He shook his head.“Luxembourg is weeks away by horseback, months by foot.Consider this my contribution to our quest.Now, Enzo is to give you four shillings as change, and he may keep the remainder of the coin.Tell him you are instructed to have a fine meal and drink for your efforts.”
Bella took a deep breath.“Four shillings, whatever they are.I shall do as you bid.”
Riven gave her a careful description of shillings so she would not be swindled.
They came to the inn, and Bella relayed her message to Enzo.While the barkeep clearly did not believe her, the coin and its promise was enough to silence his doubts.Bella enjoyed a giant bowl of stew and honeyed mead, sneaking bits of her meal down to Riven when no eyes were on her.
From his position on the floor, Riven was able to hear everything...including the disparaging remarks made about himself:
He was not serious enough to inherit the kingdom.
Too bad the queen had not birthed a second, more responsible son.
He should be devoting his time to wooing a suitable maiden, not playing music.
The half-wit likely forgot he was scheduled to play today.All that ale yesterday....
Mayhap the enchantress who visited stole him away.Or did he woo her truly?
And then, there were the more generous comments from the women’s table:
Would that the prince were already their liege, as the day’s work would be merrier.
Aye!A carefree soul as the prince would likely forget to collect taxes!
An absent liege would be far better than the cruel one they had, for certain.
How drunk would the prince need to be to woo a lowly maid?
A fair face and finer dancer proved the price would be a great lover—should I ask the herbalist for a love potion?
Any prince that fine of feature was welcome to wooher.
He ducked low into his wineskin when he saw the last two ladies who wished his attention.The swineherd’s daughters’ fetid stench overwhelmed his own slimy pondwater.He glanced up at Bella, appreciating the tasty but salty morsels she continued to deliver to him from her own bowl.
A feeling of hopelessness swept over him.He knew as the prince that his actions would be scrutinized, but he truly thought he brought more joy than anguish to his people.Hearing these comments firsthand made him realize he, too, was being judged by the state of his visage and rank and not seen as the person he was.
‘Twas the first time he truly understood what Bella had meant, for ‘twas also the first time someone had walked fully in his own shoes.
And the way she saw Riven a person—despite his appearance—and not a prince to be charmed was energizing.Bella had no idea who he was.Her kindness had no ulterior motive, meaning she was naturally a generous person, which he truly admired.Were he human, he would tell her as much, for this was a woman he would like to take to wife.Of all the blasted timing of this stupid curse!
The realization he desired her was met with another delivered morsel of food from her kind hand.He swallowed the bit of meat and felt his stomach twist.Though the venison tasted fine, the stew suddenly made Riven gag.Nothing in the bowl sat right with him.Was their trial trip into town a waste?Would carrying the pondwater with them not circumvent the curse?As he pondered these questions, a cockroach scooted past Bella’s foot.Without thought, Riven’s tongue flicked out and snatched the bug, and he then swallowed it in one gulp.
It was exactly what his stomach needed.
So why did Riven want to vomit at what he’d done?
