I'll always be the first to admit, it was that particular pleasure I derive from saying No which spurred, in part, my hasty decision. Hattie upheld in one of several nasty letters that it was "new mother insanity;" for what sane person, after all, elects to move hundreds of miles from home with a newborn?

Char, as always, eventually agreed that the so-called Ayorthian Ruins we drove past on one of our many trips would prove a suitable place to raise children.

"Whether or not you call yourself princess, Ella, Ayortha is not our kingdom. Wouldn't it be better to-"

"No."

That was that.

The night before our move, a letter came from the king of Ayortha. Upon opening it, its intricate dark green envelope exhaled a river of gold dust, from which three songs rang out, startling the exotic birds that slept peacefully near the ceiling. The first two were joyous; one was of welcome, the next a congratulations on our new baby boy. The third, however, was apologetic. If I had been less blind, it would have been quite overtly foreboding.

"There are other palaces," it pleaded. "Ayortha has more to offer the royal family than ruins in an uninhabited forest."

But we had heard it all before. Truth be told, I was blind. When I have decided upon something, I don't change my mind easily. Char hastily replied to the letter with a curt thank you, and the next morning, we were on our way.

Rain and hail threatened to halt our voyage entirely. Mandy sat silent beside me in the carriage, gazing past the storm to something which seemed to trouble her even more. I would have inquired about it, had Selwyn not been sobbing in apparent protest for hours on end.

"Ella, darling, have you yet considered what you will do to make the new palace hospitable?" Mandy asked, distantly.

I chuckled. Mandy knew immediately what I had in mind.

"Nothing big, you know," she insisted. "Small magic. You can't possibly expect anything like you have experienced at home. I simply want a safe place for the baby."

"You're so generous," I laughed, though it was obvious what her answer would be. Char finally looked up from the book he had been reading.

"Mandy's right. Big magic... after what it did to you, I can't trust it."

I gazed into his eyes as I always did, and he understood what I meant. That part of our life is over.

"Everything will be all right," I assured him. "You've seen it. It's beautiful. And Ayorthians are so welcoming. Arieda said she would meet us when we arrive; she doesn't live far from the palace, you know."

Char scribbled something in ink on the book he still held. I opened the fairy book, and his handwriting was there, for my eyes alone.

I want to show you something tonight, after everyone's asleep. Meet me just past the ruined iron gate, after I visit the king.