The older maid stopped at the sight of the princess and made an awkward curtsy with her hands full. “Aye, Your Highness, it certainly is.”
“Is he well?”
“Seems to be, aye.” The maid tilted her head with interest at the princess’s questions.
Vixie knew better than to try to enter his room on her own—it would bring a scandal upon the both of them and her parents.
“I need for you to fetch him, please. I’ll hold this.” Vixie tried to take the tray from the woman’s hands and had to pull harder than expected.
“But, Princess!” The woman sputtered in horror at the sight of Vixie holding the dishes.
“I’m fine, miss.” Vixie looked up and down the empty hallway. Only a bemused guard was watching. “Please let Mr. Seabolt know that he’ll need a coat.”
The woman wiped her hands down her apron beforeclasping them together nervously. “Very well, then.” She bustled to Tiern’s door and knocked. When it opened, Vixie couldn’t hear what they were saying. Tiern stuck his head out, and Vixie smiled at him, suddenly feeling foolish with the tray. His brow creased and he dropped his head. She heard him say, “One moment.”
The maid hurried back to Vixie and took the tray, looking relieved to have it in her own hands. “Shall I stay, Princess?”
“No, but thank you. The guard’s supervision will do.”
The maid stood there another moment, unsure, before giving a small bow and scuttling away.
Vixie pulled off her hat and pressed down the curls. After what felt like too long, Tiern’s door opened and he walked to her, unsmiling, holding a short winter coat over one arm and his bow and quiver in the other. He gave a small, formal bow and looked at her, waiting. A bit of enthusiasm left Vixie. He looked as put together as always—tall and lean, without a single wrinkle in his tunic or a hair out of place. It was the air around him that seemed to have changed. Dulled and still. And it made Vixie sad. She fiddled with the hat in her hands. Tiern set down his coat and weapons on the hall table. All the chatter she’d wanted to unleash simply died into one simple request.
“Ride with me?”
Avoiding her gaze, he wiped his hands down the front of his tunic. “I’m supposed to scout the royal lands with Lord Alvi.”
Vixie narrowed her eyes. He scouted with Lord Alvievery day between the morning briefing in the king’s office and lunchtime. He had nearly two hours until it was time to go. Seas alive, he was making excuses not to be near her!
“Have I offended you in some way, Tiern?”
His brown eyes became vibrant, and he shook his head. “Nay, Princess. You’re . . . as lovely a person as ever.”
He flushed and clenched his jaw, looking aside as if he regretted saying it.
“Then why in Eurona are you suddenly treating me as if I’m plague ridden?”
He glanced anxiously over her shoulder at the guard. In a low voice he replied, “I’m doing no such thing. I’m here for the safety of the kingdom, to scout and hunt, not for recreation. Have you forgotten you’re a princess and I’m a commoner?”
Vixie scoffed.Thatwas his excuse? “I don’t care about that!”
“Perhaps not, but many do. It’s not proper for the two of us to gallivant around royal lands together while the kingdom is in turmoil.”
“What else am I to do?”
“Sh . . .” Tiern held out a hand and pressed it down, glancing at the guard again.
Vixie threw her arms out, refusing to be quiet. “Oh, I don’t give a swimming rat who hears! You are myfriend, and there is no reason why we should sit about on our haunches, twiddling our thumbs and not speaking. How does that help the kingdom?”
Tiern’s hands went loosely to his hips, and he closed hiseyes. Each word he said seemed to come out with reluctance. “Things have changed, Princess. Friendship is no longer on my mind. I’m sorry.”
His words hurt, though she couldn’t help but feel he was being evasive. Something else had to be going on here. “Open your eyes and tell me you don’t want to be friends, Tiern Seabolt.”
He opened his eyes, stood taller, swallowed hard, and said in choppy words, “I . . . don’t want to be friends.”
“Liar!” Vixie pointed at him and laughed. “That was aterriblelie. What is this about? Tell me!”
A truly worried look crossed his face, as if the conversation had taken a turn he hadn’t expected. He blinked, at a loss for words. And, seas, he was adorable when he was flustered. Vixie shoved the hat down over her ears and patted the top of her head.
