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love with
Dar,” Matilda said. “Seeing as that’s not the case…”
    “I think it’s about more than just Dar,” Sierra
replied. “She wants to help the Avialies.”
    Matilda smiled. “Well, they cause problems for all of
us.”
    After a moment of silence, Sierra asked, “You think
Lee will come with us?”
    “I think so,” Matilda said.
    Sierra had hardly seen Lee the last few days after
the Boren helped them get through Mumbar Jungle. Aside from last
night when the Jolenians died their hands, he had mostly helped
Avialies with the horses. His mother Di had arrived yesterday with
Angela and a few other Avialies, and she was not happy about having
to leave her house in Aron. Sierra had seen her staring at the
ocean in awe, though, and now Di was in the kitchen helping with
the banquet and putting her cooking skills to use.
    Sierra let the waves calm her, and eventually she
thought of Evan and the meeting she left. “I should probably get
back.”
    Matilda stood up. “Right, you’ve got that important
meeting.”
    With a sigh, Sierra pulled her feet out of the sand.
“Thank you for bringing me out here.”
    “Sure,” Matilda said.
    They started walking into the cave. The light lasted
longer than Sierra thought it would. They reached the area where
the waves petered out and they stepped on just pebbles, sands, and
eventually rocks, and they could still see where they were
walking.
    Sierra realized the light wasn’t just coming from
behind them, but also in front of them. The cave was shrinking into
a tunnel, and light from the other end was shining through,
revealing the dark, damp walls, and the rocky path in front of
them.
    “Careful, it’s getting pretty rocky,” Matilda
said.
    They stopped and pulled their shoes back on, then
Matilda led the way to the opening of the tunnel. Once they reached
the castle, Sierra felt better, like she could breathe again, and
she thanked Matilda.
    “Now you have a place to run to besides the roof,”
Matilda said.
    “Yeah,” Sierra said as they walked through the front
doors of the castle. “I’ll talk to the elders about Grace and Dar
tonight.” With their best men hunting down the Thieran, Sierra
wondered what their chances of saving Grace and Dar were.
     
    * * *

Chapter Four
     
    Grace hadn’t had a maidservant for weeks. Even at
home, she’d been relatively independent. The maidservant the prince
left with her, however, was intent on waiting on Grace’s every
need. Grace had to push the eager girl’s hands away numerous times
while she attempted to undress and then bathe.
    The maidservant, Marisa, was a short, muscular woman
with hair the color of red wine. Grace almost asked her if she dyed
it, but she thought it would be rude.
    She stayed in the bath longer than she needed to. She
couldn’t bring herself to leave the warmth and safety. Her mother
would be arriving soon, and Grace dreaded seeing her. The thought
of explaining the past few weeks to her and to Jocelyn, as well as
everyone else who might be curious, made her sick. All she wanted
to do was spend time with her William.
    She finally pulled herself out of the water, knowing
she needed to dress and do her hair if she had any hope of
impressing William. Grace dried herself off and pulled on a
bathrobe.
    There was a soft knock on the bathroom door, and
Marisa rushed to answer it. A dark woman stepped in, bowing her
head. “I’m sorry, m’lady, I just need—” When she saw Grace, the
words died on her lips.
    “Amina?” Grace said.
    Amina gaped at her. She wore a maid’s dress, the
white and brown dress with the royal emblem. Sweat streaked her
face, and she looked much thinner than before; there was no trace
of her previous chubbiness. “Lady Grace.”
    “You’re all right,” Grace said with relief. She put
her hand on her chest. “Oh, Amina, I’ve been so worried.” She knew
it wasn’t quite true; she’d been worried before the jungle, but
since reuniting with William, she’d