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FOR THE FIRST TIME in a long time, Rose was looking forward to dinner. She had requested Ethan’s favorite foods and Sophia’s favorite drinks. She had prepared a special table setting for Isra and Phillip, and they were all supposed to be happy to see each other and eager to get down to business.
Halfway through the night, Rose sighed as she barely glanced at her mostly-full plate of food.
Mary and Fiona chatted happily together over tea at the far end of the table, while Rose alternated glances between Ethan and Sophia, while Isra and Philip seemed content to concern themselves largely with each other.
Of all of them, Sophia was the one who seemed most like her usual self. She at least smiled and seemed somewhat warm toward Rose as they ate and talked.
Her brother, on the other hand, seemed more surly than Rose had ever seen him.
“How was the trip here, Ethan?” Rose asked.
The clinking of their silverware and the small whispers faded. Ethan barely glanced over at her as he shrugged. “It was fine, Rose.”
Rose looked over at Philip, who tore himself away from Isra’s attention long enough to give her a worried look.
Rose turned to face Sophia. “Did you have any trouble while you were at Einish?”
“Not really,” Sophia replied.
“So everyone there is okay?”
“Well, with the exception of Ambassador Rolez,” Philip said. “Although Einish does not have a hard prison system, he has been stripped of his position and sentenced to a lengthy term. Once he’s free, he will be able to reclaim his wealth, but not his title.”
“I’m glad to hear he has been taken care of,” Rose said. “I hope Juliette is well?”
“She’s doing well,” Philip said with a nod. “And the baby is good, too.”
“Wonderful,” Rose said. She tried not to feel the familiar tingle of jealousy she often felt when women talked about having children.
“We didn’t have any trouble,” Sophia said. Her mismatched eyes, one blue-green and the other brown, gleamed as she said, “Everything was really lovely, actually. Philip let me hang out in the smithing yard, so I was able to learn some new tricks.”
“Glad to hear you were able to have some fun while I was gone.”
Ethan snorted.
Rose frowned at him. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Did Penelope decide not to come to Einish or Rhone after all?”
“There’s no need to see to my happiness, Rose,” Ethan said. “You’re too good at destroying other people’s.”
Rose blanched. “What?”
“Maybe we should talk about something else,” Philip suggested quickly. “I hope you don’t mind, but I borrowed Virtue to send a letter to Derick before we left Einish.”
“Oh.” Rose, still shocked by Ethan’s anger, slowly nodded at Philip’s news. “I was wondering where he was.”
“I received Derick’s latest letter the day before we left,” Philip explained. “Derick said he had quite a few men willing to join your campaign, especially after the news of what you did in the Wandering Caverns.”
“You did more than me,” Rose replied. She could feel Mary’s gaze on her from the far corner of the room. She refrained from mentioning Magdalina’s visit to the rest of her friends after telling Theo. From his reaction alone, she had decided it was better that she keep that to herself.
And it is better to forget completely about that, Rose thought. If Magdalina thought she would ever marry Everon, she was dead wrong.
“You are still the most inspiring one of all of us,” Philip said. “I know most of the men in question are from near our shared border. Some of them are helping the pixies resettle the caves.”
Isra sat forward in her seat. “I can’t tell you how many of them thought I was you, Rose,” she said with a reluctant smile. “Quite a few were disappointed as we passed through the country. I’m sure some of them signed up to fight at Darkwood just hoping they would see you.”
Rose nearly scoffed, but she saw Philip’s hand reach out and take hold of Isra’s. “I wouldn’t say they were disappointed,” he said. “I’m more willing to bet they were shocked that it was possible for someone with even more renowned beauty than you to be alive.”
Ethan made a face and Sophia rolled her eyes, as the Isra and Philip just stared at each other. Rose had to wonder if their affection was part of the reason that Ethan was unhappy. She would not be able to blame him if that was the case.
Not that she would blame him anyway. Seeing them now, Rose had a feeling both Ethan and Sophia were upset with how she had left them in Einish.
