Messenger in the Mist. Aubrie Dionne

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СКАЧАТЬ overshadowed the lesson. Star knew any further teaching might be difficult for the remainder of the morning and perhaps the rest of the day. She gave the tutor a sympathetic smile, feeling a bit guilty for interrupting the princess’s studies.

      “Look, Madame Erlene!” the princess exclaimed. “This messenger has found Flopsy.”

      “Rightly she has,” Madame Erlene responded, albeit not as enthusiastically as Bellanina. She rounded the fountain to meet Star. “And what do you say to the young lady?”

      “Thank you, madam.” Princess Bellanina curtsied, picking up the corner of her pink dress in her hand.

      Star bowed in return. “My pleasure.”

      “Would you care to join us this morning for tea?” Madame Erlene asked Star. “Perhaps share a story of your adventures in Evenspark?”

      “I’m sorry.” Star looked at her heavy shoulder bag. “I cannot. I have many letters to deliver and a schedule to keep.”

      The tutor nodded, a practiced gesture of acquiescence. “Of course.”

      Star looked to the small princess and bent to meet her eyes. “Keep a close watch over Flopsy. Don’t let her wander far.” Despite the seriousness of her warning, she couldn’t help but smile. The girl was even more adorable than the bunnyfly.

      The princess put the bunnyfly down by her feet. “It’s a he.”

      “Oh my.”

      Madame Erlene’s mouth twitched into a smile.

      Star stifled a laugh and tried to keep her voice even and professional. “Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

      The princess followed the bunnyfly as it chewed an exotic fern, creating a scene that would upturn the garden keeper’s stomach. She called over her shoulder, “That’s all right. He gets mistaken all the time.”

      Madame Erlene stepped toward Star. “There are a lot of misplaced identities here at Ravencliff.” Before Star could ask her to elaborate, the tutor skipped ahead to tend to the princess and her pet. “Princess Bellanina, control your bunnyfly!”

      The scurrying attendant escorted Star back to the main antechamber. To her dismay, he ushered her forward too fast for any close examination of the inner rooms. Nevertheless, Star peered around every corner whenever the corridor opened. The castle halls bustled with people, but none of them were Prince Valen.

      Star left empty handed. Not only did she use her only ticket, but the task of delivering all of the city’s letters loomed before her with no prize to be won at the other end. As Star mounted Windracer, she shuffled through her carrier’s bag in resignation, picking out the letters addressed to the guards at the castle. At least she could deliver some of the letters while she was here.

      The guards looked up expectantly as Star approached the main gate. Searching through the pile, Star read each name in turn, handing the letters out like they were candy.

      “Bradford Diln, Raymond Rue, Ernest Myer and Lyton Maxx.” Each man came beside her, showing proof of identification, and claimed his prize. When she was finished, there were still several faces turned up, a glinting hope dwindling in each man’s eye. “That’s it. The rest of you will have to wait until the next messenger arrives in a few days.”

      There was a collective sigh of disappointment Star identified with. She, herself, felt the heavy weight of dejection clinging to her spirits. But it was her own fault. Her expectations were set too high. What had she actually hoped to accomplish?

      As Star rode the final steps to the main gate, she heard a resonant tenor voice call after her. “Star Nightengale, you cannot leave until I’ve rewarded the famous messenger who saved my sister’s beloved pet.”

      She realized the guards around her stared. Each one straightened a bit taller and the commotion died to silence. Some dashed back to their posts as if she’d caught them loitering.

      Star whirled around in her saddle to address the speaker. Valen sat atop a black stallion, his riding cloak fluttering in the gentle breeze. He wore a rough leather tunic that hugged the rounded, smooth muscles of his chest. His face was flushed with exertion as if he’d been involved in sword practice when news came of the bunnyfly’s astonishing savior.

      She blinked to make sure he wasn’t a dream. When she opened her eyes and the prince remained, her heart fluttered and sped. Star wondered why the fate of a pet was important enough to warrant an audience with a prince. Fumbling with the reins, her thoughts stuttered as she searched for an appropriate response. Relief flowed over her when her lips found the correct words. “I seek no reward, Your Highness. I’m merely doing my duty.”

      The prince gently urged his horse forward and rode up beside her. His voice fell from a full-fledged projection to a conversational tone. “I believe this is above and beyond your duty. You’ve made my sister happy again, which is not an easy task, and I express my deepest appreciation.”

      His eyes met her own as if he were shifting through the layers of her job, her duty, to study the soul that lay beneath. Star met his gaze, asking him to find what he sought. It was a bizarre occurrence, having what she wanted handed to her on a platter. Some ironic turn of fate had gleaned amusement by honoring her request. Confronted by her imaginings turning into reality, Star had no idea what to do.

      The prince looked away as if he had forgotten himself. He dug into the folds of his cloak and brought out a small, glided box. Extending his arm, he handed it to her. “Here, a token of my gratitude.”

      Star took the box, her slender fingers brushing against his. Somehow, all of the exchanges she’d dreamed of were no longer at her disposal. Her head was as empty as the bunnyfly’s. “Thank you.” Star cursed her diminishing vocabulary.

      She thought the exchange had run its course, but the prince made no move to leave. “Can I have a moment of your time?”

      Star was already hours behind schedule. She suspected she might have to ride out a day later than usual. Not only did she have a bag full of undelivered letters, but she’d spent the entire morning returning a bunnyfly of all things. Zetta would certainly not approve.

      But there was no other answer she could give. “Most definitely.” Star closed and secured her carrier’s pack.

      Valen smiled, appeased. “Come, let us ride.”

      Leaving the vicinity of the guards, Star followed the prince down a grassy slope and into the privacy of the gardens. Windracer picked her way through a bed of blooming hyacinths, their voluptuous petals emanating an intoxicating scent in the air. The moment was surreal, wrapping around her heart and squeezing it until it swelled.

      Once they were out of earshot, Valen turned to Star and broke the silence. “The disappearance of the bunnyfly unsettles me. Perhaps, seeing you were the one to find my sister’s pet, you can shed light where there is none.”

      Star leaned forward. The overhanging branches cast dappled patches of shade on his face, making his expression difficult to interpret. “Anything I can do, Your Highness.”

      “Please, call me Valen.”

      “Prince Valen.” Star enjoyed saying his name.

      “No, just Valen.”

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