“I suppose they do.” Vi sighed. No one who was about to stab you in the back gave any warning. There wasn’t any kind of armor that protected you from betrayal. The only defense was constant suspicion and vigilance. “I suppose I’ll think of this guard as an attendant, rather than a sentry.”
“Whatever makes you happy, princess.” Arwin saidprincessas though it were a slur.
“Are you not also a princess?”
Arwin let out a massive snort followed by raucous laughter. “I am no princess.”
“That’s what the daughter of a king is in my land.”
“In the Twilight Kingdom, the lineage is passed only through the male bloodline. Daughters become sworn guards of the crown.” It was a surprisingly straightforward and informative answer from the woman who had been entirely callous thus far. Even though Vi’s questions on the logistics of royal succession abounded, she kept them to herself, not pushing the matter.
Up two floors, Arwin led Vi across a narrow arcade.
On one side was the courtyard she’d seen three stories below from King Noct’s throne room. On the other side, the Twilight Kingdom was visible through the archways and stone pillars. Vi admired its ethereal nature as they walked to the tower at the far end of the walkway and up a final flight of winding stairs.
“You’ll use this as your room.” Arwin stopped at a doorway, the second one up the stairs that spiraled around the tower, and pushed it open.
The soft light of the stars filtered in through a window that couldn’t be bothered with glass. Instead, a curtain of white, glowing flowers modestly obscured the view. There was a comfortable looking bed, a side table with a washbasin, and a tall dresser that hopefully had a clean change of clothes. As the king promised, everything she would need to be comfortable for a good night’s rest was there.
“One door down is the bathing room for this tower. I do recommend you use it.” Arwin scrunched up her nose.
“Yes, I need it.” Vi wasn’t about to let herself be offended by the obvious.
“While you’re in the bath, I’ll see to finding you a change of clothes.” Arwin walked back down to the first door. “Emmie will be positioned at the start of the bridge. Ask her if you need anything else.”
“Thank you.” Vi said, stopping before the bathing room as Arwin continued on.
“Don’t thank me. I’m just following orders.”
“Still, I’m grateful,” Vi called after her. Arwin didn’t look back.
The bathing room was small but heated to steaming perfection. The nearly scalding water of the tub soaked off grime and eased away her tensions. Her mind wandered to Taavin.
He was alone in that cave while she was enjoying the hospitality of the Twilight Kingdom’s royal family. Hopefully, Arwin wasn’t currently on her way to meet him. Sarphos was supposed to show her the tears, but could she trust him to do only that?
Despite the heat of the water, Vi’s shoulders tightened.
As she wandered back up the stairs to her room, she wondered if there was a way she could sneak Taavin in. If Vi couldn’t keep Sarphos in her sights at all times, perhaps she should try to keep Taavin closer.No, it’d be impossible, she quickly decided. Gaining the trust of the king and keeping Sarphos close was the best she could do.
When Vi returned to her room, she found the dresser full of lush fabrics in every color from pale grays to vibrant reds, embellished velvets and simple silks. There was everything she could imagine in every size.
She found a pair of voluminous trousers in a dark violet hue that tapered around the ankle. There was room enough for her hips and butt, and they were surprisingly comfortable. After that, Vi donned a thin sleeveless shirt, meant to be worn beneath the coat embroidered with matching silver vines along the hemline.
Vi lifted the jacket from the drawer. Its construction reminded her somewhat of Taavin’s intricately embroidered coat—a tight-fitting, tailored torso that split into four panels at the hips. However, where his extended down to his calves, this looked like it wouldn’t go past her waist. And where Taavin’s coat had a small upright collar, this had a large cowl. Vi ran her fingers over the fabric. It was just as fine as his, from the deep yet colorful dyes to the cut and intricate stitching.
Vi clutched the garment to her chest, imagining what she held was indeed Taavin’s. Imagining he was there. She pressed her eyes tightly shut and took a quivering breath.
“I hope I’m doing the right thing,” she breathed into the fabric, as though it could somehow carry her words to him. “I want to protect you.”
He’d said terrible things happened to the people he loved. But Vi supposed her track record was no better. The only other people she’d loved were plagued, captured by pirates, struggling to keep an empire together, and watching their people die with little hope of a cure.
Maybe they were both cursed.
Vi returned the coat to the drawer and closed it. Her hands pressed on the outside, as if she could trap all her insecurities within. As if she could smother them.
When her emotions had leveled, Vi walked over to the small washbasin. Grooming tools were set out around it, and Vi set to brushing through her hair. The process quickly reminded her of the discovery she’d made earlier: thanks to her escape from Adela, her hair was now at different lengths. Inspecting herself in the small hand mirror, Vi tilted her head left and right, looking at the longer hair on either side. She could braid it up and wait for it to grow out. Or…
A pair of shears caught her eye.
