"The nerve of that bastard," Josephine snapped as she gathered up Nastasia's discarded armor. "Purposefully trying to knock you off the cliff? He should be arrested for that. He should've been arrested long ago!"

Nastasia just nodded her agreement. She and Elise had heard the same phrases repeated over and over again all morning, since Nastasia first told them the events of the tournament. She hadn't been able to the night before, seeing as she'd dropped onto her bedroll and fallen asleep before either of her friends had even entered the tent.

"Stewing over it won't help," Elise cut in as Josephine was preparing to launch into another rant. "We just have to have faith that Sir Kamenev won't make it past the Nyctolian challenge." Both she and Josephine turned to Nastasia. "Do you have any idea what their challenge will be?"

"No, not a clue," Nastasia sighed. She'd been puzzling over the prospect herself but very few ideas had turned up.

And there's the question of what my parents will do considering they think I'm still missing. She hated to think of the stress and worry her parents were facing right now, but there wasn't much she could do at this point. I just hope Mother will put an end to whatever she's doing and support Father when we get back to Nyctoli, Nastasia thought.

She brushed her worries aside as Josephine began to speak again, but before she could finish her sentence, the tent flaps burst apart. Nastasia snatched up her scarf and flung it over her head, then relaxed slightly, recognizing Danitza.

"Excuse me," Elise began, "but what do you mean by barging in here like..."

"Kazimir is summoning everyone," Danitza interrupted. "He's brought..." She broke off, revulsion and sorrow flooding her features for just a moment. "He's brought more of his Mages. At least a hundred this time. No one knows what he's planning, so come prepared."

Silence fell thick for one long minute. Then, Josephine squared her shoulders and gave a stout nod. "Thank you for warning us." Danitza inclined her head, her gaze meeting Nastasia's, before she backed out of the tent.

"This can't be good." Nastasia lurched to her feet and pinned her scarf into place. "A hundred Mages all bound to him through magic? How is that even possible? How did he capture so many?"

"Why has no one stopped him?" Elise murmured.

"Because no one can," Josephine replied, handing Nastasia her sword.

"That's not true," Nastasia protested. Both women cast her incredulous glances. "I think the Princess can, and I think she must."

With an army like that behind him, it would have to be her. No one else would stand a chance. Perhaps she barely did, but she still stood a better one than others. The question was how would she stop him, and when?

"Let's hope you're right," Josephine said. "Come on." She pushed the tent flaps aside and took the lead. It didn't take long to find out where they were headed. A large group had already gathered in the center of the camp, with Kazimir and his Mages before them.

Nastasia stuck close to her friends and allowed the familiar icy thrum of magic to fill her veins, ready to fight back should the need arise. Her gaze instinctively sought out her parents and her breath caught when she spied them standing directly beside Kazimir.

General Nikita was positioned at her mother's side, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Nastasia shifted her attention to her father. Gavriil's focus was situated firmly on Kazimir and a grim look pinched his features.

"Thank you all for assembling so quickly." Nastasia flinched as Kazimir's voice rang out, loud and foreboding. "I have good news to share. We need not dread the long journey to Nyctoli's capital. King Gavriil has accepted my offer to transport us there through magic."

Nastasia's mouth fell. Her father had agreed to such a thing even after witnessing the brutality of it firsthand? "We will leave immediately," Kazimir continued. "I'm told the Princess eagerly awaits our arrival, and surely we all covet our first glimpse of this mysterious Moon Blessed Saint, whom so few have ever seen."

"The Princess will not make her appearance until the end of the tournament," Gavriil interrupted, the words crackling like ice. "By her own request."

"Well then, we'll have to be crafty in our methods of seeking her out," Kazimir laughed, unfazed by her father's warning. Understanding dawned on Nastasia as Gavriil's wary expression shifted to one of unease.

"The Princess will decide who she wants to meet and when she wants to speak with them following the end of the tournament," he insisted. "But she believes it will be best to join us once her betrothed has already been named, both for her sake, and for the sake of every Knight here."

"Of course. Princess Nastasia is a very wise Saint," Kazimir crooned. "One I am most eager to meet."

They didn't want to do this, Nastasia realized. But they had to agree. If they protest too much, Kazimir will guess they're trying to hide something.

However, judging by the smug grin the Emperor wore and her parents' obvious distress, Nastasia wouldn't be surprised if he had figured it out already, and was merely biding his time before he told everyone the truth of her parents' lies.

"Now then," Kazimir continued, "shall we move on to Dimesa?" Before her parents could reply, the Mages raised their hands and once more, wind bellowed in Nastasia's ears.

•༻᯽༺•

The next thing she heard was Josephine screaming. Nastasia blinked her eyes open and found her friend kneeling on the ground, visibly trembling with fear. Beside her, Elise had turned a sickly shade of green. Nastasia grimaced and crouched beside Josephine, touching her shoulder gently.

