“When Aldrik came to his senses, finally, he went to Father and begged once more for you.”

“Begged?”

“He said that he loved you and that he had already promised his heart and future to you.”

Vhalla stopped in place with shock. “He said that, to your father?”

“Not one of his finer ideas, I agree. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Father’s eyes had fallen out of their sockets as they bulged with rage.” Baldair shook his head, and they continued their walk. “We all should’ve known what that token meant.”

Vhalla focused on the dusty ground, not even bothering to pretend the prince was showing her the regimen of the palace guard. “How is he?” she breathed.

“Rough, beyond rough, for a while. He snapped, broke completely in a way I’d never seen him break before.” Baldair paused, chewing over his words. “Then, one morning, like magic, he woke up and changed everything. Or, at least, he started trying. It was like he finally got it, what everyone had been trying to tell him all along. He worked to put a stop to all his nasty habits, he endured the shakes, the sickness. He withdrew more, but it tempered his anger.”

“Ophain said much the same,” Vhalla recalled.

“Aldrik’s uncle? You met with him?”

“In the West,” she confirmed.

“Right . . . Were you really ambushed by the Knights?”

Vhalla shook her head in exasperation. “You think I’d lie about that?”

“I suppose you wouldn’t,” the prince laughed. “The fools, like you could ever be chained. If my father couldn’t, no one could.”

She never thought she’d laugh about the Emperor trying to enslave her. The conversation reminded her of what she’d learned about Jax’s history during her brief time on the run.

Before she had a chance to ask, Daniel interrupted them. “My prince, were you still planning on heading to Court?”

“Oh, by the Mother,” Baldair groaned as he glanced at the sky. “I was, but I’ve no time to change.”

“Neither do we.” Daniel shrugged. “I thought we might present the Lady Vhalla to the Court today.”

“Present me to the Court?” Vhalla wasn’t sure if she liked the sideways look Baldair was giving her.

“I suppose you haven’t been here since the last Court day,” Baldair murmured. “If the lady wishes it, I’ll come for moral support. But, Mother, don’t make me speak more than I must.”

“What does being presented entail?” Vhalla asked uneasily.

“You’re just formally announced as a new lady,” Daniel answered easily. “If Baldair doesn’t wish to speak, I’d be honored to do the announcing.”

He held out a hand, and Vhalla considered it briefly before taking it. “Couldn’t hurt, right?”

“It’s easy!” Daniel encouraged.

“By the Mother,” Baldair muttered under his breath. He turned and raised his hands to his mouth, calling across the field. “Ray, we’re going to Court.”

The blonde let out a monumental groan at that information.

“That’s not encouraging,” Vhalla said uneasily.

“Raylynn’s just dramatic. She hates Court.”

“For good reason.” Baldair actually frowned.

“It’s not that bad,” Daniel insisted.

Vhalla stared at the prince until he yielded an explanation, “I’ve been around the Court for too long. Just know there really are vipers.”

Daniel escorted an apprehensive Vhalla through a short series of outer hallways and then across a lavish series of gardens to the building in which Court was held. Vhalla knew of the place conceptually, but she’d never had reason to explore it before.

She knew instantly what Baldair had meant about dressing once she saw the nobles strolling into the building. Lucky enough for her, it wasn’t the first time she’d worn unconventional attire to a noble function. Vhalla adjusted her black robes proudly and squeezed Daniel’s arm tightly as they crossed the threshold of the Imperial Court.

They were noticed within seconds. Clipped whispers echoed through the assembled nobles, and the hum of conversation was quickly snuffed. Curiosity, fear, resentment, admiration, the expressions they gave her crossed the spectrum. And were no different than what she was used to receiving.

Daniel cleared his throat. “I’d like to have the honor of presenting the Lady Vhalla Yarl to the Court.”

The expected convention observed, the first man stepped forward to play his role. “May the sun shine brightly on your house, Lady Yarl.”

The next person said some similar equivalent, the person after said another. Vhalla feared they’d have to go through every person assembled, but Daniel explained later that the ten or so nobles who greeted her were the heads of some of the oldest families on the continent. Naturally, not every noble family was in attendance. Court wasn’t a mandatory function, but nobility often had little else to do to pass the hours and were kept happy and complacent toward the Empire by milling about and gossiping with each other.

“Vhalla, I’m glad you’re here,” Daniel spoke the moment they were free of the initial party that was brave enough to break the ice with the Windwalker. “I did a lot of thinking after the North . . .”