smiled and slipped back into the mage's voice. 'Find Isolt. We have done our duty. We can leave now.'
Piro nodded. Should she tell Tyro about Fyn and Isolt's plans? She was sure he had plans of his own. But he still wore the amber soul-pendant around his neck.
If he did not trust her, she could not trust him.
The next morning, Piro looked up as Isolt bustled into the room to collect her basket of herbal remedies.
'Fyn's awake at last. I'm going to check on him.'
'I'll come with you.' Piro slipped off the bed. The foenix and wyvern padded after them.
Fyn looked up as they entered his chamber, his expression guarded.
Piro forced a smile. 'Feeling better?'
'A bit. I think I overdid it yesterday. My head's aching.'
'Hmm. Could be fever. You should stay in bed and rest today,' Isolt advised, just as Piro knew she would. Didn't they realise they couldn't fool a player like herself?
While Isolt mixed a tonic and something for Fyn's head, Piro sat on the windowseat with the foenix on her lap, stroking his soft feathers. She felt the moment he fell asleep, his body relaxing completely. If only Isolt and Fyn would trust her. If only she could tell them the truth about Tyro and the mage.
'There.' Isolt packed her things away. 'I'll tell the servants not to disturb you. Come on, Piro.'
She slid out from under the foenix, leaving him asleep in Fyn's room. Back in their chamber, Isolt went to the mirror to comb her long hair. She met Piro's eyes in the looking-glass. 'I've been neglecting Loyalty. I think I'll take her down to the grotto for a swim.'
'I know where you are going.'
Isolt's hand stilled for a second, then kept moving. 'You're welcome to come for a swim.'
'You're going with Fyn. He sails for Merofynia today.'
Isolt lowered the comb. 'Your Affinity told you?'
Piro let her think that. 'Tyro has plans — '
Isolt spun around. 'I know you like Tyro, but we can't trust the mage. Tsulamyth doesn't have to save Byren while he has Fyn in reserve.'
Piro's mouth went dry. They were right. One kingson was as good as another, as long as there was a legitimate heir for the people to rally behind.
'Don't give us away, Piro,' Isolt pleaded.
'Of course not.' But they didn't trust her and this hurt. They should have asked her to come with them.
'I must go.' Isolt slipped a jar of wyvern-nip in her basket then clicked her tongue to call Loyalty. The wyvern scrambled over, reared up on her hind legs and put her front paws on Isolt's shoulders, nuzzling her neck.
Isolt laughed. 'She knows it's time for a swim.'
The wyvern sank to her feet and padded to the door. Isolt looked over at Piro, troubled. 'I don't want you to get in trouble with the mage because of us. Pretend you didn't know our plans.'
Piro could not think of a thing to say as Isolt slipped away. Right up until the door closed, she had been expecting Isolt to ask her to come along.
Tears stung Piro's eyes.
Byren and Fyn needed her. They all needed her. Surely this was a nexus point? She was not going to be left behind.
Piro blinked her tears away and darted out into the corridor. Down the spiral stairs she went until she reached the landing where the stairs split. One branch went to the kitchen, the other went far below to the grotto.
There was a sound behind her. Piro spun in time to see Ovido run away. She cursed. He would report to Tyro. Even if Tyro did not suspect, he might come down to the grotto to picnic with them, and that would spoil everything.
Piro ran after Ovido, but the boy knew shortcuts and by the time she reached the war table chamber, he was already at the door. With a grin of victory he slipped inside.
Piro heard Tyro's amused voice. 'Yes, Ovido?'
'Isolt goes to the grotto.'
Piro entered in time to see Tyro leaning over his war table. He held a piece as if he had been about to move it. Piro would not let herself look at her piece.
'Go play, Ovido.' Tyro dismissed him.
Now that Tyro knew they were going down to the grotto he would suspect something if she didn't invite him. But he looked too preoccupied to join them, so she took a gamble. 'Isolt and I are going to spend the morning in the grotto. Would you like to have lunch with us?'
Tyro glanced at Piro, taking in her open sandals, light muslin tunic, her hair loose to her waist. 'Tempting as that offer is, I must refuse. I have work to do. Come closer.'
Piro stepped forwards, determined not to let him see through her.
'Can I trust you, Piro?'
She went cold. 'I haven't told Fyn and Isolt about you.'
'No. Perhaps I should ask if you trust me?'
'Should I?'
He laughed softly. 'Good answer.' Then he grew serious as he removed the chain from around his neck, bringing the amber pendant into the light. Her mouth went dry with fear and she tried to draw back. He caught her hand, his eyes holding a plea.
'When I created this, I did not know the Piro I now know.' He turned her hand over, putting the amber in her palm. 'Accept it with my apologies.'
She lifted the chain so that the stone swung. Holding it to the light she expected to see herself trapped inside. Instead she saw an innocent air bubble. She gasped.
'It was illusion, Piro. I used the starkiss-scented candles to lower your resistance. I needed a way to keep you by my side, so I could ensure your safety. It was for your own protection but, by doing this, I forfeited your trust.'
She stared at the amber. She had never been trapped. A rush of anger filled her. She hated being manipulated.
'Stay with me today, Piro.'
Startled by the change of subject, she met his eyes. They were too searching. For her own protection, she pulled back. 'I can't stay. And I don't want this either.' She dropped the stone and its chain onto the war table. 'I don't like being tricked.'
'Then I have played the game badly.'
Piro turned on her heel and left him.
Fyn leant his head against the cold wall of the landing. The smell of savoury pastries wafted up one stairwell. Isolt had gone down the other stair. Despite promising otherwise, he was going to leave without her.
Last night he had tossed and turned, too troubled to sleep. It was wrong of him to take Isolt along just because he wanted her by his side. She was safer on Mage Isle. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her.
Even if she was furious with him, he had to tell her before he left. He could not leave her waiting in the grotto for him, that would be too cruel.
Feet heavy with reluctance, Fyn padded down to the steps to the grotto, where he found Isolt paddling her feet while the wyvern frolicked in the water.
A pearly light made the limestone walls of the grotto glow, made Isolt's skin translucent and her eyes luminous. And he was going to refuse her. Fyn hardened his heart.
She sprang to her feet. 'I thought you were bringing a boat. I'm ready. I've brought the wyvern-nip but no clothes. I can wear yours and roll up the legs… What's wrong?'
'I'm not here to take you with me. I'm here to say goodbye.'
'No, Fyn!' She ran up the grotto's shallow steps to the entrance where he stood. 'Don't go without me. You could be killed.'
'I can't leave Byren to die, and I can't take you into danger.'
'You can't take me into…' Her eyes widened. 'How dare you decide my fate, marrying me off to your brother
