As I reached for my cloak, there was a knock at the door. Petal came around the screen, yawning, her eyes bulging when she saw I was dressed. I had chosen the blue, which had returned from the laundry looking better than new. I couldn’t decide if she stared that way because I was already dressed or because I had put the dress on myself. Voluntarily.
“Good morning,” Prince Jori sang, sweeping into the room uninvited. With his fair hair pulled back, dressed in all red—tunic, trousers, and boots—he was a triumphant tribute to his father. His hand rested on the pommel of a dagger’s jeweled grip. I suspected it was Griffin’s Phantombronze knife he’d lost betting against me.
Serves him right.
Petal retreated behind the screen.
Holding a small wooden box seated in his armpit, he skated toward me. His warm brown stare floated from my loosely braided hair to my laced boots. “I’m most glad I caught you. Griffin said you were rehearsing this morning with Xavier. It utterly escaped my mind that you didn’t know.”
I would have to remember to thank Griffin for the excuse. How could I have so stupidly revealed my plan? “Know what precisely?”
“Xavier’s lodgings were moved into the king’s tower.”
That sounded ominous. “Why? I thought the bargain was—”
“Ah yes, the bargain was for you and Xavier to have no guards and be free to rehearse without constant supervision. A relief that has been afforded to you. But my father worries that word has spread already. I questioned Buffont myself on my way here and it seems Bradyn told his father that Xavier threw him across the room with magic. A story repeated to Bradyn’s mother, as well as Sander, the court physician, and, well, I’m sure by midday, all of the melee participants will know.”
With that, I needed to sit. I claimed the chair near the smoldering fire. Jori claimed the other. “What does all that mean?”
“For Xavier? It means he will be heavily guarded. But you will have space. No guards. You’re free to move about the palace grounds. Beyond that, I would ask that you let me accompany you or someone I trust on any excursions in the city.”
“What about our rehearsals?”
“No. Xavier will need to fend for himself, at least for now.” Jori smiled.
I cringed with worry. Xavier would not last long under the king’s scrutiny. “May I see Xavier?”
“You will. On the dais.” Jori lifted the box out from his armpit. “Blue is utter perfection on you.”
Why did it turn my stomach when he complimented me, yet not when Griffin did? It felt unfair, but there was no denying the difference. Still, I thanked him. If nothing else, I was hoping it would get him out of my room.
“I have a gift for you. I know you said you don’t like jewels, but . . .” He opened the box. Inside was a stunning cabochon sapphire pendant and matching ring. “They were my mother’s.”
“They’re beautiful. But Jori, I can’t accept—”
“I know she would be happy to have you wear them in her stead.”
“What about Esmera?”
“These are much too small for her. She’ll take no notice.”
I laughed, but my resolve waned. These gems could be useful.
“I cannot forgive myself for letting Raleigh nearly cut off your beautiful hand.” He lifted my fingers to his lips, kissing the back of my hand. “I knew you were a woman, and yet I hesitated.”
“Your father’s men are vicious. I hope when you are king that you will stop them from pillaging the Hinterlands,” I offered as a parting piece of advice.
“I will be a very different kind of king, Maggie,” he promised. “If I may?” He held up the necklace.
I stood and gave him my back, allowing him to fasten it around my neck. When I turned, he touched the pendant, straightening the gold chain, letting his fingers linger too long on my chest.
I stepped back. “Was this a gift, or are you expecting something in return?” I reached back to undo the clasp. “If that’s why—”
“No!” Momentary anger flickered across his face, but he recovered quickly. “It is a gift. Please. Keep it. Blue is definitely your color.”
Another knock at the door brought a large breakfast.
“Since we’re both up early, I thought we could have breakfast here? Get to know each other better. Then we don’t have to worry about Esmera.”
It felt wrong to refuse. And for once, he was asking rather than ordering, so I said yes.
We ate at the small table. An intimate affair, with Petal serving freshly baked bread, poached eggs, honeyed ham, and spiced warm water. Petal tossed worried glares at me throughout. She didn’t like the prince, especially him being in my room, that much was clear.
Prince Jori talked, mostly of growing up in the palace in the Walled City, at the Top of his father’s kingdom.
“My father sent me on missions from an early age. I would take riding and sword skills lessons with the old lairds’ children, but during those times I was tasked with asking a great many questions.”
“About what?” I sipped the spiced water.
“Their old lands. Their old homes. What their houses were like. Did they leave anything important behind when they moved into the Walled City.”
“Anything important? Like what?”
“Weapons, wealth, a son who might challenge the throne. It is my father’s greatest fear, that someone will take it all.”
“Did you ever learn anything?”
Jori nodded, smiling whimsically. “That I was a terrible spy.”
I laughed. “I could see that.”
He visibly relaxed. His shoulders slumped; he extended his legs, crossing them at the ankles. For the first time, it seemed the prince was content to set aside his invisible bravado armor. I could see how he could be charming. “He could too, I’m afraid. It was the beginning of the end of his respect for me.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged as if it didn’t bother him, but I could tell it did. “Made it very difficult to keep friends. No one trusted me, until Griffin, that is. He was the most honest, true person I ever met, until you.”
I smiled at the compliment.
“My father admired Griffin. Saw in him a young Raleigh. A scrapper. Taking what he wanted rather than waiting for it to be handed to him. He let him into our lives with no questions asked.”
I didn’t want to talk about Griffin. “It couldn’t have been easy, when you were small.”
“I had my mother, until I was nine. Then my father took her from me.” Jori picked at his manchet, his eyes glossing over, his brows furrowing. His expression turning cold.
“Took her how?”
“Told me she fell to her death crossing the bridge to their shared tower, but I knew better.”
“Your father killed her?”
“I snuck in the tower every day to sleep by her side. I never liked to sleep alone. I would hide in her wardrobe when my father would enter. I heard the fights. Mostly they would argue about me. Over his treatment of me. He was difficult, especially when he didn’t get his way.”
“I’m sorry.”
Crinkles formed around his eyes with his knowing grin. “Enough of my pathetic whining. So, tell me of your mother?”