Without a word she turned and marched back through the market the way she had come.
The crowds had spread out once more, no longer clumping about the cobbler’s stall. This probably meant that Felix was safely back, the purloined boots restored to their proper owner, and the attraction dissipated. Una had no eyes now for vendors, no matter how determinedly they shouted, jostled, or cajoled; she made her way back to where her docile gray mare was tied, not far from the old gentleman selling unicorn fry.
Her father and brother were both there – King Fidel giving a shamefaced Felix a scolding while the guards stood a few paces off, pretending not to hear, their heads tilted just enough to seem disinterested yet still able to pick up every word. One of them hid a laugh behind an unconvincing cough.
Sir Oeric, also near, bowed to Una as she approached, but she did not acknowledge him. Instead she walked up to her father, ignoring Felix’s scowls, and said, “I’m ready to go home now.”
“Una!” Fidel turned to her, relief on his face. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d rushed off seven leagues as well. What am I to do with you two?”
“Take us home,” Una said. “I am done with this market. It’s a silly place full of silly people.”
Fidel was nobody’s fool. He gave his daughter a critical once-over. “What have you been up to?”
“Nothing, Father! I – ”
“Do not be angry with your daughter, King Fidel,” a gentle voice said. “It was I who detained her.”
Una closed her eyes and wished that the ground would open and swallow her up. The nature of the universe seemed to be against her, however, and no sudden chasms rifted the turf beneath her feet. Instead she had to listen to her father ask in a stern voice, “And who might you be, sir?”
The stranger bowed. “Forgive me. I am Prince Aethelbald of Farthest–shore.”
Prince Felix muttered, “Aethelbald? I don’t think we can forgive that.”
Una shot him a quick glare, silently promising a dire future, but Felix made no effort to hide his mirth.
Thankfully the Prince of Farthestshore did not seem to notice. “I had intended to introduce myself to you first, Your Majesty, but circumstances transpired otherwise. However, let me now humbly express my joy at once more finding myself in your fair kingdom.”
Fidel stared. Una could not remember ever seeing her father, whom she imagined had been born a king complete with a beard and a gold crown on his head, at a loss for words. But as he regarded the strange prince, his expression implied that he was mentally considering and discarding any number of responses. At length he settled on “You are lord and master of all these peoples, then?” He indicated the assortment of beings milling about on the market lawn.
“I am their Prince,” he responded. “But many here do not call me master.”
“Ah.”
A pause followed – one of those pauses in which everyone feels the need to insert something profound, but no one can think of anything more profound than “So, yes. Anyway.” Una used the pause as an opportunity to sidle closer to her father, though this necessitated turning and facing the Prince of Farthestshore, which was no more comfortable, she found, than standing with him just behind her. She studied the toes of her shoes to avoid looking at him.
“So, yes. Anyway,” Felix said, stepping forward and extending a hand to the other prince, who shook it warmly. “I’m Felix, crown prince and all that, heir to the throne, though Una’s older. Don’t let her fool you. She’ll pretend she’s all right with the royal succession being what it is, but you get her in the right mood and – ”
“Felix!” Fidel and Una said, though in rather different tones. Felix let go of the other prince’s hand and backed away, still grinning.
King Fidel stepped forward, determined to once more take charge of the situation. “I bid you welcome to Parumvir, Prince A . . . Apple – ”
“Aethelbald.”
“Prince Aethelbald. Should you wish to dine at my table this evening, your presence would be well received.”
“Indeed,” said Prince Aethelbald, “such was my hope. Though I traveled with the market, my first desire was to pay my respects to you, Your Majesty, and most particularly to your daughter.”
Una blinked.
Her father said, “Pay your respects?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
Fidel cleared his throat. There are many expressive ways a king may clear his throat; this one expressed keen interest. “Just how great would you say your kingdom is?”
“How great can you imagine, King Fidel?”
“Rather great.”
“Mine is greater.”
“Ah.”
Another pause. Una’s mind had reached a mental wall several sentences back, and was only just now getting up the speed to vault it. But instead of making a graceful leap, her mind crashed headfirst into the wall, scattering bricks and uttering one long, silent Nooooooo!
Because she was a princess, however, her face remained serene.