“What’s wrong?” Kolby asked, searching the room for threats.

“Emperor Estermon!” she shouted. “He’s going to be killed. And not just him. We need to get back—now!”

Far from protesting her abrupt demand, Nordyan embraced it. He ordered everyone back to Percepliquis immediately. After a grab-and-dash flurry, Kolby Fiske, Ethan Yardley, Enzio Edon, and Ransara Soto took the mattress corners and hoisted the princess, bed and all. They carried her downstairs and through the living room of what, Farilane only then realized, was the home of Empress Persephone. Being that the bed was narrow and the door wide, they conveyed her straight out the front to the street. They quickly settled her inside a waiting covered wagon, but not fast enough for her to avoid seeing the still-smoking remains across the road. Sephryn’s home was a charred ruin. Only the blackened hearth and a few stubborn beams remained standing.

What was the cost of that fire? How many priceless treasures lost?

The knights secured the bed to the wagon, adjusted the canopy, and spread blankets out over her.

“No cookies and milk?” she asked Kolby as he tucked the blankets in around the mattress.

He smiled at her. “It’s good to hear you mocking me again.”

“It’s good to be mocking you again. And I am sorry about dodging all of you. Mean Mister Dray was being such a bad sport.”

“The emperor must be planning an expensive party. You should be pleased your family is thinking about you, for once.”

“Pleased?” She smirked. “It’s a little scary, don’t you think? Nordyan actually said he loved me.”

“Noticed that myself.” The Teshlor shrugged. “Maybe your family is finally seeing what we knights have always known.”

“Which is?”

“That not all the stars are in the sky.”

“I wasn’t nauseated until now. Thanks for rounding out my set of ailments.”

Kolby grinned, then turned to step off the wagon.

“Kolby?” Farilane asked as an odd thought crossed her mind.

“Highness?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Getting you ready to—”

“No. I mean, how did you get here so fast? My brother, Ethan, and Enzio I can understand. They were chasing us, but how did you and Ransara get to Merredydd? You were just in Percepliquis. Word would have had to be sent, then you’d have to travel here, but you were at my door when I woke up. Have I lost time? Was I unconscious for days?”

“No, Your Highness, I was the one who pulled you from the fire.”

“How’s that possible?”

“Because I was already here.”

“I don’t understand.”

Kolby lowered his head. He ran a hand across his face, erasing the grin of a moment ago and replacing it with a look of guilt. “When news of your absence was discovered, I was dispatched—Ransara and I—to protect the empress dowager.”

“Really? Why? From what?”

“From you.”

“Me?”