri and the others to travel the length of Trure on dragonsback, following the hard-packed line of the High Road. Trure was a rolling land of farms and horses and scattered towns. The people were still recovering after being scoured by invaders during the war, and the land bore the scars of battle and destruction.
The dragon riders flew during the day and stayed in little inns or camped by the roadside at night, careful not to overstay their welcome. When Taklin asked why they were traveling at a quicker pace than usual, Heath simply said there might be trouble.
Tamri was becoming comfortable with flying as they got farther north. She liked the clean wind on her face and the weightlessness in her stomach as she and Laini soared through the air. She quickly grew to care for the skittish sea-green creature, who snuggled up to her whenever they camped under the stars, her wings keeping Tamri warm.
When they drew near the capital, a sprawling, garden-filled place known as New Rallion, Heath decided they shouldn’t go into the city. Instead they camped beside the crystal waters of Azure Lake.
“The old Rallion City was sacked twice during the war,” Reya explained to Tamri as they brushed dust out of their dragons’ feathers by the lake. Her red dragon, whose name was Rook, still glared at Tamri at every opportunity. “The Trurens are wary of strangers.”
“Would they chase us out like the Fork Towners?”
“Could you blame them?” Reya said lightly. “I wouldn’t want to have this lot over for dinner, either.”
Reya jerked her head toward Taklin and Errol, who were sword fighting with sticks on a rocky bank. The clack of wood and the scuffle of their feet echoed over the mirrored surface of the lake.
“You’re just jealous of our skills,” Taklin called. “Come on, Reya. Join the fun!”
“Dueling isn’t my idea of a good time,” Reya said. “Who’d allow themselves to get stabbed on a regular basis?”
“If you’re good enough, you don’t get stabbed,” Errol said.
Reya snorted. “I’ve seen how bruised up you get after practice. You must be dreadful.”
Errol shrugged and turned to Heath. “Sure you don’t want to duel, Chief?”
Heath glanced up from where he was mending the leather strap that held his Fire cudgel to his belt. The needle and thread looked comically small in his sturdy hands. “I’m sure.”
“How about you, Tamri?” Taklin said. “I reckon you’re quick. Wanna duel?”
Tamri shook her head, ducking behind Laini’s wing as they all turned to look at her. She found a burr and gently pulled it loose from the sea-green feather. She preferred fighting with Watermight and could use her fists in a pinch, but she’d never handled a real sword.
“Suit yourself,” Taklin said. “What do you say, Errol? A bout to ten and the winner has to arm wrestle Heath?”
“I’m not arm wrestling, either,” Heath said mildly, keeping his attention on the tiny needle and the strap of leather.
Taklin sighed. “You’re no fun at all.” He raised his stick-sword to resume the duel.
Despite their playfulness, Tamri sensed uneasiness among the dragon riders. They looked toward the trees lining the lake a little too often, perhaps remembering how they’d been attacked in Fork Town. Plus, there was a stranger in their midst. They couldn’t help but be wary.
Tamri took pains to appear nonthreatening. Those she called friends in Pendark wouldn’t hesitate to slice her up if they suspected her of betraying them, and she couldn’t assume the dragon riders were any different. Yes, they teased each other amiably and invited her in on their jokes, but they weren’t family.
Tamri finished combing the burrs from Laini’s feathers and was about to fetch her some fruit from the trees overhanging the lake when the dragon nudged her arm deliberately.