Chapter 17 Summary

The King is being more attentive to the girls. They're excited because they only have three weeks left of the one-year mourning period. Azalea is teaching the girls a dance on the pavilion when Keeper cuts in and accuses Azalea of not looking for the magic item. Lord Howley follows Azalea near the stream while she looks for the tongs. He is another one of the suitors trying to answer the riddle. When Azalea sends him away, she loses her balance and falls into the stream. Lord Bradford comes to save her.`

Chapter 17 Analysis

Lord Bradford seems to appear whenever Azalea is in trouble. His constant presence foreshadows that he too will try to solve the riddle. Ironically, he already knows about the secret passageways in the palace and how to open them, so he should know exactly where the secret dancing place...