Arialain dug to the bottom of the ruby trunk. Checked on top of her bed, and under her bed. Revisited the places where she normally carried Laina.

But she couldn't find the doll.

She wasn't worried yet. She had misplaced Laina before, many times. The castle was an easy place to lose a small doll. She would turn up eventually.

While sifting through the toys in the trunk, Ari spotted the long letter she'd received. Her stomach tightened. She wanted to burn the wretched thing, but sensed she might need it later, as proof.

By all things holy, she hoped not.

Doom! Doom! Doom!

She released a rude word Tofer had taught her, not caring if it wasn't queenish. She liked the words Tofer had given her. They fit the moment so well when she was mad.

She let the trunk lid fall and headed downstairs. Why was her job never done? Maelyn kept hours in the throne room and then was done. Heidel prepared three meals a day and then was done. But Arialain had to run to the door every time someone touched it. Day or night. Summer or winter.

Finding out the caller was Tofer made things so much better.

"Where's Maelyn?" he whispered without stepping inside.

Ari shrugged. Maelyn had closed the throne room hours ago. The princesses had eaten supper. "Probably reading somewhere. That's all she ever does."

Grinning, Tofer grabbed her wrist and pulled her outside. "Let's go for a walk."

"It's too late," Arialain said. "Maelyn doesn't want us out after dark because of the bandits."

"That isn't real," Tofer said with contempt. "Your sister needs to stop listening to rumors."

"They're not rumors!" Arialain cried. "Coralina saw one of the victims a few days ago! A girl who had lost all her hair."

Tofer snorted. "Probably just looking for attention."

"No, I don't think so-"

"You coming or not?" Tofer raised his voice just enough to make her flinch. Ari nodded. "All right—a few minutes. Where are we going?"

"The hollow tree," Tofer said.

Arialain shook her head. She couldn't explain it, not even to herself, but she knew she couldn't be alone with Tofer. Not completely alone. Of course, he was her friend. She trusted him. But the idea of an enclosed space made her uneasy.

"Let's stick to the castle wall," she said. "The forest is too dark right now."

Tofer shrugged. "I guess. If you're really that scared." He smirked and tugged her short hair.

They started off around the castle. For a few minutes, they exchanged details about their day, Arialain at the door, Tofer at his parents' linen shop in Merridell. When they reached a broad span of wall without windows, Tofer grabbed Ari's arms and pulled her down to sit on the grass.

"You said you had a secret for me last time," Tofer said.

Arialain rubbed her arms. She didn't like his habit of pushing or pulling her in any direction he wanted. She hadn't wanted to sit on the grass, it would stain her skirt. But he might get angry if she told him that.

"Oh yes...." Now that a few days had passed, Arialain realized she didn't want to tell Tofer the secret. He already knew her old secret. This new one was much more dangerous.

"I don't want my sisters to overhear."

"They won't," Tofer said with a flavor of impatience. "That's why I chose this spot."

He had found the most secluded spot along the castle wall. The front wall faced the hill and held the main door. The back wall faced the gardens and livestock pens. The right-hand wall faced the lake and was frequently used for walks. But the left-hand wall had little to offer, besides bare grass and forest. Furthermore, it held very few windows.

"All right. I'll go first," Tofer said. "My father is sending me to do business in Grunwold this summer."

"Oh," Arialain said. That didn't seem much of a secret. "That's interesting."

"More than interesting. He's sending me to a little province on the northeast corner of Grunwold. Known as Pendora, I believe." He smiled.

Arialain's stomach pinched. "Pendora?"

"Why don't you come with me?" He reached over and clasped her fingers. "Better yet, why don't you come without telling your sisters? That would be fun."

Arialain shook her head. She had never visited the region of her birth. The tiny kingdom of Pendora, which had disappeared years ago, swallowed by the greater kingdom of Grunwold like a shark swallowing a minnow. Annexing, they called it. No longer its own kingdom, just another piece of Grunwold.

"I don't want to see it. Not even my father could get me to go."

"Well, I want you to see it with me," Tofer said.

"I can't travel with you," Arialain said. "Not unmarried. It isn't proper."

Tofer laughed. "Who cares what's proper? We can do what we want."

"I don't want to go there. It's not about you. I just don't want to see my kingdom. All right?"

Tofer sat back with only a slight scowl. "Well, I knew it wouldn't work the first time. You'll come around. Now, what was your secret?"

Her lingering anger made her braver. She wouldn't tell him her secret. She would blend fact and fiction, confuse him with half-truths.

"A letter came from Grunwold. It was addressed to me—not Maelyn. The writer was a servant in the palace of Grunwold." That part was a total lie. "She wanted to warn me."

"Warn you of what?" Tofer asked.

"Of... of Willow," Arialain said, hoping her words would not harm him. "The new messenger. He's a spy for King Jarrod. He doesn't realize it, though. He's being used."

"Why don't you tell Maelyn?" Tofer asked.

"I can't." If she told, Maelyn would want to see the letter as proof. And Maelyn could not see that letter. Arialain was not cruel, she would not crush her sister's soul. There was much more in that letter than what she was telling Tofer.

"She might overreact," Arialain said feebly.

Tofer frowned. "What does King Jarrod want to know that he doesn't already? And how can you be sure Willow is so innocent?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, a spy usually knows very well what he is doing. I bet Willow knows his role exactly. Question is, what do they want to find out? What do they want to gain?"

Arialain carefully gave a shrug.

Tofer looked pleased. He inched closer to Arialain and pushed his face close to hers. "I bet they know about you."

Arialain winced. "No!"

"Why else was the letter addressed to you? I bet King Jarrod suspects. He's using Willow to find out if you are who he thinks you are."

"Nobody knows that but you and me. You haven't told anyone, right?"

"No, of course not."

Arialain didn't like the way he spoke. It didn't ring true. "I don't think that's the reason."

Tofer smiled and casually placed his hand upon her knee. "Leave Sir Golden-Hair to me. I'll find out what he's after."