The night was cool as Aly escaped the heated ballroom and her overeager suitors. Many had wished for a dance with the flirty fifteen-year-old, but that night Alianne of Pirate's Swoop was not interested in the boring squires and university students who trailed after her.

She swayed slowly as she strolled though the garden at the palace. The ball was for the king who was turning forty-five that week and all the nobles of the land were invited to the celebration.

A man sat on a bench in the shadows not far from her path, and he almost got up before he recognized her. "Oh, it's you," King Jonathan IV of Tortall said. He looked relieved at the sight of her. "I was worried it was another noble coming to tell me how I'm not running this country well."

"How do you know I'm not?" Aly replied with a serious face. King Jonathan's own face fell before Aly smiled at him and sat down next to him on the stone bench. "Do you mind if I sit?"

"Of course not, Aly, I need a distraction." She raised an eyebrow at him and he frowned. "That's not what I meant. And you're too young to think like that."

She could tell he was grumpy so she let it go. "I don't know what you mean, sir, I didn't say a word."

"I'm getting too old for mind tricks."

"You old, sir? Never. Why, just the other day I was just thinking of ways to steal you from the queen."

"Really?" he said with skepticism and laughter in his voice.

"Would I lie, sir?" she said. She placed a hand against her heart as if deeply wounded.

"Maybe, as all pretty girls do if it suits their motives."

"You'll turn a girl's head with talk like that," she teased and leaned into him. "That and your looks, no wonder there's an "I love King Jonathan" club at my university."

Jon laughed so hard tears came to his eyes. "There is such a thing?"

"Oh, yes, I'm a first-ranking member." She said seriously.

"Are you now?" He looked down upon her as if she was a favorite niece. "Would you grow more favor in this club if I kissed you?"

"Most likely. But sir, none of the girls would believe me! It would mean nothing if it wasn't done in public to show the rest of the world."

"That might be a problem. If I do it in public, not only would you gain the scorn and jealousy of my wife, but of my whole kingdom."

"Then we can run away together! Don't you believe I'm prettier than your wife?" She batted her eyelashes at him. She knew she held no candle to Thayet, and Jon knew it too.

"Certainly younger," he muttered.

"King Jonathan!" she cried. She slapped his arm lightly.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" He held his hands up in surrender. "Where would we go?"

"To run away together?"

"Yes."

"Well, Carthak, naturally." That statement made him laugh out loud.

"And we would travel by boat?" he asked.

"You're so witty, sir! Of course not by boat. With your nice and strong arms and legs, you can carry me and swim across."

"What was I thinking? We can save money that way."

"For a palace by the sea. Wouldn't that be terribly romantic?" He laughed again while Aly grinned.

"It's been fun, Aly, but we both must get back..."

"So you can kiss me?"

He smiled and leaned in close as if about to bestow her a kiss. "So I can further know how I'm running the kingdom wrong," he whispered.

"Of course, sir," she stood quickly and curtsied. For a moment there she thought he would really kiss her. She smiled and pretended like her heart wasn't racing, and that he hadn't noticed her breath sped up when he leaned towards her. "Enjoy the advice."

"I shall," he said and walked back into the ballroom.