From the corner of her eye she noticed movement along the northern corner of the commons wall. Panic welled inside her as she leaned to the window and stared at the place where a lone spruce tree was shifting against the wall. Behind it was movement again, then something dropped down into the commons area. She jumped to her feet in panic, although this creature seemed too small to be threatening. Then she caught a flash of red curls.
“Donubhan!” Aerity gathered up her yellow skirts and raced to her chamber door, quickly changing from her house slippers into leather walking shoes. She rushed down the main corridor to the exit where two guards stood.
“Donny’s sneaked into the west commons,” Aerity informed them. The two men shared looks of frustration. Donubhan was a master escape artist.
Aerity moved between them. One guard stayed behind at the door while the other followed her. By the time they burst through the gate, startling the guards there, Donubhan was entertaining the crowd with his stunts. Aerity rolled her eyes.
The men laughed and clapped as the prince did a front flip, keeping his bow tucked tight in his arms. As he landed, he shot off an arrow, which lodged in the farthest circle of the target. She wanted to ring his little neck. It wasn’t safe for him to be wandering about the royal lands, and he shouldn’t be distracting the hunters. Perhaps she could embarrass him into learning this lesson.
Aerity squeezed in among the group and put a hand on her hip. “Still not taking time to aim for the center, Donny?”
At the sound of her voice, the men turned their heads in surprise. Aerity pretended not to notice how Paxton stood with his arms crossed and Tiern grinned next to him, nudging his brother, who watched her closely. The group of men chuckled at her teasing. Donubhan’s face paled to a point that made his freckles stand out more.
“How’d you find me already, then?”
“It’s hard to hide that head of yours.” Again, the surrounding men laughed. Aerity grinned and moved forward, ruffling his hair. “Back to the castle. You know it’s not safe to roam.”
Donubhan threw his head back dramatically and groaned his protest.
“Argh, scallywag,” Harrison said, crouching menacingly in front of Donubhan, who grinned. The boy attempted darting aside, but Harrison caught him and tossed him easily over his shoulder.
The guards were already surrounding the prince, prepared to take him by force. They were accustomed to his antics.
Donubhan saw the guards from his high place on Harrison’s shoulder and began to grasp for an excuse to stay. “Wait! First show the hunters how well you can do the trick!” He pointed at the princess. Harrison swung around to face her.
Aerity’s mouth dropped open and her face flamed as every man turned to her with raised brows. She released a breathy laugh. “I think not.”
“Yeah, Princess!” said Harrison, lowering the prince, but holding his shoulders. “Show us!” Aerity shot him a pleading glare which only made him grin.
The widower Samuel and the handsome lad Tiern nodded.
This could not be happening. There’s no way she’d flip for a crowd of men.
“I’m in skirts. . . .” she muttered lamely. “It’s not proper. Come along, Donny.”
Lord Alvi gave a loud laugh, flashing his white teeth at her. “Ah, I don’t believe she can do it!” His men chuckled. Aerity knew he was only being playful, but the heat crept further up her face.
The Ascomannians began to chant, “Show us! Show us!” and soon the other men joined in. Aerity wanted to crawl over the wall and hide. She’d only done that silly trick in front of her siblings and cousins during the many hours they spent cooped up in the castle together. But the hunters’ smiling faces were filled with the hope of a moment’s entertainment to take their minds off the recent day’s disappointments.
Perhaps she could do it. Just once.
A tight smile pushed its way upward, despite her humiliation. “Fine! But I must change. Lieutenant Gillfin, don’t let that little fox out of your sight.” She pointed to her brother.
Harrison patted the boy’s shoulders. Everyone cheered as Aerity huffed a breath and turned to leave, shaking her head in disbelief at what she was about to do. Her blood thrummed in nervous anticipation.
Ten minutes later she found herself peeking around the gate, partially hidden by the myriad of vines woven through the metal bars. She hoped to find that the men had forgotten her silly agreement and gone back to their own business.
No such luck.
They were standing in the sunshine, in the exact same places, many of them with their arms crossed. Waiting. Expectant. Chatting contentedly among themselves.
