“Well, she does look a lot like Azaren,” said the king, eyeing me. “And Morgana too, actually.”
Suddenly the doors swung open, and Rafe sauntered in. I tried to look away, but I lost that battle quickly. He was dressed casually in tight breeches and high leather boots; his sword hung from his belt at his side. He wore a sleeveless leather doublet belted over a white shirt with the cuffs rolled up. His shirt was open at the neck, and he looked heartbreakingly handsome.
“Good morning, Your Majesty, Your Grace,” Rafe said as he nodded to his father and Uncle Gabriel, taking his place beside the king. He looked at me as he sat down; for a second, our eyes locked, and I quickly looked away.
“Where have you been? The council meeting started a while ago,” said the red-faced king to his seemingly wayward son. “And what are you wearing? Have I not made it a rule that you must dress formally for council meetings?”
“I was detained, Father,” Rafe drawled. “I did not have the time to change.”
The king didn’t look pleased, but he must have decided this was not the time or place to fight with his son, and he looked away. “Now, where were we? Ah yes, Princess Aurora is to be given the full support of the council and its combined forces. If and when Morgana attacks, we must be ready. I want all your troops prepared for an invasion; every last soldier must be alert. Professor Dekela has assured us of the support of Evolon and all his warrior-mages as well as the healers.”
The Duke of Blackwater, realizing that his objections had been dismissed, quickly sat back down in his chair.
“If I may, Your Majesty?” piped in the Earl of Glenbarry. “How can we be certain that the princess can control her powers? We all heard about what happened at the academy, and I have it on high authority that she lost control of her magic. How can we be sure this will not happen again inside the palace? It would put many innocent lives at stake, like my dear daughter—soon to be your daughter-in-law.”
Rafe’s eyes narrowed. “I do not think the princess will pose a problem, Glenbarry. As long as she has the amulet on, her powers are in control. But if you feel so strongly about the safety of your dear daughter, maybe you should let her stay at Glenbarry House in the city instead of here at the palace.”
“No, no, Your Highness,” said the pompous Earl of Glenbarry, sitting back down in his seat. “I am sure you will see to it that my dear Leticia will be safe.”
Rafe did not answer and chose to ignore his soon-to-be father-in-law.
“But what if she decides to take the amulet off again?” said one feeble old lord with a long, white beard and a balding head, who looked like he had just woken from his slumber. “There are many who now fear her, and many who feel that she should not be here in the palace, at least until she has mastered the use of all her powers.”
Uncle Gabriel got up from his seat and addressed the old lord. “Are you afraid of a sixteen-year-old girl, Lenard?”
“No, no, of course not,” sputtered Lenard, “but there are many who—”
Uncle Gabriel ignored the old lord and turned to face the king. “Your Majesty! Princess Aurora will not be a threat in the least. You have my word.”
“And that is quite enough, as far as I am concerned.” The king gave the Duke of Silverthorne a pointed look as he adjusted the heavy crown resting precariously on his head.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” said Uncle Gabriel, giving the king a short bow.
King Petrocales glanced around the room. “Well, if that is all, we have many other things to discuss with the council. Aurora, you may leave. You are free to do as you wish; stay within the palace grounds and you will be safe.”
I nodded and withdrew from the room. They hadn’t even let me get a word in. But I preferred to keep to myself for now. There was no need to tell them what I was thinking. I decided to let them think that I was meek and easily moldable. When the time was right, I would show them who I really was, and God help anyone who tried to stand in my way.
I wandered around a bit and walked through the tiered gardens of the Summer Palace, down flowering paths and mossy steps, to the very edge of the white cliffs that plunged like huge white walls into the sapphire depths of the Stardust Sea.
I inhaled deeply. The smell of the salt air and sea wind took me back to happier times when my adoptive parents would take me on vacations to a little shack we had on the seaside. When I thought of them, my heart still ached from my loss. They may not have been my real parents, but they loved me like a daughter, and frankly, they were the only parents I had ever known.
Now that life seemed so far away, almost like a dream, I had finally accepted that Avalonia was my home and Illiador was my birthright. My aunt had stolen it and betrayed my parents in a horrible act of treason, and now it was up to me to see that my parents’ legacy did not die with them. I was going to be seventeen in a few days, and it was time I grew up and faced my responsibilities. It was up to me now to do what was expected of me, to do my duty, and to do what was right.
I sighed and turned to leave, when strong arms gently enveloped me from behind. I was momentarily startled, but I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. I would know him anywhere.
Rafe leaned forward and brushed my cheek with
