A large sitting room sits empty, but another firecrackles in the corner, inviting in anyone who may wish to rest. Marigold pauses, and she sighs as she looks at the wall of bookshelves.
Galinor smiles when he sees the longing in her eyes. “You may come back.”
She hesitates but then follows us down the next hall. We come to another set of doors, these ones intricately carved. Like everything in Castle Glendon, they look as if they could withstand an attack. Galinor knocks, and we wait.
The doors open, and a lovely woman with dark hair and startlingly blue eyes stands on the other side. “Galinor!” Pleasure brightens her face. She swings the door open, and her eyes widen in surprise when she takes in our wet, dripping party. “We have guests.”
The woman who must be Galinor’s mother ushers us in. As she does, she worries aloud over how cold and wet we are, and how famished we must be.
I don’t know that I am famished, but now that she mentions it, I could certainly eat.
A man who resembles Galinor in height and build looks up from a game of strategy, a smile on his face. “Welcome back, son. The news we’ve had of the tournament has not been encouraging.”
Galinor cringes, perhaps hoping to postpone this part of the reunion for a few moments longer. “It did not go as I had planned.”
The man across from King Howell stands in greeting. “An Errintonian won?”
“Yes, Lord Archer of Errinton was the winner.”
“A shame for the princess.” King Howell shakes his head. “Nothing good comes from Errinton.”
Galinor looks uncomfortable. “Archer is a good man.”
I think he means his words, but he still looks ill.
Galinor’s brother comes to me, offering his hand and bowing low. “I’m Teagan.”
“Lady Anwen Millner of Primewood,” I reply, noting that Teagan looks nothing like his brother.
Where Galinor is dark, Teagan is fair. Galinor is muscular, and Teagan is lean. He is handsome, I suppose, but not like Galinor.
“Are you the daughter of Baron Thomas Millner?” Teagan asks.
My mouth opens, surprised. “That’s right.”
“Your father procured a collection of rare maps for me last month. He’s very competent.”
“Thank you,” I say before he moves to Marigold.
Shyly, she offers him her hand and blushes when he takes it. She drops her eyes and then looks back up, her eyelashes fluttering. “What kind of maps?”
Teagan answers enthusiastically, perhaps unused to women showing interest in his collection.
I grin at the pair but try to hide it before anyone notices. Soon the rest of the introductions are made.
“We will have rooms prepared for you all,” Queen Penelope says as she pulls on a long, tasseled rope by the door. “After you have had a chance to change into dry clothes and are rested, we will all get to know each other a little better.”
I glance at Galinor as I turn to leave. He’s settled into a large padded chair by the fire, and the melancholy lookhas returned to his face. I had hoped he would be better once he was home, but it seems he is worse.
Everything is wet—thedress I have on, the extra dress in my satchel, and all my underthings.
Wet, wet, wet.
I toss myself on the lovely bed, lie back, and let my hair soak the beautifully embroidered blanket. But I can’t linger here—I must lay the dresses out to dry.
All right, get up.
I drum my fingers on my stomach. I can’t seem to will myself to move, so instead, I roll over, wrapping the blanket around me, and cuddle deeper into the bed.
