I watched as Etan’s jaw dropped. His eyes darted back and forth, clearly trying to muster up an excuse.

“Whatever you’re thinking, let it go. Everyone is aware of your feelings toward Coroa. If you can be not just civil but kind to her, that will make a bigger statement about the unity of our family than any speech I could offer. So, you will be her escort, and I will hear nothing more about it.”

He looked at me, and I stared back at him. Whatever peace we’d agreed to, this might stretch it past its breaking point. But, seeing as we were on a mission here, I didn’t think there was a way around the arrangement.

Etan’s shoulders sagged. “Yes, Father.”

Uncle Reid looked at me, and I merely nodded. “Good. We’ll leave tomorrow, so you’d all best start packing.”

I was gripped with panic, and I could feel my body getting tense over the prospect of walking into Quinten’s home and court.

“Don’t worry,” Scarlet whispered. “I have dresses you can borrow.”

I smiled and nodded, not even thinking about that. I was going to have to blend in, and there was little chance of that; tight-sleeved gowns were the least of my concerns.

I lay awake in bed for a long time. Even with the exhaustion from my escape attempt the night before, even with a comfortable fire, it was impossible to fall asleep. I worried, perhaps to an irrational degree, what it would be like to face King Quinten tomorrow.

Maybe it was my imagination, but I felt like I could hear Etan next door, pacing at times, then throwing himself on his bed before getting up again. Was he as anxious as I was? Or did the man just never settle?

I gasped a little at the knock on my door, sitting upright.

“Just me,” Scarlet whispered. “See how startling it is?”

I giggled, pulling the blankets back for her to jump in. She lay down, but I stayed sitting up, resting my head on my knees.

“Perhaps we need a special sound. I could hoot like an owl or something before I come in,” I proposed.

“Yes. That will be lovely. Very noble of you,” she offered. “I figured you’d be awake. You all right?”

“No. I’m not. I’m so tired, but my mind is just . . .” It was all such a tangle, but when the words started coming out, so did the truth. “I’m afraid, Scarlet. Unlike you, this is all very new to me. You’ve always had this secret in your pocket, this knowledge of who you are and what it means in this big sweeping story of your kingdom. I’m just a girl who happened to fall in love with a boy . . . and now we’re here, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

“I’m not Isolten; I don’t see how anyone would entrust me—a stranger—with any vital information. And King Quinten disliked me from the start. I have this fear that any role I might have to play in getting justice for Silas is useless. I’m not as brash as Etan or as keenly observant as you. Mother and Uncle Reid are planners, and Aunt Jovana is this quiet sense of calm over everything. What about me?” I asked, finally seeming to put all the jumbled thoughts in my head to a point.