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“Sure,” I offered. “Let me go grab a few of the books from the chapel.”

She didn’t say anything as I left the room, only sinking deeper into the chair, twisting to look out at the lake again as she pulled the blanket higher around her.

AMETHYST

Some cities were sleeping behemoths, only coming awake long enough for people to get to their jobs in the minutia of corporate life. Some were seasonally vibrant centers of culture, teeming with life that somehow still managed to feel a bit self-conscious at times. As I walked the streets with Amaria and Shelby, their arms looped with mine, I came to the conclusion that Starguard was a city that happily bustled without any fear that its creations were temporary or futile.

Shops lined most of the streets, their windows open in perpetual welcome. Houses were tended to with smug satisfaction. Trees and other fauna grew between everything, twisting and growing in tandem with the buildings until it felt like they were intertwined completely. The larger buildings stood as proud sentinels and beacons, stalwart visions of the future the people believed in and the past they treasured. And all the while, the lake sat to the north, its very presence heavy and ancient, like a cat slowly waking before settling back into slumber.

“This place is gorgeous,” I admitted as Amaria led me into a small shop full of fabrics and trims draped over displays a few blocks away from the river winding through the western portion of the city. “And the capital is larger?”

Shelby nodded with a small smile. “Starguard is the smallest of our true cities. Frostdale to the north and Oakenbell to the south, where the Odrain live, are both slightly larger. And Embercrest, of course.”

I eased the small notebook from the satchel I had slung across my body and wrote down the names, ignoring if I got anywhere near the right spellings. It wasn’t like they would need to be able to understand what I wrote. While I waited for the ink to dry, I read through the page I’d slowly filled the last two days while slowly working through the history books Callum had given me. As I was tucking the fountain pen and notebook back into the small bag, a soft voice came from behind some of the fabric displays.

“Hello.”

A short man with mousy-brown hair and light green eyes stepped into view. He wore a set of trousers, a close-fitting tunic and an apron in a pretty dark green with colorful floral motifs around its pockets and neckline. A much smaller lapis lazuli pendant sat cradled in the hollow of his throat, and a silver, half-moon scar just below his ear caught the light as he adjusted his hair. His gaze swept over all three of us, taking in each with quick efficiency. His face paled for a moment as his focus settled on me before he swallowed and offered a quick dip of his chin.

“How can I help you today?” he asked. His voice was still soft, blending with the swaths of fabric and running over my skin like a cool breeze.

Amaria dropped my arm and gave the man a warm smile. “There should be an order ready for us,” she said.

The man nodded as Shelby handed him a small piece of paper. “Give me just a moment. Would you like to double-check the fit?”

“That would be lovely.” Shelby led me deeper in the store, fingering one of the fabrics she passed. “What is your availability for a few more pieces?”

The man glanced at me before answering Shelby. “It’s always an honor to create for the prince. Whatever is needed, I can adjust my schedule to accommodate. Feel free to look at what I have at the moment.”

Before I could process any of that, he disappeared deeper into the shop. Amaria turned her attention to one of the displays, tracing one of the trims with silver thread and small fringe.

“This is really pretty,” she said.

Shelby nodded and help up a corner of the rich burgundy fabric she’d been eyeing. “It would look really good with this. And it’s the right undertone for your skin, Amethyst.”

I just stared at them. Shelby only stared back, not at all thrown by my lack of answer.

“Oh, yes, that is a good pairing. And the embroidery always looks gorgeous on velvet.” Amaria pulled the trim from where it was wedged between bolts of fabric and set it on top of the display. “We should see if he has enough for the panels, too, or just for the traditional cut.”

I swallowed down three different responses, opting to focus on why we’d walked here in the first place.

“What are we picking up?” I asked, trying to pitch my voice to not be heard past a few feet.

Shelby circled the display to my right. “Your dress for the equinox invocation. Emma said she also has an order with another seamstress for a few daily pieces, but those weren’t rushed the same way this one was. They should be ready in another few days.”

“Equinox invocation.” I intentionally let it hang as a statement, my skin already crawling from all the questions that had become a necessity over the last few days we’d been here.

Amaria nodded. “The morning after tomorrow. It’s a sunrise ritual in the basilica. They were already preparing for it when we were there the day we arrived.” She held a different trim against a deep green fabric, tilting her head in thought. “I think Callum is hoping to spend some time in the Central Square afterward, as well, to celebrate the coming season with those in the city.”

There was an entire ritual happening the day after tomorrow? Learning whatever steps were part of that was probably more important than trying to read the Marish version of Are You My Mother?. The man returned just as I was about to have a bit of a hissy fit which—to be fair—was probably better for my dignity. I’d already had one breakdown last night when I was pretty sure no one was around. I swallowed the meltdown I wanted to have and turned my attention to the seamster.

He had a dress draped over his arm, a tape measure hanging around his neck like a stethoscope. His gaze took in the fabric Shelby still held.

“I don’t believe there is enough for a court regalia, unfortunately,” he said apologetically. “Enough for a day dress, though, and I could have some of the fabric sent to Nadalia for coordinating hairpins. I have a delivery of silks from Tousir coming early next week, and I can set aside as much of that as needed for court regalia.”

My mouth dropped open. He would just… let us take an entire order of silk? Amaria seemed to realize I was having a hard time reconciling exactly what princess meant. She looped her arm with mine again, that trim in her other hand.

“Purchase what you like,” she whispered.