"Why would anyone build on top of a lake?"
"According to Calamity, at this elevation, it was the easiest way for them to get water into the palace."
"Only six feet of ice?" She gazed up through the mist trying to see the top of the towers. "How can six feet of ice hold up such a big building?"
"Ice is strong," he looked at her. "Sometimes things ... people ... are much stronger than they seem. If you look carefully, you may even find that people you thought were not worth your time had more to them than you gave them credit for."
She nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't button you, Sober."
His smile was like sunshine. "I forgive you."
The next few days dragged by. Repentance continued hiding in the kitchen for meals with Skoch and Provocation. She spent the rest of her mornings in the washroom or the yak barn between times. Lord Malficc never went to those places. He didn't like being so close to slaves and animals.
Of course if he wanted her, he could easily send troopers to get her. She knew she wouldn't really be safe until the king returned. Still, as each day passed without incident, her worry lessened, and she found her mind often straying from her problems to settle on more pleasant things. Things like Sober. His smile. His arm around the back of the bench. His shoulder brushing up against hers.
On Friday she told Skoch she'd be late to school and she stayed in the kitchen when he left for his afternoon lectures. She didn't care if the other slaves did whisper or laugh, she meant to stay and visit with Sober.
He walked in, looking fresh and healthy from his work in the mountain air. When he caught her looking at him, his cheeks flushed and his eyes brightened. He made his way over and plopped onto the bench beside her. "Cook," he said without taking his eyes off of Repentance, "the kitchen seems uncommonly bright today. What happened? Got your suncloths rotated last night?"
Cook scooped three large potato cakes onto his plate. "I'm always glad to have your smiling face in my kitchen, Sober Marsh." She lowered her voice. "But you're tempting the swingman with this business. If you two are friends I'm glad to see it. I didn't never want you to be enemies. But friends don't need to get too close to one another. 'Specially not when one of said friends is the king's concubine."
Others began shuffling in and Cook moved around, greeting them before Sober had a chance to respond. "Calamity here's a 'tato cake for you. Generosity and Shamed, I hope you brought your appetites. "
Repentance scooted over on the bench so as not to be too close to Sober. She was sure Cook was exaggerating about the swingman, but she saw no need to start rumors.
People came one by one, the seats filling up around the table. No one sat on the other side of Repentance. They all gave her a second look and then looked quickly away when she met their gazes.
Generosity sat across from Repentance with a huge smile plastered on her face. "My Lady, would you be so kind as to pass the yak's milk?" she asked, as if there was nothing odd at all about Repentance being there for lunch.
Repentance shot her a grateful smile and slid the pitcher to her.
"Favor," Cook nodded to the footman as he entered. "I have saved the two biggest cakes for you." Then, "Tigen, I think you are supposed to be at your lectures, young man."
Repentance looked around Cook's ample backside and saw the young prince loitering by the kitchen door.
"One potato cake, please, Cook," he said. "I'll eat it on the way to school."
Cook tut-tutted. "Why don't you eat the food your father's cook produces, is what I'd like to know." But she was smiling when she said it, and obviously pleased that the young prince preferred her potato cakes over his own cook's.
Merit pushed by the boy, ruffling his hair as she passed. "Tigen, you'll be here tonight for a game, I take it?"
"I'll be here to give you a thrashing, Merit." He grabbed the potato cake Cook offered and backed into the hallway. "You can bet your best yak on that."
Merit laughed. "Thank you kindly, but I think I'd hold on to my yak, if I had one to hold on to. Since I don't have a yak, I might as well bet my best one, and I'll throw in my best gold necklace as well."
"That boy," Sober said to Repentance, "is the hope of the kingdom."
"How's that?" she asked.
"He has a rich heart. I'm praying that he'll sit on the throne one day." He smiled at her, his eyes lit with hope. "If that were to happen, our people would go free. And you can bet your best yak on that!"
"How can you know that?"
"He loves slaves. He often visits me in the barn when I deliver my greens. He's a good boy."
His smile filled her heart and made her feel rich. But he was dreaming. "Tigen's the third son," she said. "He won't sit on the throne unless both of his older brothers die."
Sober glanced over. "One can always hope."
"They're just boys!" Generosity said.
"Just boys now," Sober said. "Men one day. And men I'd rather not see on the throne if even a trickle of the tales I've heard of them are true. But Tigen ... now, why do you suppose Providence has given him such a fine heart? I think he has a plan for that boy."
He broke off half of a potato cake and handed it to Repentance.
"What's this for?" she asked.
"You eat it.
