Hue and Hart were cleaning the dishes while the others sipped tea. Navihm took his tea outside to a rock he frequented as a child. From there it was possible to see the whole of the First spilling over the mountainside. After a few minutes, his mother joined him.

“It isn’t over,” she told him, curling up to Navihm’s side. “Our enemies are still here. They march towards our gates and slink through the shadows of our homes.”

Navihm sighed deeply, taking a long draught of his tea.

“That is what I was afraid of.”

Navihm decided it was best to stay the night in the royal apartments with the others. His mother’s warnings about their enemies slinking through the shadows left a sour taste in his mouth. He’d asked his mother to join them. She’d refused, not wanting to leave her home. Navihm sent word to the village and asked Mishka to send his son to protect Healani during the night. He’d also passed on his mother’s warnings to Rei Amias. The guards patrolling the royal grounds had been increased since the attack on Kaia and Healani. With this warning, the Rei would most likely increase their numbers again. With his mother’s and their safety seen to, Navihm lead the others back to the village.

“We should head back to the royal apartments now,” he suggested to the others. “That way we will have plenty of time to settle in for the night and wash up before dinner.” The group readily agreed. None of them thought they could fit another meal in after the feast Healani had provided for lunch, but the prospect of taking a bath was a welcome one after travelling for so long. Even Rose was cheered at the promise of being clean, even if it did mean having a meal with the perfect princess.

Navihm and Hart took a small detour on their way to dinner with the Rei to pick up Rose from her room.

“This shirt looks like a dress on me.” Complained Hart for the fifth time since Navihm had leant it to him. Navihm sighed patiently.

“It suits you, Hart.” Hart glared at him and Navihm blinked innocently. They knocked on Rose’s door. Her eyes widened when she saw the boys.

“What are you wearing?” she asked. Hart threw up his hands and turned to leave.

“I'm changing into my old clothes,” he called from down the hall.

“Kaia burned them,” said Navihm casually.

“What? Why?”

“Something about them stinking like rotting feet.” She’d also had suggested that they’d been riddled with lice but Navihm didn't think that Hart needed to know that.

“I’ve got to change,” squeaked Rose. Navihm groaned. Now everyone wanted to change. They were never going to get to dinner and Navihm was hungry.

“Why would you need to change?” He asked.

“I didn't realise this was a formal dinner party.” She rummaging around in her packs. “I don't have anything to wear,” she whined.

“Rosaline, you look fine. This isn't a formal event. Hart, stop being precious.”

“But you’re wearing silk,” she whined. The boys looked at each other. They both were dressed in silk shirts and laced up black pants; typical clothing for men in these parts when they weren’t doing physical labour.

“So?”

“Do you know how many silk dresses I own?” she asked, irritated. Rose found the boys’ cluelessness vexing.

The cousins exchanged baffled looks.

“All of them?” Hart guessed.

“None!” she shrilled. “What am I going to wear?” she asked again, to no one in particular.

“I don't understand,” said Hart to Navihm. “Why does that matter.”

Rose’s keening moan of frustration was muffled by the shirt she had pressed up against her face.

“Never mind.” She stalked past the boys, stomping her feet a little. “We may as well get this embarrassment over as soon as possible.”

The dinner was as tragic as Rose expected it to be. Kaia was dressed beautifully in red silk with gold embroidery. The flowing fabric hung off her shoulders to form a cape that skimmed the ground. Rose flushed jealousy at the expense of it. She’d even changed the chain in her nose to match the crimson of the fabric. Even Hue had been leant grandiose native clothing for the occasion.

Rose was miserable the entire meal, leaving as soon as was polite.

“What do you think is the matter with Rose?” Hue asked Hart. The Genti prince mumbled something unintelligible through his mouthful of peach tart and shrugged helplessly.

None of them understood that girl.

The first chapter of my other book, 'My beauty' is up. Check it out!