AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Indeed. Now dunk your head, so I can wash your hair. You don’t want to be leaving a trail of fairy dust where we’re going.”
I giggled, then double-checked the image in his head. Fairy dust, indeed.
*
Starling had alovely set of rooms in the next tower over. Nothing as spectacular as mine, but spacious and elegant. She was propped up in bed, looking wan but much better. Walter was keeping her company.
“Gwynn!” Starling burst out when she saw me, then started to get out of bed when she spotted Rogue behind me. “Lord Rogue, forgive me, I’m—”
“Under orders to stay in bed,” Rogue replied in a smooth tone that nevertheless contained stern command. She shivered and obeyed. I sympathized with that reaction.
She turned sad eyes to me. “Oh, Lady Gwynn—your beautiful wedding—ruined. I take full responsibility.”
“Really?” I raised my eyebrows and sat on the side of the bed, a spot Walt vacated for me with a little nod. “You mean, you had a master plan to defeat the Queen Bitch and you failed to use it? I am annoyed with you then.”
She laughed a little. “Well, when you put it that way…”
“Exactly. Could you guys give us a little privacy?”
“Oh sure!” Walt jumped, stricken, and took off without another word. I’d have to be careful what I said around him.
Rogue smoothed a hand over my still-drying hair and picked up my hand to kiss it. “Don’t be long, my ravishing Gwynn. I’ll wait for you outside the door.”
“No eavesdropping, either,” I warned and he flashed me a devastatingly wicked grin.
“You look radiant, Gwynn,” Starling said after Rogue left the room. “I hoped you would be happier, once all was said and done.”
“Yes, well, I wanted you to know I’m sorry I was such a bitch these last few days.”
“The course to true love never did run smooth,” she replied. Shakespeare? Surely not. Must be my own brain supplying that. All Puck’s fault.
“However we got here, things are good. Aside from being under siege and all that.”
“And Mother and Father going missing.” She looked sad and fearful.
I supposed it had been unreasonable to think she wouldn’t have noticed they’d never arrived. “That too. But I’ll look for them.”
“Not with that scepter, you won’t,” she replied tartly. “Athena told me what happened, since you didn’t see fit to.”
I sighed. “You two can’t get along except to snitch on me.”
Starling beamed. “It’s one thing we agree on—that you need looking after and we’re the ones to do it.”
“Lucky me.” I tried to make it sarcastic, but really I was touched that they cared so much. “So…Walter? Escorting you to the wedding, staying by your side, night and day?”
“Oh, pish!” She said it airily, but her fierce blush gave her away. “He arrived just moments before you did. I think he’s quite changed for the better, don’t you?” She looked at me searchingly, brown eyes hopeful, seeking my approval. I’d really screwed that up before.
I patted her hand, still a little cool to the touch. “I think he’s come a long way. And I’m glad he’s keeping you company while you rest.”
“I should be looking after the castle and all the guests,” she fretted.
“Delegate, darling. My best advice. I’m off for a bit—I just wanted to check on you. I’ll send Walt back in.”
“Where are you going?” She knit her brow in suspicion.
“Not far. I’ll be back soon.” At least I thought so. And look at me, sounding as evasive as Rogue ever was.
Walter waited in the sitting room, staring out the window. In a loose brown shirt and pants, he looked both nondescript but also far better than he had in the stained and disheveled wizard’s robes he’d worn when I first met him. No silver that I could see.
