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His lips twitched. “There are, but they’re not mapped, somehow the royal cartographers found our food producers below their notice, but from the scouts reports they should be in the high hundreds.”
We paused as a server delivered steaming tea and I ordered the regular for us both. When alone again, Dimitri unfolded a half-finished map showing Tal as a star in the center and the steppes to thesouth.
He pointed to blue dots, most close to the Taliell’s narrowing arms. “These are empty farms. At five of them, we found bloody stick figure drawings.”
“And five is enough for you to notice?”
He leaned closer, our hands almost touching across the table. “You were right about me not seeing my own people, but my tutors were very clear about what a city the size of Tal requires to function—inflow of food was one of the most basic resources. No one wants to say it, but we depend on the independent farmers and herders.”
“Then why did the king not do something sooner?” I asked, taking advantage of his sudden openness.
He shrugged, but a shadow of our earlier familiarity had returned, as if in the moment we could forget what had happened. This was not forgiveness, but perhaps a reminder that while on paper we had never made sense, alone we always had.
“There’s always another issue,” he said. “Usually, it resolves itself. The clans and farmers don’t want us out there. Tal rules itself, and so does the steppes. Even cities like Denyev and Kope, which owe us allegiance and are governed by Talian nobles, strive for independence. No one has requested our assistance.”
I considered his words, trying to find fault. People were dying and he had soldiers, did he not have a duty to help? “What about the refugees sleeping in alleys? Could they even ask for assistance?”
“The courthouses are open to petitions; they go to the City Council first.” He sipped his tea thoughtfully. “Maybe the royals should be more involved, but the line between caring and tyrant is a narrow one. Would you like my father to rule on all your issues?”
“Does he greet everyone like he did me?”
Dimitri barked a laugh. “Only those he deigns to acknowledge.”
“Then I would never want him to leave his chamber.”
Our mood quieted. His father had still been sick when I left. Possibly because of me.
“Why did you lead us—” Dimitri’s question was cut off by an older, well-dressed man and less-than-dressed woman stopping at our table, the server followed behind as if he had directed them here. The prince looked up before angling his hat down and slipping the map back into his coat.
“Could we sit here?” the woman asked and winked at me. “The others are taken. We’re all just looking for company. Perhaps you could move closer to yours.”
Though still in coat and trousers, I had fussed over seeing the prince before heading to von Lemerch’s manor, so instead of my normal boyish look, the two shirt buttons left open, wild hair reaching mid-back, and kohl-lined eyes made me unmistakable female. Despite my efforts they also marked me as poor. And Dimitri looked better than he had last night. In short, one way or another, he seemed to be paying for my company as surely as the man before me was for the woman.
I’d refused to let my stepfather use my looks to take advantage of his targets, had sworn to be nothing like my mother, and a month ago would have rebelled against even the implication that I might be a courtesan. Grief and Kirill’s threats had kept me locked in the past as surely as the debt.
In the palace, the assumption would have made me blush with shame, as when Dimitri thought I tricked him into forgetting the crown, but after all that had happened to me, I found that others’ mistaken opinions mattered less than theyhad.
I had shown Dimitri my truth, destroying any possibility of seduction to further someone else’s aims. Whichever way we played this, he knew who I was.
With a raised brow, I sought his eyes, willing to take his lead. Surely, he would not want me anywhere close to him after how he flinched away last night. Instead of focusing on me, his dark stare was locked on the man. When Dimitri quickly jerked his chin in agreement and tilted his head so the wide-brimmed hat concealed him further, I hid my surprise behind a cheeky grin.
As I slipped in beside him and the other couple took the opposite seat, Dimitri pulled me into his lap and buried his face in my heavy curls. His hands slipped around my waist, and I gripped the table as heat gathered on my cheeks—among other places.
I sat rigidly, enjoying the touch too much, as the server delivered our food; Dimitri silently paid and tipped as instructed. The other woman ordered wine before kissing her man, while he leered in my direction. When his eyes finally closed as they kissed, the prince’s nose brushed against my earlobe.
I shivered and fought the instinct to lean into him.
“Is this fine?” he whispered, his voice dark but for once, I did not think his anger was directed at me. “You never had issue pretending before but had there been a way to ask without drawing attention, I would’ve. One look and he would recognize me. It would be trouble for us both.”
I twisted so my hair curtained both our faces. “And you want me to hide you? Should we leave?”
“He’s a councilman, and the woman not his wife—this is an opportunity I cannot miss.” Dimitri’s hot breath coated my neckas he pulled me closer. “Are you willing to help me get her name without him noticing?”
“Mm,” I managed and nodded, trying to remain clearheaded, for his intense tone did things it should not.
He wanted something from this councilor. Surprisingly, I did not mind playing along. The prince being in on the act, and us getting information on someone stepping out on his wife, did not prick my conscience like when Kirill wanted to use me. Or how my mother had lived, tricking only herself. And this was much better than him flinching away.
I placed a hand on his cheek, rough stubble pricking my palm. “What shall I call you tonight?” I whispered. “My lord?”
