“Father, Mother, this is Oliver, Tessana’s bodyguard.”
Oliver nearly choked on his tongue. “Hardly,” he laughed. “More like her traveling entertainment.”
I smiled at him. “Oliver is an apprentice to the Order of Silence. He has yet to take his vows and it is my theory that until he does, he plans to use as many words as possible.”
Oliver wrinkled his nose at me and Hugo howled. “I see you have not wanted for friendship, Tessana. That is good.”
I nodded. “Oliver was my savior many times. As it turns out I do not fare well when forbidden to speak.”
Taelon, who was seated across from me, laughed. “I remember that well.”
“You’re truly her, then?” one of the boys asked. “The Lost Princess?”
“Leo,” Anatal scolded. She turned to me. “I apologize, Tessana. It appears that my children have no manners. I must speak with their governess.”
“We have no governess, Mother,” the other son, Dorian, reminded her. “You are to fault for our lack of propriety.”
Anatal smiled. “Oh, that’s right.”
Hugo chuckled and looked adoringly at his wife. “Ah,” he murmured. “Now I know who to blame them on.”
“Blame them on?” She gasped. “Why, my king, whatever do you mean?”
Hugo continued to smile, “There’s the one that can’t stop talking.” He gave a pointed look at Rosabella. “And the two in the middle, forever causing mischief with their fencing instructor. And that one,” his gaze swung to his oldest son.
“What is wrong with that one?” Anatal asked, trying to hide her smile.
“He’s leading a rebellion against his own kingdom. The very one he’s going to rule.”
Taelon leaned back and grinned. “I have yet to wage war against your troops, Father. However, should you fail to meet my list of demands…”
“Bah!” Hugo guffawed. “You’ve access to the treasury. Take whatever you need.”
I spoke before I thought better of it, “You’re serious? You know he’s leading a rebellion and you’re fine with it?”
Hugo’s warm gaze landed on me. “He’d like you to believe it’s a rebellion. And I suppose it is of sorts. But he’s not rebelling against the Nine. More like the darkness infecting our realm.” His voice was filled with the despair I’d often felt traveling through Tenovia. “He fights to keep peace. To save lives. He fights to keep those blasted Shadows out of our land and away from our people. It’s not the most conventional way to fight, I’ll give you that. But, he is able to keep peace with Elysia by hiding behind the guise of a rebel commander. And for now, there is nothing more important.”
I had nothing to say to that. I had assumed Taelon had been leading the rebellion as nothing more than an act of… well, rebellion. But Hugo spoke of him with such pride and confidence.
He turned, all that roguish arrogance evident in his smile.
“Well, enough politics for today,” Hugo declared. “Let’s enjoy our dinner and this unexpected reunion.”
To Oliver’s good fortune, not one piece of food was blackened improperly. Oliver and I tried to remain civil and responsive to questions directed at us, but Oliver, especially, found it difficult to tear his eyes, and his mouth, from the food. Honey-glazed root vegetables and spiced turnip soup. Stuffed sea turtle and crispy fish that I’d never heard of before. Our plates were never empty before the next course was served. And at the very end, a tray of desserts with cakes and meringues and tarts all baked to perfection.
As for the royal family, they were filled with patience and persistence. I wasn’t quite sure they’d ever seen two people so willing to eat every bite placed in front of them.
When coffee appeared after dinner, I felt uncomfortably wide. The new corset did not exactly allow for a second portion of glazed pipsaberry cake.
I was resisting the urge to rub my sore belly when Taelon leaned across the table. “Come with me?”
I looked around the table, embarrassed that he’d singled me out. “Pardon?”
“Take a ride with me,” he repeated. “I’ll show you the cliffs.”
I shook my head and whispered, “I can’t.”
He leaned closer. “You can.” I started to crumble. But it wasn’t until he added, “Please?” that I lost my resolve altogether.
“Alright,” I relented. “But only because if I don’t move now, I won’t be able to get up ever again.”
“Well, as long as you have a good reason.”
He pushed back in his chair and stood up. To his mother he said, “I’m going to show the Lost Princess the cliffs. Help her realize she’s at last been found.”
“For the record,” I added. “I never felt lost.”
Taelon turned to me. “But have you felt found?”
I had no reply, so instead I thanked my host and hostess for a lovely dinner and their hospitality.
Taelon walked around the table and helped me from my chair. When he’d taken my hand, he leaned in and murmured, “Tessana Allisand, welcome home.”
21
“Horseback or carriage?” Taelon asked.
I thought about going somewhere with him in the closed space of a carriage. Heat pooled in my belly. “Horseback.”
His smile turned into a victorious grin. “I remember you as an adventurer,” he said. “It is a relief to know that has not changed.”
“I’m not an adventurer,” I told him primly.
“You’re right,” he agreed. “You’re not an adventurer at all. Merely a girl who likes to see everything and do everything and experience everything. Brave enough to cross three kingdoms with nothing more than a fox cubling and a not-so-silent monk.”
I thought about protesting, but it was silly now. Instead, I gave into the smile that had been making my lips twitch and met his focused blue eyes. “Perhaps I see your point.”
He stopped and I nearly ran into him. He turned to face me with his back to the stable’s entrance and his gaze intently on mine. “You’re so much like I remember you, Tessa. It’s hard to believe that the world did not change you more.”
“I was hidden
