‘Bear, I think,’ said Gabriella.
He made one quick circle around and then said, ‘Let’s head back. If we wait too much longer, there’ll be no rabbit left for either of us.’
‘Yes, I’ve been away too long as it is. The Princess is my charge and I’ve already violated it by leaving her alone.’
‘Then why did you?’ Ty asked as they exited the cave.
‘It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Besides, she instructed me that at some point I should go off with you for a short while, as she had something she needed to discuss with Lord Henry in person.’
‘Lord Henry?’
‘That’s how she named him. I assume it must be something she considered a matter of state.’
Now Ty looked completely confused.
‘Despite what one might think, Stephane is a very serious-minded woman when she chooses to be. She knows she will be highly placed in marriage, a duchess or even a queen, and that she will play a role vital in keeping peace between Roldem and their neighbours.’
‘Now my curiosity is piqued,’ admitted Ty. ‘Affairs of state, out here of all places.’
‘No more improbable than affairs of the heart, surely.’
Not entirely sure what to say to this, Ty merely nodded.
Stephane watched as Gabriella and Ty vanished from sight and turned to Hal who was turning the rabbits. ‘How much longer until they are cooked?’ she asked.
He said, ‘Another half hour. If we had a hotter fire, sooner, but too hot and it dries and is tough. Too slow and it’s chewy and tough. Just right and it’s savoury … and tough.’
She laughed. ‘You do manage to keep your spirits up.’
Hal let out a small sigh. ‘Truth, Highness? I’d as soon be riding through a thousand Keshian Dog Soldiers with a wooden spoon as my only weapon than having to drag you through this wilderness.’
‘You’re not dragging me,’ she said, smiling. ‘I’m escaping.’
He laughed. ‘Speaking of keeping one’s spirits up.’ He turned the rabbits again. The spits were twigs and they rested on rocks, and seemed constantly to want to turn back one way. Vigilance was needed to ensure the rabbits weren’t burned through on one side and raw on the other.
She was silent for a moment, her expression turning pensive, and at last she said, ‘I wanted to have a chance to speak to you alone.’
He turned to give her his undivided attention. ‘Yes?’
‘My position is at best difficult,’ she began, hesitantly. ‘Lady Franciezka holds you and Ty in high regard, or she never would have entrusted me to your care. Yet I fear that your king may not be …’
‘You worry King Gregory might see you as a bargaining chip, much as your Lord John does.’
‘I don’t know what to think, Hal,’ she said plainly. ‘All my life I have been trained to rule, but in the Roldemish fashion of a queen, to offer quiet council to my husband when alone, and to smile and remain silent in public.’
Hal thought of Bethany and laughed. ‘It’s a bit different in the west, especially along the Far Coast. Our mothers, and wives, are hardly shy in letting their feelings be known.’
‘What I’m saying is that if it comes to a conflict, I’m not certain I can stand my ground. If Gregory threatens …’ She fell silent. ‘Roldem’s fleet combined with that of the Isles would drive Kesh back to their own ports.’
Hal shook his head. ‘I know that’s conventional thinking, but with those pirates in league with … someone, raiding free along this coast the balance of power may not be what we thought.’ Seeing her troubled expression, he decided to change the subject. ‘But you didn’t ask to be alone with me to speak of warfare. I pledge to you that as a son of the House of conDoin, I will give my life if need be to keep you from any harm. When this madness is over you shall be safely returned to Roldem. And you’ll have a Kingdom-born husband in tow only if that is your pleasure.’
She smiled. ‘Thank you.’ Impulsively she leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. ‘I am in need of a good friend.’
For reasons Hal didn’t fully understand, hearing that phrase caused his stomach to sink a bit. Pushing aside his feelings, he said, ‘It is the burden of your office that you marry at your father’s pleasure. Not the pleasure of Lord John Worthington or Sir William Alcorn-’ His eyes widened.
‘What?’ asked Princess Stephane.
‘When did Lord John rise to such great influence in your father’s court?’
‘I’m not sure. He’s been around for quite some time. He was very nice to me when I was little.’
‘But when did he gain control, er, start to manifest enough influence to get your father to begin making policy changes in Roldem?’
She thought for a moment, then said, ‘Five years ago, maybe six.’
‘Immediately after the Three Moon Banapis?’
She thought, then said, ‘I think so.’ Six years earlier, one of the rarest of events had taken place when all three moons rose full, as one, on the eve of Banapis, Midsummer’s Day. It happened once every century, more or less.
‘That’s when Sir William began asserting his influence.’
‘What does that mean?’ asked the Princess.
‘I’m not entirely sure,’ said Hal, taking the rabbits off the fire. ‘All I do know is that we must somehow get you safely to Rillanon, and to enter the city without drawing attention to ourselves, I think we need to find Lord James Dasher Jamison.’
‘Why him?’
‘For many reasons, least of which is that he is by a strange twist of history a very distant cousin of mine but, most importantly, he’s the one man in Rillanon I am certain is not under the control of Sir William Alcorn.’
Ty and Gabriella appeared and Ty said, ‘We found a cave.’
‘Good,’ said Hal. ‘Rabbit?’
Neither bothered to answer as Ty tore one in half and handed it to Gabriella while Hal did the same for the Princess. Around a mouthful of hot coney, Ty said, ‘We should stay dry in that cave and we can rest up for a day or two.’
Hal shook his head. ‘No, we need to leave at first light tomorrow and start for Ran.’
‘Ran, you certain?’
Hal nodded. ‘Yes. From there I can use my father’s rank to convince someone to sail us to Rillanon. We must get there as quickly and secretly as possible.’
‘Isn’t that going to be a little difficult if you’re bullying naval captains with your father’s rank?’
‘Not if I’m accompanied by my …’ he waved his hand, ‘companions. We’ll contrive a story, but this young beauty is no princess,’ he nodded at Stephane. ‘She is someone or other’s daughter whom I’m using badly as she hopes against hope to marry above her station.’
Stephane actually laughed. ‘Now you play the role of a young noble of my nation.’ She sighed. ‘Even my brothers.’ She leaned forward and touched him on the arm. ‘I will say, Lord Henry, if other men of the west are like you, the ladies of my nation would do well to visit the Far Coast.’
Hal actually blushed and Ty laughed. Gabrielle contented herself with a knowing smile, and they began to fashion a story that would pass muster once they reached Rillanon.
Assuming they reached Ran, which meant getting through these mountains without running into bandits, false Kingdom soldiers, or wild animals. Two swords, three belt knives, and a sling might gain them a meal, but against what lived in these mountains they were little defence.
Still, Hal turned his mind away from the dangers and considered what needed to be done to get the Princess to his king. He was determined to ensure she arrived safely and departed as she willed, or he would give his life in the attempt.
Hal awoke suddenly, and saw in the half-gloom of the cave both Gabriella and Ty on their feet with weapons in hand. Ty motioned for Hal to stay silent. He realized his arms were around the Princess, and that she was looking at him with questioning eyes. Untangling himself, he put a finger to his lips and drew his sword. The last he remembered was standing his watch at the cave mouth and returning to wake Ty, then snuggling in behind Stephane for warmth. Summer it might be, but in that cave in the mountains it was anything but warm. At
