Brandon got us rooms facing the ocean, and as I stood at my window, the crisp air of the afternoon breeze cleared my head. There was a wooden tub with fresh warm water waiting for me in the center of the room, and I removed my clothes, soaked my tired body, and washed off all the grime of the journey. I changed into a simple brown dress with long sleeves, then washed my pants, shirt, and doublet, hanging them on the chair to dry. They were the only other items of clothing I had carried with me.
There was a knock on the door and two footmen carried in a big chest, putting it down in the center of the room. “A gift from Lord Delacourt, my lady,” said one as they both bowed.
“What is it?” I was suitably intrigued. Brandon did know how to spoil a lady. I went over to the chest and opened it. Out spilled a variety of lovely dresses, each more sumptuous and extravagant than the next. Why had he sent me these? Warm milk and a hot bath were one thing, but this! This was too much.
“For the ball tonight, my lady,” said the same footman.
“What ball?” Did Brandon expect me to accompany him to his cousin’s wedding? Wouldn’t that be too dangerous?
“Our orders were to deliver this to you, my lady.” The footman bowed again and they left the room.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at the beautiful dresses before me. What was Brandon up to? We couldn’t go out in public—the whole Eldorean guard was looking for me. We were supposed to find Santino and sail for Brandor as soon as we could.
Rafe had warned me to stay in my room and I obeyed. I didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble. He said he had something to do, and I was curious as to what was so important he would wander around the town with the risk of getting caught.
Normally I would have gone looking for him or insisted on accompanying Brandon myself to speak to Santino, but I had lost all confidence in myself and my decisions. Every time I tried to do something I thought was right, it turned into a disaster. Now I had to tell myself time and time again that I should listen to others who knew better. This was my time to learn, not be foolish and get myself killed. I had to stay alive long enough to get to Elfi and my grandmother.
I lay down and took a nap, the fresh sea breeze lulling me into a calm sleep.
When I awoke, it was evening, and twilight was starting to set in. I rose from my bed and stared out of the window at the dusky pink sky that lay above the water. The setting sun had turned the bay into a myriad of red and orange, while ships with colorful sails danced on the waves, bobbing up and down on the shimmering sea.
Rafe came to see me. He eyed the dresses with a raised eyebrow, and I explained that Brandon had sent them over.
“I spoke to Brandon.” Rafe ignored the dresses. “It seems trying to see Santino on his ship today will not be possible. He sails for Brandor tomorrow.”
“Did Brandon tell him who we are?”
Rafe nodded. “He had to. If Santino finds out we lied to him, we could end up at the bottom of the Stardust Sea. He has spies everywhere and must already know we are in town. He will not bother us unless we cross him. He is notorious for taking up lost causes.” He smiled.
I did not. “But has he agreed to take us with him?”
“You being who you are may be the one thing that will make him agree to take us,” Rafe went on. “He wants to meet you, then he will decide.”
“Where? I thought you said we couldn’t meet him on his ship today.”
“We can’t, so Brandon has fixed a meeting between us and Santino at the masquerade ball tonight.”
“So that’s why Brandon sent those dresses.”
Rafe nodded. “Choose one and get ready. There should be some masks in there as well. If everything goes as planned, we will be on a ship to Brandor by tomorrow. It is imperative that we convince Santino to help us so we can leave as soon as possible. This town is crawling with guards, it’s only a matter of time before one of us is recognized.” He turned to leave.
“Maybe you should go back,” I said, remembering what Brandon had told me and acting before I changed my mind. “I can manage from here on.” My throat was so dry I could barely get the words out. “Once we meet Santino and I get on the ship, you can return to the palace and sort this all out with your father. You can’t allow Morgana’s minions to get control of your kingdom.”
Rafe smiled. “I won’t let her do that.” He came closer and took my hand in his. “What brought this on?”
I shook my head and looked at my feet.
“I’m not going to leave you, Aurora, I had hoped you would know that by now,” he said softly. “I don’t trust anyone else with your safety, least of all Brandon and a pirate. I will see to it that you get to Elfi myself.”
“Because of the debt to my father?”
Rafe laughed and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “No, Aurora. That was an excuse to spend more time around you and not look like a complete fool when you questioned my motives for always turning up when you needed me. I didn’t want you to think I was a stalker.”
I smiled at this. “And were you?”
“What?”
“Stalking me?” I teased.
Rafe shrugged, but I could see the mischievous gleam in his eyes. “I wouldn’t call it stalking.”
“Oh! Then what would you call it?”
Rafe pulled me to him. His
