“I do not only tell Arwin things,” Sarphos muttered.
That would be something to keep an eye on—how close Sarphos and Arwin really were. Vi didn’t know much about the woman yet. But what she’d gleaned so far assured her that Arwin gaining knowledge of Taavin would be trouble.
“Go find Arwin and tell her I’m with the king.” Sarphos shooed Emmie away. The girl gave a huff, but ran off anyway.
Vi paused, looking down the hall where Emmie had disappeared. She saw a different young girl running down in her place, a girl with corkscrew curls and that same streak of childishness. Vi would bet anything Emmie and Ellene were near the same age.
“This way—” Sarphos tapped her shoulder and turned to lead, but stopped abruptly. “I just realized, I don’t even know your name.”
Vi smiled slyly, proud that she managed to go this long without telling him. “It’s Vi.”
“Vi… right, this way, please.”
They went through two more hallways and three antechambers before entering a rectangular room.
On the far side, an open wall faced a grassy glade where children ran and played; on Vi’s right stood a throne crafted from an array of materials, including some Vi would never attempt to piece together; wood and stone were fitted against glass and metal. It was where she would expect to see their King seated.
But the throne was empty.
At Vi’s left was a low table and sitting area surrounding it. A plump man sat with his back to the door, watching three children playing with a pair of wolves and a peacock in the field beyond.Thissagely and content-looking man was not what she’d expected of the Twilight Kingdom’s king.
But looks could be deceiving. Vi was a living example of that—with her tattered clothing and grime-coated fingernails, no one would believe her a crown princess. Which meant she’d have to work all the harder to convince these people she was. Vi folded her hands in front of her, rolled her shoulders back, and adjusted her posture.
“My king, forgive my intrusion.” Sarphos rounded the sitting area, dropping to a kneel.
“You know you are always welcome in my home, Sarphos.” The king spoke with a whispering, weathered voice. “Stand, please.”
Sarphos did as he was bid as Vi came to awkwardly stand next to him. “Unfortunately, I have brought ill tidings.”
King Noct had golden hair like Ruie and Emmie, that faded into a white beard. But rather than analyzing the familial resemblance between him and the girls, Vi’s mind wandered back to her own family. She wondered if she was looking at a much older version of her brother in the man.
“Ill tidings,” King Noct repeated. “I do hope this lovely young woman isn’t the cause of such things.”
“Your highness.” It was Vi’s turn to kneel. Sarphos may be welcome in this court, but she was an outsider. “I’ve—”
“Sarphos!” A shout interrupted her. “You got some pair of stones, keeping me waiting.” A woman stormed in from a side entrance.
She had bright golden hair, braided back tightly and wound into a large bun at the top of her head. Tiny curls attempted to escape around her face. She was pale, but not unnaturally so like the elfin’ra. Her eyes were muted gray, and landed on Vi with cold, steely calculation. Vi had little doubt that the person currently sizing her up was the infamous Arwin.
“Isthisthe woman you’ve been hiding from us?”
“I’m not hiding anything!” Sarphos insisted.
“We were just about to find out who this lovely young lady is, and why Sarphos kept you waiting… before you interrupted,” the king said slowly, as if fighting back a yawn the entire time.
“If there’s a stranger in our midst, shouldn’t you be on your throne, father?”
Father?
“I think not being on my throne is far less damaging to my appearance than you questioning me before said stranger,” the king answered—though he didn’t sound the least bit offended. Vi felt like she was more present to a family gathering than a royal court.
Arwin pursed her lips and gestured for Vi to continue. Vi took a deep breath.
“I’ve come from an Empire across the sea.”
The king stilled. Then, he commanded slowly, “Tell me your name, child.”
“I am Vi Solaris, crown princess of the Solaris Empire.”
