He smiled. “It never does get old, watching you squirm.” He sat up then, dismounting the chair and straightening his shirt. “Anyway, I have some business to attend to out in the Wilds today. Want to join?”
“Are you actually giving me a choice in something?” She was only half-teasing. Up until now, no one had given her a say in what her next move would be. She fluffed the duvet, if for no other reason than to have something to do with her hands.
“It seems I am. So, what do you say?” The way the sun was hitting him caused the amber flecks in his eyes to turn to liquid gold. It was mesmerizing.
“Ahem.” He was staring at her, one corner of his mouth lifting.
She’d stared too long. “What? Oh.” She scratched the back of her head and tucked a loose hair behind her ear. “Yeah. I think I will.”
“Good. Now get dressed and meet me downstairs in half an hour. It could be a long day, so we need to grab a bite to eat before we head out.” As he turned to leave, a knock sounded at the door.
“Expecting company?” Slaide asked pointedly.
She shook her head. She wasn’t, but maybe Ezekiel had finally tracked her down? She found herself missing his company.
Another knock, more forcefully this time. Hazel’s hand flew to the locket, finding it warm to the touch.
“Slaide!” came a voice that sent shivers down Hazel’s spine. Not Ezekiel, then.
“Fuck,”Slaide hissed. He looked back at Hazel. “Don’t move.” He cracked the door open and said, “To what do I owe this visit, Your Majesty?”
Hazel gulped.He’s probably wondering why I’m not dead.
Slaide slid out between the doors, leaving them slightly ajar behind him.
The berating started immediately.
“Slaide Elias, you’d better tell me the gods-damned rumor I just heard isn’t true.” The King seethed.
“Depends on the rumor, I guess. You’ll have to be more specific,” Slaide joked in his particularly nonchalant way.
“Don’t toy with me, boy. You’re letting her sleep in your gods-damned quarters. I knew you were stupid. But this… She’s meant to be in a cell, you fool! Locked away like the prisoner she is. What are you thinking?”
“I’mthinkingshe’ll be more likely to explain, cooperate, Hel, even show me what secrets she’s hiding if she’s comfortable here. She needs some reassurance that death isn’t looming around every corner.” She heard Slaide say plainly. She pictured his crossed arms, his feigned boredom.
“But deathislooming around every corner, Slaide. Especially for her. She’s not a guest here. Imagine how ridiculous I looked this morning when I learned from Lord Giles of all people that the bitch wasn’t locked up in the dungeon! When I said you could oversee her interrogation and training for the tournament, I didn’t mean she could roam the halls!”
Was this it? Would Slaide relent and she’d be forced to be back in the depths of the castle?
But she heard the smile in Slaide’s voice when he responded. “To be fair, Lord Giles is the Lord of Gossip. He could tell you when you’re going to take a shit before your bowels so much as grumble.”
“This isn’t a joke, Slaide. Mark my words. You will pay for this.” The last Hazel heard of the King was the sound of his shoes clopping down the hallway.
“I look forward to it,” Slaide muttered in his wake.
After the abrupt intrusion,Hazel and Slaide met for an uneventful, silent meal before making their way to the stables. Despite the recent rain, the previously squelching mud had mostly dried up. Impressions of wagon wheels and horseshoes were hardened into the ground, which was much easier to traverse this time around. No boots getting sucked into the muck, no splatter from the wagons as they rolled past.
The sun warmed Hazel’s face, and she could almost feel her freckles threatening to pop up in its embrace. A few of the horses were in the paddocks grazing, and she spied Phillip among them.
When he saw Slaide, he whinnied and trotted to the fence. Slaide pulled half an apple out of his pack and handed it over to the eager beast, who crunched happily. Juice from the apple spritzed Hazel’s face, and she laughed. She wiped her cheek and caught Slaide staring down at her.
He shook his head as though trying to shake off the grin growing on his face before turning from her and entering the stable. Phillip took his cue and walked to the paddock gate and back into the barn to meet them.
The barn smelled of freshly oiled leather, alfalfa, and horse. The grooms and stable hands took meticulous care of the animals and grounds, but Hazel noticed none of them ever touched Phillip. She pondered that for a moment, when she discovered a second set of tack sitting beside Slaide’s. Hazel’s insides flipped in excitement, glad at the prospect of riding again—and not having to ride double. Slaide handed her a stiff bristled brush and nodded toward his horse, who was now munching hay in the stall.
Hazel approached the midnight black gelding with a beaming smile on her face. Phillip paid her no mind, continuing to munch on his meal as she entered and approached him. Only when she reached his flank did he lift his head in acknowledgment before returning to his business.
Slaide observed from outside the stall, arms folded as usual, and Hazel was beginning to think it was the only way he knew how to stand.
