“That’s the point, isn’t it? If you could see me, so could someone else. I couldn’t come inside the palace, but I figured you were safe enough there.”

“I’m safe enough anywhere.”

“Are you?”

She gave him a look, but said nothing. “Where will you go now?”

She hesitated before telling him, finally deciding there was no reason not to. “To my aunt and uncle’s for dinner. Jera and Ellich.”

He nodded. “Good people. Say hello for me.”

Then he drifted away, peeling off into the woods and disappearing in the same way he had the day before. She stopped to watch him go, intrigued in spite of herself. She found him inexplicably interesting and couldn’t provide a reason for it.

She enjoyed the remainder of the afternoon in the company of her aunt and uncle, and when Arlingfant arrived later on, the four shared the evening meal and several hours of reminiscence and laughter. It was the most relaxed she had felt in days, and when she arrived home that night she went straight to bed and fell immediately asleep.

The following morning, she appeared before the King and the High Council to make her request.

She rose early, but not early enough to catch Arlingfant, who had already gone off to the Gardens of Life to celebrate the sunrise with the Ellcrys and the other Chosen. Ellich had told her the night before—taking her aside for a moment’s private conversation—that arrangements had been made for her to appear in the Council chambers at midmorning. She had been calm about it when told, but felt nervous now that the audience was almost at hand. She gave more thought to what she would say, knowing even as she did so that the direction the appeal would take would ultimately depend on the reaction of the King and members of the High Council to the idea of allowing the Druids to use the Elfstones.

When she walked out the door on her way to the Council chambers, she found Cymrian waiting. She realized she had never mentioned him to her aunt and uncle, even after promising herself she would do so. Her unhappiness at having let that slide kept her from saying anything rude. Instead, she smiled disarmingly.

“Keeping close watch over me?”

“Keeping you in sight.”

“I have to appear before the High Council.”

“I know. I’ll be with you.”

“They won’t let you in. The audience is closed.”

He nodded. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

They walked on as she pondered this equivocation, wondering what he meant. Surely they wouldn’t allow him into a closed Council session. Not with his violent history. In point of fact, she didn’t want him there anyway. What she had to say wasn’t meant for his ears. The fewer people who knew about her plans for the Elfstones, the better.