Page 33 of A Filling of Fables and Firelight

“Then why bring it up?”

“Only because you and Rana seem to be spending quite a bit of time together, so I just had a thought. That’s all.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t worry about it, Your Majesty. It was nothing.”

Kamaran breathed slowly through his nose as he pinched the bridge between two fingers. “Jasper.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Spit it out.”

“Oh! Right. Well, I was just thinking that if you wanted someone to read those for you, Rana would probably be happy to help. Not to mention, she has a lot of connections with the local merchants, and Teta says that if you want someone to get a deal, Rana is your girl.”

Kamaran’s feet had slowed to a halt during Jasper’s short speech. Panic squeezed his chest. “Why do you think I would want someone to read for me?” He applauded himself for keeping his voice casual.

Jasper, realizing that he was no longer beside him, stopped and turned around. “I noticed that you asked Zamar to read papers back to you sometimes. You don’t seem to like it very much.” He looked up and down the empty hall before dropping his voice to a whisper. “To be honest, neither do I. Your secret is safe with me.”

A breath of laughter, half amusement and half bewilderment, escaped him. Kamaran shook his head slowly. “Not much gets past you, does it?”

Jasper straightened, puffing his chest proudly. “Nope. If you ever get done needing a page, I think I would make a great spy.”

Kamaran jumped as a tiger silently appeared from the shadows, padding over to Jasper and chuffing as it butted its head into the page’s stomach.

“So would Spot,” Jasper added brightly.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He started walking again, giving Spot a few extra feet of space.

Jasper seemed content to spend the rest of the walk in peace. He stopped just outside of Rana’s door and held out the bundle of papers. “Oh, and just so you know,” he whispered conspiratorially. “Rana doesn’t share her Adhavian Delight with just anyone, so if she offers you a piece, it means she likes you.”

Kamaran couldn’t help the smile the words produced. “I appreciate the information.”

Rana’s voice floated through the open door. “What are you two whispering about?”

Jasper lifted his chin, calling out, “Nothing!” He turned back to Kamaran, winked, and tapped his temple as he whispered, “Remember—excellent spy.”

Kamaran shook his head as the page disappeared down the hall. He stepped into the sitting room, immediately feeling at home as he took in the now-familiar sight of the crackling fire and Rana stretched out before it. She jumped up and crossed the room as soon as their eyes met, a dazzling smile on her face that momentarily stopped him in his tracks.

“You’re early.” She reached for the papers and pried them out of his useless hands. “Why are you carrying this?”

He gave his head a small shake and blinked, waking his brain from its stupor. “I’m not an invalid.”

She turned, leading him back to the fire, and arched a brow over her shoulder. “Are you not a person still recovering? Or are we again rewriting the Adhavian dictionary?” She clicked her tongue. “You royals think you have jurisdiction over everything, don’t you?”

He gripped the sides of his chair as he slowly started to lower himself to the cushions, grimacing as the action caused the muscles in his side to tense. A sharp hiss startled him, and he quickly straightened his knees as Zade flew out of the seat where he had almost been sat on.

“I’m so sorry!” Rana dropped the papers on the table and was at his side in a moment, but he waved her away as he took his seat. He pressed his mouth in a tight, thin line to keep from grimacing at the pain that bloomed in his side. “I should have done a comfort-seeking menace check. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” he managed to bite out. Then, aware of Rana’s troubled eyes as she watched him, he forced his expression to soften. “I just need a minute. And maybe a piece of that.” His eyes flicked pointedly to the plate of Adhavian Delight on the table.

She grabbed the plate without a moment of hesitation and held it out to him, and he couldn’t help but glow inwardly as he remembered Jasper’s whispered words: “If she offers you a piece, it means she likes you.”

Yes, but how much? He argued with the memory. Enough for her to want to win the contest? Enough for her to be willing to tie herself to me for the rest of my life?

A series of images suddenly sprang to mind—Rana in a white dress with a crown of flowers in her hair, standing in the garden with him in front of a priest. Long nights in front of the fire with her nestled in his arms, telling him stories as she created works of art with nothing but a needle and a piece of thread. Tiny, dark-haired children with his eyes and Rana’s mischievous smile⁠—

“Kamaran?”