Chapter 4

Queen Rowena was not going to be pleased, and, frankly, Lyla didn't want to be the one to face her.

First of all, she had to deal with the matter of explaining that Ari Carondolet had been the one to start the fire, not to mention why he'd done it.
Perhaps Her Highness would be alright with cancelling the horse race- her actions betrayed remarkable patience sometimes. After all, she had hired Ari and Aveline in the first place, even though they'd been stealing from her kingdom (among others) for years. Granted, that was after they had rescued her son from a creepy peasant family back in Diviel.
If Lyla wasn't perturbed at the moment, she would have smiled at the thought- their adventure seemed forever ago, even though she knew it had only been a few months previous.

Lyla regarded her companions as they walked beside her. The pair had been friends since childhood— at least that was what she had picked up from the rare times that either of them mentioned it. Aveline was one of the very few who could stand to be around Ari for more than two minutes.

Lyla knew they had been an enormous part of the reason her life in Apreuna had improved. They provoked a more confident side of her that she hadn't seen before. Or maybe there was something about endangering your life with someone that brought you closer to them.

Anyway, Lyla needed Ari and Aveline to be in good graces with the Queen right now- rumor had it that she was planning on giving them more responsibilities. What that meant, Lyla had no idea-

"Lyla?" Lyla winced at the voice- and the sight in front of her. Her mother had materialized seemingly out of nowhere, her hands planted on the silk fabric across her hips.

Her mouth tightened as the Grand Duchess took in Lyla's companions. "What are you doing? I hope you didn't leave your guests alone." Her tone strained to be soft- Lyla knew it well.

"Mother," she started, "there's something wrong with the racehorses, and Ari and Aveline were just alerting me to the fact."

"Wrong?" Her mother lifted one eyebrow. "I didn't see anything wrong with them."

"They're injured, Your Grace." Aveline respectfully inclined her head while maintaining firm eye contact with the Queen's sister. Lyla had always envied the way Ari and Aveline handled their superiors.

"It would be very dangerous to go on with the race now," Ari added.

"Fine. I will see to it that the proper people are informed. In the meantime, Ari, Aveline, why don't you have some champagne, meet some more of the nobles? I'm sure the rest of the tournament will commence shortly."

Aveline didn't move. "We're not leaving until these horses get a farrier."

Ari folded his arms as if to emphasize his first mate's statement, and Lyla jumped in before her mother's glare could take over her entire face.

"How about I go?" She suggested hastily. "Ari, Aveline, you stay and watch the competition. I'll make sure the horses are taken care of."

"But your guests are waiting for you," the Grand Duchess protested. Lyla couldn't help but sigh at the image of the two stuffy lords in the courtyard.

"This is important, Your Gra- uh, Mother. I'll be back." Lyla nearly tripped over her skirts in her hurry to curtsy and get out of there. She could practically feel the disapproval of all three of them radiating behind her.
The Queen would know what to do, she thought.

"Where is she?" She asked a nearby guardsman by the palace wall. He stared at her blankly, stiff in his uniform.
"The Queen, where is she?"

"Her Highness is on the other side of the courtyard, I believe-"

But Lyla was already gone. "Thank you," she threw breathlessly over her shoulder.

Lyla increased her pace, hoisting up the blue fabric of her dress as she ran, her thoughts flying faster than she could keep up.

To be honest, she wasn't sure someone had sabotaged the race. Was it coincidental that all of the racehorses were injured? Yes. But did that mean someone had deliberately tried to injure them?
That, Lyla wasn't so sure about.
Then again, she reasoned, if Ari and Aveline thought something was wrong...
There usually was.

But! Lyla knew all of the nobles in the kingdom, and to think of-
"Lady Quincy!" She would have banged right into someone if the older woman hadn't caught her arms and set her upright. Lyla gasped, finding herself staring into the placid gaze of the Queen.

"Your Highness!" She dropped a deep curtsy, flushing red. Everyone was staring at Queen Rowena's idiot niece who couldn't even see where she was going.

"You're in a hurry," Rowena noted. She didn't look flustered; perfectly demure and collected in her daffodil gown. Sometimes Lyla could see the resemblance between her and Lyla's mother; the blonde hair, the stern set of their mouths- but most of the time, the two could barely be distinguished as sisters.

Lyla composed herself, straightening her skirts and pulling a stray leaf out of her hair. How long had that been there?
"Yes, well, actually, I was hoping I could discuss something with you." She lowered her voice. "It's about the fire?"

"Did you not hear my announcement? The processions are to go on as normal," the Queen said, waving her hand. "Bush fires are of no significant concern, especially here."

