Onric paused. He had not thought of that. He had been so focused on his search that he had not stopped to notice how the empty stone structures had felt. “I don’t know. I don’t think I really noticed.”
She looked up at him then, her eyes once again looking for something in his face. “How could you not notice? What did it feel like?”
He placed the cheese back on the plate and tried to recall his experiences of the day. “Well, it was empty, so it felt... empty. And I guess it was quite looted, which does make me feel a little sad now that I think about it.”
“Looted?” Her eyes were wide. “Everything? The hives? The library?”
“Well, I’m sure the monks took the important manuscripts with them.”
“I think it’s terrible that they were forced to leave.” Her voice held a note of bitterness.
This was getting interesting. “Even though Crown Prince Ian specifically issued the decree in accord with the regulations of the Council?”
She looked up again quickly, a slight fear in her eyes. “No, I’m not saying the prince did wrong. It just seems unfair that the monastery had to be uprooted because it was so close to the sea.”
“It was for everyone’s safety.”
“What about the safety of the people in the town? The monks cared for everyone—the people, the animals, the plants, the shipwrecked sailors. What about their safety? Now everyone is at the capricious whims of the sea.” She had stopped sewing and was stabbing the air with her needle to emphasize her point.
He leaned on his elbows, to get closer to her across the table. “What about the safety of the monks themselves? The Majis are returning, and they have a unique power over the sea.”
“The monks knew the risks, and they wanted to stay. They are as much a part of that monastery as the stones themselves.”
“But they still followed the orders from Prince Ian.”
She paused, obviously wary of speaking ill of the royal family. “I just wish King Frederich had stopped them.” She had dropped her eyes back to his shirt, deftly catching the fabric with her needle.
Onric was thoroughly enjoying himself. People generally did not speak to members of the royal family so openly. Perhaps his brain was muddled from the cold, or perhaps it was the few mahogany curls that had come loose and slipped down the side of her face, but he would be happy to continue conversing with this girl all night.
“So Prince Ian was wrong?” He tried to stop the stupid grin that spread across his face, but he so desperately wanted to hear this anonymous young woman criticize his perfect brother.
“Oh, no.” She glanced up at him quickly, her face pale. “That’s not what I said. Of course, the crown prince was right to follow the wishes of the Council. I would never...”
“Don’t worry,” he cut her off, “I understood your meaning completely, and I wish that the monastery could have remained untouched.” He had not intended to cause her alarm.
“You are sure?” Her soft brown eyes pleaded with him. “I would never breathe a word against the royal family.”
“Absolutely,” he reassured her, not wanting to give away his identity. “I am entirely in agreement with you.”
She scoured his face for a few more moments before nodding and dropping her eyes back to her stitching. She snipped the end of the thread and set down her needle. “It’s done.”
“That was... quick.” He stood up, swinging off his jerkin, and walked over to her. He was not sure how long it should have taken, but he wished it had taken longer.
She stood, handing him the shirt.
He slipped it over his head, not even thinking to check her work. He could feel the light touch of her fingertips as she adjusted the sleeve over his arm, tracing the line of the seam she had just sewn.
“It’s not completely hidden, but it sits just fine.” She looked up at him, her smile reserved.
“Yes, it does.” His eyes were looking at her, though, not at his outstretched arm.
“I’m afraid I have to get back to the washing.” She was still standing right next to him.
“I won’t keep you. I should get back to my brother.”
She stepped backwards. “Your brother?”
“We, uh, yes.” He gritted his teeth. He was addled in the brain. “My brother. We did not want to frighten you all at once.”
