I felt guilty not thinking of Xavier since yesterday. I would ask after him the next time I saw Jori. With his newfound friendship, perhaps he would find a way for me to speak to Xavier. Like the rest, his time was running out.
At the palace gates, the guards stopped me on the way in.
“What’s your business?”
They didn’t recognize me.
“Lady Maggie lives here, fool.” Jori walked swiftly up the road, taking my arm. His hair was matted, his red tunic turned maroon, streaked with raindrops. My heart riveted with worry his footsteps were the ones I’d heard since the barn.
“Get out of her way. Can you not see she’s injured?” He touched my leg.
I tried not to stiffen.
The guard slid out of the way, letting us pass. He led us straight through the courtyard busy with post-tournament guests without stopping to speak to any of the nobles calling his name. The prince’s grip tightened with each anxious limping step I took. The doors to the Great Hall were open; servants hustled with plates, glasses, linens, and candles, preparing for the nightly feast.
“How was the tournament?” I asked, trying for small talk.
Jori shook his head, dismissively. “How is your ankle?” he asked, sounding as if he already knew the answer.
We started up the stairs.
“A little better. I sought the physician but couldn’t find him. I should’ve let the guard fetch him for me. I fell. A nice woman loaned me this dress. Mine was soaked.”
The corners of his mouth lifted, a tiny hiss escaping with an even smaller laugh. He didn’t believe me.
When we reached the top, his fingers dug into my arm.
“I can find my room by myself, Jori.”
“Best if I escort you. Wouldn’t want you to slip and fall for a third time today.”
We took the hallway to my room in uncomfortable silence. Petal opened the door. I was glad she was here. I could tell by her set jaw she didn’t like seeing Jori enter my room again. She wanted him to leave, and so did I.
I limped into the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed, regretting the decision. The prince sat down beside me.
Petal started to help me take off my boots, but the prince shooed her away. He lifted my left leg to his lap. I used the post to pull up, sliding away from him, and smoothed my skirts down.
“Sire, if it’s all the same to you, and Petal, I can remove my own boots.”
He stood up, his lips pressing into a thin bitter line. “I thought we were on better ground.”
“We are.”
He stepped closer. “Then why won’t you let me touch you?” He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles.
I took my hand back. “Because I don’t feel that way about you.”
“But you do about Griffin? I saw you in the barn, with him,” he said with malice. “When he left the arena in a hurry, I worried there was trouble. Eventually I was able to extricate myself from the festivities, and what did I see while rushing back to the castle? You on the back of a horse he was riding. And then . . . you in his arms.” His whole body tensed. “You slip and send word for help from Griffin? You let him take care of you, but not me? You want him, is that it? You want to marry Griffin?”
“Marry?” I laughed. “I don’t want to marry anyone.”
“Then why would you be kissing him?”
Jori’s question took me by surprise. Wasn’t it apparent? “Because I wanted to.”
His expression turned grim, and suddenly I feared for Griffin’s place beside him. “It was nothing. Jori. Only a kiss.” A lie, but a necessary one for the prince and myself. Griffin’s kisses meant more than nothing, but I wasn’t staying.
“I don’t understand.”
“I want to leave the Walled City. I don’t belong here, sire.”
“And respectfully, I disagree,” he said in a hushed tone. He placed his hands behind his back, a gesture I took as acquiescence, at last. “Xavier asked after you today.”
“Can I see him?”
“He is performing and has asked for you to assist him. Can you manage that with your ankle?”
“Yes. I can’t let him down.”
He padded to the door, opening it. I moved with him to bid him goodbye and lock the door after his departure.
“May I?” He extended his palm. He wanted to kiss my hand farewell. It wasn’t an abnormal move for the prince. He’d done it with others, and I could hardly refuse after I dismissed his affections so blatantly. I wasn’t completely heartless. I set my hand in his.
He moved to kiss it, but frowned instead. “Where is my mother’s ring?”
“Oh, it’s here somewhere. I took it off before I left. Easy to hide the necklace. But I didn’t want to lose the ring to muggers.”
He pushed the door wider, glaring at Petal. “Have you seen it?”
Her eyes flew wide. She trembled, shaking her head, creeping behind the screen.
“She’s a thief,” Jori accused.
“Jori, stop this! How could you accuse her when you have no proof at all?”
“She’s convicted. Why do you think she’s serving you? Lied when caught red-handed stealing food from the kitchen pantry.”
“Which was stolen from the Hinterlands!”
“You can defend her all you like, Maggie, but it changes—”
“It was me.” I took a menacing step forward. “I sold the ring.”
He blinked. “For what? What did you purchase?”
I had nothing to show, except . . . “I lied. I bought this dress. It wasn’t given to me.”
“That ugly smock for a sapphire ring?” Jori laughed. “I don’t believe you. You’re covering for her.”
“Believe what you want, but it’s the truth. Petal didn’t take anything.”
“Yes, and when it appears on your night table, I expect a full apology.” His glare returned to Petal once more. “And she will be severely punished.” He shrank from the door and bowed his head formally. Then was gone.
I slammed the door shut, bolting it, then pressed my back against it—just in case.
Petal cried. She had good reason. The prince had made his intentions clear. Even if I were to get the ring back, he wouldn’t be satisfied with the truth. Fear rippled through me, chilling my bones. He planned to punish me by punishing Petal.
I hugged her to me. “Petal, you need to leave the castle, and never, ever return. Can you go? Now? Unseen?”
She cried, shrugging, biting her lip, turning this way and that.
All at once I understood. I saw it in her eyes. “You have nowhere to go.”
She nodded.
“Yes. You do.” I laid one of the red bath linens on the table and used a stray piece of burnt wood from the fireplace to draw my mark on it. I tucked it inside the sleeve of her smock. On another, I drew a picture of a wilted rose. My artistry was pathetic but with a little scrutiny, Bradyn would puzzle it out. “Go now. Hide until the prince and all are in the feast. I don’t want to risk him coming back looking for you in here. Then make your way to the stables. There is a large fat mare in the fourth stall, a weathered saddle in the corner on the ground. Bradyn should be there after his duties are done.” I handed her the picture of the sad flower. “Give him this. He’ll understand you need a lift to the same place he’s going. When you get to the Wilted Rose tavern, find Dres. Dark hair. Bushy eyebrows. An ugly scowl all the time. Give him the other parchment. He’ll understand I sent you. You can trust him, and Thoma. His father owns the place.”