The Palace of Impossible Dreams by Jennifer Fallon

pulled a face. Like Stellan, she was used to much finer fare, and heartily sick of turnips, which seemed to be the only vegetable Maralyce bothered to store in her larder. “Is that all that’s on the menu, Lord Desean?” She rolled her eyes. “Tides, and I was
so
hoping we could have turnips for dinner too.”
    Stellan frowned. “You should watch your language, young lady. It ill becomes a princess to speak like that.”
    â€œDeclan says ‘Tides’ all the time.”
    â€œDeclan’s not a princess.”
    â€œGlad you noticed.”
    Stellan jumped a little at Declan Hawkes’s unexpected reply. Nyah hadn’t closed the door behind her, so he’d had no warning they were no longer alone. He certainly hadn’t realised Declan was back from wherever it was he’d been.
    â€œYou’ve returned.”
    â€œTwo piercing observations in as many minutes,” Declan said, sounding impressed. “Pity you weren’t so sharp a year ago when you met your new Kennel Master.”
    Stellan gripped the handle of the vegetable knife a little tighter, and chose not to rise to the provocation, mostly because he knew the criticism wasn’t undeserved.
    Declan shut the door and turned back to the table, leaning forward to see what Stellan was chopping. “Oh, look, turnips. Who’d have thought?”
    â€œYou didn’t catch us anything edible then,” Stellan inquired, “while you were off in the woods, communing with nature?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou’ve been gone for days, Declan,” Nyah said. “Didn’t you get hungry?”
    â€œApparently I don’t have to worry about starvation any longer.”
    There was an odd note in Declan’s voice, something that spoke of barely contained anger; maybe even fear.
    It put Stellan’s own woes into perspective. He was worried people thought him a fool; at worst that they might consider him a traitor. Declan Hawkes was having to contend with the unexpected and unwanted realisation that he was now a member of a very exclusive club that he not only despised, but had been actively working against for most of his adult life.
    â€œDid you find anything?” he asked, although they both knew he didn’t mean food. Declan was searching for answers, even more than Stellan was. His dilemma, in the general scheme of things, was far more traumatic.
    â€œNo, but I’ve made a decision.”
    â€œYou’re leaving.” Stellan didn’t know how he knew that. He just did.
    Declan nodded. “I’ll do what you asked. Or part of it, at any rate. I’ll go to Torlenia and try to find Arkady.”
    â€œAnd the part you’re
not
planning to do?”
    â€œBring her back.”
    Stellan nodded. He was neither surprised nor particularly disturbed to learn of Declan’s plans. He could offer his wife nothing now, except a life of hiding, as the world unravelled around them with the rising of the Tide.
    Declan, on the other hand, was one of the rare few now, one of the power-brokers. The tables had turned completely. The duke she’d married for protection was powerless and penniless, while the childhood friend without connections or wealth could now stride the halls of power with impunity. Declan had the power to protect Arkady.
    And he loved her—whether he was willing to admit it or not.
    â€œYou’re not coming back?” Nyah understood what Declan was saying, even if she didn’t pick up on the undercurrent running beneath the adults’ words.
    â€œIsn’t much point really,” he told her, taking a seat at the table.
    â€œBut what about me?” she asked. “I can’t just stay here in the mountains until I die of old age.”
    â€œI was thinking about that too.” Declan looked up at Stellan. “You should take her home.”
    â€œMe? I’m a wanted man. And take her home to what, exactly? I thought