“There you are!” Nordyan exclaimed, throwing his hands up and shaking his head. “Of all the stupid things. You’ve forced me to ride through mud and thorns and . . . and . . . you’re an idiot! That’s what you are. Father is livid, and the emperor is fuming.”

“Why?” Farilane shot back with pretended innocence. “I haven’t gone far, just went for a short walk in the woods across the river.”

“A walk! You’re risking—” He stopped himself and glanced around as if wondering whether everyone had heard him. Then he turned to the rest of the knights and raised his voice. “After her birthday, she can go wherever she likes, but for now . . . for now . . . tie her up!”

“What?” Ethan said. “She’s the princess. She’s your sister. Why—”

“She’s a pain in my ass is what she is. If she chooses to defy the emperor, then she can be treated like a criminal. Besides, she’ll get away again if you don’t. I can’t afford to let that happen. Too much is at stake.” The prince looked down at himself and brushed his clothes. “Look at this. I’m covered in mud and haven’t had a decent meal. All because—” He saw that Ethan hadn’t moved. “Do as I say, knight!”

Ethan’s face drooped, his mouth hung slack, his eyes confused. “I’m—I’m sorry, Your Highness, but—”

“Don’t apologize—just do it!” the prince ordered. “I want to get out of this hideous forest.”

Ethan returned to his horse, Trident, who was back on his feet, and pulled a short leash of cord from the bag. “Could you put out your hands?”

“For Ferrol’s sake, tie them behind her back. She’s myr. Tying her wrists in front will do little good.”

Farilane could see the anger heating up in Ethan’s eyes, his jaw set tight as he approached her like a reluctant puppet. “Could you please turn around?”

It pained her to see how much this hurt him. She nodded and promptly turned, putting her wrists together behind her back. “It’s not your fault.”

With her back to Ethan and the rest, Farilane faced the dark trees of the forest, where stood a woman with red hair and green eyes, watching them.

“Swords,” Ruby Finn simply said. Still clad in the shimmering green gown, with lips matching her hair, and pale naked arms, she had the look of a deer spotted in a field: noble, elegant, and supernaturally still. “These are soldiers, aren’t they?”

“Ethan, stop! Don’t move,” Farilane barked without turning. Her eyes remained fixed on Ruby.

“But your brother—” Ethan said.

“There’s a chance we will all die if you don’t do exactly as I say.”