Page 55 of The Lost Princess

“Nor I yours,” I teased back.

His head bobbed as we ducked through the mass of people together. It was almost like a game—duck and weave, duck and weave, but don’t lose each other.

“Materi is always at the service of the young and lively,” he responded after we cleared a particularly tight group of fishermen, all mumbling and groaning about a hike in taxes.

I grabbed his worn hand and ducked into a side alley. “I’m … Kaida.” I said quickly, eyeing him nervously.

Materi blinked rapidly. “Are you really? Well, I never would have guessed that. Weren’t you eaten by a mountain monster?”

I glared at him, crossing my arms across my chest.

Materi snorted. “Clearly not. Stay here for a moment.”

He disappeared back into the crowd and for a few tense moments, I’d thought he’d left me. That or he’d gone to get the guards, or …something. But then he returned, proudly holding up a golden headdress with an attached veil.

“I recommend wearing this. If someone discovers you here, it would cause a mess.”

I frowned, but accepted the thin gold headdress in my fingers. It would match my dress wonderfully.

“A mess? But—”

“Never mind that now. We must move. It is good you found me and not someone else.”

He tugged me behind him, and we continued our haphazard journey up to the castle, though I noticed he took care to stick to the back alleys and off of the main streets crowded with people. It made me feel uneasy.

I pulled my hand back. “Materi, what’s wrong?”

He tried to wave away my concerns, and reached for me again. I stood my ground, practically hissing. I pushed my inner draken away. Now was not the time to get aggressive.

“Materi,”I insisted.

He froze and turned around. Seeing the determination in my eyes, his shoulders drooped.

“Most of the kingdom thinks you’re dead. The king especially,” he started warily.

I didn’t see what was so shocking about this. I half-expected it myself.

“And?” I questioned, resisting the urge to stomp my foot.

Materi clasped his fingers in front of him, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. “”Let’s just say … I used to work at the castle. I used to be on your father’s council, actually.”

My jaw dropped. “What? But only nobles—”

“Your father is a very stubborn man who has no problem breaking promises or sending someone as low as he wants to prove a point,” Materi told me, his eyes angry but his face twitching with despair.

I stared at him. “If you’re a noble, how—”

“He used to take my advice until another counselor convinced him otherwise. Then he look my rank, my home, mywifeand child.”

That couldn’t be right. That couldn’t be right at all! My father would never do that! My unease grew as I remembered a few of his infamous tantrums in the great hall. I’d only ever witnessed a few before being sent away. Could my father do something callous?

Suddenly, I wasn’t sure.

“My father—”

“Hush, child, we must move if you absolutely insist on returning.”

We continued on, but I couldn’t shake the sinking feeling in my chest. Once we passed through the market district, the homes became grander and much larger. But the sense of community also vanished.

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