Page 57 of A Thieving Curse

“Alex says I could talk someone to death, which doesn’t actually make sense,” Lucas said. “You know I made your chair? At least I think that’s the one I made. Well, I helped, at least. We made all the furniture, and the doors and fireplaces and things.”

Peter snorted. “Did we? I seem to remember you mostly crawling around underfoot.”

“I helped when I was old enough,” Lucas mumbled. “I help with everything now.”

“Everything?” Raelyn asked. Now that she was staying, her curiosity about how they spent their days was piqued. “What do you all do up here?”

“There’s always repairs and chores,” Alexander said. “Checking the traps and skinning and preparing the catches. The others take the pelts down to the village to trade. Jasper has an annoying habit of pretending he’s a royal tutor, so I didn’t escape the drudgery of studies or learning to give speeches and practice regal bearing by going into exile. It’s boring, but it’s something to do.”

“It is my honor and my responsibility to ensure my prince is well-educated.” Jasper didn’t look pleased to have his instruction labeled drudgery.

“He was my father’s steward.” Alexander gave Jasper a mischievous smile. “He takes responsibility very seriously.”

A hint of amusement crept into Jasper’s expression. “That’s the only way to take responsibility, my prince.”

No wonder Jasper reminded her of her father’s steward. Jasper possessed the same calm demeanor, serious attitude about responsibility, and attitude of long suffering that the steward had displayed every time he had to search for her and Gareth.

“Chores and studies.” Raelyn kept her expression serious. “You’re more boring than you let on, Alexander.”

He beamed at her. “I’ll make proving otherwise my goal, then.”

After breakfast, Raelyn helped Meredith and Lucas clear off the table, even though she was mostly in the way and her limp didn’t help. But if she couldn’t serve Eynlae the way she had been groomed to, then she would learn to be useful here. Maybe she could even find a new purpose outside of being a princess, at least until she could return home.

As Alexander left the table, a mischievous thought occurred to her. The others were being quiet. Jasper was leaving as well. It might not work, but the prankster in her wanted to try.

“Wait.” She stopped Alexander with a hand on his forearm. She made her voice as gentle as she could. “Can I come with you, Alexander?”

He looked from her hand on his arm to her face. She used her years of etiquette training to affect a serene smile. It was a bit much, but she rubbed her thumb against his sleeve. His lips curved upward as his wings rustled, and he definitely, undoubtedly, purred.

Meredith dropped a plate with a resounding clatter. Raelyn jumped, her hand flying off his arm. “Oh my word.” Meredith stared at Alexander with wide eyes. “Youdopurr.”

Raelyn smirked, gloating.

Alexander’s eyes glowed, and his tail whipped over the stone floor. “Oh, leave me alone.” He stomped away, smoke curling from his nose. “I’m checking the river. You coming or what?”

Raelyn pointed at herself. “Who, me?”

“Do you want to come, or were you just trying to trick me into purring?”

She scurried after him. “Both?”

“Hmph.”

Alexander stopped in a tiny side cave and grabbed an empty bag with a long shoulder strap. After they emerged from the cave and paused to let their eyes adjust to the glaring sunlight, he turned toward her, the bag hanging from his shoulder.

“It’s a long walk.” His mouth pulled to the side. “Faster if we fly.”

“Is that so?” She had seen enough flirting courtiers to suspect he was flirting. It was flattering, but with their…history, for lack of a better term, it made her uncomfortable. Not to mention she wasn’t attracted to scales and claws. Maybe she had gone too far in trying to get him to purr in front of the others and given him the wrong idea. “I’d rather walk.”

His wings twitched as his smile faded. “Flying is so much more fun. And you enjoy flying.”

I do, but I’d enjoy it more if I wasn’t pressed against you.“How long to walk?”

“I’d say forty minutes, but with your short legs, maybe an hour and a half.”

“Rude.”

“You started it.”

---