"Princess…" she thought she heard Dillon say.
That couldn't be right, though. That wasn't what he called her.
'What is it, Dill?' she would have said if she could. 'Tell me and I'll listen. I'll listen to what you have to say, and I will believe you. This time, I swear—'
"Princess, wake up!"
Hilde's eyes flew open and her first instinct was to turn sideways and hide her face. But a quick swipe of a hand over her eyes told her she hadn't been crying while she dreamt. A small blessing.
She sat up and met Lady Saskia's eyes in silent inquiry. The Lady simply said: "It's nearly time."
***
The infirmary door opened just as Hilde was rising from the bed. In went a sandy-haired woman of about twenty-five. She was carrying a food-laden tray, and over her shoulder hung a sky blue nightgown t
