It takes me forever to fall asleep, and when I do snooze, it isn’t too fitful. I’m thrilled when the first threads of daylight cross the cave floor. Rushing past the sleeping mass of guards, I stand at the cave’s entrance and check the weather outside. All around, the landscape is covered in a thick sheet of snow. The skies are clear.
Yes.
Now, we can return to the palace and commence with a little plan I call, Portia Seduces Tempest, The Second Attempt.
Purple lights flare beside me. Magic. My heart sinks. This happened once before when Tempest and I were in a cave. We’re getting a visitor.
Sure enough, Cerys appears beside me.
“Good morning, Empress,” she says with a smile.
“Hey,” I reply. It’s far too early for formalities.
“Are you ready?” she asks.
My mind isn’t working. “Read
