“First,” the steward said, responding to the queen, “this is—”
Onric stood up, cutting him off. “Mother, this is Ashlin.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her a step into the room. “The one I told you about? She’s the one who sewed up my sleeve when Ian and I got caught out in the storm.”
“Of course.” Queen Cara stood up and stepped towards them. “Thank you for sheltering my boys. Frederich and I were traveling back from Chendas during that storm, and it was quite frightful.”
Ashlin had dropped into a curtsy, but Onric refused to let go of her hand and gently pulled her back up.
Seeing the motion, his mother glanced over at him. Her face was neutral, but her eyes were full of questions. Onric returned her gaze, his eyes begging her to understand.
After a moment that felt like an eternity, her eyes softened and her queenly smile melted into a real one as she turned back towards the girl at his side. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ashlin,” she said.
Onric felt a lightness in his chest and squeezed Ashlin’s hand.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Ashlin responded. Her quiet voice filled with surprise and warmth.
Queen Cara turned back to the steward. “As you were saying, Daniel?”
Onric glanced at Ashlin, grinning. She returned his smile but shyly pulled her hand away from his.
“Ashlin has found a tapestry in the old eastern tower,” the steward explained, “that I believe encompasses the entire motif you desire for the ball.”
“A tapestry?” Aden cut in.
“Yes, Your Highness. I would have brought it here, but it is quite large. If you would follow me to the eastern tower?”
“Of course,” Queen Cara said, following the steward out of the doorway.
Aden jumped up, scooping his pup along with him. “I want to see it, too.” He paused in front of Onric, bowing lightly to Ashlin.
“This is Aden,” Onric said, introducing them.
“The brother who actually enjoyed art lessons?” Ashlin smiled up at them both.
Aden puffed out his chest, looking back at Onric and nodding his head. “Yes, I am that brother. And this,” he said, indicating the pup, “is Warrior.”
“Aww.” She scratched the happy pup behind his ears. “A noble name,” she complimented.
“For a noble dog,” Aden replied. “Let’s go see this tapestry.” He stepped past them, winking at Onric over Ashlin’s head.
Onric resisted the urge to kick his younger brother in the shin as he passed. He could berate him for his cheekiness later. At the moment, he felt as though the world had never been so bright.
“Your brother is a little better at naming animals than you are,” Ashlin whispered up at him.
He grinned down at her. He had the sudden desire to introduce her to his father and other siblings.
Chapter 14
Ashlin slipped inside the dressmaker’s shop, the small bell above the door announcing her arrival. It had only been two weeks since her last visit, but it had felt like so much longer.
Mistress Cedrice came from the back room, smiling her welcome. “Ashlin, my dear, I’ve missed you.”
“It is good to see you,” Ashlin replied as the door closed behind her, shutting out the sounds of the street. Her shoulders relaxed. She loved this place.
“How are you?” the older woman asked.
The kindness in those simple words flooded over Ashlin, and she blinked away the blurriness in her eyes. When was the last time someone had asked her that question? She herself had not even paused to consider how she felt. “Busy and tired,” she started, thinking on the changes in her life over the past few days. Then, her thoughts strayed to Onric, who was never far from her mind these days. “But hopeful, too, I think.”
“I heard you are working at the palace?”
