Break

Chapter 6: A Knight's Oath

Shifting from one side of the bed to another, I groan in irritation. The covers are itchy and thin, the bed is like sleeping on the ground, the room has a draft, and Rafael said this was one of the better inns. If this is what he calls quality, then he needs a reality check.

I punch the pillow instead of fluffing it this time. The feathers in it all move around my fist. Frowning, I give up and flop back down. Nothing is getting better. Since I'm not getting any sleep any time soon, I may as well go sit outside. Some fresh air is much better than whatever kind of air this is. I throw on a silk shawl over my pink nightgown and head out of the room. The woman at the desk bows as I past, which gives me a comforting and familiar feeling. Yes, the people here don't want me dead.

The cool night air feels a bit nippy, but I simply ignore it. I hate summer anyway. Sweating is so unappealing. I take a seat on the wooden bench against the front wall. An owl hoots farther away, giving me the chills. Never did like owls. The sound of crunching gravel is almost welcoming. I look up at the approaching person, then look back down. He sits down next to me and leans back like he didn't just plop right next to a princess.

"Rough night?" Rafael asks me in a quieter tone than usual.

"Mhm," I hum. "How can anyone sleep in those beds?"

"This is better than normal for around here," he tells me. "Normally, the pillows are made of straw."

I wrinkle my nose at the thought. "Gross."

"Yeah."

"What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be used to this?"

"I am, but that's not what's keeping me up."

"Then what is?"

Rafael chuckles and looks down, shaking his head. "It's stupid."

"I still want to know," I insist.

"Fine. I keep thinking about Stio." He looks back up at me. "It's not easy killing people, especially a friend."

"If he was your friend, then why did he try to kill you?" I ask.

"Sometimes, what you believe in is stronger than friendship," he says. "This was one of those times. I don't expect you to understand. All of your friends probably sip tea in a rose garden and gossip."

"Actually, all I have is Josephine, really," I admit. "Prince Forarte, too, but Josephine has always been there for me. She may be really mean at times, but she's always there telling me what I should do and saving me from things like embarrassment and, like today, people."

"She is pretty amazing," Rafael agrees. "I sometimes wish I didn't run away. She was only doing what was best for both of us, but only now do I see that."

"Why wouldn't she ever bring you with her to work?" I inquire.

"I was never on my best behaviour," he laughs. "Bringing me into a formal setting would be the worst idea."

"You are pretty rude."

"And proud of it." Rafael digs into one of his pockets on his belt and pulls out a small bag of lightly colored round pebbles. "Want some?"

"Rocks?"

"No, candy," he chuckles. "Never seen this before?"

"Never in my life," I reply.

"It's pure sugar, but they're so good."

I carefully take a pastel blue one from the bag and place one in my mouth. Almost immediately, it begins futon dissolve. He wasn't kidding. "They're actually pretty good."