“Goodbye.” Then she walked over grabbing her cloak and pulling the hood over her face. Then raced back to the castle grounds before anyone noticed she was gone.

The room was still and bright from the morning sun shining in through the windows. Lilly stood looking out the windows thinking about Rak and her parents, Connor and Jaden. She forced away the longing for home and focused on now, the present. Mistress Clara told her and she found it to be true, if you live in the present and not the past then your future will take care of itself. Clara was sitting across the room doing her needle point when a knock came. Lilly looked as the door slowly opened and Sasha a maid who worked in the kitchens came in looking flushed. “My Lady.” She curtsied then turned her attention to Clara. “Mistress you told me to let you know when he arrived. He’s brought the three Rizel with him.”

“Jaden.” Lilly said a smile spread across her face.

Clara put down her things and stood up. “Thank you Sasha.” When the door closed Lilly moved to go out to greet him. “Lilly if he had brought the three tribal elders with him, then the prince will no doubt wish to speak with them first. Formalities.” She reminded her.

Lilly nodded. “Then do you think you could ask him to meet me in the gardens after supper?”

Clara nodded her ascent. Lilly was about to go back to the window feeling lighter knowing her wasn’t going to miss it. She wild have someone with her on her nineteenth birthday. She turned her head back. “Can I at least go to the balcony to greet him?”