But it was not to be. On the way to her house he was intercepted and summoned to the palace.
‘I cannot come,’ he said firmly to the messenger. ‘Convey my regrets.’
‘My lady was very insistent. She will not accept refusal.’
Thyloss hesitated.
‘How did she look? Angry or happy?’
The messenger thought about it.
‘Her face was very stiff. I cannot tell. Her daughter was with her and —’ here he hesitated, wondering if he should betray so much ‘— and... she had been weeping.’
A spark of hope came to Thyloss. If the princess was against the marriage, perhaps her mother would change her mind. He decided it would be foolish not to fan this spark.
‘I will come,’ he said, ‘but you must take a message to someone for me.’
‘Willingly,’ said the lad, relieved that he would not have to convey Thyl
