distinguished visitor.”
“Don’t let her fool you, Rosie,” Taelon announced as he swept in behind me. His hand landed on the small of my back and the light touch burned all the way to my toes. “This is the most famous guest you’ll ever meet. She’s not just any princess.” He leaned in and with a conspiratorial wink whispered, “She’s the Lost Princess.”
I would have laughed at Rosabella’s gasp of surprise, but I was too embarrassed to do anything but want to die. Taelon must have noticed, but it didn’t seem he cared.
Instead, he picked up my arm and looped it through his elbow. Then with his deep baritone he said, “Lost Princess, your chair awaits.” After I’d taken my seat, Taelon introduced Oliver.
“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