Ours are similar to Sunda tigers, only with thicker manes, with males topping out at around 100 kilograms—more than twice what I weigh right now.
“Majestic,” I said on an exhale. “I’ve never seen one before.”
“Never?” asked Arya, curiously.
I shook my head. “I didn’t get out of the castle as much as I would have liked to. You know. Before.”
“Because of your mother?”
My chest went tight and hollow. I haven’t felt like that since the night on the hillside before we left Covari Village. Less than a week ago; a lifetime. “Can’t risk the last remaining princess. Everyone knows the legend. If Auralia’s line falls, so will the country.”
And fall, it will. Nobody knows that, though, except possibly Lorcan. Depending upon how much he overheard of what I told Dr. Wen in Trissau. But the country doesn’t have to. The legends are stories, not fact. I’ll set Auralia up as best I can to continue long after I’m gone. Assuming I can ever figure out how to get my feet under me.
“Talk about pressure,” Arya interjected. “I always thought being a princess would be fun. You get everything you want, don’t have to do anything except wear nice clothes and attend fancy parties.”
“A common misperception.” I plucked my wet clothing away from my skin. “Not many would sign up for this life, knowing what it entails.”
“My brother would,” Arya said, pointing. “He’s wanted it since he was a kid.”
Lorcan has gotten ahead of us, scanning the path for any threats.
“You mean, since he was twelve.”
Arya shook her head emphatically. Strands of damp brown hair stick to her neck and her cheek. “Younger. It’s practically my first memory. Our father had just been promoted to the head of your mother’s guard, so we went into The Walled City to see them ride out. Lorcan took one look at you and said ‘I’m going to marry Princess Zosia.’ He would have been nine or ten. Tops.” She grinned. “Our father nearly tanned his backside when Mum told him what Lorcan said. It did absolutely nothing to deter him. All he did was get quiet about it.”
“I had no idea it went that far back.”
I had no idea he remembered that day, too. It was such a small moment. Riding with my mother, I clambered up on the seat to look back at him, and waved.
Those bright eyes boring into mine like fate. Unforgettable.
What a pity he’s gone and ruined everything, when his lifelong ambition was within reach. It’s a loss for us both. Though...if I were to change my stance on continuing Auralia’s line, possibly not a total one.
BUD
CHAPTEREIGHT
Upon our return to the cottage, Lorcan lent me a soft old sweater and threadbare wool pants that I wouldn’t have been able to pull over my ass if I were my old self. He plied me with a bowl of hot stew over rice and went out back to do the laundry.
“This place came with one of those old-fashioned hand crank machines. It’ll be a few minutes.” He kissed my forehead. I should be helping out more. I’m neither incapable of doing chores, nor unwilling to do them, but Lorcan won’t let me lift a finger.
I used the time to call Raina and get the latest on her ongoing efforts to stop pirates from sending reinforcements to our southern beach.
It’s better now, but they still make regular attempts to land. I can’t blame them for trying to find a better life—these pirates are poor and desperate. Yet I am not obligated to sacrifice my country to people who intend to take what they want through murder and violence, no matter how much I sympathize with their poverty. They can seek a better life without destroying ours. They chose not to.
And I certainly hold the Skía responsible for exploiting them.
“Let me help,” I interjected. “What can I do?”
“Sit on your ass, eat, and don’t fuck Lorcan,” Raina shot back.
“I wasn’t planning to.” I watched him through the window of the kitchen as we talked. “But there’s only one bed.”
Raina groaned. “Romance novels are fiction, Zosia. Not dating advice.”
I chuckled. “Wouldn’t know. Never got around to reading the one you loaned me.” Exhaling, I explained about the stairs, his ankle, and how we came to be sharing his bed. Chastely. My friend was unconvinced.
“Fine. Sleep with him if you absolutely must, but do not marry him, for the love of everything holy.”
