“What do you think about all of the people here?” I considered opening the curtains for further emphasis but I was still hungry.
His eyes lit up. “I can’t believe they brought so many people. It must have taken weeks for them to travel with only two boats. Grove reported this morning that they made so many trips she lost count. They set up the first round of people on the beach with a fire and a few resources and by the time they came back the first group was thriving. They kept all of the people there on the beach until they could all travel to the castle together, rather smart if you ask me.”
“Strength in numbers,” I agreed.
“Reva and I will be putting together a roll call to see who all made it here and what their skillsets are. We will put together the beginning stages of employment here at the castle. Edna is going to need a full kitchen staff, you will need rotating guards,and there will need to be an entire maid system. I’m thinking about appointing Edna as head of the house.”
I wasn’t expecting a full report like this but I also wasn’t disappointed about it. I could trust Alric and I knew he would only put the best of the best in the castle. He knew everything there was to know about the keep, he would make it his priority to do the same here.
“I think those are great ideas,” I took another sip from my glass. “Do you think this will free up your time and Reva’s?”
His face fell. “Why would you ask that? You don’t think we are just going to give up on you like that, do you? It will take a long time for us to feel comfortable enough to just leave you with others!”
“I think it’s important for you to have your own life,” I shrugged.
He leaned forward and snatched a pastry from the tray between us. “I think that doesn’t matter right now.”
“Reva tried to kill herself,” There it was out in the open and I couldn’t take it back. It wasn’t my place to say something but it was my place for him to know what was at risk here. She couldn’t always be my guard. I needed her as my friend first.
The pastry fell to the floor and rolled across the carpet. I watched it go and go until it disappeared beneath my bed.
“I wasn’t supposed to tell you,” I started but then corrected. “I mean, I don’t think I was supposed to tell you. I wanted her to tell you herself but as time has gone on, I know it won’t happen anytime soon and I need you both okay now.”
“I didn’t know,” His brows furrowed as his gaze shifted to the door. “How did I not know?”
“You were stuck in your adventuring, I guess?” I stared down at my lap.
“Which isn’t your fault. You needed your own time, as well.”
“I should have been here for her— for you.”
“There’s nothing you could have done, Alric.”
He shook his head. “All of that adventuring was for nothing. The island doesn’t want me to know anything unless it comes to you. I roamed aimlessly for days. It was miserable.”
“Look, I didn’t tell you this so you could feel guilty. I told you this so you could be aware of how important it is for the both of you to have alone time for yourselves. It’s important to me that the both of you have lives outside of this castle, away from me. I don’t want you to waste away at my beck and call.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I understand a little bit better now.”
“There’s another matter I need to discuss with you,” I should have brought it up before something so heavy but taking care of them weighed heavily on my shoulders.
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Go on.”
“We have people in our city now. We have actual subjects. Edna is going to be hiring people for the entire castle and you’ll employ guards. How are we going to pay them? Have you found the coffers?”
Alric stared at me with wide eyes. “I never thought of it, to be honest.”
I gritted my teeth, not in anger over his answer, but over the fact that I hadn’t thought of it either and we should have been making preparations for this long ago. Almost as soon as we’d started working on a place for the people to live. Yes, we’d done them favors and gave them a place to stay but how else would they live? They could barter, yes, but that would come later. They didn’t have anything now. “I didn’t think of that either.”
“Would you like to go on an adventure with me, Your Highness?” His eyes sparkled like they usually did and I hoped I would see my old friend again soon. We’d all been way too lost in our grief, this new world, and finding ourselves throughout it all. I needed him back.
“I would love nothing more, let me freshen up and I’ll be right out.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
JUNIPER
Edna was waving her rolling pin around when we approached the kitchen. Her cheeks turned pink when she noticed us and she tucked the wayward weapon behind her back. There were three young girls, who couldn’t have been over the age of sixteen, watching her with wide eyes.
