Page 16 of If The Crown Fits
“None,” Rhen replied. Lance slammed his fist on the side of the carriage.
“That bastard. I knew he was up to no good.”
“What about the plan?” I asked.
Lance turned his gaze to me. “It stays the same until we find Cai and his men. I will send out a search party. And I’m having Captain Rhen accompany you. He knows the land better than anyone.”
I almost snorted, because if anyone knew the terrain of the kingdom, it was my uncle and his band of thieves. It was the reason they had remained undiscovered for so long. Lance helped me into the carriage and Cordelia followed behind.
The carriage ride was bumpy and unstable on the rocky road leading away from the castle and suddenly I missed riding on horseback. Cordelia eyed me from the opposite bench.
“You don’t sound like a peasant when you talk. At least not entirely. Your vocabulary could use some work.”
I snorted. “You’re very honest.”
“You know what I mean. Your pronunciation is decent at least. Since Prince Cai is unfamiliar with our accents, I’m sure it will help in disguising your identity.”
“Just because I’m a thief, I’m supposed to be illiterate?”
She shrugged. “Most of them are.”
Cordelia was clearly the sort of lady who wasn’t afraid to offend people, and though her honesty could make her unpopular at court, it made sense why Lance had chosen her for this, and I thought, just perhaps, she and I might get along. At least until I figured out how I was going to get out of this. If I ran now, I risked the lives of my family and being hunted by Lance for the rest of my life. If I didn’t run, I risked discovery and a hanging.
I sighed. “I was taught how to read and speak from a young age. My uncle always told me it was a valuable skill.”
“Your uncle isn’t wrong. But just because you don’t speak entirely like a peasant doesn’t mean you don’t eat and act like one.”
I scowled, knowing fully she was right. And to my very horror, Cordelia proceeded to read lessons from a book titledThe Art of Being a Lady, with all the rules about dining-table manners and what conversation to make with gentlemen at a ball. I was bored to death, though attempted to pay attention half-heartedly, as perhaps Cordelia didn’t want to be there any more than I did.
That was until we stopped for water and she made me walk while trying to balance a book on my head. Something about posture, she said. And then she continued with things I had to do and say when I met Prince Cai. Apparently there were a lot of rules when it came to royalty, and it was unfortunate that my life depended on it.
Once dusk began to settle, we set up camp for the night. I watched all the guards carefully and, in turn, they watched me. The scar-faced one, who I came to know as Damon, was there too, and something in his eyes made me very uncomfortable. Before going to bed, Cordelia brushed and braided my hair.
I heard a noise in the distance, which caused me to jump.
“Don’t worry, there shouldn’t be any wolves in this part of the forest.”
“It’s not the wolves I’m afraid of. It’s the bandits.”
“Do you think your uncle’s men would attack us in the middle of the night?”
I shook my head. “Not my uncle’s men.”
Uncle and his men weren’t the only bandits in the woods, and through the years he had managed to make more than enough enemies. I knew them, knew what they did to the people they robbed.
“Our clan steals for survival. Others are only after blood.” I heard her swallow hard. My uncle didn’t even know where I was and my hope was that they wouldn’t send anyone looking for me, or this whole thing could fall apart.
Worst of all, I had no way of defending myself. Lance could have at least provided me with a dagger or something. But I assumed he didn’t trust me with a weapon of any kind. I could always try my luck and ask one of the guards, though I seriously doubted this would be a success. If I wanted a weapon, I might have to steal it.
I would never forget the first time I stole something.
I must have been around ten years old. Uncle Arthur had some business to take care of in the nearest town, and for some reason, Ray and I had gone with him.
“Now you two wait out here,” Uncle told us outside a small tavern. “I have to meet someone inside, but I won’t be long.” He didn’t appear tremendously excited at the prospect of seeing whoever this person was and I wondered who’d dragged him all the way out here. Uncle didn’t make a habit of leaving camp unless it was necessary.
I watched as he concealed most of his face in the shadows of the hood he was wearing.
“We’ll be fine,” Ray reassured him.
