Page 20 of The Promise Born
“Of course. Take your time.” Uradis left the room.
There was a part of me that wanted to scream for her to stay. What did he know? I gripped the cane and stared at him, hoping my face was hiding my anxiety.
“It looks like you're going to be just fine. Actually, I'm glad to see how well you're doing with your injuries. I was expecting it to take a lot longer for you to heal, but there's something special about you, isn't there?” He gave me a look that reminded me of Mesi. There was a cold, knowing glint in his eye.
“What do you mean?”
“I'm a lot older than the one who helped me take care of you. So she might not see the difference in you, but I do.” His brow raised. “Ice to my fire.”
“I-,”
He put his finger to his lip to stop my impending rambling. “There are moments when secrets need to be revealed. This is not one of them. I'm going to accept that this is one thing I don't need to know all the facts about. But be careful. I am not the only one here who can discern these things.”
I tightened my grip around the handle of the cane. “Thank you.”
“Does he know?” Uncle asked.
I shook my head.
“Promise me you'll tell him before his heart gets too deep into this. Asante presents an image of hardness, but you've gotten close to him. I can tell by the way you two look at each other. You can see that beyond that tough exterior, he's a gentle person, one who gives his heart fully to whatever he cares about. And he cares about you. I've seen him hurt a lot, and I don't want you to add to that.”
“It won't come to that.”
“Good. Now. Uradis is waiting for you. It's best not to make her wait too long. Rest, eat plenty, and take care of yourself.”
I looked at the door. “You’re not going to tell?”
“I'm old, but I'm not without my ways. I heard the circumstances of how you came here. I also know about the promise mark on his chest. Whatever is between you must stay that way. Asante believes you need to be here, enough to carve a promise across his lifeline to make it happen. And if this is what he thinks he needs right now, I will not take that away from him. All I ask is that you bring him peace and not heartache.”
“I won't be here long enough to do that.”
“So, you don't intend to marry him?” He smirked. “Is it all just a farce?”
“He has a plan.” I chose honesty.
“This makes so much more sense now.” He sighed. “Looks like my nephew got around his mother's pestering ways. Even better. Finish your bargain and leave him whole.”
“I will.”
I left the room to find Uradis standing down the hall from the door. I wondered if she had overheard any of our conversation. Her warm smile when she saw me didn’t seem like one of deception. With a brief nod, I joined her, and she led me back to my room.
Along the way, it seemed everyone was staring at me, and I could see what she meant. Some of them looked at me with awe, others looked at me with pity, and still others looked at me with hatred.
And I understand that look.
I didn't belong. I was an outsider. Someone who came from a background unfitting that other princess. And I was in a position that some would even have killed for.
It was jealousy. Jealousy for something that they didn't know they wanted. Something that they could never have. Something that I didn't want at all.
Uradis and I made it back to my room, and I watched her as she made sure that everything was in place. Shortly after we got inside, there was a knock at the door, and I had to internally pinch myself for hoping it would be him.
It wasn’t the prince on the other side of the door. It was a woman with a tray of food. Uradis let her in so she could put the tray down and quickly ushered her away.
“Where did he have to go?”
“I'm sorry?”
“I know I shouldn't ask this, but it's been on my mind since you told me he had to run away. Is it something to do with the trolls?”
