Page 59 of A Thieving Curse

She walked toward the river, feeling agitated. “Just…my Mother once admitted it wasn’t their idea. I was an infant. King Philip—your father—heard my father had a daughter…” She crossed her arms and bit her tongue when her hand brushed against the bruising on her upper arm.

Alexander remained quiet, so she continued. “That was his requirement for the treaty. A wife for his son. I was two months old, and my father signed my life away. Promised me to the son of a man he’d met once. My fate was sealed before I could even crawl.” She cleared her throat, surprised by the bitterness in her own voice. “Sorry. I…”I thought I was past these feelings.

“I was three, you know,” Alexander said softly. “I didn’t have a say in it, either. You know how they told me? My nurse had read me a story about a knight falling in love with a maiden and going through all these trials to win her hand. I told my father I was going to fight for a beautiful lady one day. He said, ‘No, I’ve arranged for you to marry a princess from Eynlae.’ He explained I didn’t have the luxury of romance. At six.”

Ouch.“Still. You wouldn’t have had to leave your home and family forever.”

“Well…if it helps, I still lost my home and family.”

She spun toward him as her heart twisted. “Oh, I didn’t mean… I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking. I shouldn’t complain, all things considered.”

He offered a sad smile. “My suffering doesn’t invalidate yours.” He walked up to her and held out the bag of fish. It moved as the fish fought to stay alive. “Could you carry this while we fly back?”

Raelyn turned up her nose. “I’m not carrying that. I’d rather walk.”

“Such a princess.” He winked, and for some reason she blushed. “However, since I already got my way once, walking it is. But if the fish go bad, I’m blaming you.”

As they walked, Raelyn struggled to find the right words for a question she’d been pondering for a while. “Do…did you—that is, before—”

“Are you always this tongue-tied, or is it my striking good looks?” He grinned. As sunlight filtered between leaves and glinted on the scales poking out of his hairline, she had the irritating thought he wasn’t entirely wrong about his looks.

She jumped feet-first into her question. “Did you ever meet Tristan?”

Alexander’s expression darkened. He strode past her without a word, the spade-shaped end of his thrashing tail catching on her skirt. She grabbed her dress and moved aside.

“You know I can’t keep up with that pace,” she called, examining the fabric for any rips.

“Not if you’re not moving. What are you doing?”

Satisfied the dress hadn’t torn, she looked up. He had stopped several paces ahead and was frowning. She hurried to catch up to him. “Your tail caught my dress. I was making sure it hadn’t ripped.”

“Oh.” He glanced away. “Sorry.” He continued at a slower pace. “Why would it matter? If I’d met him?”

She shrugged. “Curiosity. Doesn’t matter now, but…I’ve always wondered what he’s like. Just something I’ve been pondering.”

Alexander was quiet for a couple minutes. “I knew him. He spent winters at the palace after his mother died when he was two or three. We were…” He gulped. “Friends, once.”

Raelyn’s gaze darted to him. “What?”

His wings opened, then refolded against his back. “The truth is, I hardly recall what he looked like. I doubt I’d recognize him now. I remember playing together, though. I know I eagerly anticipated his visits…until I didn’t.” His voice dropped. “I remember when he told me my mother was evil, and I shouldn’t be sad she was dying. And I remember him and my uncle watching impassively at my father’s funeral, while I…” A tiny curl of smoke seeped out from his nostrils. “I don’t know what he’s like now. Maybe he’s like his father. Maybe he’s not. I don’t care.” A slight snarl followed his last words, but Raelyn found it sounded more hurt than angry.

“I’m sorry I asked.”

“To be honest,” he replied, “I’m surprised you waited so long. If I were you, I would have asked before now.”

“I needed to be sure you wouldn’t roast me first.” Raelyn gave him an apologetic smile.

Alexander blushed. “Ah. Right.”

They slipped into more comfortable conversation, such as their favorite foods and favorite weather. Sometimes they walked in silence, listening to the birds sing. After half an hour of walking, Raelyn’s sore ankle forced her to relent and let Alexander fly them the rest of the way. But the time they had spent walking had been peaceful. She wished she could have had time to spend like this with Gareth. Just the two of them, taking their time, no waiting responsibilities or a looming scolding.

They ran into Lucas as they were entering the cave, and he asked if Raelyn would like to see the goats. She immediately agreed, saying a rushed goodbye to Alexander before hurrying off with Lucas.

He talked incessantly the short walk around the towering, jagged cliff face that extended around the mountain from the side of the cave. They had twelve goats, housed in a large pen with logs and platforms for them to play on. She watched them until dinner while Lucas told her all about the care and keeping of goats.

Later that afternoon, Meredith recruited her into helping prepare supper. The smaller cavern off of the dining cavern, across from the fire, Raelyn learned, functioned as a kitchen. She also learned she had no idea what she was doing. Stealing from the kitchen did not prepare her to work in one.

Supper was going to be late, since Raelyn spent more time in the way than being of much use. Meredith was gracious and patient, but Lucas kept poking his head in to see what was going on. He found it hilarious that she struggled to do something supposedly easy, like flip over fish in a frying pan. Never mind that her bruised arms ached with any movement, but she didn’t want to admit that.

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