“But it was mine.” Valena grinned through a mouthful. “You’re too honourable to have taken what was mine.”
I laughed at the manipulative twinkle in her eye. “Where is she getting this from?” I asked Cook, shaking my head.
Cook snorted. “You!”
Valena burst out laughing and I was truly thankful she had finished eating the cake.
“Valena!”
We all spun around at the sound of Raj’s frantic voice, the kitchen coming to a standstill as he fell into the room. Falling into a room was something Raj never did and we all stared at him wide-eyed as he shrugged himself back into order. But my heart was thumping as Raj smoothed back his white blonde hair and straightened his waistcoat. “Valena,” he said more quietly now. “I need you.”
Valena didn’t ask any questions. She jumped up from the table and made her way towards him. Raj shooed her in front of him and then turned his pale eyes on me. “You too, Rogan.”
I shared a brief worried look with Cook and hurried after the healers.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I’ve been called to the Princezna’s suite.”
I forgot all ladylike manners and lifted my dress, running as fast as I could through the palace halls to Haydyn’s apartments. Servants gaped at me as I blurred by them and I wanted desperately to shout back at Raj to hurry up. But if he did that, if he ran with me, then everyone would know something was wrong with Haydyn. What was wrong?! I knew something was wrong?! I cursed myself for not pressing her further, but ever since Jarvis and Ava had imparted the news of the hostility in Phaedra a few weeks ago, I was afraid to burden Haydyn further.
Inside her suite, I found Matai. No other servant. Only Matai, hovering worriedly over Haydyn who lay collapsed on the floor. “What happened?” I rushed towards her, throwing myself down beside her. Her skin, usually alabaster, was deathly pale, her hand limp in mine.
Matai met my gaze with dark, fierce eyes. “I don’t know,” he whispered to me. “We were only talking… and then she… she just collapsed on the floor. I was afraid to move her. I’ve called for Raj… I didn’t want anyone else to know…” he trailed off as Raj and Valena came into the room, Valena shutting the door behind her.
Raj shoved me out of the way but I didn’t mind.
“What’s wrong with her?” I demanded.
“Give me a minute, Rogan, for havens sake,” Raj replied through gritted teeth.
My heart stopped as Haydyn groaned, her eyes fluttering open. As they focused, they widened in panic. “What happened?” she asked hoarsely.
“You collapsed,” I bit out, as if it was her fault somehow.
Her eyes found Raj. “Why?”
Raj shook his head. “Lord Matai, help me move the Princezna to the bed.”
I stood back, and Valena gripped my hand reassuringly. I squeezed back. I knew something was wrong with Haydyn. I knew it.
“Lord Matai, Rogan, please leave Valena and I alone with the Princezna.”
I objected immediately, “No. I’m staying right here.”
“Rogan.” Matai grabbed my arm. “For once do as you’re told.” I wasn’t even given a chance to struggle. Not that I could. Matai was as big as Wolfe. He thrust me outside the suite and shut the door behind us, his large body blocking my way in.
“I need to be in there with her.” I stamped my foot like a petulant child.
“No. You want to be, there’s a difference.”
“Matai.”
“Stop it, Rogan,” he hissed, a flash of sharpness in his eyes revealing his concern. “For once… just stop it.”
I slumped at his tone, my heart pounding so hard I felt sick with it. “What’s wrong with her, Matai? She won’t tell me.”
“I know.” He grimaced, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against the door. “She’s been over tired lately. I’ve tried to talk to her about it but…”
“She keeps saying nothing is the matter,” I finished.
“Yes.”
Our gazes met and stuck. We both knew something was definitely the matter.
It seemed forever before Raj beckoned us back into the suite. It had probably only been fifteen minutes. Matai struggled to keep me back at a distance to give Haydyn room. Determined to be at her bed side, and smaller and spryer than he, I ducked under his arm and raced to her.
“What’s the matter?” I grasped Haydyn’s hand. She was sitting up in bed now, colour back in her cheeks. She smiled so brightly I was taken aback.
