Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
The market was clear across the other side of town, already beginning to fill with shoppers. Surely too many for the small town’s population. However nervous everyone claimed to be, the supposed disappearances weren’t deterring people from traveling throughout the area.
Not eager to incur any more veiled warnings regarding undefended girls, Xavier didn’t ask for Alina this time, but for the artisan Mrs. Pincer had named, who apparently employed Alina.
The stall wasn’t difficult to find, nestled right in the heart of the action.
Shoppers flowed around it like a bubbling stream, although plenty were also stopping to browse.
Xavier hung back, watching from a distance as Alina promoted the wares with a sunny smile that had been conspicuously absent in their interaction the day before.
Her hair was tied back in a braid now, and her emerald-green dress swished about her in a pleasant way as she moved along the stall.
Stars above. He’d thought her the prettiest girl in the world when they were fourteen. Then she’d shattered his naive, young heart and he’d spent the next ten years denying admiration for any girl who looked or acted the slightest bit like her.
And now here she was, a bright-eyed girl no longer, but a poised and confident woman. Trying now to deny her attractiveness would be childish and pointless. She put every girl he’d ever flirted with to shame, and she did it without trying to attract his attention.
None of that need unsettle him, he assured himself.
Not now the shock of her reappearance had worn off.
It was just a simple fact that she was appealing.
He’d become an expert in the appraisal of female beauty in the years since they’d known one another, and his impassive assessment was that she was stunning.
She had none of the frills the girls of the court curated so carefully, but her appeal didn’t suffer any for it.
She had something much more engaging in her exquisite features and unassuming grace.
That didn’t mean his defenses were in danger.
He wasn’t the only one to notice her attractiveness. Her stall was the busiest of its section of the market, and Xavier had no doubt she was half its allure.
With measured steps, he strolled forward, unbothered by the whispers that rippled inevitably from his passage. He took enjoyment from the moment Alina saw him, noting the slight hitch in her breath. Then her smile returned, albeit a little less bright.
So she’d gathered herself since the day before. Less entertaining, but in line with what he knew about her strength of mind.
“Your Highness.” She bobbed as close to a curtsy as could be managed behind her stall. “Welcome to the markets.”
“Thank you.”
Xavier smiled in a detached way at a pretty redheaded girl who was giggling behind her hand to her friend. His manner wasn’t flirtatious, but the giggling increased nevertheless.
“Are you interested in some commemorative plates?” There was the hint of a laugh in Alina’s voice now, and Xavier picked up one of the plates with interest.
A grin spread over his face as he took in the picture. “Ah yes, a happy event. It’s a good likeness of my brother. But his expression isn’t quite severe enough.” He put the plate back down. “He’s the responsible prince, you know.”
Alina didn’t rise to the bait, instead carefully settling the plate back into position on its little stand.
“I came in hopes of having a word with you,” Xavier told her.
Surprise flitted across her face, and her gaze darted out to the many others standing nearby.
“With me, Your Highness?”
Xavier gave a small sigh. The constant use of his title was tedious, but he supposed he shouldn’t be surprised. The movement of his chest caused Zuzu to stir, popping her head out of his pocket with a disapproving sound.
A few quickly stifled shrieks greeted her big entrance, the general fascination expanding to include the anzu as well as Xavier.
“Yes, with you. Will you walk with me a moment?”
“I’m…I’m in charge of the stall at present,” Alina said blankly. “I’ll be finished around noon.”
Xavier raised an eyebrow. “Surely you can take a moment.”
“I’m being paid to be here, