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It was only then I realized I was snarling, and I smoothed whatever feral expression I wore. “Sorry,” I muttered.
“Don’t be. I quite enjoy seeing you look like an angry kitten.”
“A kitten?” When I made a disgruntled face, he laughed. “What are you doing here anyway, my prince?”
We resumed walking toward the door. I could feel the rest of the Trial’s participants watching us, but I didn’t glance back at any of them, not even at Meegana, who’d looked horrified when I’d nearly become splattered brains on the mat. I couldn’t. My heart was still pounding, and I was two seconds away from losing it completely. I’d nearlydied.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in the council meeting?” I added distractedly as pain sliced through my soles. I had no idea how badly Georgyanna had burned me, but I prayed my skin wasn’t sloughing off.
“Indeed, but we’re on a break, so I decided to visit the kitchens for a meat pie, but then I heard a shriek so came to investigate. And it’s a good thing I did. You were moments away from landing headfirst on the floor.”
I shuddered. The shriek had come from Meegana. Everything had happened too quickly for me to make a sound.
“Thank you for saving me,” I said quietly when we stepped into the hall. I winced when the nerve endings in my feet prickled.
Nuwin glanced down. “Oh my. You’re injured.”
“It’s all right. I’ll be—”
“Nonsense.” He swept me up in his arms before I could protest. “I consider it a great honor to assist a damsel in distress.”
“But I’m not that in distress. I’m just burned.”
He smiled cheekily. “Play along with it, darling. It does stroke my ego.” His lips split into a grin, and for a moment, his likeness to the crown prince took my breath away.
Shaking myself, I smothered a smile. “Oh, all right, if it pleases you.”
“It does, especially when Nori learns that I got my hands on you.”
I began to snort, but then the hall vanished in a blur of mist and shadows, air and wind.
Nuwin, who could apparently also mistphase, took me to the healing infirmary and promptly asked Murl to assist me.
One potion, two cast spells, and a healing tonic later, I was no longer in pain, and my burned feet were mending. The skin was pink and new, but Murl insisted that by morning I would be fully healed.
“Thank you,” I told Nuwin once we were back in the hall.
He gave a small bow. “Always happy to assist a lady in need.”
My lips twitched as Sandus strode toward us, coming from around the corner. Considering the irritated expression my guard wore, I didn’t think he appreciated our mistphasing within the castle without him.
“Where are you off to now?” I asked the young prince.
He sighed dramatically. “Back to the council meeting. Lord Thisslewater from the Dresher Islands has arrived, which means the next few hours will be sly diplomatic discussions, acting as though we don’t need the Dresher Islands’ help to replenish our food stores while my father grumbles, Lord Crimsonale and Lady Wormiful further their argument for leaving our continent, and other council members share their fears and gripes about the state of our nation.”
“Sounds lovely.”
“As lovely as a stinging nettles’ nest.”
Forehead furrowing, I said, “Despite your harrowing description, do you think that perhaps I could join you? Since my entire reason for being at the castle is to restore our crops, it would be good to know what’s truly going on, and now that my training’s been canceled for the afternoon...”
Nuwin cocked his head. “Well, I suppose that’s logical, and if my father has a problem with it, he’ll surely let you know.”
And with that, we disappeared in another burst of Nuwin’s mistphasing magic as Sandus let out a loud groan of frustration.
CHAPTER13
Arched windows, a stone floor and walls, and a high domed ceiling brimming with fairy lights made up the council’s chambers. The room was bright and grand with a hum of magic flowing through the air. The tingle of it caressed my skin, warming me.