"Actually, it's not about the fire," Lyla revised quickly, deciding that it was perhaps best to leave Ari and Aveline out of it. "It's about the horse race."

The Queen looked at her expectantly. "Yes, what about it?"

"Is the tournament set to continue? Because the horses are injured, and-"

"Injured?" Her head drew back slightly. "How so?"

"Hoof injuries, I believe. They are in no condition to race. I was wondering if you could make the proper arrangements to cancel it and see to it that the horses get a farrier? I'm not sure that they'll listen to..." Lyla trailed off.

The Queen's bright eyes were fixed on her. "To you?"

Lyla couldn't find a response to this.

Finally the monarch let it go. "Fine. I was looking forward to the melee à pied duels, anyway. I will inform the herald and make sure that the horses are taken care of. Now you run along."

Lyla bowed her head. "Thank you, Highness." She was about to leave when the Queen called her back.

"Oh, and Lady Quincy?"

Lyla turned back around with reluctance.

"Adrien Guernot visited me personally yesterday, he was quite upset. It seemed someone dumped a bucket of mud on him while he was passing underneath the palace wall."

Lyla winced. "Oh?" She tried to look innocent. "Did he see who had done it?"

The Queen peered at her shrewdly. "No, but he had some ideas."

"I see." There was an awkward pause. "Well, good luck with that." Lyla prepared to make a hasty retreat, but the Queen wasn't finished.

"There's one more thing."

"Yes?" Lyla wished she hadn't drawn out the word so, slowly turning back around.

The Queen's forehead was suddenly lined in thought. "While we're on the subject, I would like you and the palace emissaries to meet with me tonight."

Ari and Aveline? "Of-of course, Your Highness." She paused. "May I ask-"

"I have an assignment for them. And you, if you choose to accept."

So it was true. Lyla pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, already deep in thought. If Rowena wanted to meet with them privately, then perhaps it was a large job, maybe even in another kingdom-

"Lyla."

"Hm?" Lyla's head jolted up. The Queen was staring at her, bemused.

"You may go."

"Oh!" She blushed. "Of course."

She hurried away to find Ari and Aveline. Lyla felt like she'd been running around all day- at least that meant she was getting some exercise.

They had already started up the tournament again by the time she reached the field. She spotted her mother by one of the canopies with Lord Kenji and Lord Guernot. Lyla quickly ducked behind one of the guests before they could see her.

Just more people she had to avoid...

With difficulty, Lyla managed to maneuver herself through the crowd without being seen.
On the other side of the palace wall, the competitors were preparing themselves for their duels.
Lyla stuck her head out from behind the wall and peered around the corner.

"Lyla!" Aveline waved her fingers at the other girl. She had perched cross-legged on the grass while Ari sat in a chair behind her and braided her hair. "Come join us! The horse race was cancelled, so now we're watching the royals hit each other with sticks."

Ari nodded enthusiastically. "They're not choking on their own blood like I'd hoped, but I'm optimistic."

Lyla raised her eyebrows. "Sounds riveting."

"Surprisingly, it is."

"I have to speak with you both." Lyla's eyes darted to the other guests around them. "Tonight, at dinner?"

"Sure." Suddenly they both were looking at her, concerned. Aveline tilted her head. "Is something wrong?"

"No! Just... I'll tell you then."

"Alright."

She could feel their gazes on her back as she hurried away. Lyla would have much rather stayed with them and watched the tournament, but if she didn't engage with her "suitors" now, her mother would throw a fit.

The Grand Duchess's smile stretched across her entire face as soon as Lyla approached.

"There you are! I was looking for you," she exclaimed sweetly. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."

Lyla tried not to grimace. Dinner couldn't come fast enough.

-

Lyla was exhausted by the time she'd waved the last noble out of the courtyard. The guards slowly closed the large gates with a clatter, her shoulders slumped with relief. She needed to eat something as soon as possible- it had been a long day.

Ari and Aveline were seated in the dining hall- their favorite room in the palace.

Queen Rowena didn't like everyone eating at once- she said it felt too formal, which was good- Lyla like the buffet style much better.
It was dark outside the long, arched windows. A fire crackled cheerily in the hearth- Apreuna, surprisingly, became rather cold at night. There were bowls of fruit and things strewn out on the long table in the center of the room, and Lyla's stomach grumbled appreciatively at the sight.

"So, we've been discussing Suitor Number Three," Ari began cheerfully, pulling out a chair for her to sit down. Lyla plopped herself in it tiredly and grabbed at the plate of scones that lay between them. "Handsome? Yes. Well-mannered? Surely. And brilliant with a sword. But is he charming enough?"

