Page 13 of The Royal Throne
“Also, several packages were delivered for you today. After the guards went through them, they were brought to your room. The delivery boy said he was from a local seamstress’s shop and that you’d ordered them?”
“I did.”
“I put the new items in your closet for you.”
“Thank you,” Sabine said.
Claire curtseyed, then left the room.
“I’ll leave you to yourself,” Markis said. “You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow.”
“Wait,” Sabine said. “Have you heard anything about where Rainer went?”
“I haven’t.”
“Keep asking around. I’m more concerned with when he’ll return than where he is.”
“I’ll see what I can find out.”
As long as she made it through tomorrow before Rainer returned, she didn’t care when he came back. The longer he stayed away, the better for her. “And if you can, train with the soldiers. I’d like to know what they think about their new queen and the state of the kingdom. I assume they’ll speak more freely during a training session than if asked directly.”
“Consider it done.” He reached for the door handle.
“There’s one more thing.”
He paused.
“When Otto returns to Bakley, you’re going with him.” Even though she trusted Markis implicitly and wanted him at her side, he needed to go home to his family. He’d already been gone too long.
“Are you certain?”
“I think it’s for the best.” The people here would accept her more if there weren’t any reminders of where she came from.
“I’ll make sure your personal guards are up to par before I leave.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded and left the room.
Sabine and Harta stood there, staring at the door. “I think it’s for the best.” Reaching down, she pet her dog’s head, trying to convince herself that she didn’t need anyone from home to be there with her. Her wants didn’t matter—all that did was keeping Markis safe.
The next morning, Sabine stood on her balcony, a light rain falling. Since it so rarely rained in Lynk, she came out here to revel in it, and it reminded her of Avoni. Tipping her head back, she could almost imagine she was on the canal with Evander.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had no idea if she’d ever see Evander again. Thinking about him would do her no good. Her focus had to be on Lynk and stopping Rainer from going to war. The king claimed he’d rescued the Bakley children from ships manned by Avoni people. The children were supposed to be here in Lynk. It was time for her to find out where they were and prepare them for their journey home to Bakley.
But just for a moment, here in the silence, in the rain, she would allow herself to think about Evander. Her assassin-pirate-prince. His smile, piercing green eyes, and dark red hair. His laugh, him nudging her, the feel of his hand in hers. The way he made her feel, his friendship, their banter.
Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she shoved all memories of him away. There was a lot she had to do today, and she needed to focus on that. She just wished the fog wasn’t so heavy and the rain so misty. It reminded her too much of where she wanted to be. Of where she’d left her heart.
She went back inside—it was time to get ready for the day.
After having a small breakfast, she dressed, saving her new outfits for when Rainer returned. Satisfied with her appearance, she placed the crown atop her head and exited her room.
As she headed to the throne room, her guards trailing her, Markis came to her side.
“I have some of the information you requested,” he said, his voice soft so it wouldn’t carry.
“And?” she asked.
