The Sleeping King by Cindy Dees

hair straggled in her face, as fair and golden as her sister’s was dark and sable. Raina pushed her disheveled locks back defiantly.
    â€œAt least we did something productive today. Justin and I caught your breakfast for the morrow while you sat around being pretty and useless.”
    Arianna drew herself up and said huffily, “I shall be the bride of—” She broke off.
    â€œOf whom?” Raina challenged. To her knowledge, no match had been arranged for her or her sister. Tradition held that the elder daughter got to travel the wide world and seek a husband far away for herself while the younger daughter stayed home and managed the family’s lands and holdings. It wasn’t fair in the least, not that anyone had bothered to ask her about it.
    â€œYou’ll find out soon enough. Sooner than you know,” her sister replied smugly.
    Raina didn’t have the slightest idea what Arianna was talking about and, furthermore, couldn’t care less. Such matters were still a lifetime away for her. She shrugged and continued walking toward the keep.
    â€œWho’s that?” Justin asked suddenly.
    She followed his pointing finger and spied movement on the rise where the Tyrel Road topped it. A cluster of robed men walked this way at a steady, traveler’s pace. “Probably guests arriving for my party.”
    â€œI don’t recognize them. Nor the blazons and symbols on their robes,” Justin muttered.
    Raina frowned. The only strangers who came to this remote little corner of the colony were tax collectors. But it was far too early in the year for that. She squinted at the two tall figures leading the little party. Justin was right. The dark green cloaks and angular silver runes upon them were foreign to her.
    â€œLet’s go greet them,” she declared.
    â€œIt would not be wise until we know who they are…,” Justin started.
    Impatient of his caution, she burst into a run. Of course, he was obliged to keep pace beside her. “You’re an idiot,” he grunted.
    â€œYou forgot to add ‘reckless and impulsive,’” she panted as his stride lengthened, forcing her to work at keeping up with him.
    The travelers stopped sharply, seemingly startled at the sight of locals racing at them pell-mell. Justin slowed, and Raina was grateful to pull up. The stupid corset her mother had recently taken to making her wear was giving her an awful pain in her side.
    â€œGreetings, gentlemen,” Justin said formally. “Welcome to Tyrel.”
    One of the new arrivals was of an age with her father; the other was perhaps two dozen summers in age. The three men behind the pair in dark blue were obviously servants and each carried a bulky pack.
    Raina eyed the two in front. Their cloaks were made of rich wool, the clasps at their throats finely worked silver with triangular symbols on them. Their blazons were intricately worked silver badges with an ancient-looking and stylized triple-leaf design highlighted in green enamel. Even at a glance, she saw the craftsmanship in the baubles was superior. And yet, for all their finery, a disturbing air clung to the men. Sinister. She frowned, failing to put her finger on the source of her disquiet.
    â€œWell met, young sir. And who might you be?” the older one replied formally.
    â€œI am Justin Morland, a servant of the manor. And this is Lady Raina, second daughter of the house.”
    Both travelers’ gazes snapped to her with avid interest … and something else. Something that sent a ripple of unease climbing her spine. It was as if they measured her. But for what? The younger one’s mouth curved up in a self-satisfied smile that made her skin positively crawl.
    The older one asked, “Is Lady Charlotte in the manor?”
    His tongue wrapped all too familiarly around her mother’s name for Raina’s liking. She replied stiffly, “Aye.”
    Arianna, who had not deigned to