As Isra and Philip began telling Rose about their journey, Rose struggled not to fall into that night all over again.
After watching Theo leave, she had saddled up her own horse and then hurriedly arranged to leave. Sophia had been sleepy and shocked, while Ethan had been upset Theo was not there. Mary had insisted she come along, and that was the only reason Rose had allowed her to come.
Rose barely remembered how she had managed to get through it.
Philip had been understanding, even grateful Rose was not forcing him to leave his home. He promised to come once she sent for him, just to make sure it was safe for Ronan and Isra to come back with them.
“Where is Ronan, anyway?” Rose asked suddenly, looking around for her younger brother. “I would have thought he would want to have dinner with us.”
“Ronan’s already out hunting again,” Isra said. “You know how he is, Rose. He’s always hungry for an adventure, and as kind as Queen Utopa was to have us, she was very adamant about how he wasn’t allowed to do much more than train with her guards and play chess.”
“I’m surprised he lasted as long as he did then,” Rose said with a smile. Her brother had often been a force of nature itself when they were younger.
“He snuck out to the town quite often,” Isra said. “He’ll probably do that now that he’s back here, too.”
Rose sniffed. “He better not cause us any trouble.”
“Roderick is with him,” Philip said. “I doubt he’ll be in trouble with him around.”
Rose thought about the large, ginger-haired warrior who had served in her guard. He had told her before he was the queen’s friend, and he took care of things for her on occasion. Rose did not have to guess that included her children. “You’re right about that,” she agreed. “I guess I can rest easy.”
“Have you heard from Theo at all?” Sophia asked softly.
Silence once more descended on the room, and Rose shook her head. She tried to look like her usual self as she said, “No. But I know he’s very busy, trying to take care of some family business for his grandfather.”
“Hopefully he’ll hurry,” Philip said. “Reverend Thorne became sick on the way back. He’s in the church now.”
“Is Thad tending to him?” Rose asked. “I can send the king’s physician.”
“I don’t know,” Philip admitted. “But he is very old. He’s raised two generations of his family.”
“I should go and see them,” Rose said. “They’ve always been faithful to my family, even if the king has been less than kind.”
“Must be a family trait,” Ethan muttered.
Rose felt her patience snap. “Do you want to say something to me, Ethan? Then just say it. There’s no need to spare me.”
“No,” Ethan snapped. “I don’t want to talk to you, Rose.”
“Why?” Rose asked. “Because I left you behind, so I could come here and try to take care of my family?”
“You are my family, Rose,” Ethan said. “Or at least you were, until you broke us up.”
“I thought it was for the best that you stayed,” Rose argued. “So you would have some time to rest from the road.”
“I’m not talking about that, and you know it,” Ethan said. “I know what happened. I know you sent Theo away after he told you he was in love with you.”
Dead silence returned to the room as Rose felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
“I heard Thad talking about it,” Ethan explained, before Rose could ask him. “And then you left us, because you couldn’t face up to what you did. Now we’re all here just acting like it doesn’t matter.”
Rose still said nothing. She noticed that Philip and Isra were avoiding her gaze, while Sophia was openly staring. Even Mary and Fiona had gone silent.
“You were wrong,” Ethan said.
Rose managed to find her voice again. “He wanted to go,” she said. “He had family matters to take care of.”
“He would have stayed if you told him you loved him, too.”
Anger finally replaced her discomfort. “I don’t want him to love me,” she told Ethan.
“What about what happened with the dragon?” Ethan asked. “You were wrong, Rose. You were supposed to choose love. He told you he loved you. He would have given you anything. Anything. A family and children, even. I know you want those. All you had to do was tell him you loved him back.”
“I’m still cursed,” Rose snapped. “I can’t promise him that. I still have to break my curse.”
“You always do that,” Ethan said. “You always deny yourself anything good because you’re cursed. You’re never going to live like you’re not cursed, even if you do break it.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” Rose said.
“Because you know I’m right.”
“No, because we have other things to talk about,” Rose insisted, even though she knew she was lying. She was sure everyone else knew she was lying, too.
