I stashed it at the back of the drawer, but its words were etched into my memory, impossible to ignore.
Sleep took me swiftly. When the morning sun crept over the horizon, Milana dressed me in silence.
Afterwards I took to the corridors, wanting to escape.
Cael appeared as I rounded the corner. “I hear he’s arrived.”
“You’re back! Have you heard any news of the trade agreement with Estlen?” I waited, hopeful that my father’s emissary made progress. If they reached an agreement, maybe I would have more time. Maybe the marriage wouldn’t be solidified.
“From what I hear, it didn’t happen.” Cael wiped the grime from his brow.
An exasperated breath escaped me. “Why?”
“The blight is expanding. Whispers of rebellion are at their border. Trade with Bailoc is no longer desired.” Cael motioned me forward. “The resources the Vale can provide are our only hope.”
Beads of sweat formed along my spine. “I will have to marry him.”
“I hear many are fond of Lord Thalen. That he is charmingand handsome.” He shifted his weight, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “I also hear that he is very fond of you.”
“They haven’t reached an agreement yet.” I scanned the halls as knights walked past. My father’s guards observed us from down the hall.
“Your father will push for this marriage now more than ever,” Cael said. “The things I’ve seen, even on patrol the past couple of days…”
“Tell me.” My hand hovered over his arm, but I quickly pulled back. “Please, Cael. You’re the only one who will tell me anything beyond these walls.” My voice was a soft whisper, so delicate I wasn’t even sure if he heard my words.
“The land continues to decay—it’s only getting worse.” Cael scanned the corridor. “Unable to sustain new growth of any kind. On the journey back, a child stopped in front of our order, begging for food.”
The blight had only intensified since the war between the fae and human realms—a curse from their kind that only seemed to grow with each passing year. They separated our worlds with a magical barrier of golden light.
“People are begging?”
“Yes. We had very little to give on our return journey. One of our knights tossed the boy an apple—food from his own rations for the day. The people rallied around the boy, demanding more from our kingdom. A woman, maybe the boy’s mother, began throwing stones at us.”
“What happened?” I didn’t want to know. To assault a palace knight…I didn’t want to imagine it. Yet my thoughts remained on the boy desperate for food, his mother even more desperate that she would bait a knight of the king’s guard—with no chance of winning.
“I won’t repeat how it ended,” Cael said.
“Don’t let him startle you, sister. We have a handle on itall.” Agan snuck up on me, his hand pressed into my shoulder. “Sir Cael, you’re dismissed.”
“I was only…” Cael’s eyes met with my brother’s.
“Standing too close to the Princess of Bailoc…without a chaperone. The king would be most alarmed to hear of it,” Agan scolded. “As would her future husband.”
“Agan.” I would not let him treat Cael this way.
“Don’t start with me.” Agan’s voice was a low rumble. “Sir Cael, you’re dismissed.”
Cael lowered into a silent and obedient bow to us both. My fingers trembled as they rolled inward.
“How could the Vale have enough to offset the rapid decline of supplies in Bailoc?” I asked.
“Damn it, Aelira…” Agan scolded, his voice a low, seething roar. “It is not your place to question the solution. Your only role here is to make sure Thalen remains interested.”
“He will make his own decision.”
“We can’t afford him to lose interest,” he scoffed. “Appease Thalen, tempt him. You do whatever you can to make sure this marriage happens.” Agan towered over me.
“Tempt him?” An icy chill ran through me. My stomach turned. It was one thing to suspect that was all I was worth to the crown, but it’s another to hear it from my own brother.
