Natalie awoke and called for her handmaidens. Kennli arrived first, followed by Lila and Bredget. Natalie lounged in bed as they started their morning tasks.

  Kennli started preparing a bath with Lila’s help. A girl of seventeen years, Lila Nekria was the daughter of Lord Brendon Nekria. She did not like to gossip and rarely spoke unless directly spoken to. Natalie tolerated her, knowing her service was a great honor for House Nekria.

  The two girls worked quickly to fill the brass basin before the water cooled. Bredget brought a plate of Natalie’s favorite food, Vargan olives and cheese. Bredget was sixteen years old and was not highborn but a daughter of castle servants. Her parents worked for the king himself and offered their daughter’s services when she was old enough. The Chief Steward accepted and gave her to Natalie. Natalie was happy to have her, as Bredget’s sparkling blue eyes and kind smile always made her feel calm.

  Natalie snacked on the olives and cheese until the bath was ready. She took time to enjoy each bite as it would likely be her only food until dinner.

  I will skip lunch today. I will not lose my figure while Ser Ireos is here.

  “Princess, your bath is ready.” Kennli told her with a curtsey.

  “Thank you, let us begin.”

  Natalie removed her night clothes and climbed into the bath. The water was warm, and Kennli began to scrub her down as Lila brushed her hair. Natalie relaxed into the water, letting the girls work.

  I must relax. A worrisome mind makes for a wrinkled face, or so mother always says. Not that she would know. Her skin is still flawless.

  She nearly drifted off to sleep, but someone knocked at her door.

  Lila answered the door and admitted the Queen with her handmaiden Adalyn. Her mother’s luscious chestnut hair flowed past her shoulders in an intricate braid. Her strong cheekbones and deep, piercing blue eyes gave her a predatory air that Natalie both admired and feared. Today, she wore a simple green dress with no jewelry except for her gold and silver circlet worn for informal occasions.

  Adalyn was a girl of almost fifteen years with strawberry hair and brown eyes. She, unlike many of the other servants, always met Natalie’s stare when she entered the room.

  Natalie rose out of the bath and addressed Kennli, “Dry me, and bring a gown.”

  The Queen spoke first, “My sweet girl, I heard what happened yesterday. What a terrible thing for Ser Ireos to fall on you like that, and all over a simple prank.” Her attention shifted to Lila, “Lila, bring us some wine, we will be needing it I think.”

  Lila left to fulfill the request. “Mother, you misdirect the blame. Ser Ireos is not at fault for what happened.”

  “How can he claim to be a knight if he allowed a child to frighten him?” Her mother said as she ate one of the olives Natalie had left behind.

  Lila returned with the wine and poured them each a cup, waiting nearby to refill them.

  “Mother, what Nathan and Nicholleta did was childish and wrong. I blame them. You must not let them get away with their foolish behavior or they will become an even greater embarrassment in the future.”

  The Queen finished her first cup and handed it to Adalyn before she spoke, “Nathan and Nicholleta are very sorry for what they did. I spoke to both, and they will publicly apologize to you and Ser Ireos.”

  “That is not good enough.” She said as she donned the gown with Kennli’s help. “Mother, you will not always be around to protect them. They should learn actions have consequences.”

  The Queen looked at Natalie with a sad smile as Adalyn handed her a refreshed wine cup, “Perhaps you are right my love, but you are all still children with much to learn of this world. I want only to protect you all while I can.”

  “How can we learn anything if we hardly leave the castle grounds, let alone the city?”

  “Your father does not like for us to travel. You know that, and you know why.”

  “Yes, mother.” Natalie said, hoping to avoid that particular lecture. “What of the games? Maybe he will want to attend this year. Perhaps to make a big announcement?”

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “I would not place much hope in a journey to Grijal’s Hold, darling.”

  The Queen finished draining her second cup and said, “I have a long day ahead of me, dear. Rest up and find the strength to forgive your brother and sister.”

  “My forgiveness will hinge on the sincerity of their apology.” Natalie said quietly as she hugged her mother.

  Her mother left and she walked to her balcony and watched as servants streamed through the inner gate under the watchful eye of Ser Brax.

  The castle glowed in the light of the morning sun to the east. The castle’s walls, made of the same white marble stone used to construct its buildings and the statues of the Marble Garden, shined brilliantly. Built on a natural cliff, the castle had a magnificent view of the Gold Sea to the north.

  While one massive wall protected the whole of the castle grounds, the interior wall further protected the royal estate, the Summerhall, and their own temple of the gods. The greatest among these was the Summerhall where the Throne of Kings stood, and her father held court from his self-imposed isolation.

