Sitting in the carriage that bumped and squeaked its way up the hill that would enter back into the streets of Austice, Tam stared out the window. Though while most people would have been looking at the store fronts, with their colorful painted rounded doors and signs, or even the people who traveled alone along the sides of the streets, he looked at the moving road blindly.

Across from him sat Eli… If that was her real name…

There had been an urgent missive sent to the dukedom, and both of Tam’s parents were already at the castle in Austice, meaning that it was his presence that was being specifically requested though the note had been vague…

He assumed it had something to do with his sister’s coronation, but given the day he’d had since discovering Eli was not a young man, but a woman, and that same damnable sense that an even bigger storm was brewing, he found himself already bracing for something awful.

Tam wondered if they were going to ask him to take over as Eric’s assistant. Gods knew the Daxarian prince had gone through a number of them ever since his and Katarina’s eldest son Antony had learned to walk…

The current king’s assistant, Mr. Kevin Howard, had only managed to hang on and resist retirement as a result of King Norman emptying a staggering amount of gold into his possession… And Finlay Ashowan agreed to supply the man with as much moonshine as he required. However, once Eric was crowned, both Norman and Mr. Howard were set to live out their days in peace, out of the court.

“If you reported to His Majesty or the coven the truth about my gender… I… I know I have no right to ask this, but could you please tell me now? I will accept whatever punishment is assigned to me, I just wish to mentally prepare.”

Eli’s quiet voice broke through Tam’s anxious thoughts, making him look away from the blurring cobblestones to the woman who kept her eyes turned to the empty seat beside him. Tam took in a small breath, and almost made himself sneeze as a result of the dust the carriage wheels had stirred up along their journey.

“I didn’t tell anyone that you’re a woman. You have my word.”

She swallowed, looking wholly unconvinced.

Well… At least she gives as much trust as she expects back… Tam noted to himself wryly.

Just why in the world had she been thrust into his care?

No one ever paid him much mind, it was true… At least outside the realm of What is wrong with Tam? Why can’t Tam look up from his feet? Why does Tam hide from everyone and everything? Why are crowds and large spaces hard for Tam? Is Tam stupid? Is Tam touched with the power of the devil?

Despite being wildly self conscious of how obvious he was being presently with his hands gripping into fists out of discomfort, Tam did his utmost to look at Eli as calmly as possible to try and ease at least some of the stress brewing between them in the vehicle.

“I didn’t like the circumstances that brought you into my life, but I have no personal problems with you. Your business, and your secrets, I have no interest in getting involved with. I’m more interested in staying out of them, and I don’t say that to be callous. I don’t think you really want me getting close to you either. I apologize if I’ve been rude.” Tam bowed his head regally.

There. He had used a combination of honesty and noble respectfulness to draw clear lines as well as clarify.

As much energy as such an act usually took, it almost always paid off.

“I believe you. I do not know you well enough to have an issue with you either. I simply have my own reservations at this time that I’ve formed out of necessity. Thank you for your understanding.”

An equally painful, if not effective, response. Though Tam wondered if Eli’s reservations were about everyone, or the Ashowan duchy in particular…

Deciding that it wasn’t his business either way, Tam nodded, and the ride resumed in silence.

“The Coven of Wittica and King Norman of Daxaria are both very reasonable and fair in their dealings. I’m sure you will be able to build the life you wish.” Tam cleared his throat, and pulled his shoulders back as he resumed staring out the window as they neared the castle.

Eli didn’t say anything.

“You served under His Majesty King Brendan Devark for the past seven years indirectly, yes?” Tam asked next.

“Yes, my lord.”

“How… How has Alina– Her Majesty, been doing?”

The informal use of the Troivackian queen’s first name had Eli’s eyes homing in on Tam’s profile.

He seemed complacent despite the slip up… But it still brought up a curiosity in Eli that she knew was better left unexplored.

“Her Majesty had a difficult year after Her Highness, Princess Katarina, departed, but she has become quite renowned in Troivack. There has been some civil unrest as a result of some of her work, but she seems to be managing it with His Majesty well.”

“I’m glad she’s doing alright…” Tam smiled a little as he said the words, his gaze already distracted.

Eli raised an eyebrow at him, unconcerned about whether or not the future duke would see the expression, but eventually looked back away.

It wasn’t her place to speculate the nature of the Troivackian queen and his relationship.

And so, the rest of the carriage ride proceeded on without another word shared between them.

*

The castle in Austice was filled with its usual amount of chaos by the time Tam’s carriage pulled up in front of its front steps. Even without exiting the vehicle there were faint sounds of shouts from within the tall iron doors…

Eli paused in moving to get out of the carriage, a blank, dazed expression on her face that made Tam smile knowingly. While the assistant didn’t explicitly show or say anything, Tam had a hunch about exactly what her thoughts were.

“Yes. Ever since my sister was crowned princess? It’s always been like this. Our keep is actually the quiet place by comparison. Unless of course the three princes join her when she visits.”

Eli cleared her throat and lowered her eyes in an effort to once again appear politely indifferent.

“I see, my lord.”

Tam’s gaze lingered on Eli another moment while she kept her face turned down dutifully before exiting the carriage.

Footmen awaited him outside and he bobbed his head in greeting before, without thinking, he turned back to the open carriage door, and offered Eli his hand.

The two footman behind Tam balked.

Eli had just been starting to clamber out of her seat when she realized there was a hand offered to help her out… as though she were a lady…

She stared at it, and then at Tam, whose eyes were growing round as he realized what he had automatically started to do with the newfound knowledge that she was a woman.

