A Dove's Tale

Chapter 177

We rode all morning to reach Freedom, and fortunately, Chevalier and Gilbert were not at each other's throats the entire time. If the subject was anything other than me, they could speak civilly to each other. Civilly, and on a level high enough to make me wish I had a dictionary for reference. The two could probably have become friends if I hadn't been in the picture, I thought, or maybe they once were a long time ago. There was nothing specific I could put my finger on, but it seemed to me they knew each other too well for two rival princes of rival nations who'd never met prior to last year's goodwill gala.

I decided to ask Chevalier about it when we returned to the palace. After I gave him an earful about letting Gilbert get under his skin. I hadn't yet decided where the big hug and kiss for helping Leon with Freedom would fit into the timeline.

Leon talked animatedly about every detail of the town and its people, and the more he talked, the more excited I became to see it. He initially contacted a single large group of ex-slaves the previous summer, and when they reached the northern foothills, they immediately began the work of clearing trees and rocks from the site while word spread to smaller pockets of people hidden in the Obsidianite wastelands. They had plentiful building materials and determination, and everybody had a snug, secure home by the time winter set in.

I loved the entire concept of Leon seeing a group of disadvantaged people and stepping in to give them a helping hand. He didn't give them anything for free, and if they were anything like me, they wouldn't have wanted that, anyway. Better to create something substantial with their own hands than owe somebody a favor later. He'd brought in some supplies, but they were largely self-sufficient from the start, used to making do with next to nothing.

Like Mother and I.

I felt a sharp pang in my chest and pushed that thought away. Or tried to. It came trickling back as Leon talked.

"It's really amazing how much work they've done in such a short time," Leon was saying, a big grin on his face and pride coloring every word. "I feel like all I did was point them toward a patch of land, and they did the rest."

What would life have been like if Mother and I had been given a chance like that, I wondered? Just an ounce of opportunity to make a better life for ourselves. Although if we'd had that opportunity, maybe I would never have come to the palace, never met Chevalier...

I could have done without Jack, though.

"Some of them are kind of rough around the edges, but most of 'em, you'd never know all the stuff they've been through. They're just regular people."

Another pang struck me. I had escaped Jack, but others hadn't. And I hadn't thought about the girls Leon rescued from that brothel even once since that miserable day. Leon had said he'd take care of them, though, so I knew they were safe, at least.

I'd have to ask him about it later.

"You look like you have something on your mind, little dove."

Gilbert's voice surprised me out of my thoughts, breaking the flow of Leon's booming voice with his higher but no less friendly tone. He wore an innocuous smile, a smile Leon did not match as he studied me with a thoughtful frown. I looked from Leon's probing amber eyes to Gilbert's unreadable blood red eye, and I hesitated.

If it were just Chevalier and Leon, I would have spoken my mind immediately. But Gilbert was with us. Jack was a subject I preferred to avoid, and Gilbert already made me uncomfortable enough without bringing that incident up. He knew at least some of what happened, though, and I didn't have to mention Jack at all. I only wanted to know about the girls.

"I was just wondering what happened to the girls from...last year."

"Oh." Leon's eyes showed recognition at my vague reference, thankfully, and his trademark smile was quick to return. "They're doing great, last I heard."