ably ignored too many undergarments when I had dressed that morning. Thank goodness Fiena had in

floors," I mut

rather partial to them," he commented mildly, unembarrassed by his

ttered. "Stupi

ows. "I doubt the men of

t exposed me. It was not a full moon, when audiences were held, so the chamber was organised informally, with clusters of

of sheer seemed to combine into a room of white and spun sugar, cloying, sweet, and entirely too fabricated. How could anyone s

wo young lovers who gazed at each other as if breath began on the other's lips. She spott

breathed in her perfume of Fae rose harvested by moonlight

ld on the way, she had been encouraging Akyran's twin to take on more responsibility for the Court of Light, tempering Akyran's judgements publicly, which he found frustrating

will be a fine entertainment. I'll organise f

er there was an audience or not. He did not play for the a

eaning over maps and drinking spirits," she waved a hand

ng. His next question confirmed my suspicion. "And Rivyn?" Akyran's brother was pushing for Fae intervention in the war and h

of a truly magical blade being made overnight, nor a mage not keen to boast of the wonderful thing he had created. All Riv

vous smile. "Just keep an ear out for your sist

I met his gaze and raised my eyebrows. What, did he expect me to feign innoc

It's hardly a secret around this court what the side effe

sti

n in her hands. "So prudish for someone who

ther look as the colour

aware of your proclivities, my son," she scolded lightl

me on, Ecaeris," he decided. "We'll see if we can gather

wrought iron tables, arranged on the terrace overlooking the lawns, set with lace cloths, crystal glasses, chilled wine and finger foods.

e up onto my mount. "Watch the back

of other players. I had been playing almost as long as he. I accepted my stick as he mounted, and he laugh

d. The leatherbound ball was thrown and we surged into motion, the ball flying beneath the strike of a stick. Akyra

over his sh

he opposing team. I tussled with another rider. Daryith rode his mount

as he strained for the ball, trying to distract me. "We

nd we watched it fly straight to Akyran, who stood up in the saddle and

lled at me t

bed when we played, trying to distract me from the game. But Akyran having a mistress was an entirely other matter to ta

ng our mounts to snap at each other irritably, th

ball moving towards us on his bad side. He took my mount's reins and I leant over onto his hor

ure if that's totally a legal move," he grinned at me

nt to where the king and queen watched. The

celebration. "Our parents are h

our elder brother and his wife, whose first child was newly arrived. I had been to see the babe for the day

in laughed. "They wo

ment, Akyran and I rode side to side again. He bared his teeth in a

party. "Ecaeris!" He grabbed me from my horse, putting me before him and I saw his purpose, his gr

e celebrated the win. "F-k," he complained into my hair.

"Fiena tells me I'm getting womanly curves

he weight is distrib

again, avoiding meeting my eyes. "I don't comment

que aloft," he replied, lightly. "Don't

uine. Akyran was behaving decidedly... odd. Everyone was behaving oddly. I felt as if I had missed

them, Ecaeris?" h

ne moment you're telling me I'm heavy, and the next that it's not a bad t

He stroked a lock of hair off my face in a gesture that was on the edge of tender. "Very good." He turned abru