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I inclined my head in thanks. Since Beatrice and Meegana looked busy, I didn’t ask them if they wanted to join me and instead slipped out of the room.
Servants bustled down the hall as scents from the kitchen wafted through the air. It smelled of roasted duck and baked fruit pies. My stomach let out another growl, and I peered down the hall to the statue of God Xerious. It was often Sandus’s favorite waiting spot, but when my gaze landed on the giant sculpture, my eyes widened in surprise.
The guard waiting by the statue wasn’t Sandus. It was Haxil.
A grin spread across my face as I approached the round-cheeked, jovial guard. Even though Haxil ventured with me to the fields each morning, I hadn’t been able to speak with him much since he took his guard duties quite seriously and never let his attention drop, especially after that incident with the snowgum.
“What are you doing here?” I asked with a smile.
“Sandus got called home. His sister just gave birth to her first babe, and the proud uncle couldn’t wait to meet the wee one.”
“She did? Oh, I’m so pleased. He’s been talking about her for weeks. Do you know how the birth went?”
Haxil pushed away from the statue and fell into step beside me. “It was long, but I’m told that’s normal during first births.”
“Do you know the babe’s name?”
He shook his head. “I don’t, but I’m sure we’ll hear all about it when he returns.”
We laughed, and the sound was so easy and natural. I’d always felt at ease with Haxil, ever since that first night in High Liss when he’d been nothing but understanding as I came to grips with my new life beside the crown prince.
“I’m surprised you came to guard me,” I said, peering up at him curiously. “I figured Prince Norivun would have sent Nish instead of you.”
Haxil scratched his jaw.
I raised my eyebrows. “Is that look because Nishissupposed to be here instead of you?”
Haxil shrugged guiltily. “When Sandus left, he told either Nish or Ryder to accompany you, but it’s Ryder’s day off, and Nish—” He coughed.
“Nish what?” I bristled.
“Ock, you know how he can be. He had a few colorful words forbabysittingyou, as he called it, so I offered to go instead.”
I rolled my eyes at Nish’s pettiness. The guard hadn’t liked me from the start, and despite me becoming a permanent fixture in the castle and him traveling with me daily to the fields, it didn’t seem as if that feeling was going to disappear anytime soon.
“Why does he hate me so much?”
“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just...” Haxil sighed. “Nish is hard to win over. It’s not just you he’s like this with, but if you do win him over, he’ll be loyal to you for life.”
“Like he is to Prince Norivun.” I recalled Nish’s snarl all too well when I’d first met the crown prince and uttered my contempt of him.
“Exactly.”
* * *
Back in my chambers,I rang for food, then stripped out of my sweaty training clothes and took a quick bath to ease my muscles. Once dressed in loose pants and a warm sweater, I ventured back into my living area.
Fragrant scents from the delivered food filled the room. An entire tray, brimming with my requests, sat near the couch. And of course, as was per usual, there was far more than I could consume despite needing a plentiful amount to maintain my magic.
I opened my chamber’s door and quirked an eyebrow at Haxil, who stood in the hallway. “You hungry?”
The guard’s hands were clasped in front of him, wings tight to his back while his familiar swords poked out from beneath each wing. He gave a wolfish grin. “I’m always hungry.”
I laughed. “Come and join me then. Cailis is still out, and I’m getting nervous about my upcoming Trial tests. I would love some company so I don’t stew over them.”
Haxil bowed. “I couldn’t say no to that. It would be my pleasure to distract you whilst eating all of that wonderful food I smelled on its way in.”
I laughed, and Haxil closed the door behind him before joining me on the couch.
