Chapter 5 #3
The servant subsided with an apology that was made less convincing by his small smile.
Clearly he’d already learned enough about Xavier to know the prince wasn’t really annoyed.
Xavier was never bothered by disapproving comments on his waywardness.
It would be absurd if he was, given his main motivation in living up to his reputation was the enjoyment he got out of such reactions.
He set off as soon as he’d finished his breakfast, determined to track Alina down before she was tied up with her day’s activities. As predicted, a pair of his personal guards trailed after him, their watchful eyes taking in every aspect of the waking town.
It wasn’t an unpleasant place, although very rustic compared to the capital.
The cobblestone streets were well-maintained, and the buildings were generally neat and sturdy.
There were enough trees growing around the place for a visitor to almost forget how close the desert was, although it wasn’t nearly as lush as the nearby forest, the southern part of which Xavier had visited many times.
Not knowing where else to go, Xavier made his way to the dressmaker’s shop where he’d encountered Alina the day before. The owner was opening the front door as he strode up, and she paused to curtsy to him.
“Your Highness.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Pincer,” Xavier said, noting her flush of pleasure at him remembering her name. He hadn’t earned a reputation for charm without knowing what mattered to people. “I was hoping you could tell me where to find Miss Alina, who was here yesterday.”
“Alina?” Mrs. Pincer looked surprised.
“That’s right,” said Xavier pleasantly. “I need to ask her some further questions.”
Some examples of these questions ran unbidden through his mind.
How exactly did you end up here? Why didn’t you study magic craft at the guild, like you were supposed to?
What happened to your family’s wealth before your parents died?
Where did you get the gall to reject a prince and then disappear without so much as a goodbye?
Do you lie awake at nights regretting what you threw away, and if not, how can I make you start doing exactly that?
Xavier was reduced to chuckling internally at his own expense this time, since this particular joke was too personal to be shared. The litany of questions should probably include something about enlisting her to assist with the official investigation, he reminded himself.
“She’s already left, Your Highness,” Mrs. Pincer informed him. “She’s working a stall at the weekly market today.”
“Already left?” Xavier repeated, his eyebrows rising in curiosity. “Does she live here, with you?”
“She rents a room upstairs,” Mrs. Pincer said. “Has done for years, and she gives me no trouble.”
Xavier nodded, intrigued. He was burning to ask for details, but Mrs. Pincer forestalled him.
“She’s a good girl, Alina,” the older woman told him.
“A hard worker and real honest.” She shot a careful look at Xavier’s face.
“I understand she served your group at the tavern the other night. All her friends don’t like to see her working there, although I’m sure the owner runs a respectable establishment.
I’ve told her time and again that it gives strange men the wrong impression, and I know I’m not the only one. ”
Xavier listened to this speech in polite silence, his face showing no sign of his thoughts. Heaven give him patience, this well-meaning old bird was trying to protect Alina’s honor from his seducing ways. For some reason it wasn’t as funny as it would usually be.
“I don’t know why she don’t settle down and secure her future a little,” Mrs. Pincer went on.
“She’s had more than one honest man show some interest. That nice farmer from the outskirts, for one.
And when she first moved here, a smith’s apprentice even followed her from her old town to try his hand.
But she says she’s happy enough as she is, and it’s not as though she’s all alone.
She does keep pretty happy. I’m sure she’ll go back to keeping happy if these disappearances are stopped, and we can all relax again. ”
It was a lot of words to say ‘get this investigation done quickly and stay away from Alina in the process’, Xavier thought wryly. Aloud, he acknowledged Mrs. Pincer’s words solemnly, and asked for directions to the market.
He attracted a lot of attention as he made his way to the market, the stares only increasing as Zuzu stirred from a brief nap, poking her head out of his pocket with a disgruntled mewl.
“I feel the same way about this hour of the morning,” Xavier assured her.
“But a determined hunter can’t be slovenly, I suppose.
” Another sound of disapproval issued from the anzu, and Xavier made a tutting noise with his tongue.
“Does my choice of words offend your innocent ears, Zuzu? It’s just the way of things.
Better to be hunter than prey, don’t you think? ”
The creature made no reply, but Xavier wasn’t looking for affirmation. He knew exactly what he was doing in this particular area. He’d been at a disadvantage the last time he’d tried to capture Alina’s attention, but this time, he had every intention of emerging triumphant.