Bright and early the next morning, Silver roused Rose from her bed.
"I got word that the troops are coming for you from the fort. They will be here in an hour, maybe less. It is best for them not to find you in my house." Silver spoke quickly, his voice void of all the affection from the night before.
The princess was caught off guard for a moment. Her eyes searched her brother's exposed face before a sad smile crept onto her pale cheeks.
Behind the stern expression, Silver was going to miss her. He was doing his best not to let her know how much. Inhaling deeply through her nose, Rose stretched before nodding and rising to her feet.
"I will be ready in a moment. Is there time for me to tell everyone goodbye?"
The Guardian's hard exterior softened. "They would be sad if you didn't. Most of them are already at the inn waiting for you."
"Most?" Rose wondered who might be missing. Aristos? Aiden? Lily or the kids? It turned out to be none of these.
"Ethyn headed out of town to make himself visible elsewhere. He fears that if the soldiers see you two together, it might send the wrong message if any of them should discern your identity…" Silver raised his eyebrows meaningfully.
It took the princess time in her sleepy state to catch onto his meaning. When her brain finally caught up to the present she took on a sharp breath.
If anyone were to realize that Rose was the princess and that Sir Ethyn was in the same town as she where she had run away, it could easily call into question Rose's virtue.
Rather than risk the rumors, the knight had done the honorable thing and made himself scarce. That way when he appeared in Burke later in the week, no one would be the wiser.
Rose wondered if this had been Silver's idea or that of the green-eyed knight. By the Guardian's tone, Rose guessed that Ethyn had come up with the idea on his own.
'Very thoughtful,' the princess grinned slightly—an action that did not go unnoticed by her brother.
"Save those pleasant looks for when you get back and have to explain yourself to the king. You need to practice being more aloof around the soldiers taking you back to the palace. You will need all your poise to keep them from asking too many questions. Now hurry or you will run out of time!" Silver flicked his cape around him and disappeared through the door.
Rose laughed to herself. 'Such drama even just for me!' Humming as she packed her things, this princess placed her precious doll back into her childhood chest.
The toy would be safer here than at the palace. There a servant could dispose of it without knowing its true worth. And if someone asked, she didn't want to have to explain why such a precious item suddenly appeared.
Without the piece of her childhood to keep her company, Rose was ready with her bag in hand after only a short time. She was back in the dress she had gotten from Hanna, which had been washed, mended and made to look better than new.
Although not exactly regal, the princess looked very respectable as she entered the inn on the Guardian's arm.
The goodbyes were short and sweet. As brief as Rose's visit had been, her return had left an impact on the hearts of those in the core of Rynnlee. Even Lily's children shed tears, begging the princess to stay a while longer.
Had it been under different circumstances, Rose might have been swayed. But as it was, she gently told them that she would return as soon as she could.
The princess even promised them a stay at the castle should they ever find themselves in Burke. Lily thanked the woman for her kindness but declined her children's urgings that a family trip was in order.
When all was said and done, the group all filed outside to give the siblings a moment together. Because the inn's tavern was not technically open yet, Rose and Silver were alone in the large room with only tables and chairs for witnesses.
Silver hugged his sister. "It was not wise of you to come here," he said sternly, then sighed. "But I am so very glad you did. I have been waiting years for Hanna's promise to come true. Thank you for being you. I could not have hoped for better. I love you, sister."
"I love you too. You make it sound like this is goodbye forever. It is only for a time, right?" Rose looked worriedly into the void of her brother's hood.
"It is only for a time, I assure you. I have just learned not to leave important things unsaid. You will realize the value of this too sometime soon, I think." Silver's words trailed off, leaving the meaning behind them a mystery to the princess. A soft knock at the door indicated their time had run out. "Let's go meet your escort."
Rose opened her mouth to ask a question, but could not form the words. Instead she followed the Guardian out the back to the stables where Daisy and Fireball were waiting for them.
The black stallion greeted his dainty rider with the due amount of respect. Since losing his own master, he seemed to have dutifully taken up Philip's job of protecting the princess from harm.
They were beginning to form an understanding, even to the point of Fireball being smoother and more gentle in carrying her than most war horses could ever manage.
After patting the neck of her equine friend, Rose looked at Daisy with a confused expression. "Are you coming with me?"
"I set up a meeting point in the next town. Conall will accompany you until you arrive, but you can be sure I will be watching your every move from afar until you are safely with the soldiers."
With a fluid motion, Silver helped his sister onto her mount even though she did not need his assistance. Then, taking hold of Daisy's reins, he effortlessly glided into his own saddle.
"Don't trust me to, uh, get the job done?" Conall appeared with a dappled mare from the stables.
"Not one bit," Silver huffed, "Now get going so I can follow!"
It was a short but pleasant ride to the next town. As soon as the pair had left Rynnlee's border, Conall became all business. Anyone who saw them would not have sensed any connection that existed between them. He was merely a mayor doing his duty by the King.
For her part, Rose was able to gather the haughty disdain of the noblewomen she saw at court. Even in her simple attire, no one would doubt that she had social standing. Her presence was commanding.
When they approached the next sleepy little town, Conall left behind his horse and took the lead of Fireball. "It's all for show," he reminded the princess.
On the far edge of the lane, a group of fifteen soldiers had dismounted, each watching as the mayor and his lovely charge approached. The woman's golden hair was tied back in a bun with a scarf around it, but her flawless face still drew the men's attention.
"Good morrow, soldiers. I bring you the mistress which you seek," Conall announced with a flourish as he neared.
Rose looked down on the men from her horse, her nose slightly upturned. 'There are so many of them!'
From the front of the group, Gilbert stepped forward and bowed low before the approaching pair. "Mayor Conall. It is always good to see you." The young man greeted his father formally. Gilbert lowered his eyes before the woman, "Lady Alexis, I presume. We are most honored."
'Alexis?!' Rose's eyes widened as she was stunned for a moment to hear her mother's name. The princess had known she would be presented as a lady, but did not agree on a name for herself. Had Silver told Gilbert to use the name or was it just a coincidence?
The picture of the woman from her vision danced in Rose's head. What a lovely person she had been compared to! Nothing like the austere expression the blonde currently wore on her face.
The princess dipped her head, thankful that in her current persona she was planning to speak as little as possible. Though as the newly named 'Lady Alexis,' Rose suddenly felt a new responsibility: to do right by her mother's name.
Her haughty act…was no longer going to work.