“May I be excused then?” Ethan asked.
“I was hoping you would stay,” Rose said carefully. “It’s been a few weeks since I last heard you play your harp.” She hoped that he would acquiesce to her request. They would have some more time to talk later, and she wanted to show him she was still on his side.
“I don’t want to play,” Ethan told her. “If anything, now that we’re here, I want to get some training in. I haven’t worked any since you and Theo left us in Einish.”
At once, Rose knew she had been right. Theo had been teaching him how to fight like a knight, and Ethan was upset that he was not here with them.
“Come on, Ethan,” Philip said, trying to add some levity to the situation. “I gave you a few lessons.”
“Hardly,” Ethan muttered. “Now, please excuse me.”
He walked away before Rose could say anything else. She leaned back in her seat, unable to think of anything to say as she watched her youngest friend leave.
“He’s been in a bad mood pretty consistently since you left,” Isra told her quietly. “I know he’s frustrated with Theo’s absence as much as he’s been with yours.”
Rose glanced at Sophia. “What about you?” she asked.
Her squire sighed. “I love you, Rose,” she said, “but I agree with my brother.”
Rose nodded. “Why don’t you go after him?” she suggested. “See if you can help him.”
Sophia shook her head. “It won’t do any good,” she said. “He’s upset about Theo leaving, too. As much as he loves you, Rose, he does not have a good history with his father. Theo managed to temper that some. With him gone so unexpectedly, and for the reasons why, you can imagine how he feels.”
Rose snorted, thinking of her own father. “That’s the truth,” she said. “I should have thought about that before. I’m sorry I didn’t. Would you tell him that for me?”
Sophia gave her a small smile. “No, you can tell him yourself,” she said. “Besides, you’re right, too. We have more things to talk about. When do we march on Darkwood Forest?”
Rose thought about the small fairy castle, where Magdalina ruled as their leader. It was three days’ ride from Havilah, and while she had never been there, she had heard enough of the tales to be less than enthusiastic for it.
She looked down at the dark ruby on the edge of her sword, looking for reassurance. But Ethan’s words continued to haunt her.
She had a feeling he was right. She did not let herself choose to live as though she was going to break the curse. And she missed Theo terribly.
A picture of her children, the ones she so desperately wanted, flashed across her mind. There were two of them, a boy and a girl, playing in the courtyard. Their hair was a dark ebony, and their eyes glittered like emeralds in the sunshine.
Theo’s children.
She sighed.
“What is it, Rose?” Isra asked.
Rose shook her head, letting the picture of her children slip away once more. “Nothing.”
“You’re not nervous about attacking Magdalina at her castle, are you?” Sophia asked.
Rose forced herself to concentrate on the conversation at hand. There would be plenty of time for regrets later, she decided.
“I’m not nervous,” she said. “Einish is lending us some troops, and we have enough power here that we could launch a formidable offense. The biggest obstacle is just getting there without giving ourselves away. It is a three-day ride, after all.”
“I agree,” Philip said. “That’s why Isra and I had an idea.”
“What is it?” Rose asked.
“We thought we could hold our wedding here next month,” Isra said.
Rose looked between the two of them. “You want to get married?” she asked. “Here? In another month?”
It was Isra’s turn to blush. “Yes,” she said. “We do.”
“Aren’t you rushing things?” Rose asked. “You’re not even seventeen.”
“You could have been married for years now, Rose,” Isra said. “If you really wanted that.”
Remembering some of the princes and dukes she had been forced to meet over the years, Rose nearly choked at the thought. “Don’t you want to have a little more time to see the world?” Rose asked. “You could go off and study at university.”
“Philip and I have talked about that,” Isra said. “We can travel together. In fact,” she said with a smile, “we have a list of places we would like to see and things we would like to do.”
“I loved your engagement party,” Sophia spoke up. “It would be really nice to have another party like that.”
“If that’s not enough to convince you, Rose,” Philip said, “it would be good politics. You can attend the wedding and nobles all over the nation would come and see you standing behind your siblings. Even if the king is willing to present them formally, you can do it, too.”
