Sounds of other guests getting busy in their rooms made me know it was time to get ready for the ceremony. I reluctantly rose from the bed where I’d stayed motionless for hours, and washed away the sweat of the day. Then I sat in the lukewarm tub, eyes closed, my brown hair floating around my head in a sad attempt to dissolve my thoughts.

  After a while, someone knocked.

  “Lady Al? This is Silani. Princess Nigella asked me to assist you.”

  I sighed. The princess was sending me her most trusted maid, and I knew she’d only leave once her job was done. I had to get out of the water.

  Silani helped me put on the beautiful outfit designed for me to wear at the ceremony. I was used to white shirts, but this one was frilly and quite soft to the touch. Paired with a custom bodice whose plum color brought out my complexion, it made me feel a little less miserable. I glanced at the mirror. I looked sad, but not too scruffy.

  “Now, how will we style your hair?” asked Silani.

  “I’m not the one who’s getting engaged. A simple bun will do.”

  She frowned. “Then at least let me take care of it. Your usual buns are so ruffled!”

  But I like them loose and tousled… I opened my mouth to protest, but decided against it. I let Silani pull up my hair in a nice round bun, add a mother-of-pearl hairpin, then apply a thin line of makeup to my eyelids. When she was done, she stepped back and nodded with a smile.

  “Now you look like a proper lady!”

  I begged to differ. The Alicia in the mirror was wearing the local equivalent of designer clothes, but she still looked like a kindergarten teacher who craved coffee and cake, and who could have none. However, just like Silani, I knew when to lie, so I smiled in return.

  “Thanks for your help.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to assist Princess Nigella.”

  “Of course.”

  There was still time before the ceremony, so I took a walk around the courtyard, along with other guests who also had an hour to kill. The layout of the Citadel only left space for a small garden inside the fortifications, but I’d seen a larger one from the coach. Would I be allowed to go for a stroll there? I walked to the main gate and asked the nearest guard.

  “Of course, my lady, but make sure you come back soon,” he answered.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’ll be relieved in less than an hour, and the next guy might not let you in.”

  I nodded. It sounded sensible. Besides, I certainly wouldn’t linger in the garden for more than an hour.

  The ground was divided into four parcels, and bushes of all shapes and colors bordered the alleys. Clouds made the ambient light shifting and irregular, while insects buzzed in the afternoon heat. I touched leaves, left and right of the path where I was standing, and closed my eyes.

  Was I imagining things, or was someone moaning in the distance?

  My eyes shot open. I wasn’t making it up. There was definitely a plaintive voice beyond the limits of the garden. I cautiously walked to the outer wall and tried to peek over it, but I failed to see anything except fields overlooking a glistening sea. However, the voice sounded closer, and I could hear the pain that made it shake.

  A wounded man. Should I help him, or would it put me in danger?

  I looked around for guards, but the closest ones were patrolling too far to help. In a more casual outfit, I’d climb over the wall and take a look, but I couldn’t ruin my formal dress, so I walked along the wall, trying not to step on fragile plants. I needed to find a way around that enclosure.

  It took me a while to get out of the garden and find the moaning man. After tiptoeing around several hedges, I finally caught a glimpse of his huddled figure, dressed in dirty linen, with his arms hiding his head. He was nearly invisible from the main paths.

  All right, Alicia. Now I risk my head.

  I breathed in and stepped forward.

  “Sir? Do you need help?”

  He startled. His arms rose into a protective position, and from behind matted dark brown hair, panicked eyes looked up at me.

  “I’m sorry! Don’t hurt me!” he begged in Foleshian.

  Is it him?

  I put both hands forward in a gesture of appeasement. I didn’t remember ever triggering such fear in anyone, let alone a grown man. It was a good thing I could speak his language.

  “It’s okay. My name is Al. What about you? You’re the man who looks after Princess Jilu’s dog, aren’t you?”

  He shook his head. “Not anymore. Leave me alone, please.”

