“Where did these clothes come from?”
“They were sewn yesterday in High Liss, my lady. The prince requested it of Milis, so she commissioned our local seamstress.”
I frowned, trying to think of when the prince would have had the time to ask that of Milis, then realized he must have done it after he’d left me with the guards in the great room downstairs.
I held out my arm, marveling again at how well everything was tailored. “The seamstress must have a creation affinity if she could sew everything so fast and so precisely.”
The girl bobbed her head again. “That she does. She sews most of the clothing sold in High Liss and is quite adept. With her magic, she can create an entire wardrobe in one night.”
“Please thank her for me, although, I’m not sure how I’m going to pay for—”
“’Tis already been paid for, my lady. The prince covered the expense.”
I sighed. He’d probably spent more rulibs than I made in a full season. “I’m sure he’ll expect me to repay him, and I’m not a lady. You really don’t need to keep calling me that.”
The girl’s blue eyes grew curious. “I apologize. I’d just assumed you were a lady since you were traveling with Prince Norivun. I’ve never seen him carry anyone, but I suppose since you don’t have—” She cleared her throat and glanced toward my back, to where my wings should have been. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have presumed.”
“It’s fine, really.” I shrugged, then added, “If you really want to know, I’m his prisoner, not a lady.”
Her eyes bugged out. “You’re a criminal?”
I laughed. “No. I’m entirely innocent of any crimes, but one would never guess it.” I quickly recapped how the prince and I had come to meet. “So, as you can see, I honestly don’t know why I’m traveling with the prince or why he took me. He has yet to explain anything.” Remembering that made annoyance flare within my gut, causing my irritation over my destroyed field clothes to strengthen.
The girl tapped her chin, her finger slight and slim, just like the rest of her. “’Tis definitely strange, but still rather exciting, don’t you think?”
“In what way?”
“You’re not being convicted of any crimes. You’re traveling to a new territory, and you’re going to see the great capital. And the prince hasn’t harmed you. Not to mention, you’ve been fed, had a nice bed to lay your head, and now have warm clothes specifically tailored for you to wear into the heart of our continent.” She sighed. “Sounds like a grand adventure to me.”
I gave her a sad smile. Her optimism reminded me of my brother. Tormesh always looked at the bright side. He’d been so hopeful that the court would listen if he only presented his concerns about the crops. Instead, that optimism had gotten him killed.
Shaking my head, I realized that the young servant’s perspective and mine were the epitome of the differences between childish dreams and mature stark reality. While the prince hadn’t mistreated me, I was still a prisoner. Perhaps a prisoner currently kept in a gilded cage, but a captive nonetheless. Seeing it as a whimsical adventure would lead to nothing but heartache and disconnection from reality.
I turned toward the full-length mirror across the room and took in my appearance. Bathed last evening and refreshed following a good night’s sleep made my skin glow radiantly. And the garments I’d been dressed in truly did make me look like a lady.
Clearing my throat, I hastily smoothed my top as the girl arranged a thick cloak around my throat, then handed me butter-soft leather gloves.
“I suppose I better get moving.” It was well after sunrise. “Thank you for your help.”
“Of course.” The female bobbed a curtsy, then led me out the door to Haxil.
The guard did a once-over. “Well, look at you, Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory. You look like a noble female.”
“I had help.” I nodded toward the serving girl.
She blushed, then curtsied one last time before scurrying down the hall, leaving me to follow Haxil downstairs to the great room.
A fire roared in the giant hearth, just like it had yesterday when we entered the area. I figured that a fairy with a fire elemental affinity had infused it with magic that allowed it to burn hot and bright around the clock, even when the wood fueling it ran low.
The three other guards along with the prince sat at a table, the remnants of their breakfast in front of them. A serving platter with a few portions of meat, eggs, and thick toast slathered in butter, along with dishes of fresh berries in cream, remained.
My mouth watered at the sight, and my stomach gave a ferocious growl. I’d never been around such an abundance of food in my entire life, and it seemed that my stomach was taking notice. Of course, the prince and his guards probably took it for granted. Unlike the rest of the fae on the continent, they’d probably never known a day of hunger in their lives.
The prince was drumming his fingers on the table and eyeing the windows when we reached them.
“Would you like to sit, Ilara?” Haxil pulled out a chair for me. “I’m sure the prince wants you to eat before we leave.”
The other guards watched me, but my cheeks didn’t warm until the prince glanced my way.
Prince Norivun’s features remained smooth, giving no hint to anything unusual having happened between us.
I gave an inward sigh of relief. I must not have climbed into bed while he still occupied it. Thank the Mother.
But any gratefulness I felt vanished when his jaw ticked with annoyance. “You’re late. I told you we leave at sunrise.”
I settled onto my chair and waited for Haxil to also seat himself before I said in a biting tone, “Good morning to you too, and if someone hadn’t destroyed my clothes, perhaps I would have arrived on time.”
The prince’s drumming fingers stopped. “Your clothes were filthy and better off burned. I did you a favor.”
I snapped my napkin over my lap. “Is that how you see it, my prince? How kind of you to take one more thing from me and destroy it without my consent.”
His eyes blazed sapphire. “I didn’t—” But he closed his mouth as a frown knit his features. His jaw ground tighter, and a rumble of his power vibrated around him before he growled, “Just eat. We need to get going. A gale is moving in.”
Those words left his mouth with such commanding force that my hands responded before my brain did. I found myself reaching for the plate of toast, then piling a spoonful of eggs on the bread.
“Would you like any of this?” Haxil held up the array of meats.
I grabbed several slices of crisp bacon as the guard also poured me a cup of tea.
“Thank you.”
Haxil grinned, his cheeks round and his eyes sparkling. “Pleasure is mine.”
I gave Haxil a small smile, and the prince’s chair squeaked when he pushed it back and cast his guard an irritated glare before he stood and went to the windows.
Ignoring the crown prince, I munched on the toast, bacon, and eggs. The other guards remained quiet as they shared occasional glances between Prince Norivun and me.
Once again, a scowl twisted the prince’s features. It didn’t seem he was in a much better mood than me, which led to Nish glowering at me more than once. I figured the guard was blaming me again for causing problems, but if he thought I was going to simply sit back and become an obedient fairy, he had another thing coming. Granted, I couldn’t do anything so stupid that it would get me killed, but I could goad the prince and do everything in my power to make him regret ever having taken me.