Sharon Shinn - Reader And Raelynx

That was when it fell in place. “Of course. She said she was protecting you. She is a mystic, and she has the same kind of magic Ellynor has-the power of concealment. It is a gift of the night goddess, and she is using that power on you.”

Amalie stared at him with wide brown eyes and did not answer.

“So your mother knew she was sick,” he said slowly, piecing it together as he went. “Did she go to the Lirrenlands hoping to get well? Because there are exceptionally gifted healers across the Lireth Mountains.”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“But instead of a healer, she found Valri. And the only thing your mother was more afraid of than dying was what would happen to you once she was dead. And she realized that Valri could protect you-is that it? Keep you hidden away from the king’s enemies.”

“Something like that.”

“And she persuaded Valri to come back to Ghosenhall. But that doesn’t work,” he broke off. “Ellynor told us how protective her own family is. How they would never let the women of their clans go off and marry outsiders. The Lirrenfolk don’t actually consider Baryn their king, as far as I can tell. Sow how did Valri get free of them?”

“She declared herself bahta-lo. Like your friend Ellynor,” Amalie said. “Above the clan. She said it wasn’t easy, and some of her family members have not accepted her choice, but she did it anyway.”

Cammon narrowed his eyes. “So, your mother is the one who brought her back here. Specifically to marry your father. I hear all this speculation about why your father married so soon after your mother’s death, but it was your mother’s idea all along.”

Amalie nodded. “They don’t even share quarters, my father and Valri. They are very good friends, but all they really have in common is me.”

“And Valri has been practically your only friend since your mother died,” Cammon said. “I can see why you are so close, but I think it’s been hard on both of you.”

“Valri worries about me. All the time. She never gets a rest from worrying,” Amalie said. “And there are days-oh, I just want to break free! Run through the palace gates and race through the streets of Ghosenhall, stopping to shake hands with strangers and dance with young men and pick up little girls and twirl them around. I want to-I want to see places and try exotic food and meet someone who does not bow to me because he does not know who I am. I was so happy last summer! All those balls! All those wonderful strangers! And yet, for Valri, those were the most terrifying months of her life. Because she was so afraid something would happen to me.”

“Well, something almost did happen to you, and more than once,” Cammon pointed out. “I don’t know that you’ll ever be able to go wandering through the city wholly unattended for the rest of your life.”

“No,” she said dolefully. “I must be proper, and hide behind the palace walls, and sit on the throne, and be very dull.”

He could not help but laugh at that. “No, now you are being courted by a couple dozen men, and you will get married, and eventually you will be queen. I would hardly think that will be a dull life,” he said.

She smiled. “And even Valri seems more relaxed since you have joined us,” she said. “She trusts you to be able to sense danger before it gets too close. Valri doesn’t trust many people, you know, so that is quite a compliment. Perhaps she will trust you enough to let me go shopping in the market someday. Wouldn’t that be fun!”

Cammon spared a moment to imagine the cavalcade that would accompany the princess on any expedition into the heart of the city. Riders-ordinary soldiers-himself-and no doubt Valri. He could hardly think any shop was big enough to accommodate them all. But the real challenge would fall to him, trying to open his mind enough to catch any intimation of danger from so many possible sources. It would be like being battered from a thousand directions. How would he be able to deflect all the happy, harmless arrows of attention while identifying the sharp spears of ill intent? “It might be simpler to have merchants bring their merchandise here,” he suggested.

“You just don’t like to shop,” she said.

“I think it might be difficult to keep you entirely safe.”

She leaned forward; her eyes suddenly seemed very dark. “Cammon,” she said in a soft voice, “who is ever entirely safe?”

SENNETHfound herself enjoying Kirra’s visit as she had not enjoyed anything in weeks. It was just so frivolous and girlish and-and- unimportant to spend the days combing through all the fine merchandise in the Ghosenhall shops, debating over the merits of blond lace or white, picking out rugs and curtains and goblets.

“Ellynor will want to choose some of her household furnishings herself, I’m sure,” Senneth said as she held up a beautifully embroidered quilt. “We should hold back a little, perhaps.”

“You didn’t spend this much time shopping for your own house,” Kirra retorted. “I’ve never seen you look at so much frilly stuff in my life.”

Senneth smiled. “I don’t like bows and ribbons and clutter. But it’s making me happy to pick things out for someone else.”

Kirra held up a pair of pillowcases, even more elaborately embroidered than the quilt. “Can you picture Justin laying his head on this?” she said, choking back a giggle. “Do you think he’s ever used a pillow in his life?”

That made Senneth laugh again, abandoning any notions of restraint.

It had been so long since she had been able to focus on anything that was inconsequential and fun. That had no chance of resulting in someone’s death, or the overthrow of the king, or the complete reshaping of the world.

If you were going to spend a day immersing yourself in frivolity, Kirra was the ideal companion.

They shopped and bought, pausing for meals, and then shopped and bought some more. Kirra seemed to have wholly recovered from her distress at seeing Romar Brendyn, though she had made a point of avoiding the formal dinner the previous night.

“While we’re buying things for Justin, we might be considering what to give our siblings for their wedding,” Kirra said as they sat at a bakery and ate sweets to recover their strength.

“You have given Danalustrous to Casserah. Surely that’s enough of a gift?” Senneth said. Kirra was the eldest daughter and by rights should inherit the House, but her father had determined that Casserah would make the better landholder. So he had bestowed the property on his youngest child instead.

“Oh, and I have given her my loyalty. Another expensive present,” Kirra said. “You’re right. She can’t possibly expect anything more.”

“And my gift will be my attendance at the event, since I hate affairs like this,” Senneth said. “Everyone will be so impressed by that they won’t look for a wrapped box with my name on it.”

“Did your family present you with any gifts upon the occasion of your own wedding?” Kirra asked. “I’m sure your brothers were disappointed that you chose to elope.”

“I’m sure they were relieved,” Senneth retorted. “How to explain to the Brassenthwaite vassals that the serramarra is taking a King’s Rider for her husband? You know that Nate was mortified just at the thought of such a disastrous alliance. I did them a favor by marrying where no one could witness the humiliation.”

Kirra waved this away. “So? Presents?”

Senneth grinned and nodded. “Trinkets and some cash. Not that we needed either, but I suppose the gesture was kind.”

“And you like being married?”