Page 34 of Feathers and Thorns

The lady turned to Soren, her large hips swaying back and forth as she approached. “And who might you be?” she asked as a way of introduction.

“Uh … I’m Soren,” she responded quickly. She needed to act like she belonged here, just another servant to offer a helping hand before the wedding. “Soren Nightsong, from Amerus. I heard they were hiring extra help for the princess’s wedding and I jumped at the opportunity.”

The woman let out a boisterous laugh. “My dear girl, save your folly for the nobility. Your friends already told me you arrived with Jaideep Ashwood.”

Soren nearly choked on her coffee about being caught so obviously in a lie. She cleared her throat and eyed her friends, who had momentarily paused their baking venture. “Maker, you two. I thought we were supposed to be inconspicuous!”

“It wasn’t our fault, Sor,” Baz clarified. “She saw right through our story, too.”

Soren looked at the woman nervously. “If you know, why haven’t we been arrested?”

The woman spoke clearly. “Because I trust Jai. I have known that boy since he was running around here in nappies, trying to steal my loxberry tarts.”

Soren relaxed her shoulders before the woman continued.

“But don’t think that gets you out of helping.” She pointed a finger at each of them. “No one sleeps and eats for free, you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they replied in unison.

“You may call me Mrs. Fern. Now, let’s get cooking.”

* * *

A few hours later, Jai woke and joined the rest of the hoodlums, as Mrs. Ferndale would call them, in the kitchen. By the looks of it, she had set them straight to work. The entire space was filled with bubbling pots, crackling oven flames, and the mouthwatering scent of?—

“Are those loxberry tarts?” he asked, reaching a greedy hand toward the cooling tray on the counter.

Mrs. Fern swatted it away with a swing of her ladle. “Hands off.”

The trio laughed as the tracker tried to dodge his childhood caretaker’s wrath.

“Some things never change.” Everett’s voice was filled with humor as strode over to them.

Jai used the momentary distraction to snatch a tart and shoved the entire thing in his mouth, chewing aggressively.

“Insufferable child,” Mrs. Ferndale admonished. “Get him out of here before he devours the whole tray,” she told Everett. “And take his friends with you.”

“Are you sure?” Enara asked, knowing their tasks were far from finished.

“Not to fret, dear. If I need you, I will find you. There isn’t a hidden hallway or room in this castle that I am not wholly aware of,” she said, her eyes shining.

The girls trailed after Everett and Jai, with Baz taking up the rear.

Jai looked at him, gobsmacked as he noticed he held a tart in each hand. “How did you?—”

“She said I was her favorite,” Baz replied with a shit-eating grin then shoved both tarts in his mouth at the same time.

Jai’s glare could have lit a pond on fire. “Bastard.”

* * *

Enara was overjoyed when they walked into the stable to find that Everett had saddled up five horses so they could travel the grounds. They were all thankful for the opportunity to speak openly and express their ideas and concerns away from curious ears.

“We exercise them daily, so no need to worry about looking suspicious,” he said, tightening a strap on the underbelly of a speckled pinto. “This hear is Baymont.”

“He’s beautiful,” Enara gushed, petting long strokes down the horse’s thick neck. “Is he yours?”

“No, they all belong to the king, but my strongest bond is with the gray thoroughbred in the corner there. Amadeus is the fastest of the king’s herd.”

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