"Thank you," I said simply. What else does one say when someone gives them an army?

The king nodded and opened the door. "We shall see you on the morrow," he said and left the room.

We followed him, curtseyed again, and were led out of the throne room.

People were whispering and giving me strange looks. A group of ladies in ostentatious dresses, heavily adorned with jewels, were whispering something about the Duke of Silverthorne.

I followed Aunt Serena to Uncle Gabriel's rooms to meet him. As we entered, I rushed in and immediately went and hugged my granduncle. I had genuinely missed him, and his big gruff presence was comforting.

"So!" said Uncle Gabriel, after he hugged me back and sat down next to me. "It seems you have been extremely busy since I have been gone, young lady." His tone was affectionate.

I smiled. "It was a tough few months, but I'm still here," I said, trying to sound flippant. I was relieved. At least he wasn't shouting at me.

"Yes, you are," said Uncle Gabriel, suddenly more serious, "but that does not mean that I approve of your behavior. You showed the extent of your powers to everyone. People have already started talking about you."

I nodded. I didn't want to argue; what I had done was stupid. I had revealed myself when I had been told not to. Now I had to deal with the consequences.

"I also heard about your other escapade at Evolon," went on Uncle Gabriel. "Sneaking out of school at night, and with the Blackwaters . . . what were you thinking? I should have warned you about them." He had an exasperated expression on his face.

"That's what Rafe said," I said.

"And what else did Rafe say?" Uncle Gabriel asked, amused.

"Nothing," I said blushing, and looking down at my feet.

"Well, it was a good thing that he was there to help you," Uncle Gabriel said with a twinkle in his eye. He raised one bushy eyebrow. "Serena also told me that you were the one who discovered the Blackwaters' plans."

I nodded. Now I was really going to get it.

"That was very resourceful of you," he said, to my utter surprise. "And I am glad that while you were at school you did not forget your responsibilities as a queen. This shows me that you have the potential to recognize a threat and act on your suspicions. Due to your information, we are now aware of Morgana's plans to collect all four keys. I have alerted the other Guardians, and three keys, including mine and Elial Dekela's, are secure and hidden in secret locations. Unfortunately the mage who was entrusted with the fourth key was killed before I could get to him."

"So Morgana now has one key?" I said.

"Yes," he said. "I had the Blackwater's house searched, but we found nothing. They must have already given it to Lucian. We have spies in Illiador keeping an eye out for that fourth key."

I nodded. At least I had done something right and three of the keys were safe. But one question was still bothering me.

"So where is the Book of Abraxas now?" I asked Uncle Gabriel.

"In the safest place it could possibly be," said Uncle Gabriel.

"Which is?" I asked.

"It is better you do not know," said Uncle Gabriel. "I have made sure the book is hidden. And, without the Book of Abraxas, the key to open it is useless."

I was not convinced. Morgana wasn't the type to back down. If she wanted the book, she would find a way to get it.

"Now," he said, getting back to business. "I want to discuss what we are going to tell the council."

Serena looked over at her father. "Do you really think it's a good idea? Once the council knows, we cannot go back," she said.

Uncle Gabriel shook his head. "It is already too late for that. The time has come to start building alliances. I'm afraid we may soon see a war."

"War!" gasped Aunt Serena, her hands flying to her lips, unsuccessfully covering her horrified expression.

"Yes," said Uncle Gabriel grimly. "Andrysia is not strong enough to withstand Morgana's army. I spoke to Queen Maya; her sons are hotheads and want to go to war. Andrysia is already readying their troops in anticipation of an attack. If the threat of Eldoren attacking from the south does not deter Morgana from her plan to rule the North, then we will have to make good on our threat and go to war against her. We cannot let Morgana's rule continue. When and if we do stop her, we need someone to put on the throne, someone who has a blood claim to the throne of Illiador."

"But what do I do until then?" I asked. "I can't go back to Evolon. Everyone knows who I am now, and they are scared of me too."

"You will go to Elfi," said Uncle Gabriel. "Isadora, your grandmother, will teach you the ways of the fae. Only when you have mastered your powers will you be ready to remove your amulet."

"Tomorrow night at the ball we will announce you to Eldorean society as the king has said," Uncle Gabriel continued. "The king will also publicly state that he supports your claim to the throne of Illiador. That will keep you safe from everyone else in Eldoren, but not from Morgana."

Uncle Gabriel opened the door and looked at me. I got up and so did Aunt Serena.

"Make the most of your time in the Summer Palace, Aurora. I have some work I need to finish in Eldoren, and then in a few days we will leave for Elfi," he said.

"You're coming with me?" I asked, extremely happy that he may be accompanying me. I always felt safe when he was around, and I was also apprehensive about meeting my fae grandmother and the rest of my fae family.

"Yes," he said, smiling. "Can't have you traipsing around Avalonia on your own, can we? Who knows what trouble you will get into?" He chuckled to himself.

I laughed, too, as I followed Aunt Serena out of the room. It was time to reveal my true identity to the world. But first, I had a royal ball to attend.

