Arialain had heard the door that night. Of course, she had. She would've heard that beast if she lived in Grunwold. But when she got downstairs, she found that Maelyn and Coralina had already answered it. Shocked, Arialain had snuck back to her room before they saw her.

"It was Willow," Arialain said to Tofer. They stood in the entry hall, clacking the wooden swords whenever the door stayed quiet. "He came in the middle of the night."

"That's creepy." Tofer swung his sword at Arialain's head and she ducked.

"I agree. Did you find out anything about him?"

Tofer shrugged, backing away when Arialain jabbed his ribs. "I talked to him. He doesn't seem that bad. But why is he staying in this kingdom?"

"I think it's because of Maelyn." This was the very opposite of what Arialain wanted. She wanted Willow gone. As far away from them as possible.

Tofer's attitude told her he no longer worried about Willow. So long as he showed no interest in Arialain, Tofer would have no interest in him. His talk veered onto other topics, eventually coming to his business excursion that summer.

"Two weeks in Pendora! My father wants to oversee a large delivery there, then says we can stay on holiday. Mother says it's a charming place. And you're going with me, Ari, we won't let anyone say no."

Doom! Doom! Doom!

Arialain headed for the door. It was Peasant Day again and the interruptions had been plentiful. She greeted the group of farmers who entered and directed them to Maelyn's throne room.

"I don't want to go to Pendora," Arialain said as she returned to Tofer.

Tofer looked at her, holding his sword limp. "Why?"

"I just don't want to go."

"You know you've got to go back there someday."

"No I don't. It's not even a real kingdom anymore, just a piece of Grunwold."

"You honestly don't want to see your homeland."

"Not a bit."

Tofer dropped the sword on the floor. He walked quietly toward Arialain and she didn't like his face. Cold and hard as iron. Unconsciously, she backed away until she met the wall.

Tofer came so close his nose nearly touched hers. "Well, I want us both to go."

Arialain blinked rapidly. She couldn't speak.

Tofer didn't touch her. He just kept his face close, eyes boring straight into hers. "I want to go to Pendora and you are coming with me. Is anything about that unclear?"

Arialain shook her head. Her throat was so tight she couldn't have spoken if she wanted to. Tofer smirked, kissed the tip of her nose, then headed for the door without another word. Arialain waited until he had let himself out.

She dropped her face in her hands and cried hard—though soundless—so Maelyn wouldn't hear. She hated when he got like that. He could be so sweet the rest of the time, she just wished he didn't have these... bad spots.

Doom! Doom! Doom!

Her stomach clenched, thinking Tofer had come back. But when she opened the door it was only Gord the carpenter, holding a smoothing plane.

"Found a rough patch on top of that tower yesterday. Don't want anyone getting splinters."

"Oh... go ahead." Arialain held the door, grateful he couldn't see her clearly. She knew her eyes were still teary. Gord crossed the entry, made some sniffing sounds, then stopped.

"There a cow in here?" he asked.

Arialain stared at him. "Uh... yes. On the fourth floor." How could he possibly know that?

Gord shifted to look back at her. "Why is that?"

"It was an accident. But now we can't get her out."

Gord stood very still for a long moment, looking thoughtful. "Prank?"

Arialain felt shocked. "How did you know that?"

Gord smiled. "I had brothers."

He looked so non-judgmental, she found herself sharing the whole story with him. "It's really a bad predicament. We have our uncle visiting in ten days. Even Maelyn doesn't know what to do about this."

Gord nodded slowly. "I do. With me, my two brothers, and a wagon, we'll get the cow down the stairs. No trouble. Just give me a couple of days."

"Oh my goodness!" Arialain cried. "Oh my goodness—bless you! Maelyn will be so thankful. You're so wonderful!"

Gord chuckled. "Not at all, little princess. Just glad to help."

Arialain wanted to rush to the throne room and tell Maelyn herself, but the stupid door was roaring again. She opened it to find Willow standing outside.

She was too happy with Gord's news to be bothered by this. "Yes, Sir Messenger?"

"I'm not coming in," Willow said softly. "Would you please give this to Maelyn?" He offered a tiny scroll of paper.

"Who's it from?"

"Me. Nothing urgent."

Arialain cooled as she took the paper. He was writing to Maelyn himself? She couldn't think of any reason for that. As she headed for the throne room, she had no qualms about unrolling the paper and reading it.

It was short. A respectful note of apology for disturbing her in the middle of the night. Well, he had some sense of decency. He also stated he would regrettably be missing today's rehearsal, due to unforeseen circumstances.

Arialain changed course and steered herself toward the kitchen. It was time to widen the wedge. She pushed into the overheated room where the air smelled strongly of bread baking.

"Heidel?"

"In the cellar!" The voice came from the open hatch at the end of the room.

"Nevermind!" Arialain walked to the worktable beside the roaring hearth and grabbed ahandful of almonds off the surface. While her left hand popped them into hermouth, her right hand tossed Willow's note into the fire.