“Dayton! Ezryn!”
A warmth spreads over me, dousing the thoughts like a balm.
Rosalina walks toward us, cheeks flushed and a single curl falling across her brow.
“Hey, Blossom,” I say, tucking the curl behind her pointed ear.
“Keldarion got trapped talking to the Duke of Ferreton. But I missed you two.” She wraps her arms around my shoulders. “Did you watch the dance? Tell me you didn’t see me trip. Ithinkthe dress hides my missteps.”
“You were perfect.” I lean down to kiss her. She sighs into me, and everything feels better. And damn, kissing her in this dress is giving me all sorts of ideas of my own…a rebuilt Hadria, an arch made of shells and driftwood, a reception in Aerantheis, because I’ve heard those sirens know how to party…
By the time I pull away, my thoughts are my own, and Ezryn is thankfully looking less killable. Because that’s what Rosie does to me. She makes me better, always.
The fact that we’re going to be without her for a while fills me with dread. And I’ll admit, when she told me her plan, I was less than pleased. There’s so much that can go wrong. But I trust her, and I know she’s counting on us. To rally the realms, to put together a united force, to stand against Sira.
Ezryn pulls a cloth napkin from his cloak and hands it to her. “I saved you some of the lefse. They were going quick, and Oliviana insisted you had to try some.”
“Thank you. Dancing works up an appetite,” Rosie says, taking a big bite.
“There you all are.” Farron walks over, a large leather satchel across his chest. “I was hoping we’d find a moment, Rosalina.”
“What’s that, Fare?” she asks.
“A rather unconventional wedding gift.” He gestures for us to gather around a small table. “We princes have been putting this together as fast as we could since you told us your plan. I just finished.”
Ezryn places a pile of desserts in front of Rosalina, and she raises a brow at the bag. “Alright.”
“So,” Farron says, “everything in this bag is intended to help you in the Below.”
“Oh,” Rosalina says, a hint of sadness slipping into her words. No doubt she’s been so caught up in her wedding day, she’s managed to push away what’s coming next. “That’s, uh?—”
“We won’t have time to go over all of it, but I did want to show you this book.” Farron pulls out a leather tome from the bag.
“The Complete History of Autumn’s High Rulers,” I say, leaning over Farron’s shoulder. “Not sure that’s going to help her.”
He opens the book and thumbs through the pages. There’re dates and names, pictures of Autumn’s territories.
“Watch.” He grabs a candle off the table. “Under firelight, it changes.”
As Farron continues leafing through the pages, the light shimmers. The words glow golden, then shift. Now I recognize the handwriting. There are hand-drawn maps and diagrams.
“Keldarion and Ezryn have tried to write down everything they remember of Cryptgarden and the Below—secret passages, important nobles, and the like. I added information I’ve read about and things I learned while traveling there with Caspian. And there are other helpful things in the bag, too.”
I smile at Rosie. “You’ll particularly like my inclusion.”
“I voted for it to be removed.” Ezryn sighs. “Unpractical.”
I shrug. “Never know. Could save Rosie’s life.”
Tears prick Rosalina’s eyes, and she throws her arms around Farron. “Thank you. This is incredible.”
“I’ll put it in your room,” Ezryn says.
“Now, please, no more talk of the Below,” I say. “We want you to enjoy tonight, and I think your new husband is looking for you.”
Kel towers above the crowd, seeming to have escaped the Duke of Ferreton.
“I will,” Rosalina says. “I am.” She pulls Farron into a deep kiss before planting another one on me. “Think you can cover us?” she asks.
