Again, speculation. It would get him nowhere. Moving on.

“This shirt is filthy. Is it all right with you if I leave it off?” he asked. She hesitated, then nodded. “These folks do seem friendly. Perhaps a second set of clothes wouldn’t be a bad idea?”

She nodded, a twist of a smile in the corner of her mouth. “You are beginning to look more and more like a recently rich beggar,” she said. “We’ll see to it in the morning.”

Since he wasn’t going to wear it, he washed it thoroughly and then hung it nearby to dry. He might be a prince, but warriors needed some basic self-care skills when on a campaign. He was glad for them now. He wasn’t used to all this magic and gallivanting around on horseback under the sun, of all things.

He sat down on the bed behind her, feeling her back warm and only inches from his own. Should he offer to sleep on the floor? He probably should if he wanted to really be a gentleman. The Code did not cover kidnapper-captor etiquette, but in general, it was not princely to sleep beside a woman he wasn’t married to. But this mattress was springy beneath his fingers—better than the usual straw. Some amount of moss, perhaps? Not his bed at home, but not the rocky ground either. He longed for the feel of it beneath him. He’d just stretch out for a moment, and then he’d offer to leave the bed to her…

Almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.

Aven.

A voice cut through his dreams and roused him. For a moment, he thought it was his mother, reaching out to him—but no. He was still asleep.

He stood on the balcony in Estun. Stars shone in a majestic night sky above. It was not quite the balcony he remembered. Rows of neat vegetables grew instead of ornamental shrubs and flowers. The cherry tree was there, but it was only a tiny sapling.

He was not alone. A tall, black-haired woman stood, gazing at him with familiar eyes.

“Who are you?” Aven whispered, feeling as though he should already know.

“Tena Idal Lanuken.”

Tena had been the name of his father’s father’s mother. His prayers that afternoon for guidance—someone had been listening! Could it truly be a spirit dream?

He fell to one knee hastily and bowed deeply. Tena had been a legendary queen and a powerful warrior. She had triumphed in several major battles with Takar and finally achieved the lasting peace Aven knew today. Whatever she had to say, he must listen carefully.

“I am honored, Great-Grandmother,” he whispered.

“You remember me. I’m glad. I knew Samul would not forget us.”

Aven nodded, head bowed.

“Tell me the purpose of an Akarian king,” Tena demanded.

“To serve Akaria,” he replied, following tradition. “To serve our people. To protect them from harm, to bring law where there is chaos, to keep the peace. To bring prosperity, if possible.”

“And what does it mean to be a Lanuken?” she asked.

“A Lanuken defends those who cannot defend themselves. A Lanuken stands up for honor, for the Code, for the Way of Things. A Lanuken as king preserves the Balance and helps his people.” The first parts were more of what he had heard his father say before, although he believed and breathed every word of it. He added the last bit himself.

She considered his answer. Aven took a deep breath, waiting. Starlight glittered off a circlet of diamonds in her dark hair and tiny jewels on her navy gown.

“You love this place, don’t you?” she said.

Had he passed her test? The queen smiled down, a twinkle in her eye. “This balcony?”

“Yes.”

“I do,” he said.

“Why do you think we built this terrace?”

“Everyone says it was for the extra food source, the vegetable garden. Plus it is beautiful.”

She smiled. “You know the official story, but your heart knows that there’s more. You don’t even grow vegetables there anymore. Why is it that you love it, Sky King?”

He hesitated. “The sunlight.”

She grinned. “Yes. The sunlight.” She paused, strolling toward the cherry sapling. “I ordered this terrace built. You know, our line has always included men of the earth. Mages of stone. Of diamonds. But every once in a while, there are others. Others who are strange and different and powerful. Once in many generations, we are foretold of greatness.”

Aven shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“We were foretold of you.”

Aven frowned. “But what— Why—”

“I built this terrace for you.”

“Thank you,” he said. It might have been the truest thanks he’d ever given. “But why?”

Queen Tena just smiled. “Knowing the future is not good for mages. Knowing the future has only driven men mad. So I will tell you a little, just as I was told only a little, for the sake of our sanity. Instead, look up.”

Aven obeyed. The moon faded to darkness as he looked up, and the stars shone brighter. For a moment his heart ached at the familiarity of it, and he longed to be back home.

Tena approached, took his hand, and pulled him to his feet. She pointed into the sky. There, in the south, one familiar star seemed to twinkle especially brightly.

“Do you see that star?” she whispered. “That is the star of your rule.”

He shivered. Her words echoed the Takaran’s.

“Casel.”

She nodded. “The freedom star.”

“So… I will rule someday?” Aven said, looking from the star to his great-grandmother’s eyes. They were the same gray as his own.

“We are a line of kings. We serve our people, whether on the throne or not. We help our people, and all those who suffer oppression, on the throne or not. I do not know your future any more than you do. I only know that the star Casel calls out to you. And that there is war on your horizon.”

War. The word rang true in his heart. Some part of him had known it was coming.

“My brothers?”

“They have their own beacons, in the earth, that can only be told to them.”

Aven looked back into the sky. Casel twinkled.

“Go now, Aven, and rest. Let the history and power of your ancestors bolster you.”

Aven smiled and bowed to the queen even as she and the terrace faded into darkness.

He opened his eyes. He didn’t even remember falling asleep, but he lay on his back in the inn, the fire dwindling. Mara slept beside him, breathing slowly. She lay on her side, the shoulder with the brand on it facing up. Did it hurt? Did she lie on her side so as not to aggravate it?