25.

The Royal Ball The grand hall was brilliantly lit with enormous crystal chandeliers that hung low and were interspaced along the length of the great ballroom. Rainbow-colored specks of dancing light wove along the marble floors like dancers in the midst of a crowd. One whole wall along the length of the massive room was decorated with gilded mirrors and elegant brocade settees. Huge, cream-and-gold, silk-covered, high-backed chairs were placed tastefully and strategically around the room just in case one of the many dancing couples wanted to rest their tired feet.

The opposite wall hosted magnificent arched French doors that opened out onto a white marble balcony, which overlooked the pristine manicured gardens of the Summer Palace. The gardens at the front of the palace descended in tiers down to the very edges of the white cliffs, which dropped hundreds of feet down into the azure depths of the Bay of Pearls.

The royal herald stood at the top of the grand staircase, announcing the guests. He had been instructed what to say when he introduced me.

I walked forward on Erien's arm, my Lady Charlotte creation swirling around me in a sapphire-blue, satin confection. Penelope had reversed the glamour the old fae lady Magdalene had put on me, and the color of my hair and eyes were back to normal: glossy black curls and shining emeralds. My hair was elaborately styled with a cascade of silver flowers woven expertly through the tumbling waves, which reached my waist. Aunt Serena had given me a beautiful diamond diadem to wear in my hair, and it looked lovely.

Kalen, who had just arrived that morning, walked behind us, leading Mrs. Plumpleberry.

"His Lordship, Erien, Earl of Everdale!" announced the Herald.

Everyone turned to look at us.

I started panicking. My heart had started beating fast, my palms had become clammy, and I looked around at the sea of faces that swept across the grand ballroom of the Summer Palace. I felt faint; I hated people looking at me.

"And," the herald said in a deep, booming voice. Everyone was quiet. "Her Royal Highness Princess Aurora, heir to the Firedrake Dynasty of Illiador, daughter of the royal house of Gwenfar-Ith-Aran of the Fae, and Princess Royal of the kingdom of Elfi."

I heard gasps in the crowd. Everyone was looking at me and whispering. Garbled chattering broke out, and everyone was moving forward to try and get a better look at me. I felt like a gallery exhibit.

I glanced around the room once and walked carefully down the great marble stairs, holding onto Erien's arm for dear life. I tried to gather my thoughts and concentrated on not falling down the stairs in an embarrassing heap of satin and taffeta.

I had a whole load of titles, which was pretty cool. But now people had started swarming towards me like a pack of flies towards an uncovered pizza. The ballroom was already packed to bursting point. All the nobility of Eldoren were there, and they all wanted to meet me. Aunt Serena had briefed me on the etiquette of attending a ball. We had also gone through a whole list of people whom I was supposed to meet to get their support. I had met a few of them already at the Blackwaters' dinner party.

I knew that the Blackwaters were also attending, as were other lords and ladies of the nobility that I hadn't met yet: the Hartfields, the Rothguards, and the Greystones. I had studied all these families with Professor Dekela, and I knew who hated whom, which noble house was trying to gain power, and which ones were loyal to the king. After the Blackwaters, the Silverthornes, and the Glenbarrys, these were the prominent houses and titles of the aristocracy of Eldoren.

Aunt Serena came up to Erien and me and led us around the room, introducing me to everyone. A big, burly man with salt-and-pepper hair and twinkling blue eyes, whose doublet was near to bursting its emerald buttons, came up to me, took my hand, and gave a sweeping bow. I could smell the alcohol on his breath as he raised himself up from his tottering bow.

"May I be the first to introduce myself, Your Highness?" he said, in a deep but kind voice. "I am Derek Sutton, Earl of Rothguard. It is an honor to meet you, and may I be the first to say we are delighted to find that you are indeed alive."

"Thank you," I said genuinely. He was a nice man, and I liked him instantly. He was one of the families Uncle Gabriel said would definitely support me.

"Your father was a very dear friend of mine. Anything you need from me, you only have to ask, and it will be done," he said gallantly.

I smiled, and thanked him again. It felt good to meet a friend of my family; maybe later I could speak with Lord Rothguard about him. There were so many things I had been meaning to find out but didn't know who to ask.

Another man, about the same age as Lord Rothguard, came up to meet me. "Julian Fenton," he said, bowing and kissing my hand. "The Marquis of Greystone at your service, Your Highness."

He was tall and impeccably dressed, with chiseled features and an aristocratic nose.

"Rothguard," he said, looking at the Earl. "Good to see you again."

Lord Rothguard smiled and gave a short perfunctory bow. "Julian, I thought you were in Andrysia."

The Marquis just ignored Rothguard and ran a hand through his wavy blond hair.

Aunt Serena came up to me and caught me by the elbow. "There you are, dear. I have been looking all over for you. There are so many people who want to meet you. You must come with me or we will never finish."

