She and Rangar also claimed they were retiring early, though once they were in their room, Rangar shed his formal clothes and dressed in simple breeches and a tunic top. He strapped a short sword to his side.
Bryn went to the window, looking out at the last rays of the sinking sun over the horizon. “Were you able to speak privately to Mars and Illiana?”
“Yes, they’re meeting us on the beach at first star’s appearance. Prince Anter?”
Bryn nodded. “He’ll be there, too.”
“Good. He speaks for both Vil-Kevi and Vil-Rossengard.”
Bryn changed into a less formal gown; her movements distracted. “And if we’re overseen conspiring out in the open?”
Rangar gave a dismissive shrug as he laced his boots. “It isn’t a conspiracy if it’s in the open, is it? You’re merely meeting with your beloved brother and his wife. And Anter is an old friend.”
“No one would ever believe that.”
“It doesn’t matter. As long as we aren’t overheard, no one will be able to prove a conspiracy. Besides, don’t you think the families of Zaradona, Dresel, and Ruma are also meeting tonight in secret?”
They waited until the servants lowered the lanterns throughout the palace, then pretended they were going for a romantic walk along the secluded section of beach reserved only for palace officials. The first star appeared overhead as they reached the southern wall that divided the palace beach from Serra’s beach, open to common folk and fishermen.
The ruins of an old sandstone chapel marked the palace’s end. Bryn settled on a broken pillar, hugging her arms against the cool breeze. The tide was coming in, lapping at her shoes. She kicked them off and let her toes dangle in the water.
“This feels nice. The Baer Sea is always too cold for wading,” she observed.
“For a Mir princess, perhaps,” Rangar teased lightly, a rare break in the evening’s tense mood. “Not for a Baer queen. You still have some toughening up to do.”
Bryn made a face at the idea of wading in frigid water.
A lantern appeared at the far end of the beach, and Bryn went silent. She’d been expecting Mars, Illiana, and Anter, but only one solo person walked toward them, a shadow in the moonlight.
“Who is that?” Bryn asked. “It’s a woman in a dress, but she’s too tall to be Illiana.”
Rangar rested a hand on his sword. “Take care,” he warned. “I feared one of our enemies might take this chance to try to move against us before the grand parlay.”
But as the woman approached, her features began to take shape in the light of her lantern. Bryn’s eyes went wide. She shoved up from the broken pillar, feet splashing in the surf.
Crying out in joy, she ran forward toward the stranger with Rangar calling after her.
Chapter 33
THE BEACH AT NIGHT . . . a secret rendezvous . . . three siblings . . . a risky new spell . . . body and soul
“Elysander!” Bryn cried, kicking up the surf as she splashed toward her sister. She threw her arms around the taller woman with such vigor that they both nearly crashed into the sea.
Regaining her balance, Elysander let out a scolding laugh. “Bryn! I don’t fancy being soaked tonight!”
Rangar jogged up behind Bryn, lowering his hand from his sword hilt. “Lady Elysander? We had no forewarning of your arrival.”
“I came unannounced,” Elysander said, motioning to the colorful Wollin-style scarf covering her hair to disguise her as a Woll noblewoman. “I’m staying in Senna with an innkeeper who has previously worked with some of Jon’s associates.”
“You got Valenden’s message?” Bryn said, proud of Valenden for coming through for them.
Elysander nodded. “He rode to the Dresel border to find us. Once we heard of the situation, Jon and our bandits spread out along the border between the Baersladen and the Mirien, helping villages fight off the berserkir wolves. I was with them for some time. The attacks are brutal. Many have died. And the berserkir wolves are getting smarter—they’ve learned to evade many of our traps. Then Valenden notified us about the grand parlay, and I left the bandits to deal with the wolves and came here on my own to help.”
“King and Queen Grey of Dresel are here.”
Elysander nodded. “The Greys must not learn that I am here. As a duchess in their kingdom, they would question my presence. It could cast suspicion on Jon and me. We’ve worked hard not to reveal ourselves as supporters of a free magical society. Magic is still strictly forbidden in Dresel.”
Sand crunched not far away, and Rangar’s hand again shot to his sword hilt, but this time the three figures striding down the beach were recognizable. Mars, guided by Illiana, joined them at the chapel ruins along with Prince Anter.
