Nastasia could have wept when she learned that the journey from Ulrik to Hywel, the capital of Eldon, would take ten days. She managed to paste a smile upon her lips instead when Josephine and Elise found her. Before the journey began, they'd made a plan for traveling together. One that brought Nastasia immense relief.

    She was riding a new horse that Josephine had brought for her, while Josephine rode Moxie. Nastasia had expressed her concern about riding the mare when she wasn't being the Silent Knight after Sir Arlov revealed that he'd recognized the horse.

    To avoid her having to be the Silent Knight for the entire journey or spend her time undercover with the other servants, Josephine had also decided to pass her off as her personal handmaiden. That gave Nastasia a reason to ride with Josephine and Elise, and accompany them wherever they went without question.

    She'd even get to share a tent with them on the road. Nastasia remained slightly wary of the girls, but she was looking forward to getting to know them better. Perhaps if things went well, she would be able to call them her friends.

    "Ugh, I'm so bored," Josephine groaned, snagging Nastasia's attention. She'd been watching Sir Arlov, Mischa, Yuri, and the woman whom she guessed was Danitza. They rode a fair distance ahead with the other Knights.

    "I'm not sure we can help much," Elise chuckled.

    "Nonsense." Josephine squared her shoulders and shook her dark head, sending a curly ponytail tumbling down her back. "Nasi, you're from Nyctoli. Tell me, what do you know of Mischa Balakin?"

    Nastasia smiled at Josephine's attempted indifference. "I've only met him a few times myself, but I've heard a great deal about him. We have a mutual...friend."

    "Go on."

    "Well, I know he's from one of Nyctoli's major farming cities and has five older brothers. I was told he learned how to brawl by fighting with his brothers. They'd hold matches amongst themselves, and let people watch and bet on them to make some extra money. He and Yuri came to the capital together after a new Lord was voted into their city's office."

    "Interesting. Have you met his brothers or his parents?"

    Nastasia shook her head. "I don't believe he has a father, though that suspicion has never been confirmed. I've only heard mention of his mother and brothers."

    Josephine's lips curled sideways as she pondered the new information. Elise smiled and drew closer. "He's very handsome, isn't he, Josie?"

    Josephine's bronze cheeks flushed crimson. "I suppose."

    "And he has such a kind and charming personality," Nastasia added, unable to keep the teasing tone from her voice.

    "Indeed. There's something very refreshing about how down to earth he is. He has a plain way of speaking and doesn't put on airs. I like it."

    "He must be a good dancer as well," Elise pointed out. "He was your partner for almost every dance."

    "He might not move as gracefully as other men, but he managed well enough and I never had to fear him dropping me, unlike some partners I've had in the past."

    Nastasia and Elise both giggled quietly while Josephine pretended to ignore them. Finally, Elise turned to Nastasia. "What about Yuri? I wasn't sure what to make of him really. I think he danced with me as a courtesy, more than taking an interest in me."

    "You would be right," Nastasia began slowly. "Before I say anything, what was your impression of him?"

    Elise thought for a moment. "He seemed genuinely nice, but easily distracted. He did talk most of the time, for which I was grateful. It's not easy for me to speak to people, men especially, in a social setting like that. Besides that, I did feel like he was paying more attention to..." her voice fell to a whisper, "...the men in attendance, rather than the women."

    "Yuri is a very outgoing and friendly person," Nastasia said. "And you're right. His attention does lie with men more than women."

    Elise's brown eyes widened while Josephine just grinned. "Oh, come now, Elise. Don't tell me you're going to be shocked by that when we both agreed we thought Nasi here was the Princess's lover, despite her claims otherwise."

    Elise schooled her features into a passive look. "I find it easier to understand women loving women, than men loving men."

    Nastasia tilted her head and furrowed her brows. "How so?"

    "I'm not sure how to explain it. I guess, to me, it feels like women understand the emotional and physical needs of another woman more than a man could, even with another man. I don't mean that's always true; it's just how I think of it."

    Nastasia shrugged. "I wouldn't know. All I've been told is that Yuri is usually very outspoken in his preferences, and more often than not, that has led to him getting into trouble."

    "Well, he wouldn't have those issues if he remained in Blod," Josephine replied. "We are generally very accepting of people like him. In fact, I'd be surprised if he left that banquet without the names and addresses of a few men."

    Nastasia smiled at that. "I hope you're right. After hearing about the way he's been treated in Nyctoli, I sometimes feel ashamed of my people."

    "You're not responsible for the actions of your people," Elise said. "Just your own."