I followed Aunt Serena into the throng of chattering Eldorean nobility. I met old lords whose names I tried desperately to remember, I met their wives, the marchionesses and the countesses, and I had to rack my brain for the correct way to address them. I didn't want to make a fool of myself from the very start.

I spotted Vivienne and raised my hand to wave at her. Vivienne smiled and turned to walk towards me, when an older lady-whom I presumed was her mother-glared at me and pulled Vivienne away, disappearing into the crowd. I turned away, tears pooling in my eyes. It seemed I had lost my best friend.

Suddenly the trumpets sounded. Uncle Gabriel was being announced.

"His Grace, Gabriel, Duke of Silverthorne, commander of the king's army, and protector of the realm," boomed the herald.

Slowly a hush grew over the room, washing gently like a wave across the great hall, when they saw who had just walked in after the duke. The women had suddenly started giggling and whispering to each other like a bunch of crazed lunatics.

I also turned to see what everyone was staring at, and, if I could have fainted, I would have. But I decided that fainting at this moment would really not be a good idea.

Standing at the top of the stairs, looking his usual dashing self, was Rafe, and he was gazing straight at me. He was dressed formally in a midnight-blue doublet and hose with silver embroidery on the cuffs and collar. His boots were high and polished to perfection. And, as usual, he looked devastatingly handsome.

I felt my heartbeat quicken. I wished I could do something about this infuriatingly erratic part of myself that I couldn't control. Secretly I was pleased that he had picked me out of a crowded ballroom almost immediately. But what was he doing here, at a ball in the Summer Palace, underneath the nose of the king?

The Herald hesitated for a second before announcing, "His Royal Highness, Prince Rafael of the Ravenswood Dynasty, heir to the throne of Eldoren, Duke of Calos, Marquis of Shadowvale, and Earl of Killanon."

I could have sworn I saw Rafe wink at me as he walked confidently down the grand stairs towards us.

"I thought he was an outlaw," I whispered to Kalen, who was standing beside me, still not taking my eyes off Rafe. I couldn't believe he was actually there.

Kalen was grinning stupidly. "Oh yes! I must have forgotten to mention that, in Eldoren, he has many other titles."

I looked at Kalen incredulously. "And you just forgot to mention that one little part, did you?" I said, scathingly. "You made me keep believing that he was a wanted man."

Kalen shrugged. He was still grinning, and he seemed to find my reaction entertaining. "Rafe didn't want you to know," he said truthfully.

"Why?" I asked. "Did he think it would have made a difference?"

"I don't know," said Kalen. "Ask him yourself. He's coming over here."

I looked up as Rafe and Uncle Gabriel came over to meet us.

"Glad to have you back, Grandfather," said Erien, coming over and hugging Uncle Gabriel; he looked over at Rafe. "You too, Your Highness."

Rafe nodded, smiling, "Erien, Kalen."

Uncle Gabriel gave me a short hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Is everything all right?" he asked, looking concerned.

I nodded. I guess I must have looked so shocked that even Uncle Gabriel had noticed something was wrong. I felt like such a fool. How would I ever talk to Rafe again? How could Kalen not have told me that Rafe was actually the prince of Eldoren? I caught Rafe looking at me with that amused look on his face once again. And, for about the hundredth time, my heart took a quick somersault.

Rafe bowed formally and planted a chaste kiss on my hand. "Princess Aurora, always a pleasure," he said, smiling the most dazzling smile I had ever seen. I couldn't seem to keep my eyes off him, even though I was terribly embarrassed.

"Rafe . . . I mean, Your Highness," I said, suddenly remembering where I was.

"I must say, you look exceptionally beautiful tonight," he said softly, straightening, but still looking into my eyes and holding my hand. I blushed.

He finally let go of my hand when Erien butted in. "Let's go and find Mother," he said quickly to me.

Rafe scowled but didn't say anything.

"What's the rush?" I asked, irritated that I had been pulled away from Rafe.

Erien didn't answer as he took me by the arm and led me through the crowd.

"What was all that about?" I said, when he finally stopped with me behind a potted plant at the far end of the ballroom.

"Rafael," Erien said abruptly.

"What about him?" I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"He's no good for you," said Erien sharply. "He may be a great warrior-mage, and he is the crown prince, but he is not the type to be tied down. It will only end in heartache, mainly yours."

I tried to look astonished, but failed miserably. Erien was right-Rafe may not be an outlaw, but he was definitely dangerous. And Kalen and his mother had warned me about that side of Rafe. Even his own father seemed to be exasperated with him.

Then I thought back to everything Celia and Vivienne had said about the crown prince. It was a different picture from how Rafe really acted. But which one was his real self? Was he the hardened warrior who traveled the kingdom helping the poor and helpless, the outlaw who was the bane of Morgana's guards? Or the spoiled princeling who was only interested in wine and women?

"I know that," I said, sighing. "Don't worry. I'm not going to mess up my future because of some guy, even if he is a prince." Although I wanted to mean what I said, I wasn't sure how much truth there was in that statement.