35

“And then what happened?” My ladies squeal with delight and anticipation. I laugh and then sigh.

“There was a loud cheer from inside the palace and a group of rowdy people spilled out onto the balcony next to us.”

“What?!” Lola and Tilly exclaim. 

“What horrid people!” Lola gasps. 

“To interrupt our lady and the prince that way, they should be put in chains!” Tilly fumes. 

“It’s alright. Next time.” I giggle as my ladies continue on about how those poor souls should be punished. Payla has a gentle smile on her face as she combs my hair.

“It warms my old heart to see the prince with you, my lady.” I smile back at her through the mirror.

“It warms my heart as well.” I say bashfully. Lola draws up my bath as Tilly undresses me. I have gotten a little more comfortable with them helping me. It seems like a lifetime ago that I came here and all these customs were new to me. I am suddenly saddened when I remember that Anna is gone. She would have loved to hear all about the drama with Jace. My heart aches for her and for home. 

As I slide into the tub my mind wanders back to Breen. I wonder how my family is doing. Are they getting on without me? They always knew I would have to leave them, right? But I am sure they did not expect me to leave the way I did. Does Old Yawna know about my absence there? What will she do once she finds out? When will she find out? 

I sink under the water and take deep breaths. How I miss the ocean most of all. How I miss the sand between my toes, the salt upon my skin, the wind in my hair. How I miss the sound of the waves crashing against the cliff, the water spraying me as I sit atop, looking out at the horizon. A new thought pops into my mind. *How I long to share these moments with Jace.* I cannot help but smile, then I hear a cold, old voice in the back of my head.

*“Remi Rose. You forget yourself.”* It’s Old Yawna. *“You are a foolish child. Detach yourself before it is too late.”* She is scolding me. I roll my eyes but I can’t help feeling guilty. Jace is practically in love with me, but he does not even know the truth. And how can I tell him after all this time? I can’t. I won’t. I will slip away in the night and go back to Breen, go back into the ocean where I belong, and I will find Old Yawna myself if I have to…and it’ll break Jace’s heart. 

I violently cough, not realizing that the water is all gone and that I am sitting naked in the tub. I heave myself up and wrap a sheet around me. I cannot think on that topic any longer. It breaks my heart. 

I open the door and Lola dresses me in my nightgown. Tilly folds the sheets to the bed down when we hear a fist pound on the door. It makes us all jump a little in surprise. 

“Who could that be at this hour?” Payla murmurs as she walks over to the door. She opens it and I can see a group of men standing on the other side, two of them are holding torches. Tilly quickly brings me my robe and helps me in it. 

“The king summons the lady of this room.” The man at the front announces. He looks familiar but from where? I can’t quite place it. 

“At this hour?” Payla questions. 

“Are you deaf, woman? Bring out the lady.”

“I cannot.” Payla says firmly. This is odd. It is unlike Payla to argue. “In this room resides the Lady Lux, not one of the common girls from a dirt town. Leave at once.” Payla tries to close the door but the man wedges himself in to stop her. 

“This is an order from the king. Bring her out, or we shall do it ourselves.” 

“She is not under the king, so you have no authority here.” The man shoves the door open and Payla falls to the ground. Everything seems to happen very quickly. Men flood into my room and all my ladies are yelling. Two men grab me and, instinctively, I struggle against them. Lola and Tilly grab at the men holding me and get slapped across the face. They get tossed around and thrown to the floor.

“Stop! Stop!” I am yelling at the men. They shove me towards the door and in a moment we are out in the hallway. I see Deckette and Oliver fighting more men out here. 

“This isn’t right!” Deckette shouts as he punches a man. “Do you know who she is? Do you know who we answer to?” Three men jump Deckette and wrestle him to the ground. “Oliver! Go, get out of here! Go get the *prince*!” Deckette yells. Oliver dodges and sweeps his leg under a man and knocks him to the ground. “*GO*!” Oliver sprints down the hall and two men pursue him. “You’re all dead men.” Deckette growls and the men wail on him, kicking him all over. 

“Let’s go.” The leader grunts. They drag me away from my crying ladies and a coughing, beaten Deckette. I don’t understand what is happening. Why are they doing all this? Am I getting a night with the king? But I thought I wasn’t in the selection anymore? My blood is boiling and my head is reeling. I am dizzy with rage. How dare they hurt those who serve me?