“I’d best go, Your Highness,” Missy said, rising and curtsying herself. “There’s a tea this afternoon for Lady Heresford. I only wish you could come.” She backed from the room under Raisa’s scowl as Averill entered.

Raisa embraced her father. “Thank the Maker you’re here. I am going crazy, not knowing anything. What’s going on? Are the Bayars in trouble?”

Averill took a deep breath and shook his head. “Well, no. Not exactly.”

“What?” Raisa backed away from him. “What do you mean, not exactly?” Then she noticed that he was wearing traveling clothes, his trader pouch slung over his shoulder.

“You’re going away again,” she said, her heart sinking.

“Briefly,” Averill said, with a wry smile. “The queen has decided I should ride to Chalk Cliffs and speak with the garrison commander about port security. It seems there’s a problem with pirates.”

“Why you?” Raisa said. “And why now? It’s the middle of the season, and my party is only four days away.”

“Why indeed?” he said lightly. “Your mother is not pleased with me these days, I’m afraid,” he said. “But don’t worry. I’ll be back in plenty of time for your celebration. I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Why doesn’t she send Captain Byrne?” Raisa muttered. “Or General Klemath?”

“Captain Byrne is coming with me, in fact,” Averill said. He paused, as if to let the weight of his words settle.

“She’s sending you away, while I feel like I’m being held captive,” Raisa grumbled, pacing the floor. “I haven’t even had a chance to properly meet Prince Liam and Princess Marina. I don’t get it. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to be doing right now—going to parties? Meeting prospective suitors?”

“Why do you think she’s doing this, Briar Rose?” Averill gazed out through the windows over a city without shadows, stark in the noonday sun.

Raisa pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead, trying to massage away the headache Missy always left behind. “Is she blaming me for what happened at the Bayars’ party?”

“I told her about the amulet. She should know it wasn’t your fault. But she seems angry with me for raising the issue.”

“Angry with you? But why?” Raisa felt stupid. She hated feeling stupid.

Averill sighed. “When she confronted Lord Bayar, he explained to Her Majesty that the jinxpieces are harmless reproductions of old magical pieces; that they gifted you and Micah with matching jewelry to symbolize the long connection between the queens of the Fells and the Bayar family.”

He turned away from the window and looked at her straight on. “Lord Bayar showed the queen the serpent necklace and ring, which were, indeed, very well-crafted reproductions.”