Lyndal closed her mouth. ‘But thank you for assuming that, dear sister.’
‘It seems we are missing a vital piece of this story,’ her mother said quietly.
Lyndal took her mother’s hand. ‘The dance was Queen Fayre’s idea, a ploy to win over disgruntled merchants. Nothing more.’
Candace stared at her daughter for the longest time, as though trying to find truth in her eyes. ‘So you will be home in four weeks as planned?’
‘Absolutely. Nothing has changed.’ She was reassuring herself also.
If you don’t return to us in four weeks,Eda signed,I’m coming for you.
Lyndal stepped up and pulled her sister to her. ‘Don’t go starting wars just yet.’
‘Lady Lyndal,’ a voice called.
All five of them turned in Queen Fayre’s direction.
‘It is time to go,’ the queen mother said. She offered a smile to Lyndal’s family before making her way to the nobility section.
Lyndal released her sister, trying not to let her growing uneasiness show on the outside. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Lady Lyndal?’ Blake repeated. ‘How does a merchant claim such a title? Did they baptise you in meat or something?’
Lyndal shifted her body to block Queen Fayre’s view. ‘Stop it. She’ll hear you.’
‘Let’s go,’ Astin said, taking her by the elbow.
Candace grabbed her other arm, looking her straight in the eyes. ‘Do not let that man take anything you are not prepared to give him. You owe him nothing—king or not.’
That only made the uneasiness inside her surge. ‘No. No, he doesn’t want anything from me.’ She looked to Astin for confirmation, but he was looking away. ‘It was just one staged dance,’ she said, turning back to her mother with a bright smile. ‘I’ll see you all in four weeks.’
She felt something dig into her side and looked down. Eda held a sheathed dagger in her hand.
If he tries to get into your bed, Eda signed by way of explanation.
‘Put that thing away,’ Astin said, pushing it out of sight. Then he was whisking Lyndal away. ‘Let’s go.’
The girls' father had taught all his daughters how to use various weapons when they were younger, but Lyndal had never had cause to use those skills with Blake and Eda around.
She tripped on some uneven ground as she watched her family over her shoulder. Astin righted her without breaking stride.
‘I want to go home,’ she said, looking up at him.
His throat bobbed. ‘I know.’
The rope opened for them, and then they were back among the nobility. Lyndal eyed the crowd and found many of them looking in her direction. ‘Tell me I’m being paranoid, that they’re not looking at me.’
Astin moved in front of her, shielding her from their stares. ‘Don’t worry about them.’ He looked over his shoulder. ‘Lady Henley has Queen Fayre occupied, so take a moment to collect yourself while I go and find Kendra.’
She nodded, the action heavy.
‘Wait here.’ He dipped his head so he was eye level with her. ‘Don’t move from this spot.’
Another nod. ‘All right.’
Then he was gone from sight.
Lyndal closed her eyes and exhaled slowly through her mouth, trying to calm her racing mind.
