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“Even then,” Roh said sternly.

“But we find ourselves with a problem,” Fren started. “Obviously, you cannot be married to both princes, and so we have created a plan: You will spend a night in the region of Solamere and then a night in the region of Regnamoor. Then you will choose one prince, and the prince you do not choose will relinquish his title and we will choose a different royal line.”

Immediately, there were gasps and angry words of protest from both sides of the room.

Orl smacked his gavel. “We will not have this kind of disruption, or we will strip both of you of your titles.”

Prince Granier stood quietly, apparently the way to signal that one wanted to voice an opinion. Fren looked his direction. “Yes, Prince Granier?”

“Your lordship, if she chooses one prince, doesn’t that free the other prince from the fated obligation to marry her?”

The three men leaned their heads together and spoke quietly. I couldn’t make out the words. They sat straight again.

This time Orl spoke. “That is not the way the ancient fated rules work. Raphael’s death would be the only way to release either of you from the fate.”

I felt my knees weaken again. I was facing forward and thought it would be rude to turn my back on the sorcerers, but I badly needed to see my friends’ faces.

“Yes, Revel Greyhart?” Orl said. “What is your stake in this matter?”

I sucked in a short breath at just hearing his name. And my knees softened at the smooth sound of his deep voice.

“Your lordship, the four of us are here as support and friends for Raphael. She’s only been in Troikana a short while and has already proven herself a cherished member of Norvale. How can you guarantee her safety when she is in the other regions? You have all but told Granier and Fenrick that one will lose his title after she has chosen a mate. How do we know they won’t just conspire to take her life?”

Orl waved his long fingers for Revel to sit down. His question was a damn good one. The three men leaned their heads together again then straightened.

“If Raphael is killed by either prince, then both regions will suffer the same fate. They will be severely sanctioned, and the royal lines will immediately be replaced.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Fenrick stand to be recognized, but Orl waved for him to sit down. “Our decision has been made. We are no longer taking comments. Two days forth, Raphael Willow will arrive in Solamere, where she will be greeted and treated as a future princess. Then she will be safely transported to Regnamoor, where she will once again be greeted and treated as a future princess. I suggest both of you”—Orl looked from side to side—“make her feel welcome and find a way to impress her. Your royal titles depend on it.”

Orl smacked his gavel once. Coda stood. “Everyone will stand while the Triumvirate of Sorcerers exits the room.” The three men stood and walked out without another word.

I released a nervous breath and turned toward my friends. Revel stood at least a head taller than anyone in the room, and the expression he wore was a mix of hurt and anguish. It mirrored exactly how I was feeling.

Prince Grainier and his entourage walked out first. The prince nodded and smiled at me. “We will prepare a room for you.” He seemed far more confident than Prince Fenrick, who marched from the room without a word.

I hurried over to my support group. Couldn’t have asked for a better one. They all forced smiles, but they were feeling the same disappointment as me. How on earth was I going to leave them to live in a strange region? How on earth was I going to leave my heart in Norvale and power through a future with another man?

“Don’t know about the rest of ya, but I could use a pint or two,” Austri said.

Revel’s jaw was tight with tension, and he had a hard time looking at me. “Way ahead of ya, Austri.”

Twenty-Three

Raina hugged me for the tenth time, and Lyric hadn’t stopped sobbing. If I’d known how to get to Solamere without an escort, I would have snuck out in the middle of the night just to avoid the tearful goodbyes.

“I’ll be back in a few days,” I reminded both of them. Of course, I left out the part about having to choose a region for my future, one that was away from Norvale and the people I loved.

I’d chosen a plain linen dress and pulled on my old cloak. My boots were covered in dust from the trail back from the tribunal. I was in no mood to impress anyone. Austri sat out front with a wagon and donkey. I’d hoped that Revel would be the one to take me to Solamere.

After the tribunal, we arrived back in Norvale, and as planned, Revel and Austri tore off in the direction of the Black Dragon. I hadn’t spoken to Revel since. Madigan told me he’d been sitting in the Black Dragon every night since the tribunal, drowning his sorrows in ale. That was probably for the best. I only hoped that the sorcerers’ threat to sanction and punish the regions if any harm came to me was bold and respected enough to work. I had no reason to assume otherwise, but then I was still a newbie to the strange laws and hierarchy of Troikana.

Raina gave me a final hug and wouldn’t let go at first. “Raina, I need to get going. Austri is waiting.”

Raina finally dropped her bear grip on me. “Right. Well, enjoy the trip and hurry back.” She forced an airy tone as if I was just going on a short excursion instead of one that would decide my fate, literally.

Lyric hugged me. “There’s only one man for you, and he’s right here in Norvale,” she whispered in my ear.

I looked at her. “If only I’d been fated to the right man.” The sky was dotted with rain clouds, but the atmosphere over Norvale was much fresher and clearer now that the dragons had a proper diet. My heart sank when I realized how much I was going to miss once I was sent to one of the other regions for good.