“Should we get a cleric for you?” Darrus asked, concern coating his words. “I may have some potions on hand. One of my friends is a Groundbreaker with a gift for healing and I think they—”
“No, no. I’m fine, or I will be.” Vi made a show of wincing.
“It passed quickly for me as well,” Jayme affirmed. “But, as your sworn guard, and in the interest of your safety, I must insist you do not race. Doing so could agitate things, and the unsightliness of being sick astride a noru…”
“But Jayme, my noru is all saddled and ready to ride.” As Vi finished, she glanced at Ellene from the corners of her eyes, waiting for the girl to jump in and be the hero she wanted to be…any second… But Ellene was too busy making looks of adoration at Darrus. Looks he was returning, so at least he didn’t consciously hear the conversation running head-first past awkward. “If only someone could—”
“I could ride the noru for you!” Ellene returned to the realm of the present at the last possible moment. “If you do not mind, that is, princess.”
Vi fought a blurt of laughter at Ellene’s display. “Are you certain you don’t mind?”
“Princess, for you, anything.” Ellene gave a low bow.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try?” Andru asked.
Vi looked at him sideways. They’d all but settled the matter. This was overkill even by the most histrionic standards. Unless he was that dense and hadn’t figured out what they were doing?
“No, I think it is best I don’t.” Vi straightened, trying to make sure she still looked appropriately ill in the process, as though standing tall was a struggle she was willing to endure for the sake of her station.
“But you have given your word, princess,” Andru continued to press. “Prince Romulin has said that a royal should always keep to their word.”
“It is very unfortunate, yes,” Vi ground out. “But I think I must sit out.”
“But—”
Vi outright interrupted him this time. “Ellene, if you are to race for me, then I must command you to win.”
“It would be my honor.” She turned to Darrus. “If this last-minute substitution is accepted…”
“Of course it would be.” Darrus didn’t miss the chance to take Ellene’s hands. Vi couldn’t fight a smile—a smile that quickly vanished when she remembered Taavin’s nearly identical motions the night before. As though he too hadn’t wanted to miss a chance to…Focus. Vi forced her mind only on the present. “For the Chieftain’s daughter, for you, anything.”
“Thank you, Darrus. I really don’t know what I’d do without you…” Ellene was saying, as the two walked off toward the noru along a starting line drawn with gravel in the barren dirt.
“They are so cute, it is a little disgusting, is it not?” Vi murmured.
“He is certainly cute,” Andru said so softly under his breath that Vi wasn’t certain she’d heard it. She looked in his direction, but her thoughts were near instantly diverted when Jayme let out a large snort.
“We’ll see if it lasts a season this time.”
“Must you be so cynical?” Vi laughed at Jayme’s remark. “Let the girl have her romance.”
“I’m being reasonable. Is he of a good family? Will her mother approve? What marriage must she make for the sake of alliances?”
“The North is not as concerned with such things as the South,” Vi reminded her. Jayme might look Eastern, but she’d grown up in the South. Her concerns and sensibilities were distinctly Southern as a result.
“They must not be,” she murmured.
“Are you concerned with such things?” Andru asked.
“I know that when it comes to my romantic life, it is best if I am not concerned. My opinion of my match will be the lowest rung on the ladder of considerations when the time comes.”
“Spoken like Prince Romulin,” he said softly. Vi turned, catching his icy blue eyes. It was spoken like her brother, because he was the one to have given her those words. “Do you find your brother’s counsel wise, princess?”
“More than any other’s.”
“He would make a fine ruler, had he been born first.” The words were said like agreement… but there was something that felt akin to a knife twisting in her.
A similar sensation to the one in the market returned, sweeping across new corners of her. Andru clearly thought Romulin was more fit to lead. He knew Romulin better—the whole of the South would. Romulin was their darling child and she was…
