“Believe it or not, Ivador, I’m actually here because I’m trying to find my rooms. I’m not sure where they are, but I got distracted by this tapestry.” I waved at the battle scene.
He nodded. “Understandable. The Battle of Brothers was only a hundred and forty years ago. It nearly wrecked Kalshana, and anyone living still feels its effects. I can leave you now or show you the way to your rooms.”
The Battle of Brothers.I tucked that name away for later. “Will you show me the way? I’m supposed to meet someone there soon.”
“Of course.” He started walking back the way he’d come, and I followed quickly. “I suspect you overshot. If we go to the spiral staircase ahead, we only need to go down one level and turn to the king’s suites.”
“Theking’s suites? First I thought Bylur was a lord, then someone called him a prince, and now he lives in theking’s suites?”
Ivodar launched into an explanation as we entered the stairwell. “He is the High Lord of the Umbran House and probably the most powerful fae in all of Kalshana. If he announced himself as King, most of the kingdom would celebrate his reign, but he refuses to do so. However, given his family’s position, his power, and his role in organizing a council right now, it is only appropriate that he stay in the best rooms in the castle.”
How about that? Not only was my husband cursed to be a bear during the day, he was also the most powerful fae in this strange world. Maybe that had something to do with why the crazy queen wanted to marry him in the first place.
Ivador pointed at a wooden door. “Your sitting room, my lady.”
I craned my head to look at Rat, who’d perched on my shoulder for the short walk. “Sitting room.”
He squawked and repeated, “Sitting room.” Hopefully he’d remember it well enough to guide me here next time I found myself lost in a palace maze. He didn’t really speak, but he repeated a lot of sounds back to me.
The soldier bowed and turned to leave.
“Ivodar.”
He spun around so fast the metal on his armor clanged against itself. “Yes, my lady?”
“What is your assignment today?”
“I’m patrolling this floor and the floor above, with the tapestry. But, if you’ll allow it, I’ll request a replacement so I can report to the prison.”
My chest pounded. I never in all my life imagined I’d want to help a soldier, but he’d only grabbed my arm for a moment. And he released it as soon as he realized who I was. And that prison was awful. He did not deserve torture there for trying to do his job here.
I fisted my skirt and lifted my chin. “Ivador. I do not want you to report to the prison.”
His head hung and then bobbed it slowly. “Yes, my lady.”
Before he turned around again, I rushed to say the rest. “I want to rewrite how we met. You did not charge down the hall and ask me what I was doing. You recognized me from a distance and offered your help in navigating this place. You have no reason to go to the prison.”
He lifted his head and stared at me. After several seconds, he said, “Fae cannot lie.”
I gave him a bright smile. “Well, perhaps you can find a way to leave out any parts that will get you in trouble. I would like you to continue patrolling as you were assigned.”
He stared at me for several more seconds, and then bowed, deeper than before. “I am very grateful, my lady. Please do not hesitate to send for me if there is anything I can do for you in the future.”
He turned around again, this time standing a little taller than before, and marched away. My nerves still itched—Iwould never be truly comfortable speaking to a soldier—but I felt good about this, far better than if he’d taken himself to prison for a mistake.
I turned the handle and pressed on the door to go into Bylur’s sitting room. My sitting room. The door pushed back against me, so I used my shoulder to open it far enough to slip inside.
Chapter 10: Auria
Ayoung woman who looked exactly my age, though ten thousand times more beautiful, rose gracefully from a chair in the sitting room. She tucked into a short curtsy and smiled perfectly. “My lady. I’m Brielle, from the Luxar House. Dearan suggested I help you with some outfits.”
She had the same fiery red hair as her brother, but hers was plaited in elaborate braids and wrapped around her head like an ornate crown. Her blue dress complemented the color so perfectly that she looked like a queen. And I looked like a servant in comparison.
Not a servant, I reminded myself.Married to a lord.I plastered a big smile on my face and quit chewing on my lip.No fear.“Thanks for coming, Brielle.” I smoothed my hands over my skirts’ many folds and pockets. “I obviously need new clothes, and Bylur hasn’t been any help.”
She almost giggled but covered her mouth with a polite hand instead. “I apolo—”
“Oh please don’t!” I rushed closer to her, but stopped before I grabbed her hands. “I—” I debated trying to sound or behave like a sophisticated fae lady, but dismissed the thought almost immediately. I’d never be able to fake the elegance Brielle emanated, so I might as well start out with myself. “Our marriage isunusual, I know almost nothing about fae, and if you’re not embarrassed or afraid or annoyed by me, I need a friend as much as I need a new dress.”
