Captured: A White Road Tale novella #1

Chapter 9 - The Festival

Tarek waited at the castle gate for Princess to arrive. He hoped she was telling the truth about having townswomen clothes. He banged his head against the stone archway. Why, oh, why did he let himself get talked into these things?

Tender heart wasn't the right word. More like deranged heart. Or stupid heart, brain, heart… whatever.

"Why are you doing that to your head?"

Tarek nearly leapt out of his skin. He spun around. A peasant girl stood beneath the archway. A brown scarf covered her head. Her pale green dress was worn along the edges and patched at the elbows. When he met her golden eyes, he gasped. "Princ— Uh, I mean, you did well. Took me a moment to recognize you."

She grinned and spun around, letting out an actual giggle, the first he'd heard from her. Her cheeks were flushed, and her face almost glowing with excitement. "Will I pass as one of the commoners?"

He nodded. "Did anyone see you leaving?"

"Nope. Easy as cake… er… I mean… wait, how do you say it?"

Tarek sighed. "Pie. Easy as pie."

Her giddiness vanished, and she clutched at the knot securing the shawl around her shoulders. "They're going to think I'm the village idiot, aren't they?"

His heart ached at the fear in her eyes. "Of course not. You'll do fine." He extended his arm. "It'll be easy as," he patted her hands when they circled around his elbow, "pie."

"I hope so. I really do. I'm so tired of…" Her brows crinkled. "I don't want to be the cause of anyone else being harmed." Her steps faltered. "Maybe I better not—"

He held tightly to her fingers as he leaned closer and whispered, "We'll be fine. Take a deep breath, and let's go have some fun. You're not a princess tonight. You're just like any other common girl that'll be there. I won't let anything bad happen to you, I promise."

He had no authority to fulfill that promise, but when she looked at him with gratitude and trust in her amber gaze, he did not regret his words. He'd do everything in his power to make sure she enjoyed herself. She needed a chance to be around people, to feel normal, not like some kind of animal oddity put on display.

At first, they kept to the shadows as he led her though the town. As they neared the center where the musicians were set up, Princess' expression changed from being full of wonder to contemplative, even perplexed. She peered at the lighted town.

The contributions of goods and produce the people had brought for the king's storehouse had already been taken away. Most of the people, once they paid their taxes, were left with barely enough for themselves during the winter months. Still, they tried to make the best of it. The king did provide meat and other fare for this one night, enough to build up the celebratory atmosphere. Aside from the music, some people sold goods or crafts they had made to help them earn a bit of extra coin.

Racah wasn't the best of places Tarek's family had lived, but it wasn't as bad as DeTiere. He had food and comforts here… but at what price? In DeTiere, at least they'd had freedom. And they hadn't lived in fear of a demanding king with a pet dragon.

Princess came to a stop and gaped at the buildings, her brows furrowed. "I've been here, I think. It all seems so familiar."

"Really? When?"

"That's what's so weird. I can't remember anything that happened. But I know that building. And the smells." She shook her head. "Maybe it was just another of my crazy dreams."

She hadn't released his arm, which Tarek didn't mind. He supposed the unfamiliarity of their surroundings must be worse than keeping close to him. He rather enjoyed her touch, to be honest. And her closeness… She had a sweet honey smell that was wonderful. Stop it! He sighed. So much for guarding his heart.