Page 91 of A Wayward Movement

She gave her head a shake, pulling her attention back to the road. Of course she’d made the right decision. It was the same one she’d made ten years ago, and that one had proved sound. So much had gone wrong in her life, and her own wise decisions were all that had protected her through it. She couldn’t afford to question them now.

Her mind turned back to Benji, who was riding in the carriage with Lilah, and her spirits sank further.

“Are you sure you’re recovered enough to be riding, Miss Alina?”

The solicitous question came from Xavier’s servant, Charles, who was riding just behind her. She turned in the saddle to smile at him, a small jolt going through her as she realized that the prince was right beside him.

“Yes, I’m perfectly strong now, thank you, Charles,” she told him.

“I only ask because you look troubled,” he said kindly. “If there’s anything that can be done to make you more comfortable, I hope you’ll let me know.”

Alina thanked him.

“Unfortunately, you can’t help with what’s troubling me, but I appreciate the offer.”

She felt Xavier’s eyes fly swiftly to her face, and realized how he might construe her words.

“I’m sad for my friend,” she said quickly. “Benji. He took an assessment at the Craftsman’s Guild while we were in the capital, competing for a scholarship. We were all hopeful, but he was unsuccessful.”

“I’m sorry,” Charles said, his voice sympathetic.

“Benji didn’t get in?” With a casual movement, Xavier directed his horse forward, to Alina’s other side. “You didn’t tell me that.”

Charles melted respectfully back as Alina turned to the prince.

“I didn’t get the chance. We only learned yesterday.”

“He must be very disappointed.”

Alina was glad to see no hint of the teasing Xavier loved to direct to the over-zealous teenager.

“We all are,” she acknowledged. Her forehead creased. “And surprised. I mean, we knew it was never a sure thing. But he was so optimistic after the entrance test. He thought it went very well, and the demeanor of the one administering the test encouraged him to think he had an excellent chance. Even yesterday, when we heard that a member of the guild had come to see him at the castle, it seemed a good sign. Surely they would simply send a letter if it was a rejection.”

She glanced toward the carriage some way ahead of them, Xavier’s eyes following. Zuzu had decided that perching right on top of it was the best way to travel, the anzu swaying steadily with the vehicle’s movement.

Alina dropped her voice a little. “But when Benji came out of the meeting, he was very tense. He said he hadn’t gotten in, and he made light of the whole thing. But something was off.”

Xavier’s eyes were intent on her face, and she found herself lowering her gaze. He was listening closely, his focus on her words about Benji. But the earnest expression brought the previous day’s encounter to mind, and it was hard to hold his eyes.

“That’s strange,” Xavier said. “I wish I’d known this before we left Sindon. I could have spoken to someone at the guild and found out what exactly their decision was.”

“I don’t want to put you to any inconvenience,” Alina said quickly.

“Maybe I want to be put to the inconvenience,” Xavier said unemotionally. “I’ll speak to someone on his behalf when I return to the capital. Surely something can be done.”

Alina’s instinct was to reject this offer of help, but she felt she couldn’t do so on Benji’s behalf.

“That’s kind of you,” she said, her voice stilted.

Her eyes strayed toward the carriage again, only to encounter Captain Mitchell riding alongside it. He was watching her and the prince, and when their eyes locked, she looked quickly away. A prickle of discomfort went through her. The captain had never been warm toward her, and given the way Xavier flirted at times, she didn’t blame him. But his scrutiny of her during their week in the capital was something different. She didn’t understand it, and that made her uneasy.

“Alina.” Xavier’s soft voice brought her attention back to him. “There’s something I need to say about what happened yesterday.”

Alina raised a hand. “Please, Xavier. You don’t need to explain—”

“You’ve made it clear you don’t want explanations,” he cut her off. “But I have to be allowed to make a correction. You said I was looking at you like I was going to call you a coward. I wasn’t.”

Alina fiddled with the reins in her hand, less able to meet his eyes than ever.