For I have never seen his face. If my parents had interpreted the royal creed differently, I could gaze upon his face now. Tend to him and feed him warm broth.
My mother, his mate, was the only one he allowed to witness him. My parents were not mates in the way I witness Rosalina and Farron, love blossoming like a wild meadow. But they were bound as tight as chain mail. A blade and a shield, an arrow and a bow, an anvil and chisel. There was no one without the other.
I’ve never seen their smiles or frowns or ever known the color of their eyes. I’d lamented once as a child on it, long before I donned my own helm, and begged my mother to remove hers.
We wear our helms as a sign of devotion to Spring, my mother had told me. Our greatest love must be given to the people first. It is the duty and honor of the royal family.
My parents showed me their love through their devotion to our people, by teaching me our ways, instilling discipline.
It was a different sort of love than what I witnessed when visiting Keldarion’s family in the Winter Realm. Of long nights curled by a fire with hugs and old stories and warm, shared food. But I treasured the love I received from both my parents.
And I felt that same honor the day I was old enough to bear my own helmet. Not since, has another soul gazed upon my face.
But my love for my realm? My duty? Did the Enchantress steal that from me as well?
I’ve tried to help in what ways I could, protecting the Briar and patrolling Spring’s borders.
It hasn’t been enough. Spring is suffering.
And it’s my fault.
At least my brother had the courage to do something about it.
I bow my helm until it rests against my father’s. “Tell me what to do.” There’s a shake to my voice. “I must deliver punishment to Kairyn. Do I imprison him? Execute him? Take his helm?”
The only answer is my father’s rattling breath.
I squeeze my eyes shut. “How did our family become so broken?”
But I know the answer.
I’m the one who broke it.
21
Rosalina
I awaken to a soft knock on my door. Sitting up, I stretch and call, “Coming!”
That was an insanely good sleep. Maybe it’s because the room I’ve been given in Keep Hammergarden is so similar to my room back home. The pastel décor, the blooming flowers in vases, and the canopied bed, could be straight out of the Spring Wing. The only thing that’s different is the walls are made of the mountain’s stone and not the bark of Castletree.
I snag a cream-colored robe off the armchair to cover my thin nightgown. Despite our strange welcome, Ezryn ensured Dayton, Astrid, and I were set up with food and lavish quarters. I know he took care to place us in private spaces where no one would find us during the night.
The warm face of Eldy, the keep’s majordomo, greets me as I open the door. The older looking fae man has gray hair that curls only under his ears and a goatee streaked with white. He carries a tray brimming with pastries, fruit, and a floral-painted teapot.
“Good morning, Lady Rosalina. I do hope I didn’t wake you. I wanted to bring you some breakfast while it was freshly made from the kitchen.”
“You’re so kind! Come in.” I open the door wider when I hear a strangled, gasping sound.
Down the hallway, Marigold pushes a trolley, a betrayed look across her face. “Excuse me, Eldor, but Lady Rosalina is my charge. I won’t have her drinking that watered down leaf juice you call tea.”
She uses her trolley as a battering ram to shove Eldy out of the way so she can get into my room. “Come in,” I say meekly.
“This leaf juice is the realm’s finest lavender tea, steeped at a precise temperature so as to bring out the floral notes.” Eldy sniffs and raises his nose in the air. “I highly doubt Lady Rosalina would prefer the boiled mud water you always serve.”
Oh boy. It’s too early for this.
Marigold’s face turns a concerning shade of red. “At least my tea has taste.”
“Unlike its maker,” Eldy shoots back.
Thankfully, I notice Astrid poking her head around the corner, white hair a mess and dressed in only a simple white shift. I gesture her in, and we sit down on the edge of the bed. She places her head on my shoulder.
“I figured you’d be well taken care of, so I didn’t even bother to check on breakfast,” Astrid says.
I smile. “You should use this time as a vacation. I think we’re going to need it with these two.”
Eldy and Marigold seem to have forgotten Astrid and I are even here. They stand inches apart, her finger jammed into his chest, his eyes glowering down.
“Take your stale muffins and begone! Rosalina is more than cared for!” Marigold snaps.
“Prince Ezryn specifically requested that I make sure Rosalina’s every need is tended to! I could never go against his wishes,” Eldy retorts.
“Oh, yes, you could never disappoint His Highness, but you have no worries about disappointing others.”
“You’re the disappointment—”
Quickly, I stand and step between them. “Thank you both so much for bringing me breakfast. It looks delectable. And I can drink two pots of tea, no problem! But I’m more than capable of feeding myself and I’m sure you both have more important things to do than watch me eat.”
Marigold narrows her eyes at Eldy. “This place has fallen apart since I was last here. Your staff are wandering in circles, useless without directions! Time for someone to whip them into shape.”
Eldy’s words come out through gritted teeth, “I have been doing the best I can.”
Astrid flops on the bed. “I saw Prince Ezryn wandering the halls on my way here, saying something about needing a cup of coffee.”
Marigold and Eldy both stare at each other, then practically sprint out of the room, trying to muscle each other out of the way to get through the door faster.
Their words echo after them: “Your coffee is like swill, woman!”
“At least my coffee doesn’t give people the runs for three days after.”
When their arguing is far enough away, I shut the door and raise a brow at Astrid. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ez drink coffee.”
“Yeah, well, they needed something to keep them busy.” Her red eyes shine with mirth.
I chuck her a muffin then pour us each two cups of tea: one from each teapot. “So, what’s the story?”
“I’ve only witnessed the end of it myself, but from what I can gather, Marigold and Eldy had a sweeping love story back when they both served here in Spring.”
I widen my eyes. “A torrid love affair?”
“That’s what Marigold told me.” Astrid takes a long slurp from one cup. “Both Marigold and Eldy were offered service under High Prince Ezryn when he went to live at Castletree. Eldy felt like he couldn’t leave Prince Thalionor after Princess Isidora’s death, while Marigold wanted to stay close to Ezryn.”
“So, the distance tore them apart?”
Warm sunlight drifts from a window carved in the rock, making Astrid’s hair shimmer. “On the contrary, at that point, the way was open between Spring and Castletree, and their love only grew. In fact, Marigold thought perhaps a wedding would be on the horizon.”