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“I hope to help bring a great change,” Margrethe said, fumbling a bit for words, taken aback by the strength of his emotion.

“We have long wished for peace,” he said. “I lived most of my childhood in the South. My mother used to tell stories about her childhood, what our kingdom was like years ago, before I was born. I have spent much of my life working to get that world back.”

“It is my great wish, too,” she said.

“It is an honor to have you in my home, and if you are not too tired, we have a feast waiting for you, which I hope will nourish you as you near the end of your long journey. I have guaranteed your safety to Gregor, my oldest friend, and you will come to no harm in my household.”

“Thank you,” she said. “That sounds wonderful.”

Lord Adeler mounted his steed and led them to a small stone castle in the mountains, up a path lined by flourishing green trees and grass. Inside, a suite of rooms and warm baths were waiting for them, and Margrethe sank down into the water, letting the exhaustion slip out of her. After, she and Edele were dressed in gowns loaned to them by the lord’s wife, then led to a small room full of flickering candlelight.

The lord stood and introduced Margrethe and Edele to his wife and two sons, both handsome, tall with light hair and strong faces. Margrethe could sense Edele shifting beside her and had to stop herself from smiling. Of course Edele would leap at the chance to flirt and find love, even in the midst of a dangerous journey like this one.

“I thought we would have a special dinner here rather than with my court, for safety reasons, as much as I love and trust my little estate. It is also so nice to get to know new friends in such intimate surroundings.”

“Thank you,” Margrethe said. “It is an honor to be your guest.”

They all sat at the table, and the servants brought out platters of fish and pheasant, bowls of rice cooked with blueberries, everything heavily spiced.

“It looks delicious,” Margrethe said.

“We are all praying for you, Your Highness, and for the happiness and security of your upcoming marriage.”

“The prince is a splendid man,” the eldest son, Rainer, added. “We schooled together, when I was a boy.”

“Ah!” she said. “And what was he like?”

“Much as I understand he is like now. Quick, fearless.”

“Beloved by women, even then, was he not?” the lady of the house asked, interrupting him.

“And that, yes.” Rainer smiled.

“Well, we can all only hope that the princess is as swayed by his charms as your childhood friends were,” Edele said, flirting with him. He responded with a sweet smile.

“We are right at the border,” the lord explained. “More Southern than Northern. It has caused us much difficulty at times.”

“You were friends with my father once, weren’t you?” Margrethe asked.

“Yes. When I was a young man, I spent a lot of time at his court. I was at his wedding, at your mother’s wedding.”

Margrethe breathed in. “You were?”

“Oh yes.”

“What was it like?” she asked. For a moment, she was like a small child about to open a gift, her dark eyes glowing, a small smile playing at her lips. “My mother, what was she like, then?”

“Your mother was astonishing. She was a bright woman, full of energy. She seemed to get along with everyone, no matter how base or dull. And that laugh she had! It could change the temperature of a room completely.”

“No one is allowed to speak about her at the castle,” she said. “It is like she was never there.”

“Ah, well, it must have been hard for your father. He was very, very much in love with your mother, you know.”

“I hope to be in love like that one day,” Edele said.

Margrethe poked her under the table.

“I wish that for us all,” Rainer said, smiling at Edele and raising his glass to the table. “And for you, Your Highness. I would be honored to attend your wedding to my old friend, Prince Christopher, and I hope your love will be as legendary as that of your mother and father.”

“Thank you,” Margrethe said, raising her glass, trying to hide the blush