Shulay did not return that night. Arialain worried only because of the cow. If too much time passed, another sister would discover it--most likely Briette. Arialain hoped Shulay would appear the next morning.

She had angry dreams that night, dreams in which she hurled wooden swords at her sisters like daggers, but they smacked them away, laughing. At breakfast, she could not speak to any of them. Peasant Day had come again, and she would be tied to the door until sundown.

But the knocks began so early that even Maelyn looked annoyed. "Only half past seven!" She threw her napkin onto the table and rose. "Probably the monks."

She was right. Maelyn waited in the entry as Arialain admitted seven friars from Merridell Abbey, claiming an emergency. Maelyn guided them to the throne room, instructing Arialain to allow no other visitors until they had finished.

The next knock came ten minutes later. Already bored, Arialain began her speech about Maelyn being delayed when she discovered the next caller was Tofer.

"Morning!" Tofer gave her a quick hug. "Father gave me a free day. I couldn't wait to see you."

Arialain grinned. Hooray! Tofer seemed in good humor. She enjoyed him on his good days; this was when they had the most fun. He looked nice too, with freshly washed hair and a mustard yellow tunic that seemed to wel-come the warming days of June.

"Well, I'm stuck here. You know that." She shoved the door shut. "Maelyn has a bunch of monks in the throne room. But they just got here--we might have some time. You want to practice the sword?"

"Sure!" Tofer ran for the wooden swords behind the bear statue. He tossed one to Arialain and for a quarter hour, they fought each other across the hall, both grinning. Tofer had no greater skill than Ari, neither one having trained as a soldier, but that didn't matter. This was what Arialain loved most about Tofer. How much fun he could be.

"Ha! You're dead!" Arialain jabbed Tofer in the middle of his chest. He held up his hands and laughed. "All right! You slayed me!"

Arialain could barely speak from panting. He had cornered her, and she had thought he was winning when she saw an opening. Feeling proud, she playfully poked his tunic again. "You let your guard down."

"So did you." Tofer grabbed the blade of her sword and yanked hard. With her tight grip, Arialain moved with it. She thought she would collide with him, but he caught her by the shoulders and quickly kissed her on the lips.

Arialain gasped. She'd never been kissed by a boy and hadn't expected it. She was surprised by how much she liked it.

"You brazen boy!" She twisted out of his grasp and used the sword to distance herself. "You shall not steal a kiss again." She arched her eyebrows at Tofer. Daring him.

For once, the horrible door stayed quiet. For once, the irritating sisters stayed away. Arialain and Tofer waged a fierce battle, and by the time a half hour had passed, he had stolen two more kisses from her. And she'd stolen one from him.

Her heart danced. Her eyes shone. She had a feeling none of her sisters had been kissed yet--except maybe Coralina. Certainly not Maelyn, almost nineteen and eldest. Arialain felt almost smug.

Doom! Doom! Doom!

Arialain laughed, not even annoyed with the door now. She directed two farmers to the throne room, completely forgetting Maelyn's directive to not be disturbed. As she tried to close the door again, Tofer grabbed the edge.

"Let's ditch this." He dropped his wooden sword on the floor and shoved it beneath the open door with his foot. "Come on." He offered his hand, eyes gleaming.

Arialain looked at the sunny lawn outside, the enticing forest beyond it. If Shulay could shirk her duties for hours, why not she? Why shouldn't she get a free day, now and then?

She grabbed Tofer's hand and they ran outside together. Laughing.