CHAPTER 26
Keenan
“Keenan?” A hand shook his shoulder. “Did that water freeze your brain?”
Keenan looked up from the canvas he was untying, blinking at the young guard. “What?”
Mori shook his head. “I’ve called your name three times. What kingdom have you been in?”
He’d kept his abstraction at bay while they hiked, knowing he needed to stay aware of their surroundings even if he didn’t expect trouble this deep in the mountains, but his mind had wandered once he began the familiar routine of setting up camp.
Princess Sakura’s revelations had wound him up more than he cared to admit.
“Ryuni,” he answered easily, gripping the loose end of the canvas and unrolling it with a practiced flick. “Where do you think?”
“You didn’t act like it.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Keenan said casually, “The princess told me about her prophecy. Did you know about it?”
The guard pulled a wooden puzzle out of his cloak pocket and started fiddling with it.
“That she’ll marry a soldier? Of course; it’s the reason she’s lived at the winter castle for the last three years and why the guards stay out of the main building.
I’d be surprised if there’s anyone in the kingdom who hasn’t heard of it. ”
So it wasn’t a strange tale she’d made up to—what? Garner sympathy? He frowned. “And you’ve been there the whole time? You’re only what, seventeen?”
“Eighteen in the fall,” Mori answered distractedly. “No, they switch out the guards regularly; can’t have one get too close to the princess, you know? I came with Prince Hatori and the king at the start of winter.”
“So you know Prince Hatori, then? What’s he like?”
“He’s everyone’s friend.” Mori slid another piece on his puzzle. “Even the servants and his personal guards, much to the queen’s chagrin. But she learned from her mistakes; he hasn’t had a personal guard under forty since Daichi.”
“Why not?” Keenan asked.
“Because he adores his sister, and—” The guard’s head shot up. “Do you know where we packed the beans this morning? I can’t find them.”
Beans? “I thought you packed the food.”
Shoving the puzzle back in his pocket, Mori straightened and spun away. “Kasumi helped. I’ll see if she knows.”
A frown tugged at Keenan’s mouth as he watched the boy stride away. What else didn’t he know about the princess?
“Can you trust her?”
Oliver’s quiet words made Keenan realize that his gaze had shifted to Princess Sakura.
She sat as primly as one could on a foot-high rock covered in moss, her back stiff and her bedraggled hair the only sign of the day’s misadventure.
A mild darkness had begun to shadow the skin under her eyes, but she had yet to complain about being tired.
“She told me that Ryunic law won’t let her rule with a commoner husband, and she doesn’t want to put the burden of kingship on her brother.” Keenan dragged his eyes away from her and met Oliver’s concerned gaze. “Why would she tell me that if she’s trying to convince me that she’s in love with me?”
The older guard’s eyebrows dipped a little. “Odd. Her behavior has been inconsistent since locating you, which is unusual for her. Or was, three and a half years ago.”
“She once accused me of enchanting the queen,” Keenan mused, his eyes returning to her stiff form. “Could that be what’s wrong with her? An enchantment, I mean.”
At this suggestion, Oliver’s gaze transferred to the princess as well. “It would explain continuous out-of-character choices or a series of them followed by acting like herself. To waffle between them, someone would have to be renewing the enchantment after she breaks free of it.”
“You think one of the others could be using magic on her?” Keenan said sharply.
Oliver shook his head. “If an outside influence is affecting her behavior, I do not believe it is magical.”
“Then what?”
One of the guard’s eyebrows raised a fraction. “Who first suggested a connection between you? And whom would the princess obey, even unwillingly?”
“The queen.” A rock settled in Keenan’s gut. “She’s been manipulating everything since we stepped foot into these mountains, hasn’t she? Even her daughter.”
“It would appear so,” Oliver said grimly. “Tread carefully; the princess does not seem to agree with her mother, but it may be difficult to discern what is or is not her will.”
The knowledge did nothing to settle Keenan’s distracted feelings.
Princess Sakura had every reason to avoid anything more than an awkward friendship with him, despite any incomprehensible instructions from the queen.
But when she’d followed him when he left to settle his temper, and this afternoon when she had shared a little of her burden with him, then expressed concern over his footwear…
She was a princess. A common weapon-smith would never be her choice for a life partner, even if the law allowed it.
But when her pretty, black eyes lost their haughtiness and looked at him like a fellow human being, it was hard to remember that.
She was beautiful, her wit was entertaining, and her interest in science was fascinating.
If he could convince her to join him in the winter castle’s smithy once they returned, he was sure her eyes would light with excitement while he worked his magic with a piece of metal and a few tools.
Suppressing a wistful sigh, Keenan gave Oliver a nod and stretched the canvas over the rope that he’d hung to support it. He needed to rescue Liesl from whatever trouble she was in and ensure she made it safely back to Daraigh. He wouldn’t have time to impress a princess.
While Keenan finished setting up tents, Oliver walked over to Mori and Kasumi.
Ignoring their debate, he bent down and pulled a small burlap sack out of one of the packs.
After handing it to the surprised young guard, he crossed to the princess.
He set a hand on her shoulder, apparently checking her condition after her dip in the water and the long hours of hiking.
Keenan tied off the final rope and wandered over to the fire. His rebellious feet wanted to stop by Princess Sakura’s rock, but he firmly resisted. No point in making things harder for himself.
Kasumi gave him a smile as he strolled up.
Her straight black hair matched that of most Ryunic people he’d met, but there was something about her eyes that suggested a mixed ancestry; the shape wasn’t quite the same.
