“I’ve brought you a tray,” the girl Melsint said, appearing at the door made of bars.
“Thank you.”
“That’s a pretty gown. I’m glad he arranged for some of your things to be secretly brought up. I can get you whatever else you want. Or if there’s a certain food you wish for. I noticed you didn’t eat your breakfast.”
“The only real kindness you or anyone could do me would be to open the gate.”
A moment later the gate opened. Melsint set the tray on the small table, but didn’t close the gated door again.
Brande looked up in surprise.
When the girl stepped out and let go, it swung shut. “Wait. I’ll get something to prop it open.”
A moment later, as promised, Melsint had returned and she tied a wicked-looking whip around the gate so it didn’t latch.
“If you go downstairs, you could be spotted. Try not to be. I’ll make you a map to show where most people are.”
Brandese cocked her head. “Are you hoping I’ll escape so you can have them both to yourself again?” she asked curiously.
“No! First of all, that wouldn’t work. Second of all, I don’t want them both, at least not in the way you mean. I want Lord Evston to have you because you’re the one he loves.”
“The one he loves? Hardly. And I’d imagine it would be quite cozy for you being the only woman here.”
“We are cozy together,” she said, with a little nod. “We’re close because I was their shared pet. But when I married the commander, I stopped being shared. Secondly, if you choose to escape and go on the run, you won’t be gone for long. They’ll find you and bring you back. Lord Evston is worried you’ll get into trouble and that the king will lock you away somewhere that they can’t get to. That’s why he locked you up. But I know it won’t happen that way.”
“My fatherwoulddo it. That’s exactly what he was planning.”
“Your father would do it, but I know the Calexes. They’d come and take you from wherever the king put you.”
“Do you think so?”
“I know it. Do you not understand how important you are to him? You’re the only girl in the world he really cares for. When he thinks you’re in trouble, he stops everything to rush to your aid.”
“He cares about you.”
“A bit, perhaps. It’s more though that he cares about Rocurt and wouldn’t let harm come to me for fear it would hurt his brother.”
“I’m sure it goes deeper.”
“Maybe a little; I like to think we’re friends of a sort.”
“If you’re his friend, why are you helping me?” Brande asked with a small smirk.
“First, because you’re my princess too. I live in this realm. I had Princess Brandese dolls growing up. People can’t just go around locking up princesses for their own convenience.”
Brandese laughed.
“Besides, I want you to know that you’ll be all right here. He’s not used to having a girl around that he can’t control, but he’s very smart. He’ll learn. I don’t want you to get so hurt that you never give him a chance to make up for this.”
Brande rose and gave the girl a hug. “Nature wins out in the end,” she murmured. “But I appreciate your attempts to help us both.”
