She listened and slammed the door with a bang.
The prince released a long breath, “I never understand how some can deform the page of a book.” He pulled at the thin ribbon attached to the book and placed it gently across the page. “Bending a book’s page should be banned. I am in the right mind to ask father to pass it as law. I prefer to treat a book like a lover, always handling it with gentle, tender hands.” He looked up and smiled. Without looking down, he closed the book and pushed it to the side.
“And how can I help you, Commander?” He turned his gaze to her, and stood from the desk. The heavy chair squeaked across the floor as he stood.
“Unfortunately, this elfin boy has decided he wants to ignore a simple command,” she replied. “During this morning’s separation of the shifters he refused to shift for me.”
Prince Hadrian didn’t say anything, only nodding as the Commander spoke. I caught his gaze as he looked towards me, a glint of interest passing behind his eyes. “Is that so…”
“Yes. And since King Dalior is occupied, he’s asked that you are the first to deal with requests whilst he is… busy.”
Prince Hadrian walked around the desk to the other side and leaned against it. He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. “Thank you, Commander, for bringing him to me. You can leave him with me and return back to your task,” he said. “Please, do not let him occupy any more of your time.”
“Thank you, your highness.” It was clear that her thanks pained her from the involuntary twitching of her face. She bowed her head and ushered me forward. Prince Hadrian moved for the door before the Commander could reach it. He opened it wide and gestured with his eyes for her to leave. He watched her walk away, and closed the door when she moved from view. He turned back to face me, his smile still wide.
“It would seem we are unable to stay away from each other, Zacriah.” Hadrian’s deep laugh filled the limited space between us. “I must admit I am not too sure what Commander Alina is asking of me, but I suppose, for today, you can stay with me until I figure out what we are going to do with you. I have a few errands to run in Masarion this morning you may accompany me on. That will give us time to properly get to know each other.”
“I would be honoured to spend the day with you,” I lied.
“Fabulous.” He pulled a cloak from the back of a chair and threw it around him. “I don’t suppose I need to give you another one of my cloaks?”
“No, your highness.”
“Please, Hadrian will do. I get enough of the title from Alina and the rest of the guards.”
A silver pin clasped the folds together, keeping it wrapped around him. He moved to the candles, blowing them out one by one until a single line of smoke lifted from the wick. “I am starved, you must be too. I know the best market stall in Masarion who serves the best steamed buns.”
“I don’t have any coin on me your highn—Hadrian.” The thought of eating with him was not one that excited me.
“Then I suppose I shall be treating you to breakfast.”
MASARION WAS ALIVE with movement. Elves’ selling from market stalls, the narrow streets full of package wagons, and carts with goods for trade. The scent of fresh baked bread and dried herbs from the passing vendors made my mouth water as soon as we passed the bridge from Thalor.
Hadrian must have felt the same, for he’d steered us to a man who sold us each a fresh brown loaf that steamed in our hands. The trader was adamant that he wouldn’t take Hadrian’s payment, but didn’t notice when Hadrian slipped two silver coins into the loose pocket of his apron.
The bread was the best I’d ever had. The crust was hard, the perfect crunch. The doughy innards were the perfect balance between moist and cooked. I picked at it as I followed Hadrian from the trader back on route to his destination.
When I had visited Masarion with Fa, we had spent the entirety of the first day haggling with vendors to sell our trinkets and loot with the passers-by. I remembered one Niraen man who wanted the china set Mam had asked us to sell. The man was persistent that the price he offered was final, but I managed to up it by the time he bought them. I chuckled at the memory when I passed a similar man haggling with another to our left. The nostalgic feeling was pleasing. My shoulders were relaxing the deeper we walked into the winding streets, immersing ourselves in the crowds around us, leaving the palace behind.
Children ran up to Hadrian, some even playing games with him, jumping around corners and from behind stalls. Hadrian played along, pulling them up and swinging them around in the air whilst they shrieked with glee. It was clear his people loved him.
We left the children and walked forward only a few steps before Hadrian halted. A group of young girls, each covered in dirt and rags, sat in a shadowed doorway off the side of the main street. I stayed back but stretched my hearing enough to hear what Hadrian said when he greeted them.
“Here...” He broke the bread and passed large chunks into their frail hands. The girls squeaked their thanks and started ripping the bread to shreds and devouring it.
“Where are your parents?” he asked, kneeling on the ground before them.
The oldest of the girls spoke up, “Dead, sir.” She didn’t look up from the bread when she spoke. Her accent was rough, much different from Hadrian’s. It was similar to mine. She was not from Olderim.
“How?” Hadrian asked.
The oldest girl finished her piece and looked up, “The monsters, sir.”
“Yeh, the monsters with black blood.” One of the smaller girls chimed in, speaking through a full mouth.
“You!” Hadrian shouted at a patrolling guard. “Take these girls to the palace and be sure to have them cleaned and fed.”
The guard nodded, his armour golden in the sunlight. Hadrian turned back to the girls. “My friend here is going to take you to the palace where you will be treated like princesses. Do you like the sound of that?” The girls peaked at the mention of princesses. They jumped up, bouncing with excitement.
The guard directed them back onto the path back towards the palace. Hadrian stood and watched with his face pinched. I stepped forward, conscious that I should have given my bread to them also. “Will they really be treated like Princesses?” I asked.
“They have my word.” It was all he said. His voice was cold and distant as he watched them walk off with the guard. Once they were out of view, he turned and smiled, beckoning me to follow.
The silent journey gave me a lot of time to think, time that I wished was filled up with other thoughts. I was surprised that the topic of the morning had not been brought up, since that was the only reason the Commander had dumped me with Hadrian. I knew the conversation would rear its ugly head soon. I’d have to tell him, there was no way around this.