But her eyes did nothing to keep her from being every bit as pretty as her mistress.
“I hope you’re not planning to offer your help with the meal,” she teased. “I’ve heard stories about your cooking.”
He held his hands up in a gesture of innocence. “I never claimed any skill with that. But surely there’s something I could do?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Surely you can’t mess up boiling water.” She reached for a pan, then paused and grabbed the bucket instead. Holding it out to him, she said, “I know you can fetch the water, anyway. Start with that, and then we’ll see.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Keenan replied with a chuckle. Snatching the handle from her, he headed for the nearby stream.
He hadn’t gone far when a yip and the light sound of tiny paws brought his head around.
Bunta trotted close as if expecting a greeting, but when Keenan extended a hand, the fox skittered away, eyeing his fingers like they were dangerous.
“Just wanted a walk, did you?” Keenan smiled.
“I’ll let you keep me company. But make sure to sit by the princess when we get back; we don’t want her to get lonely. ”
He shook his head at himself; he was talking to animals again. Liesl and the princess were rubbing off on him.
After filling the bucket and picking out the few twigs that had floated in, he delivered it to Kasumi. She thanked him and handed him a small pot to fill and suspend over the fire.
He settled onto the ground next to her, wrapping his arms loosely around his folded knees.
The orange flames danced in front of his eyes as he not-so-patiently waited for bubbles to appear.
According to Miss Beatrice, he wouldn’t be quite so terrible at cooking if he would just let the food cook longer.
But waiting had never been one of his strengths.
“You don’t have to sit with me,” Kasumi said, smiling over at him. “I have this under control, and I know you’d rather be with Her Highness.”
His eyes widened. He hadn’t thought his fledgling attraction had been that obvious. His right hand tried to drift down to tug at his hem, but he locked it in place. “What do you mean?”
She sliced off a piece of salt pork and shook her head, but one side of her mouth twitched. “Honestly, you’re as bad as she is. The queen approves, and everyone around you already knows. You may as well just admit it.”
Right. The queen’s order that her people pretend that he and the princess were in love. His hand relaxed as the relief took hold, but then a new kind of tension began in his stomach.
Princess Sakura’s blatant attempts to throw herself at him had mellowed to a level he could deal with. And Oliver was a grounding source, reminding him that the princess was potentially as untrustworthy as the queen.
But if she was gently offering friendship while her maid touted the queen’s storyline, keeping his head on straight would be difficult.
“She really does like you,” Kasumi said quietly, her eyes darting to the princess before returning to Keenan. He let his own eyes drift that way. Princess Sakura was watching the valley below them with a haughty tilt to her chin, but he thought he’d caught her looking at him.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but forgive me if I don’t believe you,” he said with a forced chuckle. “It would be a stretch to call us friends. And I didn’t come to Ryuni to find anything but Liesl’s nobleman.”
Kasumi patted his elbow. “You’re so funny. Accepting a quest to win the princess’s hand in marriage, and then trying to convince me that you have no interest in her?” She withdrew her hand, pressing her lips together in a poorly concealed smile. “I don’t know why you even bother.”
“That’s not why I’m doing it,” he protested, even though he knew it wouldn’t help. She was spouting the queen’s orders, not her actual beliefs.
But back at the winter castle, Kasumi had encouraged him to accept the quest to “prove his affections” to the princess.
Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to make sure Princess Sakura knew the real reason he’d left.
For his own sanity if nothing else. And maybe to remind her that there was no point in pretending, because he wasn’t doing this for her.
“Well, if you’re sure you don’t need me…” he began, unfolding his legs and pushing himself to his feet.
“With boiling water?” Kasumi rolled her eyes. “Go on; camp fare isn’t so complicated that I need an assistant.”
He wished she wouldn’t wear that knowing look as he traipsed across the small campsite. The princess was still turned away, refusing to look at him even when he stopped a few feet in front of her. Her perfect princess expression was firmly back in place; maybe this was unnecessary.
His fingers pulled at the hem of his shirt. After weeks of wearing a leather jerkin, it was as familiar as his apron back at the smithy, and he felt exposed without it. But it wasn’t quite dry yet after its thorough dousing.
Not that he’d been wearing it this afternoon when they were walking. So why was he so nervous now?
“Have you warmed up from the water?” he asked, even though he knew she had; she’d told him as much shortly before they stopped for the night. But he didn’t know how to start the conversation.
“Yes.” Her black eyes finally turned to him, as cold as they’d been the first time the queen insisted he join them for supper. “Did you need something?”
“No.” His hand tightened on his hem, and he forced it down. “I thought I should tell you that I’m only looking for the tinderbox because of Queen Arisa’s help with Oliver and Miss Liesl.”
“A tinderbox?” Her eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that an old-fashioned tool for starting a fire?”
“It is.” He gave her a short nod and swallowed. “I prefer matches, myself. I have no idea what makes this one special. But anyway, I didn’t agree to any expectation relating to you, so—so there’s no need to worry about that.”
The princess’s lips compressed. “Is that all?” she asked, brushing a wisp of hair behind her ear.
“Yes, ma’am.” Keenan’s lips curved tentatively. But she tossed her head and looked over the valley again, ignoring him.
Given their history, it shouldn’t have hurt. Princess Sakura had hated him almost since they’d met when he was half-frozen and unsuitably dressed in the infirmary.
He bent in a stiff bow. “Your Highness.”
She didn’t even acknowledge him. Spinning on his heel, he strode away to join Oliver and Mori by the fire.
His fists clenched at his side. He didn’t know why he bothered telling her. The princess didn’t care about him one way or the other.