There were courteous claps around the room, and Etan held my hand as we went up the dais. Once we got there, Hagan was waiting for me, and I remembered whose arm I was supposed to be on.

“Your Majesty, please let me introduce you to Sir Hagan Kaltratt. He will be accompanying me for the duration of your stay.”

Etan reached out his hand. “A pleasure to meet you, sir. I hope we will get some time to talk ourselves.”

Hagan shook Etan’s hand in return. “I’d love to. I’ve heard your quite the jouster. I’d be grateful for any advice you’d be willing to give me.”

Etan laughed. “I’m afraid I’ve only won one tournament. I was lucky.” He glanced over to me. “Very lucky. But I’ll still go out to the field with you whenever you’re free.”

“Excellent.”

Etan took the hand of the girl beside him, bringing her closer to me. “Your Majesty, I’d like you to meet Lady Ayanna Routhand. She is one of the brightest ladies at the Isolten court, and she’s dying for you to give her dancing lessons.”

I looked past him. “Is that so?”

She nodded. “I’ve heard all about your adventures from your mother-in-law. And Lady Scarlet speaks of how you two used to dance.”

I grabbed Etan’s arm. “Are they here?”

“Held up. They’re coming tonight,” he replied, an amused smile on his face.

“Your parents?” I had to stop myself from calling them aunt and uncle.

“They’re keeping everything together while I’m gone, but they send their love, as always.”

I couldn’t contain my joy. Etan was here, and Mother would be soon, along with Scarlet. I didn’t realize how much I’d been aching for them, but as the moment settled on me, I felt instantly lighter. My standing around and laughing was not the point of the trip, so I motioned for Etan to join me at our seats. Hagan, ever a perfect gentleman, went over to Ayanna, and took her to meet some of the more influential families at court.

“She’s sweet,” I said.

“Yes. Sweet, eager to learn . . . Father approves, so that’s something.”

I made a face. “And Aunt Jovana?”

He squinted. “She’s a bit more restrained with her affections to Ayanna.”

“I’m sure she’ll come around.”

“I suppose.” But there was something about the set of his jaw that said this was unlikely. “What’s all this?” he asked pointing to the wall. Next to the stained-glass windows depicting moments from Coroa’s past, a curtain hung. “Did a pane get broken?”

“Not broken. I’ve had a new window installed. We’re unveiling it at sunset. The light should be perfect.”

“You would know.”

I stared at his smile, lost, completely forgetting where I was supposed to be going or if I was meant to say something. The world was nothing but Etan.

After a moment, he took in a deep breath, like he’d forgotten to inhale. His eyelids fluttered, and he turned to look at the room, seeming to need a distraction almost as much as I did. “You should have seen your people as we approached the first city,” he said, his tone balancing perfectly between serious and playful. “Children were waiting by the road with fruit in their hands. They ran alongside us, handing it up to the soldiers and courtiers as we passed.”