“Does it suit you, Your Highness?” Bernita asked.
“I can’t go in there like this!” I choked out. “You don’t even want to know what I’ve stepped in with these boots–”
“Princess, please. A bath and fresh clothes will be readied,” Anderz cut in, and I swear Sainte stifled a laugh with a cough.
Bernita’s stare fell to my shoes, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
After a moment, I swallowed past the nervous lump in my throat and took a step forward—then stopped, causing Sainte to plow into my back. I dropped to the ground in the middle of the corridor and sat on my rear, yanking my boots off.
It wasn’t as if my feet were any cleaner due to the number of holes in my boots, but at least I felt like I was making an effort to keep the furs clean. I shook out the few pebbles that had worked their way in and looked up as Sainte offered his hand. His eyes twinkled with mischief, even if his face was still and serious. I gave him a shy grin and allowed him to pull me up.
“If you will…” Anderz prompted again, gesturing to the doorway.
With an apologetic wince, I stepped inside, then cleared my throat against the groan that threatened to come out when my feet hit the furs. I had never felt something so soft against my bare toes—aside from warm sand.
That would have been welcome in this chilly climate.
I drifted further, taking in the sparse decorations that lent the room a cozy yet impersonal air. There weren’t many trinkets of my own to personalize the space. It felt like someone else’s home, not mine.
“I’ll not be long with the water and healer,” Bernita said, before she excused herself, pulling the door shut behind her.
After a moment, Anderz turned to Sainte, all formalities forgotten. “Cutting it a bit close, weren’t you, Captain?”
“We ran into a few minor issues along the way.” Sainte gave me a flat look.
“A few more breaths and we would have welcomed you in an entirely different manner.” Anderz walked to the fire and used the iron rod to adjust the burning logs. “The regent is seething. I hope you’re prepared for tomorrow.”
“I will do my duty.”
“Your duty will see you pass through the Veil if you’re not careful,” he hissed. “Princess Elspeth has very few supporters. Don’t waste your talent.”
“She is here, is she not?” Sainte asked, tone weary.
“I am,” I snapped. “And I have quite a few questions, so if you both could stop talking about me as if I’m not standing right beside you, that would be splendid.”
Anderz turned, his movement slow and meticulous as he scrutinized my face. “You hid her in Tilamuik? Among the Meeds?” he murmured.
“Gladier didn’t seem safe.”
“As it wouldn’t have been. Adastrus never thought to search southern ports. I’m surprised she wasn’t sold into slavery.”
“I know my way about the slums,” I shot back, angry that he was still not addressing me. Perhaps the two had a lot to catch up on, but I was standing right here, could they not talktome instead ofaboutme?
Anderz appeared taken aback for the first time, and he turned his frown on Sainte. “You didn’t put her in a noble’s house?”
“They would have betrayed her.”
“That would have been a risk, but now we have to deal with her Common Muik.”
“It slips out,” I grumbled, then crossed my arms over my chest, my boots dangling from my hand.
“And her High Wynter is horrendous.”
I was an adult—but at that moment, I did not act like it.
I jerked, throwing my boot. It struck true, bouncing off of Anderz’s shoulder.
He froze, not moving a muscle, and I wondered if I misjudged his loyalty. If Sainte trusted him, then I would too… but perhaps Sainte was the only one that could deal with my level of rebellion.
