Violet tightened the straps on her quiver. The gold-tipped arrows seemed bland beneath the cloud cover. A storm loomed on the horizon—it had been there, threatening to drench the capital, since Chione pulled Eden into her wedding planning. But the dreary day matched Violet’s feelings about sharing duties with Florian.

They were in a cleared-out, three-story market, waiting for the royal procession to pass by. King Eden and Queen Chione were making their way through the capital so ...