It was a bad idea. She was having another moment where she needed to admit it, and stop herself. Vhalla took a breath. “I—” She paused, glancing between Daniel and the building. “I need to make a quick stop. The inn is right over there. You can go ahead.”

“No, I’m not letting you walk alone in the Crossroads at night,” he said definitively. “It can be dangerous.”

“Very well,” she sighed softly. “Then wait out here for me?”

“That, I can do.” There was apprehension locked in his eyes, but Daniel kept it away from his tongue and spared her comment.

Vhalla took a breath and summoned her courage, walking to the front doors. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to see Aldrik again. Wasn’t she mad at him? But at the root of all her conflicting feelings was the need to see him, to say what needed to be said: the truth.

Soft music, a Southern sound, played from one of the rooms off the main lobby. Vhalla looked uncertainly at the shut doors and opulent parlors. A man cleared his throat from behind the front desk.

“I have a delivery for the Crown Prince,” Vhalla announced.

The older man folded his bony fingers and regarded her skeptically. “What could you possibly have?”

“I’m the Windwalker,” she declared, attempting to use credentials to dodge the question.

“That is most excellent, and what is so important that he would not leave word?”

Deflated that her approach hadn’t worked, she lost her resolve and mumbled, “He ... We have work to do ... for the Emperor.”

“I’m sure ...” The man didn’t believe her in the slightest. “Unfortunately the prince has explicitly asked not to be disturbed. Do take care.”

Vhalla sighed softly, resigned.

“Vhalla?” Prince Baldair stopped in a hallway joining the lobby with other rooms, walking over to her. “What’re you doing here?”

“My prince, I was just leaving.” Vhalla keenly remembered the last time she and Prince Baldair had spoken.

“She was asking to see the crown prince,” the treacherous clerk informed.

“Vhalla.” The golden prince frowned, glancing at the man and thinking better of continuing. “I’ll take her there myself.”

“You will?” Vhalla and the desk man said in unison.

“He’s shut himself up; I’ve not seen him once. Company is a good thing, no?” Baldair placed his hand on the small of her back and practically pushed her up a wide staircase.

“You’re really taking me to see him?” Vhalla asked as they reached the second floor landing.

“Of course not, but I am going to ask you what you think you’re doing here.” In private, the prince dropped all decorum.

“It’s nothing important,” Vhalla muttered. She was already second guessing her mission.

“I thought I told you to stay away.” Baldair frowned.