“No, no, no, mams. You know this was comin’. Is a friend of that big dark one, en? Your Given.”

“Weh-sheh is not my Given,” Yenni snapped. Diedre held up her hands and gave Yenni a look like she thought she had lost her mind. “Very well, my mistake.”

Yenni felt terrible for yelling at her friend. “I am sorry, Deedee. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It’s just that Weh-sheh—”

Diedre nodded. “You don’t want to want him, but you do.”

Yenni stared helplessly at her.

“Ah, I know exactly what’s goin’ on here. Is because you’re an Island princess and the king say you mus’ marry another man.”

Yenni stopped short and jerked her gaze up to Diedre, shocked.

“But how . . . I didn’t ever . . . how could you—”

Diedre’s eyes bulged. “Is true?! Was joke I jokin’ to lighten the mood, but you’re really a princess?”

“I, well . . .”

“Oh my goodness!” Diedre squealed, and then narrowed her eyes. “But wait, you told me your folks is big rune mages, like magi here.”

“They are,” Yenni said. “It is expected of them as the chieftain and chieftainess of our tribe.”

Diedre blew out a breath. “But this makes perfect sense,” she said, reminding Yenni uncomfortably of Weysh.

“You cannot tell anyone,” Yenni said firmly.

Diedre looked hurt. “I would never. How I could put my friend in danger so? You came alone, right?”

“Yes.”

“But why? Was me, I’d march right up to the castle an’ demand a room.”

“I have my reasons,” said Yenni.

“Hmm. An’ the rest is true too? You mus’ marry another man?”

Yenni simply nodded.

“An’ you want him instead of the dragon?”

Yenni paused for a moment, then shook her head.

“Oh, mams.”

They walked in silence for a while. “What’s the worst thing could happen if you follow your heart?” said Diedre musingly, almost as if to herself.

“War, perhaps,” Yenni replied softly.

“Watch’Ahmighty that is bad. Well, what’s the worst thing could happen if you don’t follow your heart?”

The worst thing? She would never see Weysh or Dragon again. The sadness of it hit her like a sudden, crashing wave—an intense, longing ache that surprised her. Her sisters, either through luck or their own clever maneuvering, were both quite happy with their matches, so why couldn’t she be as well? But would Weysh make her happy? He wasn’t perfect, but he was . . . something. Something to her. The way he constantly went out of his way for her was touching, difficult to resist. And no matter what she told herself, the notion of never seeing him again was painful.

“Mams, you look like someone died.”

Sighing, Yenni shook her head.

“I can’t say I know much about Moonrise politics, but I know livin’ your life for someone else is a good way to live no life at all,” said Diedre.