Page 61 of The Abandoned Princess

“The world needs loud, active people as well as quiet, thoughtful ones,” he concluded.

“You were amazing as well,” I said. “I couldn’t have done it on my own.”

I remembered my certainty in his assistance and the way he had been the first to insist we leave the road to help the family. My earlier fears about him were becoming paler and paler. There was no glory in this situation. Even the family involved didn’t know we’d helped them. And Xander himself hadn’t played the starring role as rescuer. And yet, he had been unswerving in his determination not to abandon someone clearly in distress.

It was becoming more and more obvious that Xander had responded so strongly to the story of my disappearance not because he liked the idea of himself in the role of dashing hero, but because he had a genuine horror of anyone being alone, helpless, and in trouble.

“I think it was fortunate we were enchanted,” he said cheerfully, oblivious of the revelation happening in my mind.

I blinked, trying to follow his thoughts as we stepped back onto the road.

“There was no time to explain ourselves to the parents,” he added given my look of confusion, “and if they’d reacted to your appearance over the waterfall, Liam might have slipped before you were in position to help him.”

“You’re right!” I said, struck by his words. “I never thought some good could come out of this situation. But I’m relieved we were able to help. If we hadn’t been passing by…”

I shivered, but my mind was preoccupied with remembering previous words of Xander’s. I had been bemoaning being overlooked as the youngest, but Xander had pointed out the burdens that came with being heir and always being seen. I had been struck by his words then, and I was struck by them again.

Xander was obviously the sort of person to look for the positives in any situation, and he saw things I should have seen for myself. When I first came out of the tower, I had berated myself because I still leaped into action at the first opportunity. But Lori had told me that was just part of who I was.

She was right, but that wasn’t the whole truth. There hadn’t been anything wrong with my desire for activity and inclusion as a child, but I had been at fault when I failed to balance that with acknowledgment and gratitude for my situation.

I would have spent those years in a lot greater happiness if I had been grateful for the advantages that came with my place as the youngest princess instead of focused only on the negatives. If I’d spent more time looking for the positives, I would have soon found a whole host of them. And it might even have helped me think a little more carefully before I rushed into danger.

The lesson I needed to take from the tower wasn’t that I should change who I was, but that I should remember to be grateful for what I did have instead of focusing on what I thought I lacked.

“Thank you,” I said to Xander with so much earnestness that he stared at me in surprise.

“What for?”

“For everything.” I beamed at him. “For being you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said with a bemused return smile that slowly grew warmer. “Very welcome.”

PART III

THE CAPITAL

CHAPTER 20

Since the detour to help the forest family had proved to be short, we easily resumed our place a safe distance behind Eulalie. When she didn’t even stop in Greenwood but continued straight ahead on the road for the capital, I had to concede that Xander was right.

“She’s definitely heading for Northgate,” I said.

And when the road finally took us beyond the edge of the forest, I was delighted. I had spent five years in that forest, and I was ready to leave it behind, preferably forever.

Other traffic on the road had gradually increased, and it increased even further on the road between Greenwood and the capital.

We closed the distance between us and Eulalie, hanging close behind other groups of travelers to keep ourselves hidden.

“I don’t understand why she came to the tower that last time at all,” I said. “If what she’s looking for is in the capital, why go so far away?”

“I don’t think she was there for you,” Xander said. “Remember she only came to the tower because the ring cracked. I think she was following the tour. She either thought the king had what she needed with him, or he had information about it that she needed.”

“Do you think she might already have everything she needs, then?” I asked, alarmed.

“I think she got some information that told her where to find it,” Xander said. “She’s been moving too quickly and with too much purpose to already have it. In that case, she could have stayed with the tour all the way back.”

I relaxed a little before another thought occurred to me. “If the king was the one with the information she needed, does that mean whatever she’s looking for is in the palace?”

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