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way to Aquin’s. The meadow had now been harvested and is empty. My robes and veil flatten against my front as I run. I imagine material billowing out behind me. In my mind, my veil becomes my hair and instead of the brush of material, I feel the heat of the firelight directly on my skin.
    Occupied by this, I barely have time to react to a cracking sound to my right. Large hands grab at me. I lash out with my right leg, hearing a loud grunt in response. I twist under the tall person’s arm, take hold of their wrist and use their flailing momentum to throw them over my hip and into a Kaur tree.
    I whirl around and sink into a fighting pose as I hear several heavy steps approaching. I straighten at the sight of Malir and Rhone walking into the clearing. The two men were the least friendly of the delegates, but rather than dislike them for this, I found I enjoyed it. When people were forced by custom to talk to me, they were always polite, whether they wanted to be or not. My mother hated me, but wouldn’t tolerate open disrespect of me.
    Anything discreet was fine.
    Both are looking with confusion at the person behind me. My brain slowly turns over, until I realise who I’ve just thrown into the tree.
    I whip around to where Prince Kedrick lays at the base of the tree groaning. Malir rushes forward.
    “Veni!” I say, also rushing forward. “Kedrick, you snuck up on me.”
    He sits up, wincing a little with the movement. “That is the worst apology I’ve ever heard. How the hell did you throw me like that? You’re so small.” He rubs his back where he hit the tree.
    I walk to inspect the tree. There is not any sign it has been hit.
    “ Is the tree alright, Olina?” he says sarcastically, standing on unsteady legs. Rhone snorts and I look at him in surprise. Rhone made a sound, he can talk.
    In light of previous comments Kedrick has made about Bruma women being mainly decorative, I suspect his pride has suffered the biggest injury from my throw.
    “Thank you, it is okay,” I reply in the same tone, receiving a glare from him and another snort from Rhone. His use of my name has reminded me I am angry at him.
    “If that is all, I will be on my way.”
    “To the orphanage? I hoped you could be persuaded to take a walk with me,” he says to my back.
    “Another time, Prince Kedrick, I’m quite busy today.” I keep walking, even though my stomach is sinking.
    “Shit!” I hear him say. I hear some murmuring behind me, which fades as I round a bend. Footsteps sound behind me. Kedrick runs to my side, grabbing my hand. I look back and see Malir and Rhone walking off to the meadow in the opposite direction.
    “Lina, wait. I need to talk to you,” he says. I wrench my hand from his grasp.
    “Don’t call me that,” I hiss. “That’s what put us in this mess.”
    “You got in trouble?” he asks, face paling. I roll my eyes, how has he somehow missed the tension of the last days?
    “Yes, of course.” I push at his shoulder roughly and he takes a step back. “How could you call me Lina in front of the court? In front of my mother ?” I ask.
    “I’m sorry,” he says, reaching to grab me. I push his hands away.
    “Sorry is not enough. I need you to understand the importance of what you have done. The only people to call me Lina are my family and one very old man who has known me since birth. The whole court thinks we are…lovers,” I say.
    “What? Is that why it got so weird?” He throws his hands up. “Shit.” He can understand how this would garner a strong reaction. “You have been Lina in my mind for months now. It slipped out. Please, tell me what I can do to make this right.”
    I hear footsteps approaching from ahead of us. I drag him off the path, into the trees until we are out of sight.
    “Nothing can be done, except what I am already doing. We cannot be seen together,” I say.
    Kedrick looks at me for a long moment. “I’ve ruined everything haven’t I? How bad will this be for