  But I couldn’t leave, now that I saw him up close. I couldn’t ignore the bruises on his face. His swollen cheeks. The dried blood on his clothes. I squatted slowly.

  “Did I mention I’m known as the Great Hero Al?”

  He raised an eyebrow.

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  “And in my book, a hero doesn’t let a wounded man down,” I added.

  “You don’t want to be seen with me,” he replied, looking away.

  “What I don’t want is to walk away knowing I could’ve helped. What happened?”

  I tried to touch his arm, but he moved back.

  “It doesn’t matter. It’s over, and…”

  He looked at the sea and his voice broke. I insisted.

  “Did any of it happen because of yesterday’s incident with Kian?”

  He clenched his jaw, stubbornly looking away from me. Behind his shoulder, all I saw was long hair and a round cheek. What could I do for someone who refused to talk?

  Then his shoulders sank and he sobbed.

  “It’s all my fault! Kian almost died because of me, so I deserve it, all of it, you know! It’s just…”

  Sobs ate what was left of his voice. I leaned closer.

  “You got fired, I get it, but were you beaten as well? For being seasick and physically unable to look after a dog? Did you even decide to get on that boat on your own?”

  He shook his head.

  “Her Royal Highness wanted Kian to be as close to her as possible during the race. I wouldn’t have decided to go there by myself.”

  “Then you shouldn’t be blamed for a decision you weren’t free to make.”

  He looked at me with wet brown eyes.

  “Where are you from? Your Foleshian is perfect, and yet, the way you speak…”

  I had a tight smile.

  “I was brought from across worlds to be a protector of Brealia. Let me be clear about it: the way I see it, I’m here to help the people in general. Not necessarily the royal family, even though they were the ones who had me summoned in the first place. And right now, as far as I’m concerned, you’re one of the people I’m supposed to be a hero for.”

  “But I don’t belong here! I mean…” He shook his head. “It’s pointless. Her Royal Highness expelled me from her service. Now, I can’t go back to Folesh, and I can’t work here either, not without knowing the language. I should jump off the cliff and die. I’ve tried, but I can’t. Maybe I’m a coward.”

  At least, he’s getting more talkative.

  I patted his shoulder.

  “Or maybe you still have a reason to live.”

  He sighed. “Maybe.”

  He broke into tears again. There’s more to his situation than he’s willing to tell right now, but I’m not here to interrogate him.

  “Hang in there, we’ll find a solution. What’s your name?”

  “Brunz,” he sniffed.

  I held out a hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Brunz.”

  As I expected, he looked at my arm, wondering what to do with it. I smiled.

  “You’re supposed to take this, no, with your right hand, and shake it lightly. There you go.”

  The engagement ceremony would begin soon, and there was no getting Brunz back inside the Citadel, based on my authority alone, or lack thereof. However, we were only supposed to stay there for another couple of days. Then we’d sail back to Carastra. And hopefully, by then, I’d devise a way to get the man out of his misery.

  He’d been thrown out, bloody and bruised, with nothing but the clothes on his back. And of course, since my formal outfit lacked pockets, I had no money with me. As a result, staying at an inn was impossible.

  What could we do? I stood up and looked around. A couple of carts carried crops on the road nearby, and I remembered seeing a few farms, not far from the Citadel. What if he stayed there? They needed extra hands at this time of year.

  The man’s hurt, Alicia. He probably won’t be much help, at least for a few days. However, I’m running out of time, and he needs a place to sleep.

  “Can you work in the fields?” I asked.

  “I guess so, but how will I understand instructions in Brealian?”

  “You’ll figure out.”

  And by the time I’m there and back, and take time to introduce Brunz and indicate that he’s under my protection, the guard who let me out will have finished his shift. But I can’t decently leave a hurt man without a roof and some food.

  I helped Brunz up. He was about the same height as me.

  “I’m following you, my lady.”

  “Please, just call me Al.”

  He looked down at his feet. Apparently, it was too much to ask.

