“Like… Aren’t you concerned about their job dissatisfaction?”
“Job dissatisfaction?” He furrows his gray forehead. “I was not made aware of this supposed grievance.”
“Of course you weren’t,” I shrug. “I mean, look at you! If I wasn’t already scheduled to die tomorrow, I wouldn’t dare to tell you anything,trust.”
He pauses with a cube of meat halfway to his mouth, then sets it down. “Tell me what you believe you know about this job dissatisfaction you think you have perceived from my Mountain Goats.”
“Moons, I love how you makejob dissatisfactionsound like a foreign word.” I set my fork down, too. “But listen, I’m up for any kind of discussion that’ll delay this cold plunge you’ve got planned for me.”
I lean all the way in to tell him. “Well, this triple-the-price scheme to cross your land for the Convergence Games has basically dried up all their business. Pretty mucheverybody’staking their chances with the boats—even the non-flying species from Thyraelis and Emberglade. And that’s a brave move, considering all the stuff in the oceans that has no problem tipping a boat for kicks and giggles.”
Now, he shrugs. “They either pay our price or they assume the risk. Why would the goats be upset about that?”
“Because they’re sellingfewerrides.”
He regards me blankly. “Thanks to our fluctual pricing, which offers higher rates before major events in Pridehaven, they are paid the same either way. Also, the coin matters little to them. They are full citizens of our kingdom, which means they have full access to our stores.”
“Yeah, speaking of that… Lyxnia told me you have such a surplus of food, textiles, and everything else that the castle is running out of storage. She also said they’re having a terrible time with food rotting or getting infested because it’s just sitting around unused. And don’t get her started on the overcrowding in the livestock pens.”
“Who is this Lyxnia you speak of? And how does she know so much about the state of our stores?”
I jut my chin. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“I cannot honor this request because I do not jest in the least. Is she the Door Gravel who provided you with sleeping fleeces?”
“No. Your door servant of three solars is namedRinthiah,” I inform him. “Lyxniais the person in charge of your entire castle staff—so basically, the fae who keeps this place running while you and your horde are out playing your terrorism games.”
He narrows his red gaze. “I do not like how you label our necessary reckonings.”
“Well, I absolutely hate that you don’t even know the names of your own staff. So I guess we’re even?”
“We are not even, and your judgment is undue. I will have you know that I take care to memorize the names of each member of my horde, along with their designation.”
I stare at him. “Are you, like, trying to make sure I never kiss you again? Because if so, you get an A plus.”
“A plus?”
“It’s an old-planet grading system.” I wave it off. “You know what? Main point—you’re detestable. Like, truly everything I despise about royals. So, whatever.”
I let out a huff and push away my plate, no longer hungry. “Everybody’s complaining behind your back, and you don’t care because you don’t even know their names, so… forget I said anything, I guess.”
He’s quiet for a long time. And I wonder if I’ve finally gone too far with my mouth.
But then he says, “You, too, are having trouble reconciling that kiss.”
“Wait, what?” I jolt at the sudden change of subject. That was what he seized onto from this conversation? “No! I’m not having any trouble reconciling that kiss I totally shouldn’t have given you.”
“You have had no spontaneous recollections of it?” He crooks his head. “Even when attempting to do other things? Like eat… or talk with someone who only arrived in this kingdom recently about staff issues?”
All throughout the day, in unrelenting bursts.
“I mean, I did seriously consider growing some sethmint stems to make a paste so I could scrub the memory of it out of my mouth. But other than that, I haven’t thought about that kiss at all—except with the deepest regret.”
“Oh, I see.” He taps all four of his finger claws on the table. “Yet, this is not what you said to me last night.”
I freeze. “Last night?”
“Yes. When I came to secure you to the wall, you spoke to me quite frankly.”
