Page 66 of If The Crown Fits
“I am right here,” Cai interjected. “And as much as I appreciate you not leaving me for dead, I am going back to get my men and then I’m leaving Everness.”
“And how exactly do you plan on getting to Norrandale? I stabbed the Prince of Everness and left him for dead before escaping and taking a hostage with me,” I said, arms crossed.
“If that is the case and Lance is alive, he will have every armed man in the kingdom looking for you. There will most likely be a bounty on both of your heads tomorrow and there are people who would kill for that kind of money. You’d never make it to the border.”
“So am I to be your prisoner, then?” Cai asked, and Uncle Arthur shook his head.
“You are to be our guest until it is safe for you to leave.”
“I cannot offer help to the rebellion.”
“Well, considering you won’t be able to get word to Norrandale, no one is expecting you to.”
My shoulders drooped in slight disappointment at Uncle’s words. I would have felt better knowing my uncle stood some chance with help from the Norrandish army.
“You can stay in her cabin.”
I almost choked on my wine. “What? Why?”
“You’re the one who brought him here. Where else do you expect him to sleep?” Uncle chuckled.
“Outside,” I mumbled. I hadn’t put any thought into sleeping arrangements.
“You’re very cruel,” my uncle said jokingly, as if Cai wasn’t in the room.
“So I’ve been told.” I stood up and headed for the door.
“Lara,” my uncle called, before Cai and I walked out.
“Yes?”
“It’s good to have you back.”
Cai and I entered my cabin and I suddenly felt self-conscious as he looked around the modest space with its few possessions. I looked at the little single bed, my cracked, old mirror and the shelf of folded clothes, the little cold stove against the back wall, and wondered how it compared to his room.
I closed the door before locking it.
“Should I be worried?” Cai asked in jest.
“Some folks around here have had more to drink than they can handle. It wouldn’t be the first time someone stumbled into the wrong tent or cabin in the middle of the night. Scares the crap out of you. It’s also how Frederick lost one of his eyes.”
“You cut out a man’s eye?”
“No,” I said, grinning slightly. “I believe it was Woody whose reflexes were faster than his awakening eyes.”
“We’ll arrange somewhere for you to sleep soon, but for now, you should take the bed. Sleeping on the floor isn’t going to do your upper body any favours.” I tossed a blanket onto the floor next to the bed.
“I can’t have you sleeping on the floor while I take the bed. It wouldn’t be right.” He protested, picking the blanket up again.
“Don’t get all princely on me now,” I joked. “Just earlier you insisted on lifting my skirt against my will. What would your mother have said about that?”
Cai gave me a disapproving look. “I wonder how I ever thought you were a princess. You’re much too improper.”
I pretended not to be offended and made to grab the blanket from him.
“I was suggesting wedon’tshare the bed. How am I the one being improper?”
“Are you always this stubborn?” He wouldn’t let me take the blanket.
