I was startled by the sudden appearance of someone behind me and let out a brief yelp of surprise.

"You scared her," Prince Louis said, somewhat displeased.

"Sorry," the person replied insincerely, "I didn't know she was this timid."

That sounded infuriating. I turned my head back in annoyance, only to be surprised to find that the speaker was actually a teenager. He looked about fifteen, tall and thin, draped in a gray linen cloak. His presence was so unobtrusive that it was almost non-existent.

"Are you hurt?" I forgot what I had wanted to say earlier and asked him with concern.

Because he was wrapped all over with bandages,...