Peregrine POV:

  By the time we reached our destination, I was ready to marry out of Sumbria and never look back.

  It had taken an hour to round up everyone in our group. Without a proper carriage, we were all forced to double up on the horses. That meant taking things slow to not over tire them, and it also meant that the crown prince was made to ride a horse with the rest of us.

  His entourage hadn't thought to pack a spare... and so we all suffered.

  The second we saw the capital city, everyone sighed.

  “Finally!” I couldn’t help the exclamation as we rolled up city gate. The spires stretched up to the sky, with one larger crystal and coral building in the centre. It was beautiful, the light catching off the pinks and blues and greens. It looked like what I imagined a mermaid palace might, except ten minutes inland from the sea.

  The crown prince, of course, did not wait in line like everyone else. He was the only one on his own horse. With four horses, two attendants shared one, Sir Bay and Lord Bartly shared another, Lish and I shared the third, and the prince rode alone.

  I felt bad passing the people waiting patiently to enter the city, but knew we couldn't fall behind or risk getting separated entirely... and I was the one with the invitation.

  "I am Crown Prince Deryl Glade. Let me pass, or suffer the consequences." The prince declared as soon as he reached the front of the line.

  "I don't care who you be--" The guard started, before another shoved an elbow into his side to cut him off.

  The second guard put on a friendly face and waved the prince into the city, "Right this way, Your Highness."

  Deryl rode in with his chin stuck in the air, passing a lovely ornate carriage carrying a dwarf lady and her daughter. The pair looked marginally scandalized, but were too polite to argue.

  "Now what did you do that for?" The first guard turned on his companion with a scowl, and the second shoved a thumb over his shoulder, pointing at the prince.

  "Didn't you get the message?" He asked, "That's the Sumbrian delegation. We're allowed to ignore them as long as they don't hurt anyone. Why argue and give yourself a headache - unless you have an extra Int Buff handy and want to spend the next ten minutes speaking to a Sumbrian? My time is worth more than that."

  As far as subtle jabs went... it wasn't so subtle. Lucky for everyone, the prince was already ambling ahead on his horse, and we were all busy trying to keep up. When Lish and I passed the guards, I nodded at them politely and flashed my invitation to let them know we were legitimate.

  Once inside, we found Deryl arguing with Sir Bay. He refused to arrive at the palace on a mere horse, and demanded a new carriage.

  It only took thirty extra minutes renting one from Bolin's - and the company even took the royal insignia off of the burnt carriage, repaired it, and hung it onto the side for us. We returned to our original positions and finally, finally, rolled up to the Coral Palace. The gates were open and the grand duchess was waiting on the front steps.

  Instead of the pleasant smile she’d used to greet the guests ahead of us, Grand Duchess Calisto of North Sumbria looked down at our group with barely contained hostility. She had dark skin and long red hair, with the customary short ears of a human.

  She even tsked.

  “So you made it.”

  As the only one with an actual invitation, I dismounted and stepped forward with the scroll. “Thank you for receiving us, Your Grace. I am Countess Peregrine Fern, and this…”

  I stopped when I realized Deryl hadn’t exited the carriage yet. With a sharp look and urgent nudge of my head at one of the royal attendants, and jumped forward to open the door for the prince.

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  I should really learn their names. “...is my escort, Crown Prince Deryl of Sumbria.”

  “Slow-witted oaf. You missed my entrance!” The prince finally stepped out in a full suit of court attire that he’d equipped now, just for the show.

  The duchess actually rolled her eyes. I couldn’t blame her.

  “Grand Duchess,” Deryl finished glaring at his attendant and turned a haughty smirk on our hostess. “So happy to see you’ve gotten over your little grievance and finally opened your borders to Sumbria–”

  “I haven’t.”

  “What?” Deryl had greeted Her Grace from the step of the carriage, where he could meet her eye. Only after being interrupted did he jump down to face her.

  The human woman towered over him- in height and royal presence.

  “I haven’t opened my borders.” Calisto stated, firmly. Her simple rebuke left him gapping. “And my husband’s death is no small grievance. Lance!”

  At his name, an elf attendant stepped forward and bowed to us.

  “Show my guests to their rooms.” She waved at the Eastern Tower. When she turned back to look at Deryl again, the smile she bore him was anything but pleasant. “And if anything should happen to Lance or any other member of my staff… I’m sure Your Highness understands that I will take that to mean Sumbria doesn’t want an invite. Ever. Again.”

  Deryl was flushed with anger and embarrassment, but with more personal strength then I thought he had, grit out, “You can be assured, Your Grace, that your people are beneath my notice. Sir Bay, go with the carriage. The rest of you, follow me.”

  “If you recall, my invitation was for one attendant each.” Calisto reminded him. “Which means your entourage will need to find their own quarters in the city.”

  Lish stepped up behind me, to show that she was my attendant and included in the invitation. Deryl glared at the duchess and then turned to face the elf who’d opened the carriage door late, rejected him, then glanced at the elf who’d recently been run over by a horse. There was only one real choice.

  “Bartly, bring my things.” Deryl stormed into the palace like he knew where he was going, Lance not far on his heels. The rest of the group followed the carriage through the roundabout.

  I would have picked a knight instead, but who was I to question the prince?

  Breaking my usual fade-into-the-background preference, I hung back and bowed to the grand duchess. “Thank you again for the gracious invitation and your patience, Your Grace. I look forward to a quiet visit.”

  That was as close to saying I’m so sorry for my escort, it was a political choice that was out of my hands and I’ll try my best to make it as painless as possible for everyone so I appreciate your patience without actually saying that in the presence of Sir Bay and the remaining attendants.

  Calisto’s eyebrow raised slightly. “I see... Miss Peregrine, it would be my pleasure to invite you to a small gathering tomorrow afternoon. Are you free?”

  “I am.” Invites to the duchess’s famous Afternoon Tea were as coveted as invitations to her seasonal balls.

  “Come to the main entry here, alone, tomorrow after lunch– Now, if you’ll excuse me, the next guest has arrived.” She waved me inside. “You’re in the Eastern wing, just turn right and you should catch up quickly.”

  I headed in with Lish and we found the group stopped at a large door. Lance was explaining, “In order to use the enchanted elevator, all passengers must refrain from activating any skills or abilities, as the constructs magical workings will stop and we will all fall to our death. Thank you.”

  The door opened and a room made of opaque magical crystal appeared on the other side. Deryl marched in first, and I'd a mind to take the stairs… but reasoned with myself that Deryl wouldn’t chance himself getting hurt. Probably.

  The Eastern Tower was thirty floors high, and we’d been put on the thirteenth floor. The crown prince took one of the three rooms in our suite, and Bartly took the other. Usually the staff would share a room, but I felt better having Lish with me.

  I’d like to say I unpacked properly and then started getting everything ready for tomorrow’s busy schedule, but I didn’t.

  After everything that had happened today, I took a well deserved nap.