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Prince Norivun and I exchanged a weighted look. His brow grew heavy, as though the entire realm rested upon it. Neither of us had expected that the final test would come down to only two. Which meant Ihad to winthe final test.
Otherwise, the prince would be forced to marry Georgyanna.
* * *
Everyone mistphased backto the castle and arrived in the courtyard we’d initially departed from. Since the king was watching, Prince Norivun didn’t approach me, but the look he continually gave Georgyanna could have melted glass.
“I believe celebrations are in order, don’t you think?” Taberitha Wormiful said to test two’s winner.
The tall and lithe Kroravee archon stood as regal as a royal. One would think she was the reason Georgyanna had won, given her proud aura.
Georgyanna preened and adjusted the crown on her head. “Why, Lady Wormiful, I would be delighted.”
The crown shone from Georgyanna’s silver hair, the gold flashing in the sun as the jewels sparkled. She wore the crown so easily, as though she truly believed she was born to rule.
Anger stirred in me again, and I took a deep breath. The crown that I’d retrieved from the bottom of the bay had been given to Georgyanna by the king. It was a gift for winning the second test—the test that should have beenmyvictory.
A sick feeling twisted my stomach as they ambled away, loudly discussing their territory’s clever win.
“Norivun?” the king said, a guileless smile on his face. “Let your mother know the outcome of the second test, if you will.”
Prince Norivun’s nostrils flared, but he gave his father a stiff nod and strode back to the castle.
Still shaking from what happened, I approached Meegana. “Do you want company?”
Beatrice had already left, stalking back to the castle as soon as we’d arrived in the courtyard, but Meegana had stayed. A cool breeze ruffled our clothing. I’d dried us with my air affinity before we’d mistphased, but the wind was still biting.
She shook her head. “Even though I would rather spend the day with you, I need to find my mother and tell her what happened.” Worry lines appeared around Meegana’s eyes as she wrung her hands. “She’s going to be so angry that I won’t be queen.”
I bared my teeth. “Just because you won’t be the next queen doesn’t mean that you’re not strong or worthy, and if your mother doesn’t see that, then the fault lies with her.”
Meegana laughed humorlessly. “I think I might have said something like that to you when we first met.”
“You did, and you were right. Just remember that when you speak with her.”
“I’ll try.”
I squeezed her hand.
Behind us, the king was speaking with Sir Featherton. The two were in deep discussions but they were behind a silencing Shield so nobody could hear them.
“I’ll send a prayer to the Blessed Mother for you that you’ll marry Nuwin,” I whispered to her.
A smile parted Meegana’s lips, a true smile. “Thank you.”
We headed opposite ways, and I hurried back into the castle. Not surprisingly, Sandus was waiting for me at the gate. He didn’t say anything as he fell in step beside me, which made me think Norivun had found him and told him already what had happened.
I was glad he didn’t bring up my loss because the last thing I wanted to do was discuss it.
“Have you seen Cailis?” I asked instead as we rounded the corner toward the prince’s private wing.
“She’s waiting in the Exorbiant Chamber for you.”
When we arrived back at my chambers, Cailis was pacing by the courtyard doors. The second I closed the door behind me, she ran to me with wide eyes and grabbed both of my hands. “How did you do?”
I shook my head.
“You lost?”
