As he entered the royal wing, he straightened his spine, squared his shoulders, and made sure to walk with what he hoped was a combination of assurance and relaxation, like this was exactly where he was supposed to be.
While, you know, having absolutely no idea where he was going. But he was going there withpurpose.
He stopped the first person he met and tried to sound authoritative as he asked for the Princess’s rooms. Thankfully, he got directions.
Unfortunately, he didn’t know either of the Warriors stationed outside Renny’s room.
“Hello,” he greeted them, still trying to sound like he knew what he was doing. “I’m here to bring Renny—er, the Princess—her tonic. The doctor was unable to come, and she directed me to bring it in her stead.”
One of them reached for it, and Perian snatched it back.
“Oh, no,” he protested. “I’m to make sure she gets it.”
“We can—” one of themstarted.
“It has to be me,” Perian insisted. “I swore I’d do it.”
He didnothave a more cogent argument as to why it needed to be done by him, and the two of them didn’t look totally convinced by his story.
Then the door behind them opened.
“I thought I heard voices.”
Perian nearly melted with relief when he saw who it was.
“You’re back!” Molun said, smiling at him.
“I’m back,” Perian agreed and repeated his story, holding up the bottle as if it were evidence. “So here I am to deliver the tonic.”
Molun looked like he was not even a little bit convinced by this transparent excuse, but fortunately, he was an excellent friend.
“Come on in,” he declared.
The two Warriors acquiesced immediately, and Perian was reminded that Molun was third-in-command of the Mage Warriors. He normallyneverthought of Molun as Tertius, but he was extremely grateful for that fact at the moment.
Perian followed the man into the room, and one of the Warriors closed the door behind him. He was in a sitting room much bigger and fancier than Brannal’s, and the Princess was not in it.
Molun crossed the room and tapped on a partially open door to the right, where another Warrior was waiting.
Wow. Two Warriors by her bedroom and two at the door. Was this how they normally protected her, or was this so that it felt like they were doingsomething?
Or maybe someone was trying to make sure she didn’t go out the window.
“Princess, your tonic is here.”
A very cross-sounding but weak voice said, “I don’t want it!”
Molun opened the door all the way and ushered Perian in.
“I think you do,” Molun told her cheerfully.
“I told you,” Renny said, sounding more cross than ever, “I don’t—”
This was the point at which Perian became visible in the doorway, and her words cut off abruptly. Her face lit up.
“Perian, you’re back!”
He held up the tonic. “I’m here to bring you your tonic because the doctor is busy. Because you’re not supposed to have visitors.”