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He stared at her, frozen, as she started to recoil back into the shadows of the carriage.

His mind racing, Tam cleared his throat, masked his dumbfounded expression, and said, “Eli, did you not bring the paperwork I told you to? I needed to review it prior to the meeting today.”

Relief flooded the assistant’s face as she leaned forward in a bow. “I apologize, my lord, the duke said he had already brought everything needed today to the castle. I was unaware there was more.”

“Ah… It’s… It’s not your fault. I know it’s hard having to go back and forth between my father and I,” Tam added smoothly before dropping his hand and turning toward the castle doors.

He waited for Eli to finish exiting the carriage before he started walking, and was relieved to see the footmen looking disinterested yet again.

On the steps to the castle doors, before the guards could overhear, Eli murmured. “My lord, you only found out my secret yesterday, was it really-”

“As of this afternoon I’ve known you as a woman longer than I’ve known you as a man,” Tam defended seamlessly.

Unable to really refute that point, Eli dropped the topic, though the future duke had definitely heard the tiny grain of irritation in her tone.

The two entered the castle that was bustling with servants all in the throes of hanging large emerald banners with golden edging in preparation for the coronation. Fortunately the staff had the help of Mage Keith Lee, the Royal Court Mage who was using magic to help straighten the material. While other servants were scrubbing the floors and walls.

Tam hesitated after a few steps to gaze around the transforming room. While he normally wasn’t able to do so for very long due to his magic, the excitement and liveliness of the room permitted it, though it was also a necessity for him to find an appropriate path in order to make his way up to the council room.

“Tam!”

A familiar voice called out, and the future duke turned to see none other than a close friend of his father’s, the Head of Housekeeping for the castle, Hannah.

The older woman had silvery streaked blond hair that she wore piled atop her head with a few wavy wisps floating around her face, her dark blue eyes clear and wide, and she wore a tidy but sensible cream colored dress almost giving her a heavenly touch.

“Afternoon,” Tam greeted back with a smile.

“Are you here for the meeting?” Hannah asked, beaming back at him.

“That I am. Hannah, this here is Eli,” Tam continued, already noticing that Hannah’s toes were turning toward the assistant who already was bowing to her.

“Ah, yes! We’ve met once or twice before when you came with His Majesty King Brendan.”

“Yes, Ms. Hannah.”

Hannah’s eyes warmed fondly at the sight of Eli before turning a questioning look at Tam.

“My mother hired her-him to be my new assistant,” he corrected hastily.

The housekeeper’s eyebrows shot upward. “Your mother wore you down?”

Tam looked at the ceiling briefly before letting out a long breath. “How should I get to the meeting without ruining any of your staff’s hard work?”

Hannah grinned knowingly before turning and pointing to the left where the banners were being hung. “We aren’t cleaning over there until after we’ve finished decorating. Do you mind using the east stairwell?”

“Not at all. See you later!” Tam waved and set a brisk pace toward the perimeter of the entrance hall with Eli trailing behind him.

“Is there a reason you haven’t had any other assistants since Likon?” Eli asked curiously while also having to jog to catch up to Tam’s long strides.

The pair were already crossing behind one of the largest coverings and almost stepped into the corridor that thankfully looked a little less busy.

“I told you the first day. I’m not good with strangers, and I like working on my own.”

“Likon says you complain about how much work you have all the time.”

“I just wish there was two of me, but… Not much I can do there.”

“I suppose one day you could have a son that would help.”

“Did my mother pay you to say that?”

Tam could feel Eli’s eyes snap up. “No. Apologies if I’ve-”

“Don’t worry about it. Ah.” Tam suddenly stopped in his tracks, making Eli almost bump into his back.

Tam then turned, and quickly, but quietly, pressed Eli out the nearby doorway, then down the stone steps, and, with his hand hovering just behind her back toward the castle wall under the windows.

Eli was blinking rapidly, wondering what in the world had prompted the strange exit out by the castle’s rose maze…

The soggy ground beneath their boots was just starting to turn green with the promise of spring.

Tam waited, and from above, the sounds of two people talking and walking by the window reached them.

Sensing that this was the reason for hiding, Eli patiently waited in silence while Tam fixed his gaze on the earth.

Once the voices were out of earshot, the future duke cleared his throat. “Sorry about that, shall we?”

“Is there a reason you are avoiding His Majesty King Brendan and Her Majesty Alina Devark?” Eli had identified the speakers easily enough.

Tam resumed his former pace without batting an eye at the question, and proceeded to jog up the stone steps. “The king isn’t fond of me and I’m already late for the meeting. I don’t need to add an awkward encounter to my day either…”

Once they had returned to the castle corridor and resumed their journey, Tam lowered his voice then asked as casually as possible. “I understand why when you were enslaved you would want to lie about your gender, but why did you keep lying about it?”

Eli winced and glanced around quickly. “It still seemed like the safest option to hide it. I know you’ve heard I don’t wish to be found or return to Zinfera… And being a woman tends to make matters complicated.”

Moderately surprised that he actually received the semblance of a straight answer, Tam decided not to push his luck any further as they reached the servant’s discreet, winding stairwell, and started to climb.

“Well, don’t worry. Even if we do not continue working together, I’m sure you won’t have to return to Zinfera under any circumstances.”

Sadly, however, Tam’s reassurance seemed to prod at fate in such a manner that it took exception… Though he had no way of knowing this as they headed into the meeting with Prince Eric Reyes’s inner council.