The natural consequence of our hall not being like the storied greater castles and palaces of other lands is that there are not all that many places to wander—nor can you escape notice for too long. We make a circuit past the little temple, then take the stairs up past the meeting rooms and lesser nobles’ bedchambers, and then back around to the other wing with its hallway where our family and closest vassals have their rooms. Beyond that, there’s only the great hall, and the kitchens—where such vaunted personages as Valka and my brother would hardly deign to wander.

By the time we make it down from the meeting rooms again, a servant has caught up with us. He bows to my brother, who strides right past without acknowledging him. I dip my head apologetically, but the man isn’t here for me. Instead, he bows lower and says to my brother’s back, “Your Highness, I beg forgiveness for the interruption.”

With a sigh, my brother turns back. “Do you really? Then why have you interrupted at all?”

The man maintains his bow, his expression hidden from view. “His Highness’s tutor wishes to inform you that he is ready for you when you are available.”

“Well, I am not quite available. You see, my sister has ignored her lessons altogether. I shall have to speak with her about that first. You may tell the old man I will come once I’ve seen to my family responsibilities.”

I feel my cheeks burning, but I keep my gaze lowered just as the servant did, and at least I do not have to watch his expression.

Valka titters as the man departs. “You really are too easy a target, Alyrra.”

“Convenient,” my brother agrees, turning his gaze on me. I keep my focus on the wooden floorboards. “And such a shame that you can’t be trusted to see to your responsibilities. Really, little sister. Ignoring your studies! What will happen when we want to sell you off to a neighbor in marriage, and you don’t know how to run a hall or speak their language? You’ll be as useless to them as you are to us, and they’ve no cause to look out for you as we do.”

I hunch my shoulders and dart a look at Valka, although it’s not as if she’s my friend. She laughs. “Oh, let the poor girl go. She doesn’t know the first thing about marriage, or anything else. At least there’s a hope she might learn something from her tutor.”