Blast that Donny! She ought to whack him with a whale bone.
Behind her, Aerity heard quick, light footfalls and panting breaths. The princess turned to see her sister and cousin, their faces pink from running. Wyneth wore her gray skirts, but Vixie wore trousers like Aerity and held her bow.
My, word travels fast, Aerity thought.
“Do Mama and Papa know you’re out here?” Aerity asked her sister.
Vixie lifted her chin. “I don’t care what the king says. But no. They don’t know.”
Aerity fought back a smile. Their parents would know soon enough. Aerity was still nervous about having Vixie near the hunters, for several reasons, but she realized allowing Vixie to participate would take a fraction of the attention off herself. “All right, then.”
“Well, you’d best hurry,” Wyneth said. “If the queen finds out her children are flipping through the air with arrows at the ready in front of all these hunters, we’re all in trouble!”
With a deep breath Aerity led the way into the commons and the men cheered. She felt foolish, like a performing monkey from her grandparents’ former circus days, improperly dressed no less, but it was too late to back out now.
With all three royal children in the west commons, guards poured in, lining the crowd. Aerity spotted marksmen from the castle rooftops and balconies, moving to get a better look at the spectacle below.
Fantastic.
She refused to look around and see if the man Paxton was watching. If he wasn’t, then he was the only one. It would be her luck to fall on her face in front of everyone.
“Let’s get this over with,” she muttered to herself. Louder, she said to her siblings, “Line up beside me facing your targets. We go on my count.”
The sun was high in the sky, surrounded by wisps of cottony clouds. Despite the cool fall breeze, Aerity was warm enough to break a sweat.
Men shuffled around them as the two princesses and the prince stood in a row with Aerity in the middle, their quivers with single arrows fit tightly over their backs. Aerity did not look toward the crowd, though she felt their eyes on her. She’d taken many years of calisthenics and archery, but was not accustomed to having a large audience.
Aerity focused her sights on the target and took a deep breath, relaxing her muscles. She felt the light weight of the quiver on her back, and gripped her bow tighter, tucking it at an angle across her body. Then she took ten steps back, her brother and sister doing the same. In her peripheral view she could see them smiling as they watched her.
“Ready . . .” Aerity began. “And go.”
They sprinted forward, gaining quick momentum, and at the same time all three of them launched themselves into forward flips, tucking their legs. As she felt her body completing its arc, Aerity reached back and snatched the arrow. She had it lined up, and her bowstring pulled back as her feet smacked the earth. Her eye met the target in a blur as her knees bent, and she loosed the arrow. She heard the slaps of feet and pings of arrows beside her. In a rush all three arrows hit the targets with synchronized thwats. Donubhan’s wobbled in the outer ring. Vixie and Aerity’s both hit the inner ring, but not the bull’s-eye.
Still, the men raised a great cheer and Aerity laughed in relief. Vixie jumped up next to her.
“Nice one, Vix,” Aerity said.
A few men from
Kalor stepped up with smiles and motioned to the targets.
“We try?”
“Oh yes, please.” Aerity and Vixie moved out of the way. Donubhan was more than happy to assist the dark-haired men.
When Harrison walked over to inquire of Wyneth’s well-being, Aerity stepped away with Vixie to let them talk.
“Very impressive, princesses,” said a jovial voice behind them.
Aerity and Vixie turned to find Tiern standing there. Aerity returned his smile and glanced past him to see Paxton walking slowly to join them, as if forced.
“Vixie, this is Tiern Seabolt, a local lad,” Aerity said.
Tiern gave her a friendly nod. “You’re as full of spunk as they say.”
High seas, Vixie’s eyes grew and her face turned a dark shade of pink, reminding Aerity that her demure sister was less than two years younger than them, and quickly maturing.
Aerity intervened on her sister’s sputtering behalf. “I’m sure you could do that stunt with your eyes closed, aye, Tiern?”
He laughed.
