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“My son told me of your injuries. I’m so happy he was there to help.” Queen Inga swept her hand out in front of her. “But I’ve kept you too long, and I must make the rounds before we sit. Please, enjoy the breakfast.”
“Lady Neve!” an excited feminine voice called out the moment the queen left us. In the same heartbeat, another female called out, “Lord Roar, a moment?”
I sought the one calling my fiancé first and frowned. Aenesa walked our way with a smile on her blood-red lips, and her eyelashes fluttering madly. I refrained from rolling my eyes. Barely.
“Lady Aenesa,” Roar said, bowing his head. “How are you?”
“Marvelous. I wish to speak with you about a cart of textiles sent to a merchant in your territory.”
“I—” Roar looked at me.
But I caught Princess Saga bounding my way, so I placed an assuring hand on his shoulder. “I’ll be fine. The princess wishes to speak.”
“Very well.” Roar kissed my cheek, which made Aenesa scowl. “Have a pleasant time catching up.”
I wanted to laugh out loud. I’d known the princess for a day. What did we need to catch up on?
Nonetheless, Saga approached, took my arm, and we were off. Once we stood a distance away from Roar, she stopped. “Vale told me about your injuries. I’m so sorry that my Clawsguard didn’t help you.”
“It wasn’t his job.”
“Still, I’m thankful that my brother was there. To lose you after we just met would be so painful.”
It was an odd idea that I’d be friends with a princess, but I could tell she meant her words. I found that I, too, would hate to never see her again.
“All is well.” I placed a hand on hers and squeezed. “You weren’t injured, were you?”
Saga shook her head. “Not a scratch.”
“I’m pleased to hear that.” A pause followed, in which neither of us knew what to say. Finally, I settled on a safe bet. “Where’s Sayyida? I see her brother, but not our friend or her intimidating mother.”
“Vidar is here on my account. I used you as an excuse to escape him and his talk of rigging and other ship matters.” She rolled her eyes, clearly not at all interested in the life of a sailor. “Sayyida and her mother, Lady Virtoris, are at the city docks.”
“Are they leaving?”
“Oh, Sayyida wishes.” Saga laughed. “But no. A shipment arrived from the Summer Court and Lady Virtoris went to accept the goods because they’re coming to the palace for the festival. And then a second diplomatic ship arrived, and it’s custom that one of the Sacred Eight or the royal family receives it. As they were already there, Sayyida and her mother volunteered.” She snorted. “Or I should say that Sayyida volunteered her mother to stay longer to greet the ship, so that she didn’t have to come here. Say will do anything to avoid wearing a gown.”
I chuckled. “Must be sheer torture to do so two days in a row.”
The princess’s eyes sparkled. “You already know her so well.”
We took a turn around the room, chatting like old friends.
“So, I heard you keep a diary?” I asked when the conversation fell into a lull.
“Sayyida told you?”
“She did.”
“She’s such a gossip.”
“It sounds like you might be the gossip,” I teased. “Your book details the court?”
Something in her eyes became shielded, and she pulled me to the side of the room, as far away from others as possible. “It does. There are dark things happening here, Neve.” She leaned closer and her tone softened to a whisper. “I heard about last night. You, Calpurnia, and the Ithamai sisters. Be careful around them.”
I was shocked. Since I’d gotten here, she’d acted so light, so happy, that I assumed Saga didn’t know. Now, I thought that there was little the princess did not hear about. “I will.”
“Good.” She smiled, a small affair. “I—”
