“I respect that you have your reasons for not wanting me to know how or why this was, but I had to craft a story that would make sense of Honey in those terms... terms Lavana would believe.”
“You’re right,” Magda said, ignoring Flor’s implication that she wished to know more. “Of course.”
“But it would be best, since you have not claimed him, that you two remain close at all times,” Flor said, not bothering to hide her disapproval. “You will be sharing a room at the house.”
Kaelan’s jaw twitched. “Is that necessary?”
“Yes,” Flor said. “I have... obtained a letter in the Silver Star’s handwriting confirming Cae’s false death, his safety in exile, and her wishes that you not lay claim to a Prince until after you are Radiant.”
“The last part is well known,” she said, not adding,because it’s true. “Although I never knew why.”
Flor sat back, her lips pursing. “For those who knew your mother well, they understood why she made such a request. Once you are Radiant, the families will be eager for you to take their Princes. You will have your pick.”
“Even though she went through all that trouble to hide Cae for me all of these years?” Magda challenged.
“The facts and the fiction will be a delicate negotiation,” Flor admitted.
“I have a better story,” she said. “Tell people that I am in love with someone else.”
Flor and Kaelan stared at her.
“Who?” Flor asked.
“Riker, Lavana’s Prince,” she said. “We were together in exile. Tell people I want him back. And I have every intention of taking him.”
“Oh?” Flor asked. “Is that why—?”
“Isn’t it compelling? More compelling than a promise I made to my mother?”
Flor arched an eyebrow. “Quite compelling. A Rae actually in love with her Prince, who has been claimed by her rival, no less... Oh, the court will go wild for that.”
“Good,” she said, though she didn’t feel particularly good. “Then that’s what we’ll tell them.”
“But that does leave Cae quite vulnerable. If the other Raes think you have no intention of claiming him, they will try all the harder to steal him from you.”
She frowned. “You’re right.”
“Then why not tell them that I am intent on winning Magda’s affection and convincing her to claim me?” Kaelan said, flipping up the lid of his basket and digging through the contents.
Flor’s hands clapped together at her breast. “Yes. Even better. You love Riker and Cae loves you. It’s like something out of one of those silly romantic stories the court troubadours are always telling. Perfect. And it will suit to explain why Magda gifted you with such a pretty little nymph. She is attempting to placate you, distract you.” She pointed her finger at Kaelan. “But you must both play the parts. Especially tonight. You must dote on her and make your affection for her visible for everyone to witness. You must convince everyone that you truly are in love with her.”
Kaelan pulled out a bag of roasted chestnuts, the sweet unctuous aroma filling the carriage. “Yes, Mother.”
Flor turned to Magda. “And you must put him off, but not too much. You need him still and you cannot allow any other Rae near him, but it must be apparent that your heart is elsewhere.”
“I don’t think that will be too difficult,” Kaelan remarked. He tore open the bag, a puff of steam swirled around his face.
She scowled at him, but he kept his attention on peeling the skin from a chestnut.
“We’ll need to explain to Honey what is going on,” she said.
“I will speak to her at our next stop,” Flor said, leaning back and crossing her legs. “This is good. This is very good.”
Magda chewed her lip, gazing out the window, keeping Kaelan in the corner of her eye. It may have been a good story for the court, but it was churning the acid in Magda’s stomach. So much deception already. It was like she had never left.
The journey to the Spire took a few hours, but it seemed much longer, trapped in the tight confines of the carriage. Kaelan hardly spoke. And Flor was constantly remembering one more thing he should know and attempting to stuff his head with every rule of etiquette and family history.
Twice they stopped to rest. Flor departed both times, Magda and Kaelan only once and only briefly. The stares Magda received at the inn were good practice. Keeping up the weight of a Rae’s façade was much more difficult than she’d remembered. The effort left every muscle in her neck tight and aching.
