Chapter 28: Chapter 28

"You were arrested?" Shanna pressed the heels of her hands to her forehead, then looked up at him. "Oh, Penli, I'm so sorry. You've been my best friend all these years and I repay that by ruining your life."

Penli flapped one hand, and she felt even more awful that he was dressed in plain, rough travel clothes instead of all the beautiful colors and lace and jewels he loved to wear. "Sweetmelon, I've been ruined since the day my mother decided every moment of my life for me. I'm a little irate with the broken arm, and I was severely displeased over the broken nose that crummy guard gave me for 'resisting arrest,' as though I would ever be so uncouth as to make that kind of scene, especially since I was wearing my brand-new lavender morning jacket!" He looked momentarily crestfallen. "I miss that jacket. I didn't even get to wear it a whole morning."

"I'll buy you all the new clothes you want once we're home again."