“I have to try,” Emily said. “Have you...?”
She glanced up, sharply, as someone tapped on the door. Lady Barb stood, one hand dropping to the pommel of her sword as she opened the door and peered out. A young girl stood there, looking terrified. She couldn’t be any older than eight. The innkeeper’s daughter, Emily guessed. Common-born families couldn’t allow their kids to sit around doing nothing, not when there was work to be done. The poor girl was lucky, in some ways. Farm boys and girls went to work almost as soon as they could walk.
Lady Barb softened her voice, just a little. “Yes?”
“My Lady, Prince Hedrick requests your presence,” the girl said. Her face reddened as she looked at Emily. “He also requests your friend’s presence.”
“Does he now?” Lady Barb’s voice was calm. “Inform him we will be along in a moment or two.”
The girl turned and practically fled down the corridor. Lady Barb closed the door and sighed in irritation. “The secret is out.”
“It looks that way,” Emily agreed. She wasn’t looking forward to meeting Prince Hedrick, again, but it looked as though she had no choice. “If she knows, how many other people know?”
“I’d be surprised if it remains a secret for much longer,” Lady Barb said. She checked her weapons, then opened the door. “Come on.”
Emily nodded, making a mental note to discuss the amulet later, as she followed Lady Barb into the corridor. The air smelt faintly of something sour, despite a steady flow of air from the open windows at each end of the corridor. The doors were closed, locked and heavily warded, some warded so thoroughly that magic snapped at them as they walked past the doors without trying to get inside. Emily frowned. The inn wasn’t designed for permanent residency. Dragon’s Den was right next door. A magician could rent a room in an inn far closer to the town, if he wanted.
“Remember, you’re technically equals,” Lady Barb commented, as they stopped outside another door. “Shake hands. Don’t curtsey and don’t expect him to bow.”
Emily nodded. It would be difficult to determine which of them was truly socially superior to the other. A Prince of the Realm was ranked high, just below a monarch, but Emily had so many titles she couldn’t keep track of them. And Prince Hedrick no longer had any real power. The bodyguards he’d brought with him were all he had.
The door opened. Emily allowed Lady Barb to lead her inside. Prince Hedrick was sitting in a simple wooden chair, staring at a map. There was something crude about his features, as if he hadn’t grown into full maturity. He was actually a couple of years older than she was, if Emily recalled correctly. Perhaps his family had encouraged him not to grow up too quickly. A mature prince, one who could only inherit over his brother’s dead body, might start thinking about ways to ensure his brother didn’t live long enough to take the throne.
“Lady Emily.” Prince Hedrick rose and held out a hand. There was a hint of hostility in his tone. “My kingdom is in chaos, thanks to your... innovations.”
Emily kept her face impassive as they shook hands. The prince didn’t try to squeeze tightly, as if he wanted to crush her hand, but she had the feeling he wanted to. She’d seen enough insecure men, mostly low-ranking aristocrats, try to establish the pecking order by bone-crushing handshakes. She’d always thought it was stupid and thoroughly pointless.
“I have instructions to try to bring you and your enemies to the negotiation table,” she said, keeping her voice calm. “Are you prepared to work with me to bring about a mutually acceptable end to the chaos?”
Prince Hedrick let go of her arm and sat back in his chair. Emily shrugged inwardly and found a chair for herself, without waiting for an invite she was sure wouldn’t be forthcoming. Lady Barb leaned against the wall, her presence reassuring even though she wouldn’t intervene unless the meeting turned dangerous. The prince smiled, rather wanly, and rested his arms on his lap. Emily had the feeling he wanted to be doing something, even if it was futile. Patience didn’t come easily to the young man.
“My father and my stepmother, along with my half-sisters, remain in rebel hands,” Prince Hedrick said. “My brother wishes you to join him in his camp and...”
“I’m afraid not,” Emily said. Someone had been spreading rumors about Crown Prince Dater and herself. The rumors made it sound as though they were engaged to be married, or that she’d asked him to marry her and he’d declined. It was absurd, but... she shook her head in annoyance. He’d asked her to marry him and she’d said no. “It is important we proceed directly to the city.”
“My brother wishes to brief you personally,” Prince Hedrick said. “And he thinks...”
“I have to be neutral,” Emily said. The prince was starting to grate on her. “We’ll wait for the reply from the rebels, then head directly to the city. You can accompany me as your brother’s representative. Your bodyguards will have to remain here or make their own way to the camp.”
Prince Hedrick smiled. “Very well, Lady Emily,” he said. “I’m sure you will make an interesting traveling companion.”
Emily considered, briefly, leaving the prince behind. It wasn’t as if anyone who’d actually met the prince would blame her. She could go to the city, convince the rebels to accept her and then invite Hedrick to join her. But the White Council would not be amused. They’d see it as.... whatever they wanted to. Master Lucknow was currently licking his wounds, but he’d be back soon enough. He’d be on the watch for an excuse to try to arrest her again.
“I assume you’ve been in touch with your brother,” she said, instead. Dater had struck her as a
