“You are new here?” Ian asked. “Did you come with Lady Lockwood? Are you her lady’s maid? Not that I’ve been paying attention or anything,” he said quickly.
For a moment, Robin wished she was Lind’s maid. Being a lady’s maid was a highly respectable and coveted position. For some reason she couldn’t fathom, she very much wanted this guarded yet interested prince to think highly of her.
“Yes—I mean... no,” she replied. “I escorted Lady Lockwood here, and she kindly asked the castle steward to find me work since Lockwood manor is... struggling.” She quickly turned away from the prince and ran her hands across Humphrey’s back, feeling for knots in his short, patchy hide. At least, that was what she told herself she was doing.
“Did Daniel find you work, then?”
Either this royal prince was not used to having someone else end the conversation, or he was simply ignoring her turned back.
She threw him a large smile over her shoulder. “I’m the goose girl.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw his guarded face break into another broad grin. He crossed his arms and casually leaned against the side of the stall. “The most skilled swordswoman Iseldis has ever seen, and she’s assigned to guard the geese.”
Robin focused particularly hard on an imaginary knot in Humphrey’s hide.
“At least we can be sure that the pie filling for Silverfest shall not be stolen by brigands or wolves this year.”
Robin had not been aware her task involved any such danger. For the past few days, she had herded the geese to a pond and meadow not far outside the castle wall. “Has that happened during previous years?” she asked, suddenly concerned that she should have brought a bow along with her.
“No,” Ian admitted. “But at least we know we don’t have to worry about it.”
Robin turned back around to face the young prince. “I really should be getting to my geese, Your Highness.”
“Ah, so they are your geese now?” he teased, still standing in the doorway of the stable, blocking her exit.
“I take my task very seriously,” she said, keeping her tone quite sincere. “I have no desire to face the king’s wrath should any harm come to his pie fillings.”
“As you wish,” Ian responded, finally stepping out of the doorway. “Though I should warn you, it takes far more than that to incur my father’s wrath.”
Robin followed him out of the stall. Glancing back at the dejected Humphrey, Robin inhaled, swallowing her pride. “Prince Ian?”
He paused, giving her his full attention. He leaned forward slightly with his hands clasped behind his back, his face open and neutral.
Robin felt that she was indeed speaking to a generous monarch who had the power to grant any wish from his throne. “Would you be so kind as to ask the stable hands not to feed Humphrey oats? I’ve mentioned it before, but word must not have gotten around to all of them, and it might carry a little more weight if you—”
“Absolutely.”
“Thank you.” Robin flashed him a relieved smile and turned on her heel to leave the stable.
“I seem to be at a disadvantage,” Ian said, falling into stride next to her.
“How so?” It was her turn to raise an eyebrow at him.
“You seem to know my name, but I do not know yours.” His arms were still clasped behind his back as though he were inquiring after his family to a lord in the court.
“Do you make it a point to know the name of every servant in your castle?” Robin asked, cheekily hoping to put him on the spot. Perhaps being King Frederich’s ward was not going to be so dull after all. If interacting with Ian was any indication of what the rest of his family was like, she might even enjoy it.
“Actually, I do learn all their names.” Ian nodded. “In knowing them, I get to know the needs and worries of the people whom I will one day be responsible for.”
Surprised by his effortless honesty, Robin stopped walking and turned to look up at his face.
She had a feeling that the serious expression was one he wore quite frequently.
“Ro... Wrrren,” she replied. “My name is Wren. Wren of Lockwood Forest.”
“Well, Wren of Lockwood Forest,” Ian said, his eyes smiling even though his face remained formal. “If you are ever in need of work, I just might have to recruit you to the elite guard.”
“Fortunately, Your Highness,” she replied, “I am currently responsible for some very important geese.”