    Nastasia's smile faded and she looked away. "Believe me, I know." She'd been told since Alexei's birth that her people weren't her concern. She would never be the one to lead them, so it wasn't her place to influence them. Nastasia remained silent as Josephine and Elise moved on to a different topic.

•༻᯽༺•

    "We're going to have to be exceptionally careful in Eldon," Danitza said. "I'm sure you've heard the stories about what they do to people like me."

    Nikolai grimaced. "Yes, you've told us plenty. As long as you lay low around the camp while the challenge is ongoing, I'm sure everything will be fine."

    Danitza turned to Yuri. "You need to be careful too. The Eldons won't treat you any kinder than they'll treat me."

    "Like I said before, I don't plan on hiding who I am just because some people won't like it," Yuri replied.

    "And that's fine anywhere but Eldon and Andrian. The Eldons might let you go after chopping your dick off, but the Andrians? They'll treat you as the Eldons treat Mages."

    "I've met a few of the Andrian Knights' aides and they haven't treated me any differently after finding out about my preferences."

    "Lower class people might not, but the Knights and government officials will make things miserable for you."

    "They can't touch Yuri without an actual reason for his arrest," Nikolai butted in. "He's a Nyctolian."

    "Do you think that will stop them from making up excuses or lies?" Danitza glared at them through narrowed eyes and rode on ahead.

    Yuri and Mischa fell in step on either side of Nikolai's mount. Temnota shook his dark mane with a snort, and Nikolai stroked his neck fondly. "I know you don't want to hide a part of who you are, Yuri, but Danitza is right. You need to be careful, at least. They could do whatever they want to you while I'm busy with the challenge and very few people would try to stop them."

    Yuri heaved a sigh. "For your peace of mind, I'll be careful, but I'm not going to let the fear of what they might do drive me."

    "I wouldn't expect you to."

    "I'll keep an eye on him," Mischa promised.

    Yuri rolled his eyes and Nikolai smiled. "Now," he began, "...did you accept any of those invitations you received in Blod?"

    "That's for me to know and you to find out," Yuri answered.

    "I'm trying to find out now."

    "I'm not going to tell you."

    "Prick," he grunted. Yuri just laughed.

•༻᯽༺•

    Each day passed slower and slower until Nikolai was certain they'd never reach Hywel, but at last, Blod's red landscape gave way to Eldon's lush green forests and hills, and sparkling azure rivers. The scenery was a pleasant change, although he wasn't enjoying the sticky humidity that accompanied it.

    Beneath the glamour of Sir Arlov's wavy hair, his own curly locks were undoubtedly a frizzled mess. Nikolai smiled to himself, the thought dredging up another sweeter one. On humid and rainy days in Nyctoli, Nastasia had always loved to toy with his hair, especially when it practically doubled in size.

    She toyed with it regardless. He'd always loved how she would tug on the three perpetual curls that lay across his forehead. He was rarely happier than on the fleeting occasion when she'd lay his head in her lap and comb her fingers through his hair.

    Nikolai shook the thoughts away before longing could flood his chest. Still, his heart twinged and he wished, not for the first time, that his letter would reach his mother and he'd receive a response soon. He wanted to hear about Nastasia. Anything at all, even the smallest scrap of information. He didn't care.

    Nikolai straightened and squared his shoulders as King Wymond and Queen Lilibet's Captain of the Guard came weaving through the Knights, astride his own mount.

    "There will be no celebration in Hywel until after the challenge is complete," the man announced, hollering loud enough that everyone could hear him. "Food has been prepared for this evening and will be passed about after campsites have been set up. Afterwards, the King will explain the challenge, which will begin in a day's time."

    "A day?" Mischa echoed at Nikolai's side. "What's the rush?"

    "Maybe they don't want Andrians staying in Eldon longer than necessary," Yuri guessed.

    "The whole point of this tournament is to draw our kingdoms closer together. Speeding through challenges won't help us accomplish that," Nikolai said.

    "No," Danitza agreed. "But this is their kingdom. What they say goes. I'd rather leave quickly and on good terms than slowly and spark another feud."

    Nikolai inclined his head. "I haven't seen the Silent Knight since we left Blod. Do you think he'll be there tonight?"

    Yuri shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he changed his mind and won't show up anymore since he was discovered."

    "He'll be there," Danitza insisted. "Whether or not we recognize him is another question."

    Nikolai glanced at the Mage from the corner of his eye, once again sensing there was something she knew, but refused to share. He didn't voice his questions however, and shifted his attention back to Mischa and Yuri.