Annaleigh shoves a carrot in her mouth and shrugs. "Is it really that surprising?"
My mouth falls open. "Uh, yeah! He's known me for a month! And in that time, we've spoken, like, three times! And he hates me! I broke his precious Isiriel laws. And I don't like him either."
One of Annaleigh's eyebrows arches. "You don't?"
I scowl. "Of course, I don't. He's so cocky and rude."
She shrugs again. "He's the king. Isn't that a given?"
I sputter. "Why are you defending him?"
She takes the empty bowl that we were snacking out of over to her sink, where she leaves it. She turns and leans against the stone holding her sink aloft. The quarters that Annaleigh shares with Kale are the only ones I've been in, but according to her, they have the biggest quarters in the High Mountain, with the exception of the king. I guess those are the perks of being married to the Captain of the Guard.
"I'm defending him because the king and I are very good friends. He's a good person. He's stern when he has to be, but if you would just get to know him, I'm certain the two of you would get along nicely."
I narrow my eyes at her, a suspicion starting to form in my gut. "Annaleigh…"
She turns her back to me and starts washing dishes, clearly avoiding my eye.
"Annaleigh, did you tell King Cage to propose to me?" Just the thought has my stomach rumbling uncomfortably.
She spins to face me. "Yes, okay? He mentioned to Kale that he thought marrying a human would be helpful for the human-Isiriel relationship, and I just mentioned that you might be open to it."
I feel like a fish, unable to stop gawking. "But why?" I choke out.
She comes back to the table and takes my hand. "Because I'm worried you'll get lonely here. I feel like you came here to be with me, and now I live here and you live in the village. If you marry the king, you'll be permitted to live here in the mountain and you'll have responsibilities. You'll have a job."
"I have a job."
"I know, and you can keep doing that. You can sell your flowers here, too. The Isiriel would love it."
I can't believe we're even having this conversation. I can't believe my best friend, of all people, thinks I should do this.
"When I mentioned you," she says, catching my attention again, "he didn't even question it. He actually seemed…excited. Alice, I think the king really likes you. He wouldn't have asked you to do this if he didn't want you to be his queen. He takes his role very seriously."
She thinks he…likesme? I guess I couldn't really fathom what he wanted with me, but could it be possible that he just wants…me?
“Wait. Do you think King Cage is a virgin?” Annaleigh told me a long time ago that the Isiriel don’t have sex until they’remarried and that losing their virginity is akin to taking wedding vows.
She smiles. “He’s never been married, so I can only assume he is.”
Something about knowing this makes my heart race, and I have to look away from the smug look on Annaleigh’s face.
After I've stayed far too long and realize I need to get back to my plants before sunset, I walk back to the village alone. Annaleigh offered to walk me back, but I honestly just need time to think. The blueish tint of the Isiriel sun paints the dirt a strange purple color, and I stare down at all the little rocks and pebbles as I step over them. The first thing I bought when I came to Isiriel almost a year ago was a pair of shoes made by an Isiriel woman in the High Mountain. My high tops weren’t great on the rocks.
I think, to an extent, Annaleigh is right. Since I’ve moved here, I haven’t really felt like I’ve fit in. I have some friends in the village, mostly other people who trade in the market and have stalls close to mine. But I eat dinner alone every night. I go for my morning walk alone. I stand at my stall alone.
Maybe I should get an Isiriel dog. What are the chances it would set my cabin on fire?
I come to a stop when I reach the edge of the village. There’s a group of Isiriel males doing something in front of the door that leads into my cabin. I watch them, trying to figure out if they’re a threat. I’ve never once felt unsafe in the village, but I guess every place has to have its dangers.
Just as I’m about to turn back for the mountain, maybe come down here with Kale in tow or something, one of the males spots me, and I finally see clearly what’s happening. It’sthe guard from this morning. He has a box in his hand, and he and the other Isiriel are unloading more boxes from a small wheelbarrow between them.
“Ma’am,” the guard says, nodding his head in my direction. “We were sent to deliver these gifts from the king.”
I finally get my feet to move, taking me closer so I can get some idea what’s in the boxes, but they’re just regular brown boxes. “What are they?” I ask the guard.
“Seeds.” When I don’t immediately answer, he elaborates. “The king has sent you seeds from every plant that grows here in Isiriel. He wishes you to have the beautiful garden you desire.” He hands me the box he’s holding, so light it might as well be empty. I’m curious if those were the king’s words, or if this person in front of me is just making assumptions about the king’s intentions.