Matai stood hovering at the end of the bed. He threw Raj a belligerent look. “Well, man, what the hell is going on?”
I rolled my eyes. Matai really needed to do a better job at hiding his feelings for Haydyn.
Raj smiled indulgently, glancing from Haydyn to Valena. “Both Valena and I have checked the Princezna over. We could only feel the darkness of exhaustion. We took it away. As you can see, the Princezna is feeling much better.” He strode towards her now. “As for this not sleeping, I’m going to get one of the servants to bring one of my tonics up from my stores. It should help greatly, Princezna.”
“Thank you, Raj.” Haydyn nodded, her eyes twinkling gratefully. She never treated anyone in the Palace indifferently or as if they should be grateful to be in her presence like some of the nobility half her rank did. It was no wonder we all loved her. “I appreciate your help.”
I pulled away from her now, angry at the fright she had given me. “Next time maybe you’ll do as I ask and see Raj before you collapse on the floor,” I snapped.
The others looked a little shocked at my attitude. Not Haydyn. She looked remorseful. I hated that she knew me so well. “I’m sorry, Rogan. I promise not to frighten you again.”
“Pfft.” I turned from her.
“Rogan?”
“If you’re all better, I have things to do.”
I felt Matai and the healers glare at me but I shrugged it off.
Haydyn narrowed her eyes on me. “Yes, you do have things to do.” She threw back the covers and got out of the bed with a surprising breeze of energy. “Tell Jarek to ready my horse and yours. We’re going to the marketplace.”
I clenched my jaw and nodded tightly before striding across the room to the door. The marketplace! She knew I hated the marketplace. She was getting me back for my inability to admit I was frightened.
“Oh, and Rogan.”
I stiffened, not liking that sing-song tone of hers. It meant she was up to something. I turned slowly. “Yes, your Highness.”
Haydyn smirked at me. “After you speak with Jarek, please find Captain Stovia. We’ll need an escort.”
I made a face at her and left, her sweet laughter trickling behind me. Despite the distasteful thought of being in Wolfe’s presence, I smiled softly at the sound of her laughter and shook my head at her mischief.
***
“There you are,” I called softly as I came upon Jarek in the Silver Stable. We had stables almost as large as the palace because half of the Royal Guard was cavalry. There were a number of stable boys, and Jarek, a lad my age with a quick wit and warm smile, had been a stable boy up until recently. The old Stable Master had passed away suddenly and I had suggested Jarek for the job. Yes, he was young, but we had been friends ever since my arrival at the palace and I had never met anyone with such an affinity for horses. There had been some upset at first when Haydyn made him Stable Master, people assuming he was too young, not responsible enough. But he had the stables in tip top shape in no time at all and now everyone could plainly see he was the best man for the job.
Jarek looked up from checking a chestnut bay’s hooves. He grinned at me and stood up. “Where else would I be?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged playfully, sauntering leisurely toward him. “The Jewel Stable. The White Stable. Or the kitchen. Cook made cakes today.”
He sucked in a breath, his eyes wide with teasing upset. “And I missed them?”
I snorted. “Jarek, you would have missed them even if you’d been there. Valena and I had devastated the plate within five seconds.”
“Valena,” he clucked, “She’s getting to be too much like you.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.” I frowned. “And what’s wrong with being like me?”
Jarek stilled and cocked his head, his eyes bright as they washed over my face. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
Despite myself, I warmed at Jarek’s attention. We had been friends for a long time but more and more lately our conversations had been taking a decidedly flirtatious turn. And he was extremely good-looking. That was the problem, however. I knew too many maids, and even a few noblewomen, who had shared Jarek’s bed. Despite that reckless little voice inside that was eager to uncover the mysteries of bedroom intimacy, I didn’t want to be just another girl he’d tumbled.
I cleared my throat, “Haydyn wishes to go to the marketplace right away. Could you ready Midnight and Sundown?” Those were our horses.
Jarek threw me a look for dismissing his flirting, but nodded. “Is the Guard going with you?”
