A Beast's Tale

Chapter 75

We rode all morning to reach Freedom, most of that time spent in silence. Ivetta tried to start the conversation back up a few times, but Gilbert and I were already fed up with each other, and she finally gave up. I felt a twinge of guilt, watching her gazing out at the countryside, her green eyes closed off to me. This was supposed to be enjoyable for her. I shouldn't have allowed my emotions to override my logic. Allies or not, Gilbert and I just couldn't get along when she was around. He still loved her, and I still hated that. It didn't matter that she didn't return his feelings. I shouldn't have brought her along for this trip.

Newly plowed fields came into view, filled with draft horses and men hard at work. Most of them stopped to wave at Leon when they saw him. Ivetta straightened in her saddle, her eyes lighting up with interest. It wouldn't be long until we reached Freedom. Hopefully that would give her reason to smile again, since I was clearly failing in that department.

The dirt road under our horses' hooves transitioned to cobblestone as bright new buildings came into view. Each was built of freshly cut planks of wood and clean, unweathered stonework. Interspersed between and beyond the completed buildings was newly erected framework and plots of dirt staked out for more construction. More draft horses pulled wagons loaded down with materials, more men were hard at work. Women wearing scarves over their hair carried buckets of water and baskets of food to the workers, followed by children who were alternately trying to help and making trouble. Everybody waved at Leon. Everybody was smiling.

Including Ivetta.

"This pleases you," I commented, feeling a hint of a smile on my own lips as I watched her wide green eyes taking everything in.

She nodded. "Yes, it does. Everybody looks so happy."

"King Chevalier! Prince Leon! What brings you here?" called the jeweler, Matt, waving to us from his open shop door on main street. His youth had been the first thing I noticed when Leon introduced us, and it still struck me. He wasn't much older than Ivetta, but he was a master jeweler and an accomplished metallurgist.

"Hey, Matt," Leon called. He hopped down from his stallion and tied him to a post, walking up to Matt and shaking his hand. Matt was small next to Leon, but the shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows revealed hard, stringy muscles. I dismounted and took the reins from Ivetta, tying our horses side-by-side before reaching up to catch her about the waist as she dismounted. Gilbert followed in sullen silence.

"Why, don't tell me this is Queen Ivetta?" Matt asked, beaming. His hazel eyes sparkled as he bowed with a flourish, his long brown ponytail falling over his head to nearly touch the ground before he straightened up.

"Pleased to meet you," she said genuinely. "I understand that I have you to thank for my beautiful jewelry."

He took her hand and kissed it, holding it for a moment after to study her rings. "Well, King Chevalier had already sketched out what he was looking for. I just made a few suggestions here or there." He released her hand and glanced at her necklace. "Though you could make anything look gorgeous, your highness."

"Indeed," I said, sliding my arm around her waist. "Although your contributions toward the designs were noteworthy, and it takes a skilled craftsman to produce such pieces as these."

"Are we just gonna stand out here, or are you gonna invite us inside?" Leon asked, grinning broadly.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Matt asked, rubbing the back of his head. "C'mon in. I've made some improvements since the last time you were here, Prince Leon. Apparently, once word gets out that you're the king's jeweler, business goes through the roof."

Ivetta had clearly never been in a jeweler's store before. Her green eyes were wide as she took it all in, the many glass display cases filled with assorted jewelry bedded on velvety cushions. There had only been one display case the last time I visited, and it was evident at that time that Matt's work as a metallurgist was his primary source of income. He seemed to have reached a point now where he could focus on his primary vocation as a jeweler.