“Curse?” Sol whispered to Aizel.
“Aden was cursed by a Quotidian mage and was turned into the form of a beast.”
“Robin could have mentioned that,” Sol muttered. This family had more grief from Gareth than he’d realized.
“Robin?” Aizel asked. “You know Robin?”
“She’s been my correspondent here for several seasons,” Sol replied, his eyes continued to watch the activity in the room. He was uncomfortable with the uninhibited exuberance of so many people at once. “She met me briefly last night to aid in escaping the soldiers.”
“She played a part in rescuing Erich and Celesta as well.”
“She also could have mentioned that,” Erich muttered. He thought it odd that she had rescued one of the princes but remained unwelcome in Iseldis. Something was not right.
“She’s far too modest about her work,” Aizel said, responding to Erich’s spoken thought. “Rather similar to someone else I know.” Aizel poked his arm.
“More skilled than the master who taught her how to swim?” Sol risked a wry smile at Aizel. “Perhaps you could learn something from the leaders of the River’s Talon and River’s Thorn.”
“Not so humble anymore, are we?” Aizel responded.
Sol turned away. He needed to focus on getting out of here and getting to Falqri instead of letting this family’s infectious joy get to him.
“I’m Meena, by the way. If Aden told you my name was Philomena, don’t listen to him. Let me introduce you to others.” The princess led the stranger into the room, stopping first at the seamstress’s table. “Ashlin, this is Isa. Isa, this is Ashlin.”
Ashlin. That was her name.
“Now that I finally have sisters instead of just brothers,” the princess continued, pulling Isa toward Sol and Aizel. “I’ve decided that sisters are my favorite. Technically, Aizel is the only one who is really my sister, since she and Erich got married before the family had even met her, but I’ve decided Ashlin will always be my sister now, too. And Celesta, even though she’s Aizel’s younger sister. This is Aizel.” The princess finally stopped talking to catch her breath.
Isa smiled at Aizel, and her eyes moved to Sol, waiting for the introduction.
“Oh, no. You and Aden didn’t get married before you arrived, did you? Not that it would be a problem, because I can tell we are going to be great friends and hopefully sisters, too, but I was just poking fun at Erich and Aizel, I didn’t mean to offend you if you’d already done the same thing.”
Isa turned back to the princess. “No, Aden and I have not yet chosen to wed one another.”
“I certainly hope you do decide to do so,” Meena responded, raising her eyebrows.
Isa laughed at that. Her laugh was clear, but not derisive. “I certainly hope we do, too.” She turned back to Sol.
“This is Sol,” the princess said. She paused, and Sol noticed her face was slightly flushed. Meena looked at him with an awkward smile, then dropped her eyes to the floor.
Sol appreciated that she did not reveal his identity as a magic-wielder, though her awkward expression surely gave something away.
“You broke a curse?” he asked Isa.
“I did,” she responded slowly.
“You are Majis?” he asked.
“I am not,” she responded. She turned to look toward the door, her eyes scanning the group that still surrounded the man she entered with.
“But you understand how to wield magic?” he asked.
“I do not.” She turned to Meena. “Who is this?”
“He is ...” Meena looked to Sol.
“I am a friend of Aizel’s,” he started vaguely. “A Majis from Istroya.” This entire family knew his identity now, it was better to claim it with pride while he had the rare chance.
Isa’s face transformed from aloof to excited. “Can you explain how I cured the curse, then? Am I Majis?” she asked.
