Page 57 of Knightfall
“No. I’m a political savant. This is a triple win situation. We all get something we want.”
Declan looked at Ryan, “Did I say I wanted to practice my powers?”
Ryan raised his hand. “How am I getting something I want?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Ryan Hale, I’ve heard you rave about your mother’s berry pies since you were in the lower guard. So, stop pretending you aren’t aching to see her.”
“Fine. I could eat.”
I laughed.
Ryan shook his head. “I need to go grab a few guards.”
“Guards? Why?”
“Because a crown princess doesn’t travel unescorted. Unless she’s planning to try to escape.”
Both men stared me down. “I’m not trying to escape. Really,” I sighed. “Fine. Get the guards.”
As Ryan sauntered off to request more guards and horses, I turned to Declan. “This will be fun, don’t you think?”
Declan bit his lip and shook his head. “Did you really think this through? Do you really think the people of Terra want to see the invader knight?”
“Invader?”
“Foreigner, then?”
My blood boiled. “Who called you that?”
He snorted. “It gets whispered nearly every day. Surprised you haven’t heard it since you came back.”
I raised a brow. “Well, it seems I have some work to do on the nobles then. But, let me assure you, the people of Evaness don’t feel the same.”
“What?” Declan’s blue eyes flickered to mine, confused.
I smiled at him. “You’ll see.”
Just then a page approached with a message for me. I stepped away from Declan to read the letter, and then bent and whispered instructions to the boy. He scampered off with a grin. And I couldn’t keep a wide smile off my face.
“Good news?” Declan asked.
“We’ll see.”
Ryan arrived shortly after that and we set off on a winding trail to the northwest. We let the guard spread out around us, so that we had some semblance of privacy.
“Quinn’s pouting that you didn’t invite him,” Ryan gave me a sideways grin.
I rolled my eyes. “Please, he’s probably already snuck down there. Besides, he got ‘alone time’ with me last night.”
Ryan belted out a laugh and Declan shook his head.
I turned to look at Declan as we cantered along. “Have you thought of any possibilities regarding that request I told you about?” I didn’t want to use Willard’s name in front of the guards. Just in case.
Declan shook his head. “Duke Aiden’s about to arrive. Your mother’s having me research Abbas and his father’s holdings before his arrival. She wants to make certain Sultan Raj isn’t hiding anything.”
I grimaced. “I hope you find something.”
“No, you don’t.”
