Chapter 3 #2
“We’re almost there, Lydi!” I pulled out her childhood nickname to see how she would respond.
Slowing I turned to look at her, to watch her experience the first real joy she’s had in years.
It didn’t matter how much trouble I got into for this excursion, that laugh, the deep, belly-aching one that brought tears to her eyes–it was worth it.
“Oh, now you slow down! I swear you’re trying to kill me.” Lydia tugged free of my grip and bent over, hands on her knees. She drew in a deep breath and tilted her head. “And what’s with this ‘Lydi’ nonsense? I haven’t been that awkward little girl for years. Shall I start calling you Ric again?”
“River forbid! There’s no need for such language, dear sister.
” I feigned offense when, in fact, I didn’t care.
Things like silly nicknames were all that kept me sane during my early years.
I think Lydia knew how I had almost lost myself then, desperately trying to win over our father’s affections…
when there was nothing there to earn. I had become a shell of myself until my too-wise-for-her-age sister sat me down and told me the one thing I had refused to see: I was too good for our father’s sad excuse for love.
I was lucky he had never granted me the emotion.
My thoughts must have shown on my face, because Lydia grabbed my hand again and smiled gently at me.
“You aren’t that hollow little boy anymore, Alaric.
He died when you found value in yourself outside of the crown our father raised you to inherit.
Don’t let his recent cruelty make you forget that.
We will endure. No, we will thrive even in all this mess.
” She dropped my hand and surveyed her surroundings, gaze lingering on the apple orchard mere feet away.
“Do you, by chance, actually know where we are?”
A loud bark of amusement punched its way out of my chest. We began to walk as I spoke.
“Of course I do. This orchard provides apples to the castle. Father brought me out here once on a trip that he referred to as ‘communing with the common folk.’ Which is the furthest thing from the truth. He didn’t even speak to any of the commoners, let alone get close enough to touch. ”
We’d reached the edge of the orchard, and Lydia reached for one of the low-hanging apples. “These look wonderful.” she murmured, startling when I snatched her hand out of the air. “What? You said that these were the castle’s apples, why can’t I have one?”
“No,” I said, releasing her hand as I explained. “They supplied the castle. Until they are paid for and sent to the castle, they are the property of the land owner. Any extra apples go to market or are used in their own kitchen. Taking one of these apples would be theft.”
“River save me,” she cursed. “I should have realized that. They just look so juicy. I haven’t eaten in hours.”
A deep, booming voice came from deeper in the orchard. “That’s no excuse for stealing from honest folk. You want to steal, take from those who can afford it.”
Ah, he must have only heard part of the conversation.
The branches ahead of us pushed aside and the owner of the voice stepped into sight.
Scathing emerald eyes sent waves of fury across the small distance between us.
Lydia scuttled backwards, nearly tripping over her own feet.
I slowly backed away from the treeline, hands raised.
“We had no intention of stealing from you and meant no harm,” I insisted.
“We could pay you if you’d let us take a few of your apples. ”
Suspicious, he flexed the muscles in his chest, taking a daring step forward “You would say that, now that you’ve been caught. What would you have done if I hadn’t stopped you? I’m sure there are plenty of pockets in those cloaks.”
I was ashamed to say that I was so distracted by his rippling muscles that I didn’t process his words right away. I tried to recover, meeting his angry eyes and sputtering out a response. “I… I would. I mean, we would never steal, let alone from the common folk.”
He laughed at that. “Ah, honor amongst thieves is it? Never steal from the common folk? How considerate of you both.” He made a show of bowing to us then turned his gaze to my sister. “And what of you, my lady? Do you agree?”
Lydia stood tall and peered down her nose at him, shocked at being spoken to in such a way–and clearly forgetting that we were in disguise “Well, I never. How dare you speak to me, to us, in such a manner. Do you know who we are?” She dropped her hood and glared at him.
“You’d do well to hold your tongue when speaking to your betters. ”
The man’s eyes widened and he dropped to the ground, abashed before us. “I’m so sorry, Your Highness. I didn’t know it was you. Please forgive me, take as many apples as you want. Take all of them, just don’t have me beheaded.”
It was at that moment that hoofbeats sounded in the distance–we’d been caught. I glared at my sister for outing us. “We take no offense at your behavior. It is our fault for coming onto your land under false pretenses. How could you know who we truly were?”
Forgetting the farmer in front of us, I rotated to face my sister. “Well, that will be the guards. Are you prepared?”