court, it would be Talia. She had eyes everywhere—spies who reported back with every whisper and every ounce of gossip to
her. She knew everything.
“He’s staying at the Travellers' Rest within the city. Has no siblings and is here on an errand for his father, who was not
called away, but on his sick bed. I heard Uncle Dorian and Father talking about him yesterday morning after Norok asked
permission for him to attend,” she paused, closing her newspaper and shifting herself to look at me as I lifted my head up.
“Father thinks he’s a good candidate for you. Mother and Dorian do not agree, however. I have yet to find out why, but don’t
you worry sis, I will find out eventually.”
“Oh, I know you will,” I said, smirking at her.
Chapter 8
ORNELLA
As the days went by, I attempted to avoid making an excuse to go into the city and potentially bump into Lord Cole. Talia
had yet to find out any more information either. It seemed Lord Cole was a bit of an enigma, only allowing you to know
certain details about him and his life. He was a mystery.
The only one I could really ask about him now wasn’t the best option. Norok. He’d befriended Lord Cole and may know
more information about him. Asking him would make him ask me more questions and why I wanted to know so much. I wasn’t
sure if I wanted that.
I found my brother in the stables as he prepared one of the horses for a ride, insisting—well yelling—at the stable hand that
he didn’t need any help as was perfectly capable of tacking his own horse. In fact, we all were.
“A future king should be able to prepare his own horse, and not have it done for him!” I heard Norok shout as I walked
down the pathway.
The stable hand almost tripped over his feet as he left the stable promptly. He saw me walking down, quickly bowing, and
proceeded to escape behind me. Norok had the wrath of Mother, and I knew if the stable hand didn’t escape when he did, he
would have faced that anger and possibly more.
“You need to stop scaring the poor boy. I heard only the other day you were quite heavy handed and if Father finds out, you
will be restricted to the grounds and not allowed in here anymore,” I said as I stepped through the doorway.
“Father will never restrict the future king.”
“He will if that ego gets any bigger.”
“What do you want, Ornella? You can see I am busy and don’t have time for your childishness,” he scoffed as he placed the
saddle pad down onto his chestnut horse, Arthur.
He rubbed the horse's neck seconds later. Although Norok was quick to snap at people and lose his temper, he had the