He stood and faced her, his smile preening ashe clasped his slender hands behind his back.“I know our familyhistories should make us enemies,” he said, “but I cannot feelanything but awe and admiration for you, my lovely Sahar.”
“I, ah, thank you.”
“I am sorry that my words regarding yourvictory yesterday were twisted to make you think I was insultingyou, or that I was casting doubt as to the veracity of your win.Intruth, I was only challenging that Steppe bastard over his dirtytricks, for once he realized that neither of us were going to beatyou, he only sought to ensure that I would not beat him.”
“But you told me I had him to thank for myvictory,” she said.She remembered his exact words since they madeher doubt her victory.Despite her angry denial to Aleksandr, theyhad made her doubt herself.
Yago splayed his hands, palms out.“A poorchoice of words, spoken in the heat of the moment by a competitiveman.”He sat down beside her once more.“Will you forgive me them?If you do not, I shall throw myself into the river and drown mysorrow.”
She went rigid.
“Oh, oh no.”Yago sat back, a stricken lookon his face.“I have done it again.I have caused you pain when Ihave only meant to assure you of my heartfelt affections.”Heplaced a hand over hers and patted it.“I am sorry to have remindedyou of your cousin and his tragic death.”
She pulled her hand out from under his.“Donot worry yourself over it.”
“From what I understand, it was not yourfault.You were only a young girl.You couldn’t’ve possibly beenexpected to save him.”
She stood.“So everyone tells me,” she said.She smiled stiffly.“Rest assured, Prince Yago, you are forgivenfor your earlier statement.I do not consider you my enemy.Now, ifyou will excuse me, it’s been a long day, and tomorrow promises tobe the same.”
CHAPTER 5
Accusations
Brawn led the ride over the course as he haddone the day before.Also, like the day before, Sahar kept close toBrawn and ignored Aleksi.But, unlike the day before, the Wolf andthe Jackal kept their comments to themselves, though not theirslanting side glances, which were trained on Sahar.Aleksi toldhimself over and over again that the princess was not his problem,and he did not care who ogled and leered at her, or who she wentstrolling with through the gardens.If she insisted she could takecare of herself, then by the gods, he would let her, the ungratefulchit.
After another sumptuous supper, he stopped bythe kitchens to beg another sack of food from Anya for Serge andPyotr.Taking the seat proffered him at the small table in thecorner, he stretched his legs out with a contented sigh as thekitchen maids scurried about, sorting what little had not beenconsumed during the evening meal and starting preparations for thenext morning’s.It was impressive how efficiently the kitchen ranunder Anya’s stern but fair hand, for it was no small feat feedingall of the riders and the hundred or so visitors and royalhousehold two meals a day, as well as keeping a good stock of foodand drink available for the noon repast for those so inclined.
“Thank you, Anya,” Aleksi said as she placeda sack of leftovers on the table for him.“Serge and Pyotr wish meto tell you how grateful they are for the extra food.They want tobe sure you will not be in any trouble for it.”
“None at all,” she assured him.“The queenhas always shared the palace’s bounty.”She nodded at two kitchenmaids packing sacks with scraps of meat and uneaten loaves offlatbread.“We set our daily leftovers out every evening at thepalace gates for whoever needs them.”
“Why am I not surprised?”Aleksi shook hishead.“Queen Theodesia would never support, much less allow, such athing.She claimed it was the poor’s duty to pull themselves up,not royalty’s duty to give them a hand up.”
Anya tsked.“That sounds like her.”
“As you said, she was a right bitch.”Hechuckled low, for Anya had summed up his father’s first wife quitewell.He met Anya’s kind gaze, so unlike Theodesia, who had neverlooked on him with anything but hate and derision.“It was she whodemanded my mother leave.”
Anya laid a hand on his shoulder and gave ita gentle squeeze.“Since you have come,” she said, “I haveremembered a little of your mother.”
“You have?”
She sat down at the table, her soft gazeholding his.“I remember that she liked to sing as she cooked, thatshe always had a kitchen cat at her feet, and that she prayed tothe gods you would be born a girl so that she would not have togive you over to the king.”
“Why did she not leave before I wasborn?”
It was a question Aleksi had asked himself athousand times, but one he had never asked of another.Maybe it wasbecause of Anya’s kind eyes, or the fact that she was the onlyperson who had known his mother and was willing to speak of her tohim.His father never had, and all the queen had ever said of herwas that she had been a harlot who had enticed the king into herbed.
Anya spread her hands flat on the table.“AsI remember it, your mother was alone in the world, having no familyto go to, and there was no one in the palace allowed to help her.As a young, pregnant woman on her own, she had little chance ofgiving you the life you deserved.”
“The life of a stable boy?”
“The king promised her you would be raised aprince.”
“A promise he kept only until he had alegitimate heir.”
Anya nodded sadly, and then she smiled.“Butlook at the man you have become,” she said.“A fine, strappingyoung man with loyal friends and a string of his own horses.”
“Who will return to his home having won thenext two races, with enough coin to build his own stables and thebreeding rights to improve his line of horses ‘til they rival eventhe legendary Black Mane’s.”
