"I need you to come to the market with me," Jaedis said.

This was another thing Arialain despised. Not the market—she rather enjoyed that—but the fact that her sisters never gave her any notice. It was always like that. Come peel the chestnuts now. Come fold the laundry now. Come with me to the market now. They all assumed Arialain had no life of her own.

"Why am I coming?" Arialain had just returned from burning Willow's note and found Jaedis standing in the entry, a market basket dangling from each hand.

"I have to get a lot. It'll be too much to carry alone."

"Does Maelyn know?"

"She knows. She said to get Briette."

Meaning, get Briette to watch the door while Arialain was out. Of course, Arialain had to be the one to fetch her. Briette came with a long-handled duster, planning to make good use of her time.

"I'll shake out those tapestries too," she said, surveying the dueling peacocks.

Arialain felt happy to escape the door for one afternoon. Although they could have taken a carriage, Jaedis usually chose to walk the three miles from the castle to Merridell. She claimed it kept her strong and healthy.

"We need more candles. We always need more candles," Jaedis said as they started down the hill. "Heidel wants a side of ham—getting ready for you-know-who. That's going to be heavy. Ivy and Maelyn both want ink, and Shulay wants feed for her goats—but I told her that has to wait. I can't carry all that feed! Coralina needs another dummy sword for her play, and I want shoes."

Jaedis always wanted shoes. Arialain had heard Maelyn complain that Jaedis spent too much of their gold. Jaedis claimed she watched the books and knew what she could spend.

"Is that my dress?" Arialain asked. The mint green gown Jaedis was wearing looked very familiar.

"Oh—is it yours? Lace delivered it to my room and I couldn't remember. You know she's not too careful about those things. And I have so many gowns! We should go through my cabinets together—there are lots of dresses I don't wear anymore and you might like them."

"Sure!" Arialain smiled. Of all the princesses, she and Jaedis could share clothing only with each other. Both of them barely reached five feet and had similar figures, though in every other respect, they differed drastically.

Arialain kept up with Jaedis' chatter as they followed the road across the wide meadows that separated the castle from the nearest town of Merridell. Arialain added her own thoughts here and there, but knew Jaedis much preferred to hear her own voice. She didn't mind. The long, wild grasses waving under the cloudless sky had already cheered her, as did the smell of growing hayfields on nearby farms.

"Holy knuckles, it's hot out here! Feels like summer." Arialain wished she had thought to wear a kerchief. The sun could easily burn her scalp through her thin yellow hair.

"Well, it is summer! Close enough, at least. The town has started getting ready for Fenwick's Feast." Jaedis grinned. She loved festivals and holidays, tournaments, and royal balls—anything fun. "Think I might do a puppet show for the peasant children this year, what do you think about that?"

"Nice." Arialain would probably attend the festival with Tofer, and run the races. She loved physical challenges, which was why nursing the door all day felt so stagnating to her. Yes, it was heavy—but she had long since gotten used to that.

After nearly an hour, they reached the market square in Merridell. Always crowded, always joyfully busy, with a collection of colorful booths that never failed to excite her heart. Arialain could have been Market Princess, and a good one, if Maelyn had given her anything like a choice.

"Let's divide the list in half. It'll be faster." Arialain held out her hand.

"Oh, I can do it! I just need you to carry," Jaedis said.

"Nooo! I want to do something!" Arialain complained. "Just let me buy a few things—I can handle that!"

"All right. Stop whining!" Jaedis cried. She checked her list. "Go and buy the dummy sword for Coco. You'll like that." She carelessly dropped several coins into Arialain's hand.

You'll like that, Arialain thought sarcastically. Because she was a child who should only be given tasks that would amuse her. She clamped her fingers around the coins and walked away, muttering. She would buy the sword quickly and demand to shop for more items on the list.

She knew where to find the costume shop where Coralina bought things like that. To her surprise, she came upon a closed door and a signboard stating the owner was restocking in Kurzha, and would return next month. Arialain grunted and stomped her foot. After her outburst with Jaedis, she didn't want to fail her task.

Would a swordsmith have a dummy? She checked the booths until she found a craftsman from Creaklee who had brought his wares to Merridell that day. A smile grew on her face as she examined the beautiful blades spread across the table, winking the sun back at her. She loved swords.

"Princess Arialain!" The swordsmith gave a gracious bow that made her love him instantly. He reminded her of Joc, with his round head and thinning hair. "What brings Your Ladyship to my humble booth?"

"I like these." Arialain picked up a broadsword with a ribbed leather handle that lay directly in front of her. The weight of it surprised her.

"Oh my—too cumbersome for you," the swordsmith said without making it sound insulting. "No, the blade should match the bearer, and together they wield as one. This—I think—is more suitable." He picked up a slender blade of tapered steel with a polished ivory handle. "Light as feathers. But long enough to reach your foes."

Arialain gripped the sword and swished it through the air, marveling at its speed. It felt like part of her own arm. "Is it real?"

The swordsmith laughed. "It can cause a very real death! It's a lady's sword."

"Like what Kilmeny had?" Arialain asked. Kilmeny was the famous lady knight of the last century who had won a successful battle in Bella Reino.

"She had one specially made for her, but yes—she popularized the lady's sword, and thought every girl above twelve years should carry one. Not a bad idea in my mind. But too many noble ladies think it clutters up the look of their dress."

