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stopped midstride to laugh, at once understanding that Isi had sent the guards. And even the pigeons, no doubt prodded by Isi’s gift with bird speech, had been part of the ploy.
    “Oh, Isi, that was brilliant!”
    “Razo will never recover, I think,” said Isi, smiling broadly.
    “Nor will I, you rascal. You should feel my heart thumping. When the birds landed on me, what a fright! And I saw myself before the king trying to explain. . . . I’m so glad it’s you.”
    They flung their arms around each other and laughed and hugged. Enna held her friend at arm’s length and looked her over.
    “But what are you doing out here, and in . . . ?”
    “In the old goose girl disguise? I like to go out occasionally without the fanfare, you know, just walk around and feel like a normal person. If I don’t hide my hair, I can’t go two steps from the palace without being recognized as the princess.”
    Enna nodded. Isi’s hair was yellow, a novelty in a land of black and brown hair, and when uncovered it hung to her hips. Even though Isi was from another kingdom, her accent sounded truly Bayern, one word bleeding into the next, with short vowels and deep consonants. Enna noted that today the princess sounded like a city woman, though she often slipped into the rougher tones of a Forest dweller. Enna smiled, remembering that if there was one thing her friend did well, it was imitating sounds.
    But something seemed different in Isi, in her expression, as though she were pained and trying to hide it. Enna tried to guess what might be amiss. “So, any news? I’ve been hoping to hear that you’re expecting a, you know . . .”
    Isi sighed. “Yes, you and half the court. Everyone wants an heir to the throne. It’s been two years, and a touch of desperation has crept into the ministers’ eyes. Look at you. Whenever I see you again after some time apart, I have to remember how pretty you are. And how about me?” Isi turned sideways with a serious face, as though she posed for a portrait.
    “You still look like the goose girl to me.”
    “Good,” said Isi.
    They continued to stroll through the market. Enna glanced at the guards to see if they looked confused by their talk. She did not know how much the people of the palace knew, as she and Razo and Finn knew, of the way this foreigner came to marry their prince Geric. She was certain they knew pieces of the story—how a princess of the neighboring western kingdom had been betrothed to the prince, but the treacherous lady-in-waiting rode into the city instead, bearing the name Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee. And how the true princess, aided by a group of animal workers, confronted the false bride in front of the king and prince before the marriage took place.
    But did they know of the months when their princess hid her yellow hair in a Forest woman’s headscarf, donned a Forest accent, called herself Isi, and tended the king’s geese? Did they know that she was largely responsible for the Forest dwellers gaining citizenship? And did they believe the rumors of her power with wind and birds?
    “I like to see what friends the Forest lets loose on marketday, but I didn’t expect to be so lucky as to have my Enna back,” said Isi. She purchased small bags of roasted nuts and gave them to the guards and Enna. “This outing is often my only time away from the palace. Seems like I don’t leave much lately.”
    “Why not?”
    Isi shrugged, and Enna could read in her manner that she would rather talk about it when they were alone.
    “I’m glad I made it here today,” said Enna, “if only for the Razo trick.”
    “Whenever you come back—”
    “It’s like I never left.” Then Enna remembered. “Leifer,” she said heavily. “Isi, I’ve got to talk to you privately.”
    Isi nodded and without any questions gestured her guards toward the palace.

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Chapter 3
     
    They did not speak of Leifer as they left the market-square and climbed the narrow, cobbled