"Heavens, Tylla!" Rigel rolled her in a bear hug while simultaneously slapping her bottom.

Jabe scrambled through the straw for his clothes. Tylla caught sight of his naked rump and giggled.

Rigel lay back in the straw laughing while Tylla snuggled under his arm.

"You smell like sex," she said, twitching her nose.

"Jealous?" Rigel challenged.

Tylla rolled away from him, thinking, he's right. I am jealous.

Rigel flopped back onto the straw, looked at Jabe, and asked, "How much wine did we drink last night?"

"Too much," Jabe said, slipping his plain linen shirt over his head and mussing up his mop of red hair.

Tylla heard a noise and moved to the window. "The grooms are here." She kicked Rigel's rumpled clothes toward him. "Better get dressed. Unless you want to be brought before the King's Council for treason."

"Treason!" Rigel spat out the word. "You think your father didn't have lovers when he was young? You think your mother didn't? I happen to know ..."

"Shh." Tylla brought a finger to her lips. "Follow my lead." She turned and daintily climbed down the wooden ladder.

"There you are!" she addressed the grooms in the stable below. "Why are you so late? My friends and I planned to ride this morning."

Jabe shot a worried look at Rigel. With the burgeoning tensions with the Nazeers, Jabe was especially at risk. He hadn't been banished from Oran's walls, but one misstep and he could be.

Rigel dressed quickly, pouring the straw out of one of his boots. When he and Jabe descended the ladder, the chagrined grooms were already tacking up three horses, including Starlex's white mare, Sola. Hyperia had, after some time, revealed to Tylla and Rigel the real reason for Starlex’s disappearance and swore them both to secrecy. Of course, they told Jabe, but no one else.

"Poor baby," Tylla said, rubbing Sola's velvet-soft nose. "She misses Starlex."

"Don't we all," Jabe said softly. "I miss all my friends."

Rigel shot him a sympathetic look then turned to address the grooms in an imperious tone. "We'll be out all morning. Please run to the kitchen and fetch us tea, cheese, and bread, and be quick about it." Rigel rubbed his temples. "And a flagon of wine for later. Now off with you."

The younger groom hurried out of the barn.

Soon the three were flying down the garden path. Sola, needing exercise since Starlex's abduction, lead the charge into the Pale Forest.

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Tylla hadn't ridden for months, and as she leaned over the mare's white mane with her long braids streaming behind her, she tasted freedom in the tangy air, freedom she knew was short-lived. Within a week, she would be married to a man she didn't love. She would be expected to set up a household like a proper wife. Soon there would be children, and her life as she knew it would be over.

She dug her heels into Sola's girth and thundered ahead of the boys. Rigel's whoop echoed behind her as she veered her mount up the high path running along the ridge above the sea.

When she reached the top of the grassy cliffs, she brought the mare to a spritely trot. While she waited for her companions to catch up, she gazed out at the breathtaking panorama. Before her eyes lay a flat carpet of blue covering red coral reefs. Tylla closed her dark eyes and breathed deeply the fresh, salty air.

I will find you, Carmelle, she thought as she slid from Sola's back onto the soft ground. I will have more power when I marry, and I will use that power to bring you back. I promise you, my love.

A warm tear slipped down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away as Rigel and Jabe cantered up the path to join her.

Rigel brought his chestnut gelding to a halt and dismounted with a laugh. "This is a great spot for vittles. Let's have that wine, Jabe."

Jabe dismounted and tossed Rigel the saddlebag. "Here, you set it up. I'm not your servant." The redhead moodily walked away and stood at the edge of the bluff to take in the view. Rigel jogged after him, draping a conciliatory arm over his shoulder.

But he is a servant compared to us, Tylla reflected, gazing out into the distance. Just like Carmelle was my servant. I didn't see how unfair that imbalance of power was. Until now.

With an aching heart, she turned her back on the stunning view and began to set up their breakfast.

Even a princess can be useful, she thought, pulling a large linen cloth from the saddlebag and fluttering it to the ground.

* * *

The climb to the top of the Great Vulcan was arduous. It took them days to traverse the winding paths that were at times so narrow, the horses' hooves grazed the edges, sending showers of rocks into the cavern below. Thick mist obscured their vision, and many times, they were forced to stop and wait for shale-colored clouds to pass.

During those rests, Starlex eased her sore limbs. The green velvet wedding slippers she wore were now reduced to flimsy rags. Using leather straps from his jerkin, Leiffen fashioned sandals for her, but still, the hot rocks beneath her thin soles cut, sending shooting pains up her legs.

Their food supply was all but depleted, and worse, their flagons of water nearly dry. Leiffen griped about the heat while Bonn Skaard silently led the way, sweat pouring off his face in a steady drip.

On the third day of their ordeal, they reached the north side of the mountain. Exhausted into silence, they stood near a precipice, waiting for a leaden cloud to clear, and when it did, Leiffen let out a great cry of joy. The path below them wound to an easy descent toward the Crimson Sea. Glistening in the early morning light, it stretched like a misty mirror reflecting the bright blue sky. In the distance, the white peaks of Kadaar rose from a soft pink mist.

"I can almost see my house from here," Leiffen said wistfully, removing his leather hat to wipe his brow.

Starlex gaped with wonder at the sight before her. She had never seen the sea from such a high vantage. She cast a sidelong gaze at Bonn, eager to share her enthusiasm for the breathtaking view. But the Skaard warrior appeared to be lost in his own world. His face was a hard mask, impossible to read.

I imagine he longs to return to his people, Starlex reflected. When we get to our next resting place, I will get up the courage to ask him about them. There is so much of this world I don't understand, so much of Ardelym I haven't seen. But now I want to see it all. And more than that, I want to understand what has caused this man so much pain.