It doesn't surprise me as I exit my quarters that Maybelle is nowhere to be seen. I sigh as I close the door behind me. Maybelle won't be my first servant who left in a hurry. Sooner or later, they always find a reason to leave whether or not I incite it.

I bump into Elle on my way into the great hall.

"Kyla, where have you been?" Elle asks. She looks gorgeous in a yellow gown spattered with silver. "Maybelle told us--"

"Don't start, she was condescending, and I got stressed. You know how that is for me. I left to cool off," I explain.

"Oh." Elle gives me a sympathetic smile. "Well, forget about that then. You should meet Sylvia!"

Elle grabs my hand and practically drags me down the stairs. I wonder at her, hoping things are going well between her and Sylvia. After the miscarriage, I worried about her.

We enter the great hall, and I notice Mother stands next to Kalvar. She is talking to a petite woman with elaborately braided white-blonde hair. The woman wears a light blue and brown dress made of thick materials, ill-suited to the heat and humidity of Underland's tropical temperatures.

"Is that her?" I ask, nudging Elle, who stands by my side.

"Yes," Elle answers. "She already seems very sweet. But see how much her skin is covered? I hope she doesn't mind the styles we wear here. I know people in Erlund are much more modest."

"It is also a lot colder there than here," I muse. Thinking of Erlund, the northernmost human country in Axus.

I regard Sylvia. She's smiling shyly at Kalvar. Her face is heart-shaped, and her eyes are crystal blue. She is beautiful.

"I think she really likes him," Elle says, nodding toward Kalvar. "I think it'll be okay."

"This is weird. It's a permanent decision, and Kalvar is totally okay with it. Again," I say with a sigh. "Are you doing okay, Elle?"

"I think it'll be okay," Elle repeats, but I know it's scripted. She and Ava's relationship is strained at best.

Mother notices me and bows to them politely before turning in my direction.

"Kyla," Mother says, hugging me to her. "Where were you?"

"Maybelle didn't say anything to you?" I ask.

Mother shakes her head. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine; I just made a mistake. My mouth ran away from me. I don't think Maybelle wants to work for me anymore."

"I'm sorry, dear," Mother says, and she gives me a sympathetic expression.

"How do you like Sylvia?" I ask, tactfully changing the subject.

"She seems nice," Mother says curtly. I know she's holding back because Elle is standing beside us. Mother doesn't want to make Elle feel bad about her issues with Kalvar marrying a woman he hardly knows when he already has two wives.

Ava approaches us, and she hugs Elle.

Mother and I exchange surprised glances at this.

"I think she'll make a great friend for us!" Ava tells Elle with a brilliant smile.

I sigh, uneasiness getting a foothold.

"I'd better meet her then, huh?" I say to Mother.

"Go ahead; she asked about you," Mother says.

I approach them and bow to Kalvar and Sylvia.

"Allow me to introduce my sister," Kalvar says, the grin on his face wide. "She's been my partner in crime since the beginning."

Sylvia curtsies back at me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Kyla." She leans toward Kalvar and says softly, "Is it true she has--uh--dragon wings?"

Kalvar's face reddens, but I stop him from holding that embarrassment for me.

"Yes," I answer her, tilting my chin up slightly, "you'll have to see them sometime. I keep them under my clothes since they are not as graceful in appearance as the sylphs." I force a smile. "How was your trip over, Princess Sylvia?"

"Ah, I see," Sylvia says, she smiles hugely at me. "You are sweet. The Skywave was pleasant, no troubles, thank you."

"That's wonderful. I suppose you want some more time to talk to my brother. It was nice to meet you." I curtsey.

"Yes, it was wonderful to meet you too!" Sylvia gushes, a little too exuberantly.

Fake.

I turn from her and hear Kalvar say, "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"You jest, milord!" Sylvia exclaims, giggling. "I cannot wait to have you as my own."  She stands on tiptoe and throws her arms around Kalvar's neck to kiss him on the lips.

At least she likes him.

I go back to where Ava, Elle, and Mother are standing. I take Mother aside.

"Are you still going?" I whisper in her ear.

"To see your father?" Mother asks, whispering back. "I'm going to try."

"Be careful," I say.

"Dearest, I know how to handle your father, don't you worry," Mother says with an impish smile.

I'm glad she's happy, but it's her good mood that will make my news from Rift even more unpleasant.

"I love you, Mom, and I do hope you can find Father," I say, squeezing her hand, prepping her for the drop in the discussion. "But before you go, I have something to talk to you about."

"Yes?" Mother cocks her head curiously.

"I know for certain the Sorceress has someone in the palace, but I don't know who it is."

Mother's brow furrows with concern. "How do you know this for certain?"

"A--a friend told me," I say, trying to figure out how I can explain Rift without putting him in a bad light. Maybe she won't ask into it.

"What friend?"

I should have known better. My mother is a very perceptive person.

"I can't say their name," I state.

"Hmm..." Mother doesn't push further than that, though, one of the things I love about her. She respects my privacy. "I will talk to Fletch. He's going to watch out for things while Kalvar experiences some independence as a ruler. Are there any imminent threats this 'friend' knows about?"

"No," I say, "Just that the Sorceress has been using this insider to steal from the palace certain things. Arlite and blood."

"What do you mean 'blood'?" Mother asks quickly, narrowing her eyes as if the word strikes a chord.

"I just know they stole blood from here. I don't know whose," I say

Mother's face drains pale. "This is alarming news. When did you learn of this?"

"I told you as soon as I found out," I assure her.

"Maybe I should not leave," Mother murmurs, and I can tell she's in a different time or place in her thoughts. "Still, we need Alvar. He knows more than anyone about the Sorceress and dark magic."

Well, probably not as much as Rift, who seems literally made from both, I suppose wistfully.

"Kyla, is there anything else I should know?"

"Nothing that I think is relevant to our safety," I say, but part of me wants to tell her of Rift's story. Something inside me doesn't feel right talking about him to anyone. Especially when I have no clue whose side he's on. From what I can tell, he and the Sorceress are not on the most friendly terms. If I can learn important things through him, it would be best to keep him on "friendly" terms with me. Sending an army after him would ruin that opportunity.

"I'm glad you told me," Mother says. "I'll have Fletch put an ear out."