Chapter 14

 

After a brief, delicious dinner of cold turkey, potatoes, and spiced pumpkin milk that chased the chill from our bones, everyone retired to their rooms. I was the last one out of the dining room and was making my way slowly up the stairs when I heard my name called. Surprised, I turned to see Andric standing at the base of the stairs.

He had been quiet all through dinner, and I passed it off as exhaustion because he had worked far longer on the house; but now, by the preoccupied look on his face, I realized he had just been biding his time. I made my way back down the stairs and sat on the second to last step facing him.

“Tired?” he asked with a kind smile.

I nodded. “Yes, but happy. It was a good day.”

Relief flooded his face, chasing away shadows I hadn't realized were there until they vanished. “Really? You had a good time?”

I smiled up at him. “Is it so hard to believe? I had a great time painting, though I'm so unaccomplished at it they need to make a new word for what I do, like plunking, only worse.” I grimaced at the thought of my picture of Trae, and saw an answering grin on Andric's face. “You saw my picture?” I asked in horror.

He nodded. “It was pretty bad.” He laughed and danced out of the way to avoid my slap. “Well, almost as bad as mine on a good day,” he put in to appease me. At my expression, he turned serious again.

“What?” I asked.

He slid down the wall so that he sat at the base of the stairs and looked up at me. “What else did you like about the day?”

“Why do you want to know so badly?” I asked curiously. We were already here and couldn't leave until spring. What did it matter to him if we enjoyed ourselves?

He shrugged and studied the wall across from him. “I don't know. I guess I feel guilty and want to make sure that the stay isn't too miserable for all of you.”

I stared at him a moment, realizing this was truly important to him. I thought the day over. “Well, I really did have a good time painting with the other girls, although I didn't think I would.” His look asked me to explain, so I continued, “They don't know what to do with me, really. I don't fit in, but I think they're alright with that now. I think they realize that it's alright if I'm not like them, and I hope they can see I'm not trying to fill Rory's place.”

I swallowed and continued quickly, “It sounds like the boys also had a good time at the forge designing swords. I made the mistake of suggesting that we swap activities tomorrow to give everyone a challenge.”

Andric stared at me. “You did?”

I nodded, chagrined. “Yeah, and they actually accepted.”

His eyes grew wider. “They did?”

I had to laugh. “Yeah; can you imagine the Princesses in the forge designing weapons? I feel bad for your sword smith.”

Andric laughed too, a pleasant sound. “Hensas will be beside himself when you girls walk in. I should probably warn him.”

“It gets worse,” I admitted. I couldn't meet his gaze.

“What?” he pressed in a cautious tone.

I took a deep breath and rushed forward, “Somehow, Nyssa and the other girls challenged the boys to a duel when the weapons are done and we've had a chance to train.” I swallowed. “And they talked me into training them, though I don't know the least bit about teaching.”

He was quiet for so long that I stole a glance at him. His brow was lowered, but he had a small smile on his face.

“What are you thinking?” I asked carefully.

He looked up at me. “I was just thinking that you’d make a good trainer. The skills you showed when we were attacked by the Breizans were first class.” His dark eyes sparkled in the moonlight that drifted from the high slit windows.

He was teasing me, but was serious at the same time. He truly thought that I could train the girls. “I still don't think it's a good idea.” I sighed. “But I gave my word so now I'm stuck. I can't figure out how they got me involved.”

Andric laughed. “Princesses are pretty wily. They learn a lot more than just sewing.”

I laughed with him, then sobered, realizing the fact that they had weaseled me into agreeing was proof I didn't know much about the wily side of being a princess. I turned back to our conversation. “My favorite part was helping with the house. I've never done anything like that before.”

Andric nodded thoughtfully. “I didn't know if I should stop you for fear that you’d hurt yourself.” At my look, he chuckled. “But I realized you wouldn't really give me a choice in the matter. I was happy to see everyone else get involved, even though the twins almost killed us a few times with that pulley.”

I nodded. “The best part was when the Kasans got to move back in. Did you see how happy they were?”

Andric nodded. “They needed that. It broke my heart when I found out they’d had a fire while we were gone.” His brow creased. “They lost a son in the last attack with the Breizans we had a few months ago. It was a hard battle, and more were lost than in any other attack. With fewer supplies and some families already gone to make their own way, it's getting harder to defend our small country.”

He took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before letting it out slowly. I could see how much this ate at him. Loathing crossed his face, hatred for his inability to do anything to save his people.

“You didn't do this to them,” I whispered.

He turned and stared up at me, his expression hard.

“This isn't your fault,” I continued. “You're holding together the shattered remains of a country that someone else handed to you.”

“Someone else?” he repeated, his tone sharp. “That someone else was my father and my grandfather. They were able to keep this kingdom alive and prospering, well supplied through the diamonds that were mined.”

“Diamonds that are no longer there, which is something you are not able to fix. The same thing would happen to us if all of our ships were lost at sea, and to Tyn and Veren if the plains caught fire. It would happen to Maesh if their herds became sick, or to Cren if the trade stopped. Things happen and there's no way to prevent them.”

Andric was quiet, and I could tell by the look on his face that he didn't believe me. I knew I wasn't going to win the argument. “Fine,” I relented. “You believe what you want, but your people look up to you and respect you in a way I haven't seen in any other country. You must be doing something right.”

I rose to my feet. “Good night, Andric. It was a good day, and I look forward to another one.”

“Good night, Kit,” he said quietly. He looked at me, but I could tell that his thoughts were elsewhere. I made my way slowly up the stairs to my room. When I undressed and climb into bed, it was a long while before I could sleep.