Vhalla worried he was being too forward as the prince’s golden-tipped quill scratched under her fingertips. She nodded at the major who was speaking to her, returning her attention to the parchment. These were men of war, but they were also nobles; they were born and bred to subtlety as much as they were to the sword—or any other weapon of choice.

They worked until lunch, when food began to fill an adjacent table; everyone heeded the silent call to break. Aldrik was the last to move, and Vhalla lingered by his side, watching him carefully from the corners of her eyes. He seemed to move well enough. Whatever potions the clerics had given him were clearly taking effect.

Elecia may have disagreed with Vhalla’s assessment, as she returned with her own bundle of potions that smelled tangy and freshly concocted. The woman sat on the other side of Aldrik, stealing his attention. The prince took the potions without question, Elecia activating each with her palms on his neck, chest, and stomach. Aldrik began to sit straighter after the last one.

“You’re a clever one, aren’t you?” Erion drew her attention as he rested his chin on the back of his hand, leaning forward with a grin.

“I’m not sure about that,” Vhalla denied with a glance at the Emperor, trying to gauge his reaction.

“Too humble!” Jax laughed. “You’ve surprised me these past weeks. Where did all those brains come from? Did the Tower change that much while I was gone?”

“I haven’t spent that much time in the Tower yet.” Vhalla allowed others to serve themselves first, following their motions on what was the proper approach.

“Oh?” Jax raised an eyebrow.

“I was only Awoken this past year,” she explained, wondering how much of her story had traveled to the North; it seemed to vary. “Before that, I was a library apprentice.”

“A library apprentice?” One of the Western noblewoman squinted her eyes, as if trying to imagine it.

“You can’t tell from the woman she is now,” Craig interjected. “Trust me, I was there during the trial from the Night of Fire and Wind.”

“As was I,” Daniel mumbled, earning a confused look from Craig at his tone.

“Is Mohned still haunting those shelves?” Major Zerian asked from his seat to the right of the Emperor. Somehow, Vhalla and Aldrik had ended up on the opposing end.

“As of when I left.” She nodded, nostalgia sweetening her smile.

“Ha! Old bastard won’t die!” the man chuckled.

“Vhalla’s well-read also.” Daniel’s voice was thoughtful. His tongue formed her name delicately, stilling her. “On the march, she’d tell me of her readings. Everything from war tactics to fiction.”

Vhalla engaged in a staring contest with her food. It was very uncomfortable suddenly to be in the same room as Daniel. The bold looks he kept giving Aldrik weren’t helping.

“What’s your favorite book?” Erion asked.

Vhalla opened her mouth to speak, only to have Daniel steal the answer. “The Epic of Bemalg.” His hazel eyes met hers thoughtfully. “Unless things have changed?”

“No,” Vhalla confirmed with a shake of her head.

“The Epic?” Raylynn raised her eyebrows. “You actually read through it?”

“Of course.” Vhalla couldn’t fathom who wouldn’t finish a book once they’d started.

“Not everyone is as illiterate as you,” Craig teased the other member of the Golden Guard, earning a glare from the blonde woman.

“Quite a few talents you have. What others are there, I wonder?” Jax waggled his eyebrows lecherously at Vhalla. “Mother, Jax,” Elecia groaned. “Can you grow up just a little?” “You wouldn’t love me if I did.” Jax made a kissing face toward Elecia, who scrunched her nose in disgust.

“I find it beautifully tragic,” Vhalla confessed, shifting the conversation back to books.

“I remember when I was forced to read that for ‘culture building’.” Baldair laughed and shook his head. “If I recall, you enjoy the story, too,” he said to his brother.

“I do,” Aldrik affirmed.

Vhalla gazed at her prince in honest surprise. She realized that she had never asked about his taste in literature. It made her want to laugh that the most obvious thing they had in common had never been discussed.

“I think ‘beautifully tragic’ is a perfect way to describe it, also.” Aldrik’s lips curled into a smile at her, and Vhalla fought to hide her blush when she caught the looks of the table.

“How quickly can we expect the attack to launch?” One of the other majors turned the conversation away from personal matters.

“Given my previous indisposition, we have yet to explore the palace. Vhalla will need to learn it confidently enough to lead us through as needed,” Aldrik responded.

“Is that days? Weeks? Months?” Major Zerian asked.

Vhalla was startled to find he addressed her directly over the crown prince. “I should hope it would not be months,” she answered. She didn’t have time for it to take months. “I will not be so bold as to promise days, however.”

“So then we should plan for about a month until the attack.” Zerian nodded as he mentally began to plan.

“For that reason,” Aldrik pulled himself to his feet, “I think our time will be better spent elsewhere.”

“Elsewhere?” the Emperor questioned.

“I have all the faith in the world that the majors can adjust the rations appropriately and plan for the proper distribution of new blades,” Aldrik flattered the group. “However, we do have a castle to take, and there is only one among us who can offer it neatly.” His eyes fell back on her.

“Of course, my prince.” She gave him the smallest of smiles as she stood as well. Vhalla savored the fact that she had changed a term of formality to a form of endearment. He was, indeed, her prince.

“We will report our findings at the next meeting,” Aldrik announced in a tone that suggested it was not up for discussion. He did not even glance back at the Emperor before turning, placing his palm at the small of her back—for everyone to see—and leading Vhalla away.

ALDRIK DID NOT turn back, he did not look back, nor did he say a single word all the way to his room. Vhalla studied his profile nervously. His strides appeared more confident after Elecia’s ministrations, but his face was still gaunter than she would’ve liked. She wondered if he’d eaten enough for lunch. She wondered if her performance had only created a new stress for him. She continued to find herself fretting over everything when it came to his wellbeing.

Opening the door to his room, Aldrik strode within, leaving Vhalla to latch it behind her. Her hand had barely left the handle when his palm pressed against the door to the right of her head. Aldrik leaned down, his fingertips at her chin.

“You. Are. Astounding,” he whispered, punctuating each word. They were slow across his tongue and flowed hotly from her ears to the pit of her stomach. The prince leaned forward, tilting his head to the side. His jaw brushed against her cheek as he spoke. “Who would have thought the slip of a girl I found tucked away in the library had such a woman within her?”