“Don’t worry about him,” Jax continued, scratching under the goose’s chin and speaking in a low, sing-song voice. “He’s just grumpy because he’s not as cute as you. He doesn’t understand what a burden it is to carry such sweetness. In fact—” He froze, his hand still on Phee’s neck, as the glint of something gold in the pile of straw in the corner caught his eye.
Is that…?
“Say, Lassie,” he stretched out the words slowly. “Your goose doesn’t happen to lay golden eggs, does she?”
Atlas dropped his arm to his side, letting the axe hang harmlessly. “What? Of course not.”
“You’re absolutely sure?”
“I think I would know if my goose did something as unusual as lay golden eggs.” Atlas drawled the words as if he never heard anything so preposterous in his life.
Obviously he has never seen some of the birds in Faerie.
“Excellent,” Jax said, giving the goose one last pet before hopping lightly to his feet. He bent his waist in a deep bow and waved one hand with a flourish. “It has been lovely to make your acquaintance, but I regret to inform you that I must be on my way.”
“No need to regret it. I don’t.”
“And there are those charming manners again.” He smiled fondly. “You truly are a paragon of warmth and welcome, Lassie. I’ll be seeing you.” He flicked two fingers out in a salute as he stepped quickly around the giant and exited the barn as quickly as he could without appearing to run.
I’ll just go back to the orchard and wait for him to leave, then come back and get the egg. For all that he claims not to have a golden goose, I don’t trust that he won’t change histune if he actually sees the dragon egg. Gold has done stranger things to men.
“Please don’t.” Atlas’s words followed him as he rounded the corner of the barn and promptly collided with a second figure.
“Ow.” Jax stumbled back a step as he held a hand to his sore chin. “Does everyone in this realm have such hard heads?”
“Watch where you’re going!” The angry voice resided in the undecided space between youth and manhood. Dark eyes simmered with pent-up frustration and the darkness of grief, and the boy’s round face pulled into a scowl.
Jax lifted an eyebrow. “Maybe you should watch where you’re standing.”
The boy threw his shoulders back, no doubt intending to make himself taller, though he still only came to Jax’s chin. “Do you even know who you’re talking to?”
“Hmm.” Jax crossed his arms and tilted his head, pretending to be deep in thought. “I can’t say that I do. Did I miss the introductions?”
“I’m Jacques.” The boy’s eyes widened pointedly as he said the name, as if that information alone were significant.
“Really?” Jax chuckled with genuine amusement as he stepped around the boy to ensure they were both out of sight should Atlas step out of the barn. “I’m Jax. What a coincidence.”
“PrinceJacques.”
“Oh, right. What a coincidence,Your Highness.” Jax punctuated his words with the tiniest of bows.
The action only made Jacques’ scowl lines deeper. “You ran into me.”
“An honest mistake, I assure you. I don’t often go around checking the corners of a giant’s barn for lurking royalty. Please forgive me.”
The prince did not grant the requested absolution, but a sudden change in topic indicated that he found the apology at least somewhat adequate. “Can a goose really lay a golden egg?”
Jax shrugged as he turned and peered around the corner of the barn. “Depends on the goose.”
“Canthatgoose lay a golden egg?”
“I don’t know. It’s rather impolite to ask at a first meeting. Atlas seemed to think not.”
“Then why did you ask him about it?” Jacques leaned closer, his eyes narrowing.
“A matter of professional curiosity. I’m a Bird Catcher by trade.”
“That’s not a real job.”
