Page 4 of The King's Sword
“I am not.” She folded her arms as they headed along the road that paralleled the shoreline. He knew nothing about her or the sacrifices she’d had to make. Being born a princess didn’t mean she had an easy life. Unlike him. He could go anywhere he wanted, do anything he wanted, and marry anyone he wanted. He was the spoiled one, not her.
Most of the people they passed had darker skin and hair. What little conversation she managed to overhear sounded like they were speaking the same language she did, only with a thick accent.
“Let me ask you this,” Evander said as he slid his arm casually around her shoulders. “Have you ever wandered around a seaside town such as this one before?”
“Of course not.”
“And is my arm making you uncomfortable?”
It was but she didn’t have to tell him that. Instead she asked, “Why is your arm on me?”
“I don’t want you to get bumped and lose your way.” He steered them down the street on the right.
Sabine gaped at the crowded market area straight ahead where dozens and dozens of carts were lined up with people selling all sorts of goods.
“Keep moving,” Evander said, pulling her along. “Remember, foreign kingdom. Don’t want to attract attention.” He looked pointedly at her.
She forced herself to keep walking, taking it all in. There were carts with beaded jewelry, food, candles, and swaths of fabric. The pungent smells of exotic food and the noise of people haggling prices were different from what she was used to.
Evander led the way down another street, taking them away from the market.
“Do we have to go already?” She wanted to spend time looking at everything.
“Yes.” He glanced around. “It’s not safe here.”
Several of the nearby wooden buildings had missing windows. A few of the people they passed wore clothing that had holes or tears. Some faces were smeared with dirt.
If it wasn’t safe, then he should have chosen a better place to meet her brother. “Where are we?”
“We’re in Nisk.”
Nisk?That meant he’d sailed the boat from the ocean into Skyfall River.
The road they were on led them straight out of town. The surrounding land was mostly low rolling hills with brown brush covering them. It was actually quite ugly.
“How far do we have to go?” she asked.
“Not too far.” Evander removed his arm from her shoulders, and the two of them walked in silence.
A bout of nausea hit her. She stopped and bent over.
Evander turned and faced her. “Are you pregnant?”
She almost laughed and told him she hadn’t shared her husband’s bed. However, she thought better of it. “No.” She stood and pushed the loose strands of her hair from her face. “I feel like we are moving up and down even though I’m on solid ground.”
“I forgot you don’t like sailing.” He turned and resumed walking.
“It’s not that I don’t like it,” she said, hurrying after him. “I just don’t like feeling this way.”
“You’ll get over it.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a small root. “Chew on this. It’ll help.”
It had an odd smell but she took it anyway, breaking off a piece and putting it in her mouth.
She didn’t see anything around for miles other than the town they’d just left. “Are we going the right way?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“Are you certain?”
