“You may rise,” the girl said, then she giggled. “That’s not the door to the tent. Did you get lost? Don’t you know what doors look like?” They stood, and she wrinkled her nose. “You smell. Are you sailors? Have you ever been to Kaolin? My mother said it’s full of heretics. And their clothes are all rather drab. Don’t you like this gown? Mistress Phebe designed it herself. I’m getting married in a month, isn’t that exciting?” Her eyes turned to Leo and he saw a flash of recognition and also something he used to get all the time from the girls in Old Port—desire.

“You look like a Byrne,” the girl said.

“I am one,” Leo replied because Vada was just kneeling there, dumbstruck. “My sincerest congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.”

Rahel grinned. “I thank you, sir,” she said, making a low, elegant curtsy. Then she leaned forward and whispered, “My family hates your family.”

If there was one thing Leo was good at, it was flirting with rich girls. “My family hates your family,” he said with a wink, and was rewarded with another giggle. “But since our families are not here at the moment, can we remain friends?”

Rahel looked delighted. “As long as we keep it a secret,” she said.

“Of course,” Leo said, bowing. It occurred to him that the Misarros guarding this tent were actually guarding the princess. The golden sun on their tunics meant she was the daughter of the Renalt. “I’m surprised you traveled to Arbaz in such dire times.”

Rahel clapped her hands together. “I know, it’s so exciting isn’t it? Though I don’t understand why Mother had to vote to close the ports. Ithilia is so much more thrilling with all the new people. She didn’t want to let me come here but of course I had to have a dress by Mistress Phebe, didn’t I? She’s the best in the whole country! And who cares about silly old Kaolin ships? I hear they barely sail at all in Kaolin and ride around in big honking machines. Are you here for new clothes as well? Those ones aren’t very fitting on you. Why is a Byrne dressed like a common sailor? Is she your girlfriend?”

Vada snorted at the suggestion and Leo shook his head.

“No, she’s my servant,” he said. Rahel looked very pleased to hear that.

Just then the tent flap opened, and a woman entered carrying a very elaborate headdress. “I have found just the one, princess,” she was saying, then stopped short at the sight of Leo and Vada. She was probably in her late forties, with wavy black hair and brown skin, her curvy figure hugged by a gown of iridescent blue-green scales, and while Leo was absolutely positive he had never seen her before, there was something familiar about her face.