Not Rebecca Sanders through."
"Why—never mind, I should've warned Stark about Aric, I suppose," I huffed.
"Aric probably thought he was clever enough to get in the palace without bothering with the guards. Don't worry, Stark probably won't behead him before we get down there."
"Cosmo!"
Cosmo laughed as I rushed into the hall, trying to comb through my tangles with one hand and braid my hair with the other.
"I was only joking, Bryony," Cosmo called to my back. I made it to the grand staircase, my hand taking the wide railing as I flew down the twisting steps.
"If Aric speaks to the royal guard the way he speaks to me, you might be right though," I answered in a shout.
Cosmo grunted in response, his own steps quick behind mine. I headed straight when I reached the bottom of the stairs, racing for the long entrance hall that led to the front stairs. When I was nearly to the door, I saw the gleam of armor on the drive outside, and the dark, hooded figures behind hauled between guards.
I threw myself at the front doors, groaning with the effort to push them open and then paused on the top step, realizing my hair was half braided and half tangled and that I was in a delicate nightgown and a billowing silk robe. So be it.
"Guard Stark, release them," I shouted down to the drive.
I couldn't pick my head guard out of the group at first, too caught by the lift of Aric's face and his stare finding me at the top of the steps, eyes widening a little. It was a woman with him, and she was beautiful, even in the ragged cloak. She had vivid red hair and she was as tall as Aric, dressed in simple pants and several layers of tops fastened by a belt. Stark was at her back, holding her arms behind her and marching her forward.
"Princess, this man is a rogue and this woman—"
"Guard Stark that man is a member of my Chosen," I said, giving up my shout as they neared. Cosmo finally reached me, and he took my hand as we moved down the uneven steps.
"A—he's what?" Stark called, his grip on the woman slipping. She pulled her arms free and stepped out of his reach but didn't move further away.
"Aric Martin is one of my Chosen," I said, and I didn't miss the surprise on the woman's face, or the struggle on her face as she fought against her own laughter. I also didn't miss the simmering irritation on Aric's. "And being Chosen, any arrest, punishment, or imprisonment would be at my discretion."
If looks could've killed, I might've been twice dead in that moment, both Aric and Cresswell Stark's stares glowering up at me.
"He was trespassing in the woods," Stark said, hanging by threads onto his argument.
"He has an open invitation here," I answered. "The woods included. My apologies, Miss…"
The redheaded woman's lips pursed, and her eyes were narrow with amusement. "Griffin, no Miss."
"Griffin," I said, dipping my head. She wobbled and then settled on a bow instead of a curtsey. I turned to Aric, who was now smirking at Cresswell Stark. "Aric. Please, both of you come in. We'll speak over breakfast."
Aric took the stairs two at a time, and Griffin's steps were just as quick. I met Cosmo's eyes as I turned away from the disappointed guards.
"Don't laugh or I'll laugh," I whispered, and Cosmo's grin flashed before he leaned in, catching my lips in a quick kiss.
"Your hair is rioting," Cosmo murmured against me and then jumped away before I could pinch him.
I spared myself just enough time for our breakfast to be rerouted to the greenhouse, and for me to comb my hair and put on a proper dress. Griffin was at the iron table, drinking rich coffee from a tea cup and picking at a slice of bacon. Aric was moving around the greenhouse, examining the remains of the plants and the ones who had survived the many years of neglect.
"This would've been a good collection for a magician's stores," Aric said, crouching with his back to me.
Cosmo had gone back to speak to Guard Stark, to remind the man that his studio supplies would be arriving and to please not detain the cart. I'd told Owen to occupy Wendell and Thao if they left their room. Thao liked to antagonize Aric and vice versa, and I wasn't in the mood to referee.
"I'm hoping I might be able to rescue