Reid awoke. Today was her wedding day. A dozen emotions swirled within her. However, trepidation seemed to be the dominant one. She slid out of bed and stretched. Gytha was nowhere to be seen.

Reid padded into the sitting room, thinking Gytha may have fallen asleep in there. Instead of the warrior woman, Ackley lounged on the sofa as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

“What are you doing here?”

“Good morning, princess.”

“Where’s Gytha?”

“Helping Prince Dexter.”

“Is everything all right?”

He raised a single eyebrow.

“Never mind,” Reid mumbled. “Don’t bother answering that.”

Ackley rose to peer outside. “On a positive note, Dexter managed to get most of the foreign army to set up camp just outside the city.”

Reid stood at his side, observing the two dozen or so men who remained on the lawn. “Even their tents are different.” Instead of the typical squared tent, theirs were rounded.

“I’m guessing that’s a squad of officers,” Ackley mused. “Gordon was going to try to talk to their leader.” He yawned. “I’ll doubt he’ll glean any new information.”

“Why are you so tired?”

“I’ve been up all night.”

Examining him, she noted the dark circles under his eyes. “What’s Gytha doing with Dexter?”

“Some guy named Seb arrived last night with five wagons full of weapons. Last I saw her, she was busy helping Dexter smuggle the weapons into the military compound without the king or the foreign army seeing.”

Reid recalled Dexter ordering arrowheads from Seb when he’d visited the man’s homestead in the woods. “Do we have a plan?”

“Several, but I don’t know if any will work.”

“Why are you here?” Didn’t he have better things to do than babysit her?

“Gytha asked me to watch you.”

Reid eyed him, wondering if he was smitten with the warrior woman.

The door flew open, and Gytha entered. “Prince Dexter just received word Prince Henrick has worsened.” After closing the door, she plopped on a chair, rubbing her eyes. “Princess Nara wants to proceed as if nothing is amiss.”

A sick foreboding filled Reid. She suspected Eldon had somehow poisoned Henrick.

“Prince Henrick is meeting with each duke individually,” Gytha said. “He is making sure they all know Prince Dexter is his heir.”

Ackley turned to Gytha, clearly impressed. “That’s smart.”

Gytha rested her head against the back of the sofa, briefly closing her eyes. “Prince Henrick said we must learn from the mistakes of the past.”

“Are you done helping Dexter?” he asked.

“I am. I officially release you of your duty to watch over and protect Lady Reid,” she said, sitting straighter.

Ackley gave a curt nod before heading to the door. “Excellent. I have a few things I need to do before the wedding.”