“Not particularly,” I said. “But you could be adopted.”
“Henry is not my father,” he replied. “I look like my father. I thought I told you? My father’s dead.”
“I’m so sorry; I forgot,” I sobbed. “I’m sorry. Of which territory does your father hail then?” I asked.
“You don’t believe me?” he said. “That Henry is not my father or that my father was an ostler?”
I hooked my hands, avoiding his eyes. “I don’t know, sir. I can’t even place the Evergreen name right now, and I hate myself for forgetting him if we’ve met. I seem to be very good at that.”
“Don’t terrorize yourself for it,” he said. “The Evergreens aren’t noble. Do you know every unimportant house in all of Oreia?”
“I know some,” I said quietly. “Especially in the northern territories. And I like names that are pretty like yours. I thought I would remember it, but apparently not. I’m very sorry.”
“No,” he said. “No, don’t be. It’s fine.”
“Was his passing difficult for your mother?” I asked.
“Are we exchanging pleasantries or wounds?”
“She’s gone, too,” I realized. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m making everything worse.”
“No. She…She passed when I was very young,” he said.
“...Mine, too.”
“I know.”
“Of course you know,”I grimaced. “Everyone talks so very much. Don’t they? Hardly a secret I could afford for myself, I suppose. Everyone knows everything of me and of her, her insanity, but I know nothing of anyone!”
Mr. Evergreen relaxed. “They only talk about you and your family because no one asks them about themselves.”
Isaac made a sad whinny, dancing on her hooves to interrupt our show. He reached into one of the satchels that hung off the side of her and pulled out a crimson sphere.
“...You brought apples?” I asked.
“Aye. For Ice. And I’d offer you one, but I think you might take offense to that. I’m really not out to remind you of anything. The horses are just accustomed to a certain lifestyle.”
“Well. Perhaps they’re spoiled, but it’s not every day that a man brazenly eats fruit off of my plate and then winks about his crime to boot. I can’t see how I’d forget, though I appreciate the effort not to conjure it, Mr. Evergreen. Maybe you have a future in poison tasting for some lonely King, should you grow tired of swinging steel for this one? My father might even hire you. He talks about things like that…What?”
“...I meant I did not wish to remind you of Sam and Agatha, Your Highness.”
“Oh.”
“In the hall.”
“Oh,no,”I said.I had discarded thoughts of the Prince’s indiscretion. Cyrussawme do it. He saw me babble on abouthimeatingmyapple, and I– “I think we should head back,” I said.
“Alright,” he agreed. There was a strange moment between us as he wet his lips and looked intently at me. “On one condition,” he said.
“What? What condition?” I asked. “You cannot condition me; I’m your superior. If I say go, we go.”
“What was the boy’s name?” he asked.
“Mr. Evergreen, no,” I said.
“I won’t share it,” he vowed. “If that’s the concern. I promise. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Oh, sure. You won’t run back to your precious, ugly mug Sameer and tell him then?”
