The family stood behind the solid cherry-wood chairs. Candles lit their faces and glistened in the silver setting. White linen napkins in complicated folds dressed their plates and savory breads peeked out of tightly woven baskets. Father remained at the head of the dinner table, wearing a smile on his face, with Barin beside him. Her brother lifted his chin, his face solemn.

Rhea and Olinda, in clothes as comfortable as her chemise, faced each other at the table. Olinda put her palm over her mouth when she yawned. Rhea refused to meet Erika’s eyes, fingering the tip of her chair. That left the seat across from Father vacant, and she ambled silently to her place.

“Greetings, everyone,” she said. It wasn’t confidence she wielded, but resentment. “It’s wonderful to be home.”

“Erika! Come give me a greeting!” Her father offered his open arms and after Erika studied her siblings briefly as they remained steadfast like soldiers not budging, nor speaking, she hurried to her father and embraced him. King Tobias stood a good foot taller than her, broad-shouldered, with a coarse gray beard that tickled her forehead when she put her head against his chest. He was thinner than she remembered.

“I missed you,” she said.

He patted her gently on the back. “I’m glad you’re home. You must tell me about your trip to Cho Nisi. How did our neighbors treat you?”

She stepped away and pulled the chair out for him.

“A jarring experience,” she mumbled and took her place, eyeing her brother as she passed him. He avoided her glance and seated himself after she sat down. As cold as they were, she wondered if she even wanted to be friends with anyone in the family beside her Father.

“How so?” her father asked, frowning.

“Well, they attacked us with arrows when we first arrived before they knew who we were.” She eyed them all. They kept eating. No reaction.

“Rory came back. Why did you not return with him?”

“I…they didn’t let me.”

Her father looked up, concerned. “Then it’s true. You were a prisoner?”

“Of sorts, I guess you could say so.”

“Did they know you killed their king?” Barin asked, scooping a portion of turnips onto his plate.

“Not right off, no.”

“And still they kept you prisoner, not knowing what you did?” Barin didn’t once look at her.

“Well, yes, I guess.”

“And attacked you, threatening to kill you,” her father had stopped eating.

“I don’t think they were trying to kill me.”

“Oh, come now, Erika. If a man is shooting at you, he doesn’t do it for the fun of it. You, of all people, should know that.” Barin interjected.

“An assault against my family is an attack against our kingdom, Erika,” the king reminded her.

Erika bit her tongue. Explaining what had happened would confuse them, and how could she ever rationalize falling in love with the Cho Nisi king? Why should she? Already a rift between Cho Nisi and the Potamian Kingdom had developed because of her. Had the islanders executed her, they would have sealed a declaration of war. Chief Silas had been adamant about her banishment, perhaps to mollify the situation so they wouldn’t have to fight her father’s army. The death sentence if she stepped foot on the island again justified any future actions. It also kept her away from Arell.

“Kairos is going with Barin to Fairmistle tomorrow,” Olinda remarked casually. “No one’s going to Tellwater though.” She looked up.

“Why do you speak of Tellwater, Olinda?” Barin snapped. “Those are war matters, not for ladies to discuss.” He glanced at Erika. She placed several steamed carrots on her plate.

“I must say, I worked up an appetite coming here. Thank you, everyone, for leaving the comfort of your soft beds to dine with me. I missed you all.” Erika ignored the look Barin gave her.

“Ladies can discuss any matters they choose, Barin,” Rhea retorted. “Especially when it concerns a fiancé.”

“Fiancé?” Erika asked. “I didn’t know. Congratulations.”

“Kairos proposed to Rhea, but Father hasn’t consented, and Kairos is leaving for war, so we’ll see what happens.” Olinda said.

“Why do you drone on about Kairos taking up arms?” Rhea asked her twin. “As though you hope ill fate befalls him.”

“No, I don’t hope for calamity for Kairos. Kairos is a nice man. I just think maybe Erika would like to go off to war with him.”

Erika set her cup down and stared at Olinda.

“Erika is not going to take up arms with Kairos, ever again!” Rhea blurted the exact moment Barin bellowed “No!”

The king held up his hand for silence. “Erika is not going to war. She is, in fact, staying home where she belongs, and I’ll be arranging some private tutoring for her. I have work in my study she can help me with. Please, let’s make this homecoming peaceful. You can work out your differences another time. Preferably when I’m not around.”

The king’s order quieted them.

“Is Rory going to Fairmistle with you, again Barin?” Erika asked, hoping that wouldn’t be a subject too disruptive.

“Rory from Fairmistle is in prison for deserting Barin when he left with you,” Olinda announced none too friendly.

“What?” Erika gaped and nearly choked. When no one responded, she took a breath and then picked at her food, fuming inside. That poor boy, he had only been following orders. Deserter?

“Barin, you can’t keep him imprisoned.”

“It’s not up to me,” Barin stated.

She peered at her father. What had she expected? Perhaps she needed to atone to Barin, but not to the twins, and she refused to apologize to Barin in front of her sisters. She would do so alone. In the morning.

News of Rory’s situation made her stomach upset. She set her napkin down. “I’m extremely tired from the long journey. Father, might I be excused from the table?”

King Tobias nodded and stood when she rose, Barin did so also, as etiquette demanded. Erika curtsied.

“Good night, Father. Everyone.”

