Page 43 of The Prince's Curse

Walking back to his quarters, however, he couldn’t help but mull over the Grand Magus’ words. What sort of ‘difficult situations’ had Dexil been hinting at? Was he worried about what would happen once the king passed? And why did he care so much about Benjin personally making this delivery?

Benjin’s thoughts turned to the trip, and he muffled an internal groan. Such musings could wait. First, he had to figure out how in the name of the Goddess he was going to survive spending so much time alone on the road with the prince…

Benjin arrived in the courtyard right as the sun crested the sky, his knapsack draped over one shoulder. The Grand Magus’ prepared parcel sat nestled safely within, ready to be delivered to this mage Percival in Luxem.

The courtyard was a flurry of activity. Servants loaded supplies into a wagon that rested behind a boxy carriage bearing the Demeroux crest. More servants and guards readied a dozen horses to travel. Seeing the escort eased a bit of Benjin’s tension. At least, he and Haldric wouldn’t becompletelyon their own.

Scanning the courtyard, he spotted the prince by the carriage. Duchess Janelle stood with him, speaking in a hushed voice. The Grand Magus’ edict to observe fresh in his mind, Benjin sidledcloser to overhear, but it was impossible over the surrounding din, and he didn’t dare attempt some half-baked spell to listen in from afar.

Janelle fixed Haldric with a meaningful look, briefly gripping his shoulder before striding away. She ignored Benjin entirely as she passed by him. Benjin returned the favor. Haldric’s aunt hadn’t spoken more than a handful of words to him this past month, and he had the distinct impression she didn’t much care for him. Noble snobbery, at its finest.

Striding swiftly across the courtyard, Benjin kept his gaze locked on Haldric. The prince appeared unsettled, his usual stoic façade cracked beneath a heavy frown and a furrowed brow. He didn’t even notice Benjin’s approach.

“What did your aunt say to you?” Benjin asked once he was close enough, unable to contain his curiosity.

Haldric startled, seeming distracted. “What? Nothing.” He blinked, only then registering Benjin. “Hold on, what areyoudoing here? The Grand Magus already sent over our batch of emergency healing potions. Did he forget something?”

Benjin hefted his knapsack. “Only to inform you that I’ll be accompanying you. The Grand Magus’ orders.”

Haldric’s breath caught. For an instant, Benjin swore he saw something close to relief pass over the prince’s face. Whatever it was smoothed away to his usual mask as he turned toward the carriage.

“Well, come along, then. Daylight is wasting, and we have a long way to go if we’re going to make it to Luxem on schedule.”

Biting back a retort, Benjin followed the prince into the prepared carriage. As he stepped up into its interior, he marveled at its plush seat, fine woodwork, and draped curtains. It certainly beat riding in the back of a cart or trekking on foot, which were the only ways he’d ever traveled before this.

Despite its opulence, the carriage proved relatively cramped, with two narrow benches facing one another. Benjin took the bench on one side while Haldric took the other. Their knees brushed as they settled into place, and Benjin jerked his leg away, twisting to stare out their window while ignoring the flush on the back of his neck.

It didn’t take long for their escort to finish their final preparations for departure. A pair of servants sat up front to direct the horses drawing the carriage while a dozen royal guards on horseback flanked them.

Benjin’s eyes widened when he realized Marshal Fendrel himself led the contingent. The king must not want to take any chances after what had happened to Princess Melisie if he had the head of the royal guard on this detail.

Benjin stole a glance at Haldric and found him sitting in brooding silence, staring straight ahead unseeing. Had his thoughts also turned to his sister?

Goddess, how different Haldric’s life would have been had she lived. He might even now be on the island of Astralyn, studying at their esteemed Arcanum. Instead, he was about to marry a Khordanite princess and inherit Ilthabard’s throne.

It must be incredibly lonely.

They rode in silence for a time. The carriage shuddered on the rough dirt road as it wound its way down the hill. Their pace slowed once they reached the bottom and had to thread their way through the crowded streets of Revesole fanning out from the hill’s base.

Benjin watched uneasily out the small window as a crowd enveloped them. Even at a distance, he could feel their rage, catch snippets of their hurled insults. If not for their escort, the protesters might’ve stormed the carriage.Not that I’d really blame them.As it was, only the soldiers’ drawn blades kept them back.

“Goddess’ mercy, what are they shouting?”

Benjin jumped, glancing over to find Haldric right by his shoulder, peering past him out the window. He shrugged. “I can’t make the words out. Probably the usual fare though:death to the king,curse the nobility, and all that.

Haldric frowned. “I understand that they’re suffering and wish we could do more. But such violence won’t solve anything.”

The prince flinched when a rotten plum smashed against the side of the carriage, spraying dark purple juices across the wood.

Benjin searched for the source of the hurled fruit and spied a teenage boy standing in the mouth of a nearby alley. He couldn’t have been more than a few years younger than Benjin himself, but when their eyes met, the utter loathing in his hate-filled face made Benjin recoil as if struck.

“That poor boy looks like he hasn’t eaten in a week,” Haldric said softly, following Benjin’s gaze.

The emaciated lad watched them a moment longer, still as a statue, before turning and vanishing into the crowd.

Benjin settled back into the carriage’s plush seat, a sudden weariness threatening to suffocate him. “He probably hasn’t. Many of the people out there are in the same boat. Goddess’ mercy, my mother and I might’ve been right there with them if not for Dexil’s charity.”

“It wasn’t charity.” Haldric gave Benjin a meaningful glance. “You earned your apprenticeship, fair and square.”

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