When Dimitri choked back a laugh, Gwennore winced. No doubt he would tell General Gorgeous what she’d said.
“Better?” Olenka huffed. “Who could be more handsome than General Dravenko?”
So that was his name? Gwennore paused at the next landing to catch her breath, then kept climbing. “The kings of Eberon and Tourin are both exceptionally handsome.”
Olenka snorted. “How could someone like you ever meet royalty?”
Gwennore gritted her teeth. “Someone like me has two sisters who are queens. Luciana and Brigitta.”
Olenka sputtered. “You-you’re their—how can you be their sister? Aren’t you from Woodwyn?”
“No, I grew up with four adopted sisters in a convent on the Isle of Moon,” Gwennore explained.
Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. “What are their names?”
“Luciana, Brigitta, Sorcha, and—” Gwennore stopped when both Olenka and Dimitri stiffened with astonishment. “Do you know Sorcha? We always suspected she was from Norveshka because of her red hair.”
“Wha-what was your name again?” Olenka asked.
“Gwennore.”
“Oh, my dear Lady Gwennore.” Olenka took her by the arm. “Let me help you up the stairs. Is there anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable?”
Gwennore glanced at Dimitri, who looked thoroughly amused. “Eviana will need some clean clothes, a hot bath, and a hot meal.”
“Of course.” Olenka eyed the little girl curiously. “So is she really the Eberoni princess?”
Gwennore nodded. “She’s the daughter of King Leofric and Queen Luciana.”
Dimitri winced. “No wonder I’m standing guard. We can’t let anything happen to this child.”
Gwennore scoffed. “Something already has. She was abducted by a dragon. And if she isn’t returned soon, both Eberon and Tourin will be attacking your country.”
Dimitri nodded. “I understand. But you needn’t worry. General Dravenko will take care of it.”
“And we’ll take good care of you both,” Olenka insisted. “You’ll tell the general how nice I was, right?”
Gwennore swallowed her frustration as she continued to climb stairs. As far as she could tell, the lady-in-waiting was being nice only because she wanted to score points with General Gorgeous. “If you knew Eviana wasn’t Queen Freya’s child, why did you play along? I could have ended up in a dungeon. And poor Eviana may be traumatized for life.”
Olenka hung her head. “I am sorry about that. It just seems better to never upset Her Majesty.”
“Or you could end up in a dungeon?” Gwennore asked wryly, and Olenka winced. “How many children has the queen lost? Was it her grief that caused her to fall into madness?”
With a gasp, Olenka jerked to a stop. “Hush!” She quickly looked around. “You must never speak of that.”
“Why?” Gwennore paused on a step. “How can you help the queen if you don’t acknowledge her illness?”
With a hiss, Olenka pressed a finger against her mouth. Then she leaned closer and whispered, “There is no help for it. And we are forbidden to speak of it.”
Gwennore thought back to the moment when she’d held the queen’s wrist. Poison. She was fairly sure of it.
“Come, we’re almost there.” Olenka hurried up the last of the stairs. When she spotted a maid, she called her over. “We need your help making the nursery ready.”
“Yes, my lady.” The maid curtsied. “I’ll bring some wood for a fire.” As she dashed away, Olenka strode over to the double doors and flung them open.
When Gwennore entered the large room, Olenka motioned to a door on the far side of the nursery. “The dressing room is over there. I’ll start a bath for the princess and find something for her to wear.”
“Thank you.” Gwennore set Eviana on her feet, although the little girl still clung to her skirt.
“If the general comes, be sure to tell him how helpful I am,” Olenka added.
Gwennore sighed. “Would you prefer that I tell him you wish to be courted?”
Olenka gasped. “No, don’t say that!” She waved her hands frantically. “Please! I only want to show my loyalty. Nothing more.”
“All right,” Gwennore agreed, even though she was totally confused.
“Thank you!” Olenka dashed across the room as if she was desperate to escape. She burst into the dressing room and slammed the door.
“Was it something I said?” Gwennore muttered in Eberoni.
Dimitri nodded. “Yes, actually. She and the other courtiers only want to be close to those in power. It makes them feel powerful. But the court ladies would never risk marriage with the general.” He frowned. “Or Aleksi. Or me.”
“Why not? I would think any woman would be honored to marry you.”
Dimitri gave her a wry smile. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, the dressing room door flung open, and Olenka jumped out, eyeing Gwennore with suspicion.
“Is it true what General Dravenko said?” she asked. “That he captured you some time ago in battle?”
Gwennore winced. She couldn’t very well say that the general had lied.
“He captured you, but never returned you?” Olenka’s eyes grew wide as she pressed a hand to her chest. “I should have realized it before. This is so dramatic! The general has taken an enemy elfin woman to his bed!”
Gwennore flinched. “What?”
“That’s why he’s coming here to check on us. He’s worried about you.” Olenka pointed at her. “He wants to protect his lover.”
“No!”
“And that’s why you frightened me with that offer of courtship. It was a warning for me to stay away from him.”
“That’s not it,” Gwennore insisted.
Olenka nodded with a knowing gleam in her eyes. “I can understand how you might be threatened by someone as beautiful as I am. No doubt you see me as serious competition, but I assure you, I only wish to be helpful.”
“I do appreciate your help, but please don’t—”
“No wonder you acted like he wasn’t all that handsome.” Olenka smirked. “It’s how you keep people from suspecting the truth. Obviously, you’re not accustomed to dealing with someone as perceptive as I.” She waved a hand in the air. “But don’t worry. I won’t say a word. Even though it’s gloriously dramatic!” She jumped into the dressing room and banged the door shut.
Gwennore gawked at the closed door for a moment, then turned toward Dimitri. “Please tell me she’s