“He doesn’t have time for playful antics. Some of us have to work for a living.” Once again, Paxton’s words and tone struck an uncomfortable chord. Aerity eyed him, trying to figure him out. He looked her over in return, causing her heart to dance against her ribs as if the two of them were alone. She wanted to level him with a witty quip, but her mouth felt glued shut.
“We spend most of the day with dreadful tutors,” Vixie said, seeming oblivious to Paxton’s cutting remark. “The king says schooling is our job at the moment.” Aerity wished her sister would hush, but she kept on. “I just wish he’d fully lift this daytime curfew so we could visit the stables again.”
In truth, the curfew on the royal children was ridiculous, and Aerity intended to speak to her father about it at once. They’d already begun lessons again. It was time to get back to normal as much as possible.
“You like to ride?” Tiern turned his eyes to Aerity.
“Aer’s afraid of horses,” Vixie answered for her, causing Aerity to grit her teeth.
“I’m not afraid of them.”
“Only when they go fast.” Vixie bumped her hip to Aerity’s, and the older princess wanted to strangle her.
“I thought you royal lot were supposed to be as lively as dolphins, doing tricks of all manners,” Paxton said. Unlike when Tiern spoke, Paxton’s words felt like accusations and judgments. He stared at her with laughing eyes. If he wanted a reaction from her, he was out of luck.
“You should see Aer on the silks,” Vixie said. “She’s dazzling!”
“Enough, Vix.” Aerity was feeling uncharacteristically embarrassed, but she refused to appear rattled. “I’m sure these hunters are not interested in our pastimes.” She cleared her throat and forced her eyes to Tiern. “Lochlanach is lucky to have hardworking lads such as yourselves.”
His eyes and smile became soft and dreamy as he gazed at the older princess. “And the kingdom is lucky to have a kind, smart, talented princess such as yourself.”
Paxton crossed his arms, looking away.
Vixie abruptly piped up. “Do you plan to kill the great beast and marry my sister, then?” The girl watched Tiern with a curious expression. Tiern swallowed, his eyes darting over to Aerity. Paxton chuckled without humor.
Oh, seas. . . .
“Vixie . . .” Aerity whispered. The rest of the words eluded her. It was time to go.
A hush settled over the entire commons and men began to raise their heads to the balcony, shielding their eyes against the bright sun. Aerity’s father stood there, flanked by guards as he stared down at his three children. He found Aerity and with two fingers beckoned her to him. He appeared unamused.
“Good day to you,” Aerity said to the Seabolt brothers. She grabbed her brother and sister, looking around for Wyneth.
She found her cousin standing over by a table talking to none other than Lord Lief Alvi. They kept a respectable distance, Lief full of grinning confidence and Wyneth smiling shyly. Harrison stood with them, his arms crossed in silence as he watched the two of them converse. Wyneth’s eyes met Aerity’s and she said good-bye to the Ascomannian lord and Harrison before gathering her skirts and rushing to meet her cousins at the gates. Aerity sent a wave to Harrison, who only nodded. He seemed in a strange mood all of a sudden.
Donubhan and Vixie walked ahead of them, following two guards. Aerity sidled close to her cousin and they synchronized their steps.
“What were you and Lord Alvi chatting about?” Aerity whispered.
Wyneth kept her eyes on the stone walkway. “Nothing of importance. He was asking if I could do the trick as well. I had to explain that I’m not inclined toward physical talents.”
Wyneth’s primary talents were the arts, something Aerity wished she could do.
“And what about Harrison? He seemed off.”
Wyneth’s eyebrows scrunched. “Aye. He didn’t say much, but I had the distinct feeling he doesn’t much care for Lord Alvi.”
“I wonder why?”
“Protective of me, maybe. Bit of a flirt, that coldman.”
“Indeed. Lord Alvi seems . . . keen,” Aerity murmured. She wondered if the man knew Wyneth had just lost her beloved to the very beast he was hunting.
“He’s agreeable for an Ascomannian,” Wyneth said diplomatically.
