Vi didn’t have a chance to inquire further as pulsing magic enveloped them both. She barely had time to hold her breath before the darkness of the between pressed around her.
Chapter Eleven
“Took you long enough,”the woman at the archway at the entrance to the Twilight Kindgom droned. “Arwin has already come looking for you.”
Vi knew she didn’t imagine Sarphos suddenly going pale.
“What did you tell her?” he squeaked out.
“That you were out with your lady friend.”
“Why did you say that?” Sarphos groaned, starting down the street.
“Why are you keeping it a secret?” Ruie called after them. “Is it because she dresses poorly?”
“I’d like to see how lovelyshelooks after sailing across continents,” Vi mumbled, picking at the fabric of her shirt. They were the same clothes Erion had given her, back when she was pretending to be Yullia.
Should she use another name now? Vi looked up to the castle ahead of them, towering over all the people crowding the street. No… she’d already told Sarphos that she was the crown princess. And meeting another royal while being honest about who she was may just serve her well.
“When we get to the castle, let me do the talking at first.” Sarphos interrupted her thoughts. “Arwin is going to be in rare form, I’m sure. She doesn’t take kindly to delays and will be even more irritated when she finds out I’ve brought a human before the king.”
“Who is this Arwin to you? An old flame?”
Sarphos tilted his head back, letting out a bark of laughter. It was rich and warm-sounding, comfortable. Good, she wanted him to be comfortable around her. The more she could endear herself to him, the better.
“No,no. Arwin is… Well, she was to be my sister by marriage, once. But that was a lifetime ago.” Sarphos kept his eyes forward, focused on the castle, oblivious to Vi studying him.
“So there’s history there.” Vi didn’t press the matter. He clearly didn’t want to go into the details.
“To say the least. We’ll likely have to get through her to see the King.”
“How so?”
“She’s one of his core guards and by far the toughest of them all. What she says, goes. But if I can get to King Noct before she gets to us, all the better.”
Vi adjusted the bandanna around her forehead. Tough, headstrong, demanding—none of them were personality traits she exactly wanted to work with.
They entered the castle through another free-standing archway. The castle had no outer wall or gates. In fact, there was little to stop the populous from strolling in. In a city protected by a force like the shift, Vi could understand why they didn’t feel the need for fortifications.
She wondered if Adela felt much the same. Vi could only dream of catching the pirate flat-footed.
“You finally came.” Positioned at the door was another young woman. She had a shade of blonde hair similar to Ruie’s, though slightly more ashen. Even so, the family resemblance was unmistakable. “Arwin is waiting for you.”
“Tell her I need to speak with the king.” Sarphos continued leading them into a large foyer, the girl falling into step alongside them.
“And who are you?” she asked.
“A traveler of sorts.” Vi looked up at the ceiling, where a chandelier of glowing stones illuminated the open space with a harsh, bright light.
“Who is she?” the girl asked Sarphos, apparently dissatisfied with Vi’s answer.
“She’s a traveler.”
“From where?”
“Enough questions, Emmie.” Sarphos rolled his eyes as they stepped into a hallway in the back of the room. A curtain of small, white flowering vines was strung along the ceiling. These, too, gave off their own magical illumination. Enough to see by, but comfortably dimmer than the entry.
“Why do you only tell Arwin things?” Emmie puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
