“Why won’t you spar with me?” she demanded of the woman who pulling herself off the ground.

 “What?”

 “What was that?” Vhalla persisted. “You didn’t even fight back.”

 “I-I-I . . . your prowess is such that none of us could hope to match.” The woman retreated awkwardly, eager to escape the ring.

 Vhalla’s arms dropped limply to her sides. They were letting her win. Vhalla had been through war and had trained under a multitude of soldiers, but she no longer had the Bond to draw from, and these people had been soldiers the majority of their adult lives. Vhalla should at least have to struggle against them.

 “Oh, this just won’t do,” Jax admonished. “You sorry lot have done the worst thing someone can manage: disappoint a pretty lady.” He pointed across the pit toward something Vhalla couldn’t see. “Fritz! You’re needed.”

 Vhalla’s heart soared from just hearing her friend’s name. The second he actually stepped into the ring, Vhalla was nearly tackling him in an overpowering embrace. She wondered if Jax had figured out her mental state upon entering the training grounds.

 “Vhal, it’s only been two days since I last saw you,” Fritz laughed.

 “It feels like forever,” Vhalla insisted.

 “Well, now I’m going to beat you up!” Her friend grinned.

 “You can try!” she retorted playfully. “Jax, thank you; this is exactly what I needed.”

 “Oh, Lady Yarl, I always give the beautiful ones what they want.” Jax winked.

 Vhalla rolled her eyes playfully and returned her attention to Fritz. “I don’t want you to go easy on me.”

 “I’ve seen you fight,” Fritz snorted with amusement. “The last thing I’m going to do is go easy on you.”

 She was unsurprised when Fritz bested her right away. Vhalla was rusty, and she’d forgotten all the tricks this Waterrunner kept up his sleeve, from ice daggers to illusions. They went two out of three, and Vhalla could only get the upper hand once. It was satisfying. She was certain her losses weren’t just a result of her own lack of training but because Fritz had improved.

 Jax scolded everyone watching by pointing out how Fritz hadn’t held back, despite going against their Emperor’s betrothed. Vhalla gave a supportive nod when Jax explained that the best soldiers fought with everything they had, every time. He shot her one wary look from the corners of his eyes. Things had not quite gone back to normal between them, despite how good he was faking it.

 Vhalla pulled her friend from the training grounds. They wove up through the palace and made their roost around a table in the library. Along the way, a servant noticed them, and Vhalla sent for tea and candied lemon peels.

 “Aren’t you supposed to be doing audiences or some such?” Fritz finally asked.

 Vhalla sighed heavily.

 “So the afternoon war meeting gossip was true?”

 “News travels that fast?” Vhalla gave in without struggle.

 “Some majors came to the grounds while you and Aldrik were talking,” Fritz explained.

 “I made a real mess of things, I think.” Vhalla collapsed back onto the pillows and stared up at the library that stretched above her. She longed for the days where her biggest decision was what book to read first.

 “Even if you did, Aldrik is still over the sun for you and you know it,” Fritz spoke while chewing through a lemon peel. He was on his fourth one. “That means everyone has to love you.”

 “I don’t want forced love.” She couldn’t help but think of Jax, still strapped to his obligations with the crown. What if his display on the grounds was because he had to tolerate her? What if he hated her but was still obligated to protect her? The notion made Vhalla sick.

 “You’re going to have it—and don’t give me that look.” Fritz flopped next to her. “You won’t ever have everyone love you, just as you won’t have everyone hate you. Find the right people to love you and return the hatred of others with ambivalence or hatred of your own.”

 “Since when did you become so philosophical?” Vhalla twisted to consider her friend.

 “I’ve always been brilliant, and you know it.” Fritz kissed her nose lightly.

 “You have been.” Vhalla’s eyes fluttered closed, and she enjoyed Fritz’ simple closeness. “Thank you for staying with me.”

 “If you ever had doubts, I’ll scold you.” She could feel him considering her thoughtfully without needing to see his eyes running over her face. “What is bothering you, really?”

 “I’m going to be married so soon,” she whispered. “What if I am not meant to be Empress?”

 “Who is meant to be anything?” Fritz sat. “Are you worried because of the mutterings of a few crusty nobles?”

 “You sound like Jax.” She opened one eye to grin up at her friend.

 “There are worse things. Jax is cute.” Fritz gave a little smile at the idea.

 Vhalla kept her mouth shut, wondering where his heart would lead him after Grahm. Surely, the man he had known and loved had died with the fall of the Tower. There wasn’t any other likely scenario. Vhalla couldn’t imagine Grahm kneeling to Victor.

 Fritz didn’t say anything about his love either, and they let the memory of their friend rest like so many others who were at the capital during Victor’s takeover.

 “I think,” Fritz hummed, “that you should leave the castle.”

 “What?” Vhalla sat as well, stuffing two lemon peels into her mouth at once.

 “You and me, let’s go out.” Her friend was on his feet. “No one has to know; that way they won’t make a fuss.”

 “Fritznangle . . .” Vhalla cautioned. It wasn’t as though she was trapped, but she was already publically shirking her duties for the day.

 “I think it’ll do you good,” he encouraged. “When was the last time you were around real people? Not soldiers or nobles? Those are the people whose opinions really matter, Vhal. Sure, nobles are important and support the crown. But you know who supports the nobles? The common man. So stop hiding in your literary roost and come out onto the street.”

 Vhalla allowed him to pull her to her feet.

 “Plus, I really want to see the Port of Norin, and Elecia still hasn’t shown me.” He gave her a conspiratorial grin that was too infectious not to return, and they were off.

 The main street stretched out from the castle, the street that they used to enter the city and reach the castle. It looked far different without the masses crowding it. With the normal ebb and flow of people, it reminded her of the Crossroads as merchants and patrons alike lingered under large sun shades.

 They’d barely made it off the main street when she was finally noticed. Every peddler and shop owner wanted her to try something, wear something, or simply “bless their shop” with a breeze. Vhalla obliged with smiles and did her best to accommodate everyone. If Fritz was frustrated by the slow going, he didn’t let it show. He seemed equally enamored by the dried dates, strawberries, mangos, and all manner of exotic fruits. By the end of just one street, they both had new necklaces of braided leather and bellies full of sweets.