"I think it looks great over a dress." Arialain held the sword against her skirt and smiled, prompting the swordsmith to produce a scabbard, and let her belt it above her hips. The sheathed sword nested among the folds of her gown, partly concealed.

She had already made up her mind. "How much?"

He wanted six goldens. Fortunately, he accepted the three she had from Jaedis, with a promise to bring the rest tomorrow. Arialain walked away feeling like she had a new crown on her head.

"Oh good, you found one!" Jaedis said. She had just come out of the stationery shop, her basket weighted with two fresh bottles of ink. "That looks great. Coco will love it."

Arialain smiled. She had guessed Jaedis would just assume it was the dummy sword, and think Arialain had strapped it on for fun. She helped Jaedis make the rest of her purchases and even offered to carry the ham, though it made her basket much heavier. She was having a very good day.

They kept up steady conversation out of Merridell and across the meadows, where Arialain confided her frustration in losing her doll, and her certainty it had been stolen by the castle thief. Jaedis laughed brightly over this.

"Castle thief?"

"Well, that's what I call it. I think we have one."

"That's so creepy, though!" Jaedis said, sounding thrilled.

"I know. How is he getting in?" This continued to be a puzzle point for Arialain. And one reason she had bought the sword.

"Pardon me, my good ladies!"

The two princesses spun around. A young man on horseback had ridden up the road and greeted them with a handsome smile. "I am looking for the castle of Runa. Could ye kindly direct me?"

Jaedis laughed. "You're nearly there! Straight up that hill." She pointed directly ahead of them, where the dense forest of Lumen trees kept the castle hidden from view.

The man bowed his head gratefully. "Many thanks! But I hate to pass ye in this heat. Why are two fine ladies such as yourselves not making the use of a carriage?"

"We like the walk." Arialain had already decided she didn't care for this man. He was like Prince Luxley—too smiley. And he talked strange.

The man looked amuse by her comment. He swung his leg over the saddle and dropped with ease onto the dirt road. He walked toward them, looking mainly at Jaedis, and bowed again. "Gunther of Merridell. At thy service."

"Of Merridell?" Jaedis said. "You must be new because I know everyone in Merridell. Where did you come from?"

"I've been all over! Runa, Grunwold, Timory, Kurzha. But my homeland is Bauble."

"Oh—like Prince Eravis!" Jaedis laughed. Arialain could see she liked the man, but Jaedis tended to like everybody. Arialain didn't appreciate the way he dressed, though. Too much plain green and brown—not fancy enough for Merridell. And he hadn't removed his cap in their presence, as he should have.

"If you'd like to accompany us, we're heading up to the castle, too. It's our home!" Jaedis grinned, introducing herself and Arialain. Gunther looked impressed.

"The princesses!" he cried. "Well now, I certainly cannot allow ye to walk. May I offer a ride on my horse?"

"Both of us?" Jaedis asked.

Gunther looked embarrassed. "I truly wish I could offer it to both, but regretfully, the saddle sits only one rider. May I help ye mount?" He held out a gloved hand... to Jaedis, of course.

Arialain exhaled silently. Not that she was surprised. Jaedis' Angtokal beauty made her the most striking, with her flawless skin and curtain of shiny black hair. Plus, she never appeared to be sweating. Arialain knew the sun had already baked her face red, and her dampened hair stuck to her scalp. But she didn't care about that. What bothered her was that Jaedis set down her basket before climbing up on the horse, leaving Arialain to carry two heavy baskets up the hill.

Jaedis looked elated to be sitting on the beautiful horse—a chestnut-colored stallion with a thick mane of creamy white. "Gracious! I've never been on one this high before!" She gripped the horn of the saddle and looked delightfully frightened.

"Nineteen hands," Gunther said with pride. "But what a shame this road is so open and ye must ride beneath a sweltering sun. Ye would enjoy this so much better on a shady route."

"Oh, we have one!" Jaedis cried. "We have the Wending Way—just over there." She pointed to the fringe of Lumen Forest, angling her arm to the left. "It takes longer and winds around a lot. But it's all under shade."

Gunther looked thoughtful. "Can my horse manage it?"

"If he's sure-footed," Jaedis said.

Gunther grinned. "Oh, Maddox is sure-footed! He's an amazing animal." He took hold of the horse's dangling bridle and turned a friendly glance to Arialain. "Why don't ye meet us at the top, my lady? You could tell Princess Maelyn we're coming."

Arialain huffed a sigh, not caring if they saw her temper. "Suppose I must! Would you kindly bring me her basket, since apparently, I now have to carry it?" It still sat on the grass where Jaedis had left it.

Gunther cheerfully fetched the basket and headed back to her. Arialain waited, hot, sweating, annoyed, deflated, and certain she had sunburned the top of her head. Tired of his stupid, smiling face, she let her eyes fall to his boots, laced up the sides of his calves and making almost no sound in the grass.

"Your basket, fair lady." Gunther held it out to her.

Lightning shot through her veins. Arialain reached out and grabbed the handle, closing her hand right over his thumb. Her right hand whipped the new sword out of its scabbard and brought the point to the hollow of the man's throat.

"You are not taking my sister into the forest with you, sir."