“What about Magdalina?” Rose asked. She crossed her arms. “Should I send her an invitation, too?”
“No. We were thinking that you could use the wedding as a diversion,” Philip said. “Attack her castle during the week of the wedding feast.”
As soon as he said it, everything came together in her mind. She could use Philip and Isra’s wedding to stabilize the nation, secure Isra’s place as her heir, and surprise Magdalina at Darkwood Forest. “That’s actually a brilliant idea,” she said. A small smirk curled up onto her lips. “You’re not just using this as a way to get married faster, are you?”
Isra grinned. “I don’t see why it can’t be both.”
“You and your cleverness.” Rose laughed.
“So you approve?” Philip asked.
Rose watched as his hand curled into Isra’s. “Ethan said I was wrong before,” she said quietly. “And I should have chosen love. Well, who am I to stop it now? Yes, I think it will be okay. But we will have to keep it secret.”
“We can keep some of the guards here,” Philip said, “in case Magdalina does show up here.”
“That is the only thing I am worried about,” Rose admitted. “But if I can get to her castle and attack her base, I can at least force her hand.”
Sophia giggled. “Does this mean I can be part of the wedding party?”
Rose sighed. “I suppose that is the downside to all this,” she said. “We are going to have to coordinate a wedding and a battle at the same time. With the three days’ ride between here and Darkwood, we’ll be stretched for resources.”
“But on the bright side,” Isra said, “the king should be happy about this. Don’t you think so?”
Rose rolled her eyes. “Who knows what he will think? I still have to take care of my uncle, too.”
“Yes, why is Uncle Hebert here?” Isra asked.
“He’s here because our mother asked him for help,” Rose said. “She thought if he knew she was imprisoned, he would come and help her. From what I’ve seen and heard, he’s more after helping himself.”
“Can’t you order him to leave?” Philip asked.
Rose shook her head. “Hebert was popular in Rhone when he was forced into his arranged marriage. Now that his wife is dead, he’s come back here, and it seems he has been reestablishing a lot of his friendships. The king is concerned that Hebert will try to use his power against the crown.”
“Do you think he will?”
“If I can get him to leave, I’m sure that would be the easiest way to take care of everything,” Rose said. “But I have to get the nobles on my side, first.”
“With a wedding, that shouldn’t be hard,” Sophia said. “When they come here to Havilah, you should be able to convince many of them that their future is more secure with you than with Hebert.”
Rose considered it. “That’s a good point. But we’ll need to start sending out announcements and invitations at once,” she said. “We’re going to need time if we have to play nicely with the nobles in addition to preparing for battle with Magdalina. My birthday is seven weeks away,” Rose said.
“Give us three weeks,” Isra said.
“You’ll have to allow time for the people around the country to travel,” Philip said. “That might be a good cover for my countrymen, come to think of it. They can use the excuse of being in Rhone as a way to protect any travelers.”
“Do you think a month would cover it?” Rose bit her lip. It was a longer time than she would have liked.
Before anyone answered, Rose already decided it was for the best. If she was not able to destroy Magdalina’s curse, she would at least be able to give Isra her blessing. She would be able to see her sister, often overlooked as they’d grown up, finally have her day in front of their people. She would be their future queen, and Philip their king.
“Take five weeks,” Rose said. “Then we’ll have your wedding feast planned out, and all the people will be here. And if all goes according to plan, we’ll be able to come back from Darkwood and tell them my curse is broken, Magdalina is gone, and the Magdust trade is crippled.”
“It all seems too much to hope for,” Sophia murmured.
Isra shot her a glare. “Never say that,” she said. “There’s such power in hope.”
Rose shrugged. “No point in being unrealistic about it,” she said. “But this way, at least the throne will be secure, I’ll have some time to get rid of my uncle and curry favor with my father’s councilors and the kingdom’s nobles, and Magdalina and I will finally face each other in battle. And if the worst should happen, and my curse is completed, I will fall asleep knowing I did everything I could do to break it.”