  We walked on a dirt road, along fields and grove, until we found a rather large farm. A dozen people were busy around the main barn. I stepped forward and met a solid man in his early thirties. He was a Tandrayuk, as shown by the single short horn on his forehead.

  “Good afternoon, my lady. What may I do for you? Are you lost?”

  He sees me as a noblewoman, even though I walked here with only a bruised servant for an escort. Thank the seamstresses for this outfit!

  I bowed my head with a smile.

  “I’m fine, thank you, sir. My friend Brunz, however, was badly beaten and left without a trin. I want to get him hired by someone at the chateau, but with the upcoming ceremony, everyone’s too busy today. Could he work here for a day or two, so I have time to accommodate his employment?”

  The farmer scratched his head.

  “What guarantees do I have? How do I know he’s no scoundrel?”

  Should I tell him I’m the Great Hero Al?

  I decided against it. I didn’t know what my reputation was in rural Sottarn, or even if they’d heard of me at all. So instead, I removed my hairpin and told the guy he could keep it, provided he made sure Brunz had food to eat and a place to sleep.

  “He only speaks Foleshian, but he’s quite dedicated. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

  I repeated my promise to Brunz, we shared a short embrace, then I walked back to the Citadel.

  There were new guards at the gate when I arrived. They refused to let me in. With them, I could try namedropping.

  “But I’m the Great Hero Al!” I protested. “I spared you a war! I rescued Princess Zinnia yesterday when she fell into the sea!”

  “If you’re who you pretend to be, you also angered the Almighty at the soulfeather field.”

  “We don’t know if it was me. Come on! I was invited by Crown Princess Nigella!”

  Music was already playing in the chateau, and guests were walking up the majestic main stairs. I recognized one of them and called him out loud.

  “Lord Gimon! Could you please help me?”

  He turned to me, rolled his eyes and came to fetch me. It only took him one sentence to make the guards bow and let me inside.

  “Where were you?” he asked as we walked across the courtyard.

  “Strolling in the countryside. I must have taken the wrong turn somewhere, and bang! I was almost late to the party.”

  Duke Irmel and Duchess Nithys welcomed us into the ballroom. Lord Gurvan and Princess Jilu were sitting in comfortable red armchairs, a few steps apart, still ostensibly not looking at each other. This tradition was getting ridiculous.

  “We must pay our respects. A few words will do,” explained Lord Gimon in a low voice.

  I nodded. We both took a place in the queue.

  First, I curtsied before Gurvan. His vest was covered in silver embroidery and he glittered with every breath.

  “May the soulfeather incident not be a bad omen for your future.”

  “Thank you, Al.”

  Then I waited in line again, and found myself facing Jilu. In her yellow chartreuse gown adorned with peonies, she was an embodiment of beauty and nobility, but when I looked at her, I couldn’t help seeing the bruises on Brunz’s round face. She’d beaten him. She’d had him dismissed from her service and banished from the Citadel, despite knowing he had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. I grinned.

  “I guess you’re not bad, you’re just drawn that way.”

  The princess frowned. “Excuse me?”

  “It’s a compliment, where I come from.”

  “Then thank you.”

  I walked away, unable to wash the stupid grin off my face.

  Through the crowd of guests, a slender teenager in a green and silver dress walked to me and caught my arm. Her light blonde hair was expertly arranged in elaborate braids, pinned around her head by several diamond hairpins.

  Will she notice I’m not wearing the one she gave me?

  But Princess Nigella didn’t even look at my hairstyle. She pulled my elbow.

  “Please, Al, come along. You may know that Senior Magus Malin shares a mind link with Senior Magus Rokayu for the duration of this trip.”

  I didn’t know it, but it made sense. It allowed them to communicate instantly, just like the traitor Uturi had been telepathically linked to his brother Saegorg.

  “Yes?”

  “She received alarming news from Carastra, news I cannot share in this room. Quick! My father is waiting for us.”

  Nachtimmel