When she woke, the sun streamed through white curtains gilded with morning golds and pinks. Her window let in the eastern light, and a view of the meadow where horses grazed. Last night’s snow had melted, and only a few patches of ice speckled the fields. After donning her robe, she watched the soldiers sparring at dawn, readying themselves for their journey east, a battle she had no regrets missing.

Determined to speak to Barin before he left, she chose a surcoat, as she had no time to tackle a corset. Intent on renewing her relationship with him, she snatched her overcoat from the closet and hurried through the halls, exiting out one of the back doors to the sparring fields.

Barin waited in the courtyard with his men-at-arms as his new squire laced his armor. His gaze followed her as she ran to him. Before she reached him, she slowed. Barin’s squire had just finished tying the last knot and bowed with her arrival.

“May I have one moment of your time, Barin? Before you go?”

They locked eyes and stayed fixed for a moment. When the squire had laced his arm-guards, Barin excused him and offered Erika his arm. They meandered away from the busy soldiers to a quiet part of the garden where she took her hand away and he leaned, half-sitting, against a garden wall.

“What, my fair sister, may I do for you?” he asked.

“Barin, I wish to ask for your forgiveness.”

“Whatever for?” He looked past her at his soldiers sparring in the field, and at the horses being saddled and bags packed.

“For deserting you. And for bringing some of your army and Kairos with me. For giving Rory consent to leave you. I was wrong. Foolish. Reckless.”

He glanced at her—his blond lashes half-shielding his blue eyes. “You were. You could have died, Erika. Think how Father would have fallen into despair if that had happened. Far away in a land unknown to him, his youngest most precious daughter slain by allies. As it were, his health has declined with worry over you.”

“I’m sorry.” Erika looked away. “Could you forgive Rory, also?”

“Rory has probationary work. In the garden. He’s not imprisoned any longer. Olinda exaggerated, making things sound worse than they are. Father said he would release Rory as soon as you returned, and so he did.”

“And you?”

“What about me?”

“I want to be on good terms with you before you leave.” Erika’s heart beat hard. He hadn’t been this kind to her since that fateful day in Tellwater. She didn’t want to waste the opportunity. The sun beat on her brother’s fair hair, his shining armor almost too bright to look at.

“Ah! So, you think I will meet my end this time, do you?”

“No! I mean, I hope not! Why?”

“Usually, people want forgiveness when they assume the other person will die. It’s a way of shirking the guilt they’ve buried without adding more.”

She crossed her arms and shook her head. “I don’t know about other people, Barin, but I want forgiveness because you’re my brother and I love you.”

He only stared at her, but she detected a slight smile.

“Barin, please just say you forgive me.”

His stance softened, and with it his eyes. “Erika, Erika—” He wore dark leather gloves that were warm and smooth when he touched her hand. “You’re my baby sister and will always have a place in my heart. When Kairos came home without you, I wanted to hurt him. You play with our emotions as if you were skipping rocks in the river, tossing our hearts as far as you can throw to see whether we sink or not.”

His words struck a painful chord inside of her. She bowed her head and fidgeted with a pleat in her dress.

He lifted her chin.

“I’ve considered all that has happened, and confess I bear some responsibility. When Father told me you were in Cho Nisi I worried. When I heard you came home last night, a tremendous burden dropped off my shoulders. Those people could have killed you. You are family and no matter what odds we’re at, I still love you.” He looked away again, watching his troops make ready for travel.

“I had a hand in King Rolland’s death. I knew the Cho Nisi must have been hiding nearby, but I failed to warn you. I should have been more careful as I know those warriors can sneak about in the brush like a fox. I blame myself for his death as well.”

Erika exhaled, comforted by his words.

“I also haven’t told you, but what you did in Canyon Gia made me proud.”

“Proud?”

“Yes. You didn’t panic, you were brave, clever, and showed your compassion. All the signs of a good soldier. Being the youngest sibling, you were the spoiled one, but I think I spoiled you as much as Father did. I only wanted for you to be happy. Fulfilled. I wished to see you meet your goals. But you’re not ready yet, Erika. You aren’t ready to be a hero. Stay with Father. He’s not doing well. He’s going blind and may be dying. Be the daughter he wants you to be. Be his hero. For now. Until you get old enough to fulfill your dreams.” He took her hands and squeezed them affectionately.

“I love you, Barin. I’ll take care of our father. You just come home soon and safely.”

“I plan on it. Now let me get to my men. We have a long journey ahead of us and some terrible demons to face. We may be gone all winter.”

“Be careful!”

“Always. And you study hard. Keep up your sword training. Someday we may need you back on the battlefield when you have a bit more of your senses about you.” He smiled at her, touched her nose, and pinched her ear.

She watched him walk away. Kairos lingered in the fields with the others with Rhea on his arm. They kissed such a long passionate kiss that Barin had to break them up. Rhea stepped back and the troops, now ready to depart, mounted their steeds.

Her father emerged from the castle, and with his guards, and his scepter, said a blessing over them. And then the hundreds of troops headed into the forest. Many horses and carts followed. Such a long line of travelers! Erika didn’t think she’d see the end. Civilian merchants and their wares, cook’s carts covered and filled with grain. Carts carrying livestock, geese, and chickens, and a herd of goats. Soldiers leading horses trailed behind them all. The size of the army, and how well armed they were traveling indicated they expected to be away a long while. She worried for them and whispered a prayer to the gods in her father’s hall for their safe return.