Peerless

22: What Might Have Been

Doe ran into the courtyard at breakneck speed. "Daddy!" She threw her arms around him and he spun her around. "I don't believe you came all this way."

"Your mother wrote that you were now staying in the Royal City. I thought I would bring Boudicca down to you."

Doe turned to the horse. "My darling. I hardly could see you due to Princess Arsinoe." She stroked the mare's snout. "Does she still ride well?"

"As fine as ever. Your cousin kept her exercised.

"Thank him for me."

"Write him yourself, Doe. What have we taught you about gratitude?"

Doe smiled and rolled her eyes. "It is never too late to say thank you. Thank you, Daddy."

Tyto nodded. "You look good in the robes, daughter."

Doe spun around. "I'm sure mother told you I am not a historian. I work in the department as a bookkeeper. None of those old coots have warmed to the idea of a woman among them."

"Doe, remember to mind your manners. This is the Royal City. Many here are from families with backing as strong as your own. I do not want my little girl bullied."

"Daddy, I am in my thirties."

"You are still my little girl; my only child. It broke my heart that I could not help you back then, but to see you happy now. I am willing to risk everything."

Doe smiled. "I promise to be good. And Daddy, the Waycross Prince never mistreated me. I was wounded and heartbroken, but really, he had nothing to do with it."

"I am glad my brave girl did not suffer." He kissed her forehead.

"Will you come for the banquet?"

"Her majesty insisted."

"Good. Then I will put on a show." Doe swung herself onto Boudicca's back.

"Eh, what are you doing?" Tyto asked. "Are you not due to work?"

"This way is faster."

"You will soil your clothes."

"I'll keep clean. Mother is inside." Doe nudged Boudicca into a gallop. She needed time to spare. There was someplace she wanted to be before work.

As she neared her destination, she tied off Boudicca and continued on foot. Perhaps it was because she had not been on horseback for some time but maybe it was nerves. Either way she found it hard to walk. Her steps were slow. She felt each button on her boots would deteriorate before she reached her destination, but before long there it was.

After the assistant showed her inside, she sat quietly in the mossy courtyard stroking the rim of her gat. She heard his footsteps first. She knew it was him by his footsteps. She stayed silent as he came to the table and set down the tea tray before taking a seat himself. True he was older, but he was mostly unchanged. In the past she would have made a wise joke that he drained the life from victims to maintain his youth but that was then.

She poured herself some tea and tasted it. The taste made her pause. Pear tea. "You remembered."

"Of course." Tigris poured a cup for himself, adding something extra to it. "You look very well, Doe.

"I did not come here for tea."

"You are still very blunt."

"I want you to arrange for me to see Rim."

"I knew you came here to see him," Tigris said.

"And why else would I have come into the palace?" Doe raised her brows. "Don't fool yourself."