Aerity did as she was told. Her feet were cold and numb by the time she reached her bedchamber again. Caitrin led her to the plush stool, setting to work on her hair. The princess stared out the window. The rain had finally stopped. Now a dense fog hung over the land and sea.
“I’ve been thinking, Princess, about the Zandalee. Are you truly all right with marrying the leader’s brother if she slays the beast? A man you’ve never seen?”
“Nay, Caitrin,” Aerity said with sadness. “But if one of the Zandalee takes the beast, I have to.”
“You’ll go all the way to the desert?”
Aerity shook her head. “That is part of our deal. The brother will move here, but a portion of royal riches will be sent to his homeland.” Her stomach cramped at the idea of marriage.
“I’m sorry, miss.” Caitrin placed her hands on Aerity’s shoulders. “You’ve got enough on your mind without my prying questions. Come on. Let’s find you a pretty gown for the day.”
Aerity let her maid choose the dress, too tired to care.
Chapter
24
Paxton exited the castle with the other men into the foggy morning. When they turned toward the commons, he took the path straight toward the trade port, needing time to himself. He ended up down by the water on one of the older, empty docks at the end of the port that appeared abandoned. He could barely see five feet in front of himself through the mist.
He sat on the end of the weathered wood. The water was three feet below him, splashing lightly against the pillars of the dock.
To his right, through trees beyond, he knew there to be a private royal beach and docks along Lanach Creek where Captain Gillfin was killed. On his other side were cargo shipsand fishing boats. Past that would be the naval port with its vast vessels. He could hear men’s voices in the distance, busy with their trades, carrying carts of bait and catch to and fro. He watched as time passed, and the sun made its way overhead, burning off a small bit of cloud cover. All he wanted was to lie back and sleep where he was.
He felt the soft thumps of footsteps on the dock behind him and turned. The princess stopped midstep when she caught his gaze and looked at him questioningly, as if for an invitation. Paxton’s pulse set into a jog as he gave her a nod. In the mist behind her, a guard stood at the edge of the dock, allowing the princess to walk to Paxton, but not taking his eyes off them.
Remembering his last interaction with Princess Aerity caused a fire to light within him. He’d been out of line with what he’d asked her, but couldn’t bring himself to regret it. Something about the princess made him bold. He was curious about her motives, and about how she’d react to him, in all ways. He couldn’t seem to help himself.
Paxton turned toward her without standing. “I’m surprised your guard didn’t follow you down the dock.” The royal guard’s outline was visible through the fog, but he was too far away to hear their conversation.
Aerity gave a small sigh. “Aye. I am, as well.”
A quiet lull passed as Aerity fidgeted.
“I came to see if you’re feeling ill like the Zandalee after going through that town,” she said, interrupting his thoughts.
“The Zandalee are ill?” Paxton asked.
A breeze picked up, whipping her hair across her face, but she peeled it away, pushing it over her shoulder.
“All three of them.” She let out a sigh. “Mrs. Rathbrook is healing them, but they won’t be able to hunt tonight.”
“Bucking seas,” Paxton muttered. They were down to only the Ascomannian and Lochlan hunters for tonight, with only a handful of Zorfinans left.
Aerity sat down right next to him at the edge of the dock, as if she were a regular girl in a cotton frock, and not the princess of the kingdom, in satin and scented oils of berries and coconut, likely imported from Kalor or one of Lochlanach’s distant islands.
In truth, he was surprised to see her. He thought perhaps he’d finally scared her away. Apparently not.
She wound her hair over her shoulder and twisted it to keep it from blowing. The fog was slowly drifting out to sea. As his hair slung down over his eyes, she reached out and pushed it away for him. He felt his whole body go stiff at the feel of her soft fingertips.
“You could wear it back like Tiern. To keep it out of your face.”
“Would you like that?” Paxton asked. “For me to look more like Tiern?”
Her cheeks reddened, but she didn’t look away. “Nay, I meant . . . it might be easier for you.”
Again, Paxton looked at the water. He shrugged. “I can’tbe arsed to tie one of those bothersome leather strips.”
Aerity giggled, and he found himself grinning. Just a bit. “You think that’s funny?” he asked.