Under other circumstances Aerity would have probed for more, even joked about the man’s “agreeable” muscled arms, but it was simply too soon to speak of other men to Wyneth, even in jest. And given that Lief was in the running for Aerity’s hand in marriage it seemed uncouth.
Aerity wondered if the days of comfortable, easy conversation would ever return.
“Do you think Uncle Charles is angry?” Wyneth asked.
“Who cares?” Vixie scoffed.
“I’m sure he wasn’t happy seeing Vixie and Donny out there,” Aerity answered. “Probably thinks they’re being a nuisance and bothering the men. Doesn’t want anyone making jesters of the kingdom.”
“I’m not a nuisance!” Vixie’s scoffing continued.
Aerity recalled the conversation they’d just had with the hunters, and her sister’s unfiltered questions. “You have to be careful what you say to these men, Vixie. It’s all very . . . touchy. And personal.” To her, as well.
Vixie rolled her eyes. “You know I’m not one to hold my tongue.”
“Aye, I know.” Aerity sighed.
“Well, all three of you were well received, I thought,” Wyneth said. “The men needed a break.”
“Agreed.” Aerity linked her arm with her cousin, then her sister. “You’ll join us so you can tell him that yourself?”
Wyneth sighed. “Oh, fine. I’m not afraid of Uncle Charles. Your mother, on the other hand . . .”
The girls giggled quietly as they entered the castle.
Chapter
14
“Must you always have something snide to say in the princess’s company?” Tiern asked as he followed his brother to the sharpening post.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Paxton removed his quiver and began taking out his arrows, examining the head of each.
Tiern stopped in front of him. “You needn’t be so gruff with her. It’s embarrassing.”
“Deep seas, Tiern,” Paxton muttered. “Men don’t embarrass.”
“You don’t embarrass, Pax. Sometimes I wonder if you feel anything at all.” Tiern dropped his quiver with a clatter and sat, draping his arms across his bent knees.
Paxton ran his thumb over the tip of an arrow. Just a fraction more pressure and it would cut through the tough pad of skin. Tiern knew nothing of what he felt, and he planned to keep it that way.
“All I’m saying is that it wouldn’t kill you to show a bit of kindness to Princess Aerity. She’s been nothing but pleasant to us.”
“It’s all an act.” Paxton slid the sharpened arrow back into the quiver.
“Must you always be so cynica
l? Can you not acknowledge genuine kindness and beauty when it’s right in front of you?”
Paxton grunted. He didn’t want to think about her. Aerity.
How she’d controlled her body so fluidly as she’d flipped and landed with complete grace, her hair fanning out like a sunset.
Or that she’d focused on the target and owned it—an action that spoke to Paxton in a language he could understand.
He’d never in all his days seen a lass do something like that. It made him wish he could dive into the deep, dark ocean afar to cool himself. He longed to rid his mind of these unwelcome thoughts.
Again, Paxton grunted.
The royal children clearly had too much time on their hands. And despite what his brother thought, he believed every person needed to be put in their place from time to time. Especially the wealthy ones.
“Here.” Paxton tossed the sharpening block to Tiern. “Hurry up and tend to your arrows so we can rest before dinner. Focus on the hunt, not the lasses.”
Perhaps he should take that advice himself.
From his spot on the ground, Tiern’s eyes widened. Paxton turned to see what he was gaping at. Lord Lief Alvi had approached them with a rolled map in hand. Paxton admired the man’s vest of fine rabbit fur.
“You’re locals, correct?” Lief asked.
“Aye.” Paxton stood and his brother followed. “From Cape Creek, a village fifteen miles northeast of here.”
Lief nodded, unrolling his map. “My men are adamant about hunting on our own for now, and since the total numbers of hunters are great enough I have agreed.” The lord sounded reluctant, but Paxton knew part of what made a great leader was compromise. So they would keep to their original groups. Lief needn’t state the obvious—that his men wanted the glory of the kill and the prize of the foreign princess to themselves—things Lief could surely appreciate, even if the methods of his men weren’t the smartest.
Harrison and Samuel approached, nodding their greeting as they joined the conversation.