"It's all right," she whispered. "Look. We're here."

Josephine quieted and lifted wide eyes to the scenery around them. The entire encampment had been transported to the palace grounds of Dimesa. The palace rose before them, its familiar stained glass windows reflecting hues of color across the engraved marble walls. A smile tugged at Nastasia's lips. At last, she was finally home.

"The carvings," Josephine said, her voice wavering. "What are they, exactly?"

"Nyctoli's history," Nastasia explained. "They were left by the Dwarves who first settled here, and even now, we follow their tradition of chiseling our past into the walls of our homes."

"It's beautiful."

"It is." Nastasia turned to Elise as she finally straightened. "Are you all right?"

"I never want to do that again," she groaned. "My heart is in my throat and I think my stomach fell into my foot."

Nastasia offered her a look of sympathy, then rose herself. "I need to go. Will you cover for me if anyone comes looking?"

"Where are you going?" Josephine asked.

"To see the Princess."

"But how? You heard King Gavriil. I'm sure there will be guards around ensuring no one has access to her."

Nastasia grinned beneath her scarf. "Lest you forget, this is my home too, and I know it better than any guard. Don't worry. I'll be back soon."

Josephine sighed but nodded, and took Elise's offered hand. Nastasia slipped away while Elise helped her up. It wasn't difficult to weave through the disoriented crowd and vanish into the hedges leading up to the nearest servant entrance.

Nastasia carefully ducked inside the palace and crept along the vacant hallway until she reached one of the secret passages she and Nikolai used so often. The barest sweep of her hand against one randomly placed brick and a crack appeared in the wall.

Nastasia squeezed inside and continued down the dark tunnel. Only when she heard the passage seal behind her did she allow starlight to glimmer to life around her, shedding a silvery glow across everything.

She unpinned her scarf and drew a deep breath of musty air. When she and Nikolai had first begun exploring the tunnels, she'd always complained about the smell, but now, it was familiar and welcome.

Up and up she followed the tunnel throughout the palace floors. Occasionally, she'd come across the well hidden peepholes that allowed one to peer out into the actual palace hallways. She passed several guards and servants on the lower levels, but the closer she drew to her own room, the fewer people she saw.

When she reached the last peephole just down the hall from her chambers, she was surprised to see no one at all. I thought there would be at least one guard standing watch, Nastasia thought. But I suppose if I'm not here, there's no point in guarding me, is there?

She continued the last few feet to the end of the tunnel and gently pushed the door open. She heard the unmistakable sound of her bookcase sliding to the side to make way for the door, then stepped into her bedroom.

Nastasia gazed about the empty expanse cautiously, then closed the door, not bothering to move her bookcase back just yet. Her room was just as she'd left it without even a speck of dust anywhere. The servants had kept up with their usual cleaning routine, it seemed.

Nastasia set her scarf on the vanity and moved deeper into the room, her smile growing. As much as she'd liked the freedom of the past couple months, it was good to be home again.

There was a faint click behind her and Nastasia whirled with a gasp as her bedroom door opened. A familiar figure froze in the doorframe, his mouth hanging open before it tilted into a grin.

"Nasi!" Alexei exclaimed. "You're back!" He closed the door and dashed across the room, pulling her into a tight embrace. Nastasia squeezed him even harder. "I thought you wouldn't arrive for days yet," Alexei said when he finally drew back.

"It was Kazimir's idea. I think he pressured Mother and Father into agreeing to come back early," Nastasia explained. "Have you gotten taller?"

"No," Alexei snorted. "Maybe you've gotten shorter. But Mother and Father are here?"

Nastasia nodded. "And they still believe I'm missing. I can't reveal myself until the end of the tournament unless I want them to put me under lock and key."

Alexei frowned. "Won't they call off the tournament if you haven't been found? They won't risk angering and humiliating the other rulers by waiting until the very end of the tournament."

"I've thought of that. Do you think you could stage a false lead that would make them think they're on my trail and that they're capable of finding me before then?"

"I suppose I could come up with something. I could say you sent me a letter. You can write one so I have something to show them."

"I'll do it tonight," Nastasia agreed.

But Alexei's frown only deepened and his brow creased. "There's Nikolai to consider also. Everyone thinks you two ran away together. If you mention him in this false letter, it would incriminate him."

"Then I won't mention him," Nastasia replied.

"You do know where he is though, don't you?"

Nastasia nodded. "He disguised himself and entered the tournament too."

Alexei's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? You mean, both of you did this? Did you arrange it together? Or does he not know?"

They both turned as the door behind the bookcase creaked open. Nastasia's breath caught. Nikolai stepped into the room, closing the door and sliding the bookcase back into place. His features were his own, without a single trace of Sir Arlov remaining. No one spoke until Nikolai faced them.

"I know," he said.