I grimaced. “Yes.”
He laughed. “You don’t sound too excited about it. Here’s a thought.” He stepped close to me, so close I had to crane my neck to look up at him. My heart thudded in my chest. “Why don’t I be your guard for the day?” He bent down, his hot breath blowing across my ear as he whispered. I shivered. “I’d take good care of you.”
“And Haydyn?” I murmured, my whole body vibrating with awareness of him.
Jarek laughed softly. “She has Lord Matai.” He drew back only a little, our noses almost touching. “You can have me.”
“Well isn’t this cosy.”
I closed my eyes at the voice of interruption. Arrggh, how I hated him! Jarek sighed and stood back from me and I turned to face Wolfe. He leaned against the stable wall glaring at us. “Apparently I’m escorting you to the marketplace. When was that message going to be delivered? A week, two…?”
I glared at him. “Clearly it already has been.”
Wolfe snapped up off the wall and strode towards me. Dear haven, he was tall. He towered over Jarek and I. “You,” he bit out at Jarek, “The horses. Now. Hers,” he flicked a distasteful look at me, “The Princezna’s, Lord Matai’s, my own, and three of my Guard.”
Jarek crossed his arms over his chest defiantly, not in the least intimidated. I smiled at him. “Which three?”
“Worth, Vincent, and Chaeron’s,” Wolfe replied through clenched teeth.
Jarek nodded tightly and then threw me a grin, his eyes devouring me purposefully. “I’ll speak with you later, Rogan.”
“Jarek.” I grinned back at him and watched him leave, biting my lip in thought as he swaggered out of the stable and into the next. Feeling Wolfe’s eyes on me I turned and met his sharp look with one of my own. “What?”
“What?” He guffawed, eyeing me incredulously. “The Princezna has been unwell and everyone is agreeing to her outing to market, and you’re in here flirting with the stable boy.”
“Stable Master!” I corrected, poking him in the chest with the word. “And don’t take that self-righteous tone with me as if I don’t care about Haydyn.”
Wolfe snorted. “Do you care? You were supposed to come and inform me so I can protect you at market, and you’re in here with your legs practically wrapped around Jarek.”
How dare he?! I sucked in a breath at the accusation. “You’re lucky I don’t slap you for that insinuation. Jarek is my friend. I was here asking him to prepare the horses and I was just about to come and find your sorry ass to let you know Haydyn required your company into market. Not that I should have to explain myself to you.”
“Sorry ass.” Wolfe threw me a disdainful look. “Really? That’s the language of the Handmaiden of Phaedra? Very refined.”
Refined?! I’d give him refined. I’d been around enough stable boys to know my share of curse words. “Screw you!” I spat and turned to march out of the stable.
***
The city of Silvera grew quiet and parted as we moved through the crowds on the cobbled streets, the noise level hushing and then rising as the people gathered back together behind our entourage, like a wave crashing to shore behind us.
I rode beside Haydyn on Midnight, she on Sundown. Matai rode on Haydyn’s other side and three of the Royal Guard rode at our backs. Wolfe rode in front of us, his eagle eyes watching the crowds as we made our way past taverns, apothecaries, inns, bakers and butchers and candlestick makers. The marketplace was in the massive Silvera Square, where people from the neighbouring provinces came to sell their wares. Haydyn always had a particular interest in the artists and craftsmen of Raphizya and the beautiful glass works of Vasterya.
“I’ve decided to hold a ball.” Haydyn smiled at me after waving once more to Silverians who bowed and curtsied as we trotted past.
I raised an eyebrow at the unexpected idea. “A ball?”
“Hmm.” Haydyn grinned excitedly, seeming all her young seventeen years. “A ball. I’ll invite all the Rada and all the noblemen and women of every province. A way of showing our solidarity in an unsettling time.”
“A ball?” I still wasn’t convinced.
“I think it’s a fine idea, Princezna.” Matai smiled at her.
I sighed. “No one asked you, Lord Matai.”