Page 86 of Crownless King

“Of course you can. Your hands aren’t affected at all. And by the time the royal court arrives, you’ll stop tripping over your hooves and learn to be mindful of your tail. It wouldn’t do for you to stick it into the fire or something like that when they’re here.”

Bavius walked in at that moment.

“Can you hold the door while I carry in the table—” He stopped in his tracks, sliding a gaze up my body all the way to my face.

The russet skin on his cheeks warmed with a blush. His wide tongue lapped at his lips as he stared at me with hooded eyes.

“Don’t get too excited, Bavius,” Sauria chuckled, holding the door open for him to carry in the table he’d left in the front room. “This is just for today. The glamor will wear off by dinnertime.” She turned to me. “Or earlier, if you take off that necklace.”

ChapterTwenty-Two

SPARROW

Sauria stayed a little longer to help Bavius and me get ready for the royal lunch. We had the two tables set with clean tablecloths and every spare dish we could find in the house and in storage in the barn. The long benches on each side of the tables provided enough sitting for the people coming over.

The heavy tables, plain linen tablecloths, and roughly hewn benches were so unlike anything the royal courtiers were used to in Elaros. But if they wanted a palace experience, they should have stayed in the palace. I decided not to fret over what they might think about the way we lived here.

My cooking had improved greatly, but it couldn’t be compared to the fantastic creations of the royal head chef. As a result, I didn’t even attempt making molded jelly or air-light soufflé. Instead, I tripled my stew recipe and baked dozens of pumpernickel bread rolls. I also roasted a yellow squash and red beets with oil and garlic. Bavius brought some ham and a head of pickled cabbage from the cellar. I sliced both the ham and the cabbage and arranged them on two platters as side dishes.

For dessert, I grabbed a jar of snowberry preserve, planning to bake pies with it, then paused. I’d eaten snowberries in Elaros. Voron knew I liked them. He always made sure to serve snowberry tarts with tea when I came to his rooms to learn how to play War of Kings.

Memories threatened to rush me. I put the jar back on the shelf in the cellar, then grabbed an apronful of apples and a basket of fresh cranberries instead. There would be no memories of Elaros. I couldn’t allow myself to think about Vensari either if I wished to make it through this lunch without falling apart.

By the time the trotting of horses’ hooves sounded in the front yard, the food was ready. The farmhouse was filled with appetizing smells of cooking and baking, and I was ladling the stew into an earthenware serving bowl.

“Fucking freeloaders are here,” Bavius cursed, but straightened his tunic under his belt and stomped outside to greet the guests.

I set the stew bowl onto the table, then took off my apron that was stained with cranberries and dusted with flour and put it away.

Waiting by the fireplace, I crushed the skirt of my simple dress in my sweaty hands, wishing I could just hide in the cellar until everyone left.

What would be the worst that could happen if I hid?

Bavius would be pissed. He’d probably accidentally—or not so accidentally—spill the ale into the king’s lap, then lose his temper and get himself arrested. But even that no longer seemed so terrible compared to me having to face the royal court once again.

I’d done so well hiding from both the world and my past. But now, the door burst open, and my past rushed right in.

Four elegant court ladies dressed in pastel-colored cloaks trimmed with snow-white fur fluttered in, chatting.

“Oh, it smells wonderful in here!”

“Such a neat, quaint cottage in the fields!”

“It’s so warm in here, too, thank goodness. I’m freezing.”

They took their cloaks off, looking around for a place to put them.

I cleared my throat and stepped forward. “Welcome.”

“Oh, hi there,” all four said in unison.

“You must be the mistress of the house,” one of them clarified as the rest smiled at me pleasantly.

I didn’t recognize either of the four. These women weren’t at Elaros during my time there. That fact allowed me to breathe a little easier.

“Yes. Welcome to my home,” I said. “I’ll take your cloaks.” I opened my arms, and they piled their fine garments into them, giving their thank-yous in sing-song voices.

I smiled back, refusing to ponder if any of them had shared the king’s bed. It was none of my business. Not anymore.

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