“I don’t know if it’ll be ready by the morning, but I’ll have it washed and we’ll see. Remember to wear the fur lined wool cloak too. Where did you leave your gloves? You’ll need those too. It’s still cold up there.”
“We’re going by carriage. What’s it matter?”
Sighing, the matron gave her a disgruntled look in response.
Now, as Lady Maranou carried the dress out, dried mud cracked and fell to the floor, following in a sad trail after the grumbling woman.
Alone, Sonah lifted her hand to her chest, forcing deep breaths to calm herself. Of all the ridiculous, no,inconvenient, things to happen.
Prince Lerek was like an older brother to her. She had no romantic feelings toward him whatsoever and she knew from their limited conversations he had no such feelings for her, either. Besides, he was in love with the Royal Tracker, Terena Luca.
Now,shewas someone Sonah admired, and not because she was that rare breed of beauty that was also kind to other women. She was also… free. Some of the greatest homes in the realm and beyond welcomed her because of her profession, and Terena Luca answered only to the emperor, traveling the continent with her brother.
Sonah sighed and rubbed at her eyes. What she wouldn’t give to be so free. To travel and see the world without men telling her what to do.
Or forcing her to taste food that could be poisonous.
Or making her pretend to be Duke Ovenno’s daughter, Sonah Yahn.
It had beensome months since Terena was last in Metilai. The view of the city as she rode closer to the western gate had always been one she loved, and she often paused at the very spot she now passed to admire the ethereal beauty of the capital city of Metilai, the beating heart of the Heylisian Empire.
In the last year, however, the rain and overcast skies had cast a pall over the city. It dulled the magnificence of Metilai and the gleaming bright white of the aptly named White Palace. The stunning spires of the palace were now hidden, and the jeweled brilliance of the buildings making up the largest city on the continent lackluster.
The main gates were guarded on either side by a statue of the first Emperor of Heylisia, Alexandros, and the Heylisian hero, Calix, who—according to the historians of the empire—had gravely wounded the Olympian god, Zeus, leading to their downfall. Built by Emperor Brotis three centuries ago, the statues were well over a hundred feet tall.
Terena guided her mare to the left of the White Palace and entered through the northern gate. Dismounting, she led Nyx toward the stables, passing the training yard where a flurry of activity caught her attention.
“I got ‘er, Ren,” Ozi, the stableboy, yelled as he ran up to her. He gently took hold of the reins, cooing nonsense to Nyx.
As he led her away, Terena called out to him.
“Ozi.” She looked back out at the yard and motioned with one hand. “What’s the ruckus?”
“Emperor’s sending a convoy north to meet the new king.”
“Really?” she said, more to herself. She pulled out a coin and tossed it to the towheaded boy. He caught it and grinned at her before turning back to the mare.
Terena looked out over the bustling courtyard. She spotted an older man with long gray hair secured at the back of his head in a neat bun, calling out orders as he strode across the yard and started toward him.
“Captain!” she called out. “Captain Cortis!”
The man turned his head but did not stop. When he saw her, his craggy face lit up with a grin. She caught up to him, matching his stride with some difficulty.
“You’re leading the convoy,” she said, more to confirm what the boy had said than anything else.
“Aye,” he said, flashing her a wink before stopping for a word with one of his men.
Terena waited until he’d finished and turned back to her before she said, “Let me go with you.”
Startled, he paused. He looked down at her with a frown. “Do you know where we journey?”
“North?” she said, “To see the new king.”
He narrowed his dark green eyes at her. They were the only attractive thing about him. “Indeed.” He turned to face her, his thick arms folding at his chest. “When did you get back?”
“Just now,” she said. She let out a deep breath and gestured to the commotion in the yard. “When do you leave?”
“The morning, most likely,” he said with a frown. He scratched at an old scar running the length of his throat. “Lucky you arrived when you did. Would’ve been gone already, but the emperor delayed us. Wanted a word with the prince.”