"I liked the one with blue eyes," Aveline piped up. "He was lovely."

"No he wasn't, he was duller than one of the Queen's cotillion parties."

"I don't know why you two are so fascinated with the snobs that my mother throws at me, anyway," Lyla broke in before they could start arguing, speaking through a mouthful of pastry. The warm, flaky crust soothed her stomach and made her feel better almost immediately.

"Are you joking? This is so much fun." Aveline beamed. "Especially when they trip over themselves trying to impress you."

"Besides," Ari added, "we're helping you, Lyla; to pick a dashing suitor."

Lyla brushed a crumb off of her mouth. "Why do I have to have a dashing suitor? I just..." she sighed. "I was hoping that, after everything with the missing royals, my mother wouldn't feel the need to marry me off anymore."

Her companions regarded her with mild sympathy as she shoved another scone down her throat. "I mean," she continued, "contrary to my mother's belief, you can't just force someone to fall in love by shoving some eligible gentlemen in their face." She swallowed. "By the way, did you two dump mud on Lord Guernot outside the palace yesterday?"

"Oh!" Aveline reached over her for a potato. "Yes, that was us."

"Definitely my least favorite suitor," Ari agreed, nodding. "Zero out of ten. Actually no- he's more of a negative six."

Lyla frowned. "Why six?"

"Do we have to go over the ranking system with you, again?"

"Calm down on the bread," Aveline lectured, reaching for Lyla's plate. "You need vegetables."

"Whatever." Lyla slathered butter on her roll, shaking her head and letting a smile pull on the ends of her mouth. She didn't really mind Ari and Aveline's antics. The pirates were always entertaining- and she understood that they often became bored trapped in the confines of the palace.

Ari broke the silence, as he often did. "So what did you want to to talk to us about?"

"Oh, right." Lyla had nearly forgotten. "Queen Rowena wanted to speak with us after this."

Ari's eyes widened. "About what?"

"New assignment," Aveline finished before Lyla could answer.

"How did you know that?"

"Inez told me."

"What," Ari huffed, "and you didn't inform me of this?"

"Sorry, I was a bit preoccupied with my best friend becoming an arsonist."

"The point is," Lyla broke in, "if you get an assignment, and you take me with you, then I can get a break from my mother's matchmaking for a bit."

Aveline pursed her lips. "We know, Lyla. I'm sorry about that. And there's nothing wrong with not wanting a suitor. No one should dictate if and when you fall in love."

"You know," Ari began casually, "this wouldn't be a problem if you'd return to the ship with us."

Lyla exhaled, setting her fork down. "Ari... you know I couldn't leave..."

"Leave who? Your mother?" He leaned forward. "Don't you get tired of people ordering you around?"

"They've gotten better," she argued weakly.

"Only because you're doing what they want. They only notice you now because you're a local hero; having saved the prince. But what about after that?" He leaned forward eagerly, brightness pricking the inky color of his eyes. "I mean, do you want to live under your mother's edicts forever? As soon as you stop following her orders, she's not going to be pleased with you anymore. And then you'll be back to where you started before you even ran away in the first place."

Lyla couldn't listen to any more. "I... I have to go." She stood up abruptly, pushing out her chair with a loud creak.

She felt like a fool, but whirled around and hurried out of the room, her skirts flickering behind her.

"Great. Now you've done it," she could hear Aveline say to Ari as she left.

"What? I was just trying to..."

Their voices faded out the further Lyla retreated into the corridor.

Ari was wrong, she thought angrily to herself as she stormed away. Things had gotten better. Her life had improved immensely since she'd been home. She had friends. She was happy.

Ari was wrong. He had to be.

Lyla headed straight to throne room, feeling a bit awkward given her dramatic exit- since she'd be meeting Ari and Aveline there anyway.

They waited silently for her at the door, next to the pair of guards. Lyla walked over to them and soundlessly focused on the floor.
They were both staring at her. Ari tried to say something, but Aveline shushed him.
Good. Lyla wasn't ready to talk right now.

She just wanted to get the meeting with the Queen over with- then the suspense would be over, and then she could figure out what to do next.

Finally the guards opened the large wooden doors, swinging them ajar on their creaking hinges. Lyla took a breath, taking some comfort in the quiet presence of her friends on either side of her.

And then, she had to admit that some of her consternation stemmed from the fact that really- she had no idea what was about to happen next.

**ooooh! any predictions about what the Queen's assignment is??
thank you for reading, and don't forget to vote!**