A wide fire pit was lit on the tent side of the commons. The hunters from the remaining four lands found themselves around it after their meal, unable to rest just yet.
Chapter
13
Princess Aerity had a splendid view of the west commons from the sitting room window of her chambers above the balcony. Alone, she peered down upon the field area where the hunters exercised their skills, and the tables where the men were finishing their breakfasts. She hadn’t realized how nervous she’d been for Harrison and the Seabolt brothers until she saw them alive and well this morning and experienced a current of relief. Now she found herself staring unabashedly from her window at Paxton Seabolt, wishing she had a seaman’s scope so she could peer closer.
His movements were thought out and steady. Unhurried. Nothing wasted. Next to Paxton, his brother Tiern seemedlike a bolt of energy, moving about, turning his head this way and that as if keeping an eye on everything at once. The contrast between them amused Aerity.
Something interesting she noticed about the men as a whole was how they naturally broke into groups based on their lands of origin. She understood the comfort level of similar culture and language, but it seemed a shame that the men rarely interacted except to fuss over that blasted map. She imagined they could learn a lot from one another, but what did she know? Men were strange creatures.
The cloudless sky was bright blue and Aerity longed to be out in the autumn breeze, feeling the sun on her skin. Trees beyond the commons were beginning to turn shades of yellow, orange, and maroon.
From the corner of her eye she noticed movement along the northern corner of the commons wall. Panic welled inside her as she leaned to the window and stared at the place where a lone spruce tree was shifting against the wall. Behind it was movement again, then something dropped down into the commons area. She jumped to her feet in panic, although this creature seemed too small to be threatening. Then she caught a flash of red curls.
“Donubhan!” Aerity gathered up her yellow skirts and raced to her chamber door, quickly changing from her house slippers into leather walking shoes. She rushed down the main corridor to the exit where two guards stood.
“Donny’s sneaked into the west commons,” Aerityinformed them. The two men shared looks of frustration. Donubhan was a master escape artist.
Aerity moved between them. One guard stayed behind at the door while the other followed her. By the time they burst through the gate, startling the guards there, Donubhan was entertaining the crowd with his stunts. Aerity rolled her eyes.
The men laughed and clapped as the prince did a front flip, keeping his bow tucked tight in his arms. As he landed, he shot off an arrow, which lodged in the farthest circle of the target. She wanted to ring his little neck. It wasn’t safe for him to be wandering about the royal lands, and he shouldn’t be distracting the hunters. Perhaps she could embarrass him into learning this lesson.
Aerity squeezed in among the group and put a hand on her hip. “Still not taking time to aim for the center, Donny?”
At the sound of her voice, the men turned their heads in surprise. Aerity pretended not to notice how Paxton stood with his arms crossed and Tiern grinned next to him, nudging his brother, who watched her closely. The group of men chuckled at her teasing. Donubhan’s face paled to a point that made his freckles stand out more.
“How’d you find me already, then?”
“It’s hard to hide that head of yours.” Again, the surrounding men laughed. Aerity grinned and moved forward, ruffling his hair. “Back to the castle. You know it’s not safe to roam.”
Donubhan threw his head back dramatically and groaned his protest.
“Argh, scallywag,” Harrison said, crouching menacingly in front of Donubhan, who grinned. The boy attempted darting aside, but Harrison caught him and tossed him easily over his shoulder.
The guards were already surrounding the prince, prepared to take him by force. They were accustomed to his antics.
Donubhan saw the guards from his high place on Harrison’s shoulder and began to grasp for an excuse to stay. “Wait! First show the hunters how well you can do the trick!” He pointed at the princess. Harrison swung around to face her.
Aerity’s mouth dropped open and her face flamed as every man turned to her with raised brows. She released a breathy laugh. “I think not.”
“Yeah, Princess!” said Harrison, lowering the prince, but holding his shoulders. “Show us!” Aerity shot him a pleading glare which only made him grin.
The widower Samuel and the handsome lad Tiern nodded.
This could not be happening. There’s no way she’d flip for a crowd of men.
“I’m in skirts. . . .” she muttered lamely. “It’s not proper. Come along, Donny.”
Lord Alvi gave a loud laugh, flashing his white teeth at her. “Ah, I don’t believe she can do it!” His men chuckled. Aerity knew he was only being playful, but the heat crept further up her face.
The Ascomannians began to chant, “Show us! Show us!” and soon the other men joined in. Aerity wanted to crawl over the wall and hide. She’d only done that silly trick in front of her siblings and cousins during the many hours they spent cooped up in the castle together. But the hunters’ smiling faces were filled with the hope of a moment’s entertainment to take their minds off the recent day’s disappointments.
Perhaps she could do it. Just once.
A tight smile pushed its way upward, despite her humiliation. “Fine! But I must change. Lieutenant Gillfin, don’t let that little fox out of your sight.” She pointed to her brother.
Harrison patted the boy’s shoulders. Everyone cheered as Aerity huffed a breath and turned to leave, shaking her head in disbelief at what she was about to do. Her blood thrummed in nervous anticipation.