  Natalie watched the people until the initial rush ceased and then went back inside. “Find me something warmer, I will go out.”

  Bredget returned from her wardrobe with a purple velvet dress and a gold circlet with an amethyst set in the center. Natalie exchanged her gown for the dress and finished the outfit with a fur coat.

  A knock at the door told her the day’s escort had arrived. She opened the door to find Ser Urman standing without. A balding man, despite his young age, Ser Urman preferred to shave his head entirely rather than hold onto the whisps the gods had left him. He was the tallest Summerguard at nearly seven foot but lean in build.

  “Your Grace,” he said with a small bow, “where shall you be going today?”

  “To see Ser Ireos. I mean to give him my best and see how he has recovered from his fall.”

  The knight nodded and led the way for Natalie and Kennli. The typical walk from the Child’s Keep to the guesthouse took them through the Inner Gate, past the bathhouse, the stock tower, and through the training yard. Natalie noticed that they were not walking that way.

  Ser Urman, having grown up in the castle as a squire to the Summerguard before ascending to knighthood, knew the castle better than most and he almost always took a scenic route. He took them along the east wall and around the inner gate where only royalty and the guard could go. As they walked, Natalie looked beyond the castle and to the city of Auramar.

  To the south, the city sprawled across the landscape. It formed an imperfect triangle with the Greywood to the south, the Dragon River to the West, and farm country to the east. The river ended where it met the sea, and a marshland dominated the west bank. The east bank was stable enough for docks and accommodated the many ships come to trade.

  The city wrapped around the east and west portions of the castle. Wealthy merchants and lords made this portion of the city their home. The city itself had thick walls of mortared stone that had never been breached, but time had taken its toll, and High Lord Anseon led the efforts to restore the city’s defenses.

  The small party finally walked down a private staircase and arrived at the guesthouse where Ser Ireos and his guards stayed during their visit. One such guard stood outside. He bore the crest of Ser Ireos’ house, a blind Cyclops holding a red cudgel made from a tree.

  The guesthouse was an estate itself, fit with gardens, a solar, a kitchen, a feast hall, and rooms enough to accommodate three lords and their retinue. For now, only Ser Ireos and his men filled the house. The knight’s party numbered just under thirty, leaving the guesthouse feeling empty.

  They found Ser Ireos on the third floor in a suite all to himself. A guard accompanied him and helped him to stand when they arrived.

  “Ser Ireos, how are you?” Natalie asked, offering her hand to him.

  “I am well your grace,” he said as he kissed her hand. “An old injury come back again, I’m afraid. Your Sage Kellinos visited yesterday and told me I should recover with rest.”

  Ser Ireos tried to mask the pain in his voice, but his eyes betrayed him and Natalie could tell he was struggling just to stay standing.

  “The gods are good,” she said. “May they speed your recovery.”

  “I am sure they will, and rest will see me better.”

  “Do you intend to stay and rest here, or will you leave me so soon?”

  “I intend to stay through the month, if your father does not extend his leave for me to stay.” He replied.

  Perfect. I can finish the tests.

  “Wonderful, I will expect you in three days’ time. We will ride together to the temple of the gods in the city to pray. Until then, rest. And I promise, my siblings will apologize for their mischief.”

  Ser Ireos looked confused, “Shall we not pray in your family’s temple? I have heard it is extraordinary.”

  “Not on this occasion. We will visit the temple of Auramar. I like to go and distribute bread to the poor and give our tithe to the Hopes personally. I hope you are not disappointed. I love the chances I get to see our people.”

  “Truly, you are the gods’ gift to the city,” Ser Ireos said cheerfully. “Very well then, I shall accompany you, though I do not feel I could properly sit a horse even in three days.”

  “We will ride in my litter. We leave at first light on the third day.” She squeezed his hand before standing up to leave.

  “Gods go with you, Princess.” Ser Ireos said, taking her hand and kissing it again.

  Natalie blushed and left the knight to his rest. She walked down the stairs and exited the guesthouse to find Hope Alice and a group of the castle guard waiting for her.

  The sergeant among them, wearing a helmet with a line of purple plumage atop his helm, spoke to her kneeling, “Your grace, the king desires your presence at court today.”

  “I have other plans for the day,” she lied, “please inform my father of my regret that I could not join him.”

  “I’m afraid the king instructed for your presence immediately.” Hope Alice chimed in.

  “It would be unwise to ignore him your grace,” Ser Urman added.

  It seems no one cares what I want.

  “Very well. Ser Urman can escort me easily enough, that will be all.” Her tone was polite, but Natalie was not happy as she began the walk to the Summerhall.