One guard ducks his head into the kitchen, then strides upstairs, while the second one addresses me, “Are you the young lady who gave the princess a book?”
I nod. “I am.”
“The princess appreciated your gift and has decided she would like to meet with you. He turns a dispassionate gaze upon James. “In private.”
James glares at the guard. Without a word, he stalks outside.
I wish I could go after him and explain, but Elara’s visit to the city is not something I can ignore. I insisted we return to the inn, and hoped that an opportunity to contact her—to find out what is really going on inside the castle—would present itself.
And when I heard that their carriage pulled up at the bakery next to the Sleeping Dragon, it did.
The first guard returns and says, “The kitchen and upstairs are all clear, Bogdon.” The two guards leave, and soon I hear Elara’s voice speaking outside.
“I’m growing a bit tired and should like to rest in here while the crown prince and the princesses finish in the bakery. As this girl has shown herself to be a lover of history, I feel I may have found a kindred soul and should like to take tea with her. Could you wait outside with the other guards? I’d like to speak of things not proper for men to hear. . . .”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Elara enters the inn by herself. She wears the painted white mask with lavender opals and a lavender gown. Her hair is tied back in purple ribbons, and a thick jeweled brace-let I don’t recognize is clasped at her wrist.
Standing so close to her, I think I now understand why it seemed so difficult for people to know me. With the painted mask and all the jewels, it is a little like staring at a ghostly doll come to life.
“You look well,” I say, holding out her satchel. “You seem to have adjusted rather quickly to being a princess.”
“I haven’t had a choice, have I?” she snaps, dropping her formal tone and snatching the satchel. She grabs my arm. “Come away from the window. Are you mad, declaring yourself like that? He’s seen my face.”
“I’m sorry. I only meant to—” I stop, as the rest of her words register. “Who has seen your face?”
“Stefan. And a couple of Kyrenican guards, though neither of them are here now.”
“So then . . . the crown prince knows who you are?” I pause and swallow. I cannot bring myself to ask my other question. Just how angry is he?
Elara looks at me, blinking. “Has the ocean air addled your brain? He thinks I’m you, obviously.”
“How can that be? Garwyn and the other guards in the city are searching for me.” I pause. “I thought you sent them after me.”
“No, they’re searching for me,” she says with a harsh look in her eyes. “Ezebo sent them after he heard how your maid escaped into the city. Lord Quinlan arrived a few days ago in Korynth and added a few of his men to the search.” She laughs bitterly. “He said I’m a threat to the monarchy and can’t be allowed to wander the streets.”
“But that can’t be right,” I say. “Garwyn and—”
“Oh, what does it matter?” Elara glances outside. “We haven’t much time. I can’t do this much longer, Wilha. I can’t be you. If you don’t want to be you, that’s your choice. But I can’t go on pretending. Stefan is already suspicious. Sooner or later he is going to catch me in a lie.”
“What is he like?” I can’t help but ask. “Prince Stefan, I mean.”
“He’s fine,” she snaps, sounding annoyed. “But don’t change the subject. This can’t go on, Wilha. You need to decide what you want. Are you ever planning to return to the castle?”
“Do you want me to come back?” I ask. “I’ve seen you, on the balcony, and I’ve wondered if, well . . .” I don’t finish the thought, but I think Elara understands what I mean.
“Why in the world would I ever want to be you?” Scorn drips from her words. “I’ll ask you one last time, are you coming back?”
I glance out the window, at the crowd straining behind the line of guards, just waiting to catch a glimpse of Elara. Of me. I shake my head. Neither of us, really. They just want to see a girl in a mask and a beautiful dress. My gaze fixes on Elara’s mask.
“I don’t want to be her,” I whisper. “I don’t want to be the Masked Princess.”
Elara’s voice softens, but only a little. “That’s not who you are.”
“That is all anyone has ever cared about,” I say.
“But that’s not your real name. Do you know what Lord Murcendor told me before we left Allegria? He said the king and queen didn’t bother to name me before they sent me away.” The mask cannot cover the brief flash of pain I read in her eyes. “At least you have a name.”
“I’m sorry.” I swallow. “That is unforgiveable.”
Elara says nothing. She is waiting for me to make a decision.
“What if I say no?”
Her gaze narrows. “Then I’m leaving the first chance I get. But you know what will happen if the Masked Prin-cess disappears.”
I close my eyes and I hear my father’s voice. Be a good girl, Wilha. Be a good princess. Kingdoms need someone to believe in. Let them believe in you.
“I will,” I say in a hushed voice.
“What did you say?” comes Elara’s irritated voice.
I open my eyes and look straight at her. “I said yes. I will switch back.”
“When?” she asks. “I need a definite time. When can we switch back? Tonight?”
I think of all the orders we still have to fill at Galina’s and how I promised her I would stay up all night sewing, if she would just let me sneak away for a picnic with James.
“Not tonight,” I answer. “Tomorrow night, at the masquerade. It will be easiest to make the switch then.”
“I’m assuming you can get into the castle through the passageway?” she asks coolly.
I nod. “There is an entrance near the sea. I will enter the castle through there. Then I will find you, and we will switch back.”
“How do I know you’ll keep your word? How do I know you won’t run away again?” Elara asks.
“I said I will be there,” I answer, tamping down a flood of frustration. “I swear it.”
“Good,” she says crisply, gathering up her dress. “It’s too bad I didn’t know we would be meeting today,” she adds. “Otherwise I would have brought your letter.” Her voice is carefully casual.
“What letter?”
“From Patric,” she says, and my heart quickens at the sound of his name. “He was your trainer, wasn’t he? He sent you a letter; I have it in the castle.” Elara looks at me, and I read the calculation in her eyes. “I guess you’ll have to wait to read it until you return.” She turns to leave. “Until the masquerade.”
I nod and curtsy for the benefit of the guards in case they are watching through the windows. Elara opens the door. A gust of ocean air fills the room, along with the shouts and cheers of people calling out to the Masked Princess.
When the door closes again, I am left with nothing but a chilling silence.
PART THREE
CHAPTER 47
ELARA
How do you say good-bye to a life that was never your own? What do you take with you, and what do you leave behind?
I spread a few trinkets out on my bed, including a seashell Ruby gave me and a ribbon from a merchant in the city. On the bed too, are my dagger and the book from my mother.