Sophie grinned at our friend. “It’s a relief to see land again, isn’t it?”
I listened with only half an ear to their comments on the unpleasantness of being cooped up for so long on a moving ship. The Emissary was now involved in some sort of heated dispute with the committee on the dock. And he looked increasingly unhappy about it.
The Emissary had led the deputation from Marin that arrived unexpectedly in our kingdom of Arcadia. He had requested that an Arcadian delegation return with him to his home. When he heard Sophie and I were considering accompanying him, he had given personal assurances to our parents of our safety in his land. I found it unnerving to see him so quickly discomposed upon our arrival. Perhaps we had been foolish to put our trust in his authority.
But the chance had seemed too good to miss. Old stories held that inhabitable lands existed beyond the Four Kingdoms, but no one in living memory had managed to find one. Any ships that tried to sail westward eventually encountered an impenetrable wall of storms of such severity that they were forced to turn back. So our surprise had been great when, two months ago, an unknown ship sailed into the harbor of Arcadie, the capital of my kingdom of Arcadia.
The Emissary explained that he came from a duchy nestled amongst another set of kingdoms. That all their attempts to sail eastward had previously been foiled by storms as well, until several fishing boats had recently reported calm seas for as far as they dared sail. His people wasted no time in outfitting their largest ship and sailing into the unknown in search of new kingdoms with whom to establish diplomatic ties.
It had all sounded exciting and romantic. And it seemed as if the High King himself must have sent his godmothers to open the way between our two lands. He ruled over all the kingdoms from his Palace of Light, helping us to keep the darkness at bay, and his laws decreed that a kingdom ruled by true love would prosper. Several years ago, the Four Kingdoms had seen a run of royal marriages that had been assisted by the godmothers and fueled by love, with the consequence that we were currently in an historic period of peace and prosperity. So, it had seemed only natural that the High King would clear the seas to the fabled other lands.
Sophie and I had begged to be included in the return delegation, and after much discussion, it had been agreed that we should go. Our southern neighbor, the kingdom of Lanover, was also sending a delegation that was to include our friend Celine, the youngest Lanoverian princess. No one had stated outright the reason for our inclusion, but none of us were foolish. We knew we were the only three unmarried princesses left in the Four Kingdoms. And a marriage alliance was the strongest bond two kingdoms could forge.
Well, the only unattached princesses of marriageable age, I conceded. Sailing away from my new niece, possibly the cutest button of a baby to ever exist, had been the hardest part about leaving home. Sophie and I had been so excited when the second child of our brother Max and his wife Alyssa had been a girl.
Three figures emerged from below deck and came to stand behind us. I felt my muscles loosen a little at their solid presence. The middle-aged couple and the older woman carried the same sort of reassuring authority as a parent. If something was wrong, they would see it put right.
Gregory and Helena, the Baron and Baroness of Lilton, were the official head of the Arcadian delegation, and the Duchess of Sessily led the Lanoverians. Sophie and I had been strictly enjoined to follow their direction in all things. The duchess was a highly respected negotiator throughout the Four Kingdoms, and everyone knew that Lanover never considered a new treaty without her input. In fact, so great was my parents’ admiration for her wisdom and shrewd intelligence, that they had instructed us to take careful note of any directions she might give Celine, and to match our behavior to any restrictions she chose to bestow on her own charge.
The Emissary, who was still on the dock talking with the group who had come to greet the ship, noted the arrival of the delegation heads and hurried back on board. He bowed low before launching into a speech that only made me more nervous.
“I’m afraid there has been an unforeseen occurrence. Entirely unforeseen, I assure you.” He paused and rubbed his hands together.
“I’m sure, whatever it is, we can find our way through it together.” The duchess’ calm tones should have given anyone confidence, but the Emissary simply threw her a wary look.
“Yes, yes, certainly. Of course, we will do all we can. Our greatest desire is to see a profitable alliance established between our two lands and we would never willingly do anything to jeopardize that.”
I caught Celine’s eye roll just as Sophie projected, Gracious, he’s not good at getting to the point, is he?
Apparently our guardians shared this opinion. “Perhaps you might enlighten us as to this new development,” said the baron with admirable restraint.
“Yes, indeed. It has all happened in my absence, you understand. I had not the smallest inkling. How could I?”
“How indeed?” said Helena, the baroness, with apparent sympathy. No doubt our parents had hoped we would learn from her example when they had chosen her as a joint head of the delegation. She hadn’t been born to her station, as we had, but she carried herself with more dignity.
The man who had originally hailed the ship strode on board. “I’m afraid we really can’t wait any longer.” He cast an exasperated glance at the Emissary. “Their Highnesses will need to accompany us immediately.”
“Excuse me?” A lining of steel appeared around the duchess’ calm.
The man gave her an apologetic look. “You are welcome too, Your Grace, of course. But we only have room in the carriage for three. We didn’t realize there would be so many. Another carriage is on its way. But we cannot wait for it. The ceremony is about to begin, and we don’t know what will happen if Their Highnesses aren’t present.”
“What ceremony?” Baron Lilton stepped forward as if to shield Sophie and me with his body. I appreciated the gesture, but I also noticed a group of guards standing uneasily on the pier. Our small Arcadian honor guard looked equally uncomfortable, hanging back on deck and awaiting some sort of direction.
“The opening ceremony of the Princess Tourney,” said the Emissary unhappily. “Apparently it is beginning even now.”
The Princess Tourney? That sounds ominous. Sophie had her eyes on the Marinese guards as well.
Tourneys had long gone out of fashion in the Four Kingdoms, but our great-grandparents had apparently been fond of them. I had never heard of one with princesses, however. They can’t possibly mean us to joust with each other, can they? I tried to picture it and failed.
“The Princesses need to come with us now.” The newcomer reached forward and gently gripped my upper arm, attempting to lead me off the ship. “The Emissary will remain to explain everything. And you may follow as soon as the extra carriages arrive.”
I dug my heels in and glanced back at the baron and baroness. They both looked concerned, but I could read the truth in their eyes. They could do nothing against the might of this entire land. Even the ship we stood on was theirs. We would have to acquiesce and hope for the best.
I stopped resisting and gripped Sophie’s hand, dragging her along behind me.
Don’t worry, Lily, you know they can’t separate us. Not truly. Sophie looked at me knowingly, and I felt a renewed sense of justification for keeping our secret.