“No, that’s why I’m asking.”
I stalled, conjuring an explanation and coming up short. “Mr. Evergreen, the chariot is a recent introduction.”
“Is it?” He shook his head. “No, it can’t be. I distinctly remember pony rides when I was a child.”
“Here?” Sam asked. “I’ve never seen a pony ride in town.”
“Oreia,” Cyrus said. “The Apple Faire.”
“Pony rides, yes. But not the chariot. The chariot is most certainlynotsomething you would have experienced as a child,sir. That particular detail only ran one year after it broke a wheel and…” I did the math. “You were in attendance two years ago?”
He shook his head. “No, I must be mistaken.”
The Prince whistled slowly. I looked at him.
“Do you have a comment, Your Highness?”
They shared a look.
“Sameer?” I demanded.
At my command, he spoke, barely faster than he processed his friend’s protest against it. “Didn’t you vanish around that time?”
“Vanish?” I asked.
“That’s dramatic,” Cyrus said.
Sam shrugged. “You were gone for a month.”
Cyrus was unconvinced. “A month? Two weeks at best.”
“It’s aweekof travel,” I said. “Plus a week of the Faire. A week back.” I counted on my hand. “A month give or take.”
He wasclearlytrying to construct some lie. He took his time.
“Give or take,” he said finally. “And I didn’t vanish. I didn’t stay the week. I stayed a day.”
“A day?” I asked. “You traveled two weeks to stay a day?”
“Frankly, love, I’m not sure how deeply you wish to pry. There’s only one reason a man travels so far for so little,” Sam said.
“Sam,” Cyrus begged.
“What reason?” I asked.
Sam shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t think he wants me to disclose that to you.”
I clicked my tongue. “What was the reason, sir?”
Sam sighed.
Evergreen shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past.”
The Prince said, “As all skeletons should be.”
“Skeletons? Mr. Evergreen has askeleton?”I asked. “What skeleton? Like a body?”
“Abody?No, a lover,” Sam said. “Have you not heard that expression? Skeletons in your wardrobe?”
