Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 43

      "And what have you learned?" he asks entwining his fingers with mine.

     "That our wounded will be well cared for here," I say. "Although the help here didn't speak anything but Draconian."

     "And that bothers you?" Evergreen asks.

   "No, but it made communicating a pain," I retort looking at him. He smiles at me and then pulls something from his pocket. It is wrapped carefully in a piece of cheese cloth and tied with a string. "You got me a present?" I ask. He just continues to smile at me. I untie the string to reveal a candied apple. I begin to laugh unable to help myself.

     "You saved it just for me, thank you," I say biting into the apple.

     "You do seem to like these a lot," he says kissing me. I hear giggling and look back to find the kitchen help watching us. I can feel the blush all the way to my toes.

     "Well we'll be all the gossip of the kitchen tomorrow," I mutter.

     "Let them talk," he says stealing another kiss and then a bite of my treat. "You really need to eat more." My stomach grumbles in response and I devour the treat as he tows me into the kitchen and asks for some more food for me. I spot Lark in the moonlight as we sit on a bench and Evergreen feeds me bits of meats, cheeses, and bread.

     "What are you doing Highness?" Lark asks as she sits next to me. I can feel the blush burning my cheeks.

    "I am feeding this crazy woman before she starves herself," he says shoving a bit of cheese into my mouth. "She makes Cheese Surprise and then a stew to feed the wounded. Then she feeds all the wounded and all I brought her was a candied apple. So I had to purloin more food and force it down her. I bet if she had it her way she'd be pouring over the maps back at the tent and ignoring the rumbling of her stomach," Evergreen says.

     "Is this true?" Lark asks.

     "Um the first part about cooking and feeding the wounded, yes, and the candied apple, but I am capable of looking over a map while I eat," I retort causing Lark to laugh.

     "Yes, but who would have brought you food to eat?" Evergreen asks grinning at me. I have no retort and so I remain silent. "See if I do not feed you, you will starve yourself." Lark laughs again and then smiles at Evergreen.

     "May I borrow your councilor again?" she asks sweetly. I brace myself for the onslaught of questions and she drags me into a library.

     "Why is he treating you special?" Lark demands.

     "I wish I knew," I blurt out and start pacing. "I honestly was trying to leave when your sister attacked me. I was going to return to the plains and then move on after that. I know I can not be queen, but he won't listen. Every councilor, even Pine, has explained it to him, but he refuses to see reason. I want to say he is infatuated, but I fear I would be wrong," I say miserably plopping in a chair and swiping at the stray tears.

     "And this upsets you?" Lark asks squeezing my hand in support. I don't know why but I spill my guts to this girl.

     "I am upset, because he is everything I could ever hope for in a mate, but I do not like stone walls. I love to sleep under the stars and riding horses under moon light. To read a book through a chilly winter. He loves his stone walls and sunlight. We are like two sides of a coin opposites that are never meant to be seen together," I sum up my confused emotions.