After Olivia had finished preparing our meal with the skill of a seasoned chef, the camp transformed into something resembling a small court in the wilderness. Ornate folding chairs were produced from the baggage carriages—delicate things of carved wood and rich velvet that seemed almost absurdly luxurious in our forest clearing. These were arranged in a perfect semicircle around the crackling campfire, positioned to catch the maximum warmth while maintaining proper royal protocol.
Queen Emma settled into her chair with grace, the firelight catching the golden threads woven through her traveling cloak. Even in this remote setting, even dressed in the practical clothes of a traveler rather than her usual royal regalia, she attracted easily attention.
Princess Judith took her place beside her mother. She'd exchanged her formal gown for a simple wool dress and warm cloak, but nothing could diminish the inherent nobility in her bearing as well.
