"I could not say," my helper said with a laugh, walking over to a vanity and wetting a hand towel in the pitcher of water. "This is the closest I've ever come to that conflict. I think, in the end, you'll be the only one who will learn enough to choose whether to harmonize with your soulmate, or oppose him." Kamharida held my chin and started wiping off my face with the damp towel. "Listen to all the parts of yourself, and you will know what to do. When all parts of you are aligned, don't hesitate. You will be alright."

"Thank you," I said again, and gave her a weak smile.

"That is enough of that," she said, patting me on the cheek. "If I was a fae in glamor, I would possess you. Never forget that we walk in their world, and that they are powerful and strange."

"Okay," I said. "I won't."

"Good girl," Kamharida said with a smile. "Enjoy your walk, your highness. The crown prince is supposed to be going riding in an hour, so if you desire to see him..." She gestured at my clothing, a light blouse, divided skirt, and pants, with leather boots.

I almost thanked her again, caught myself when she gave me a sharp smile, and said instead, "Do all the palace staff keep track of his whereabouts?"

She laughed. "Your highness, the entire Court keeps track of his whereabouts. Crown Prince Sundamar is not to be trifled with, and it's generally regarded as safer to stay out of his way."

"Goody for me," I said, with more cheerfulness than I'd anticipated. I actually kind of liked clashing with him. His exact opinion of me didn't matter, and he was ferociously complicated. "I guess I'll go throw myself directly in his way."

"Enjoy yourself," she said, eyes twinkling.

"You know what?" I said, a smile spreading across my face. "I think I will."

11. Equitation, of a Sort

Chapter 11

Equitation, of a Sort

I wandered my way through the palace for a while, getting lost basically the first time I turned a corner. The palace didn't seem to fit together in a regular way. It was kind of like walking through a video game level in one of those really weird puzzle games, where things linked together consistently but the actual distances you traveled or the sizes of the rooms didn't match up to a regular three-dimensional space. I'd never been particularly good at navigation in that sort of game, so I figured I'd probably be getting routinely lost for the next three hundred and sixty days.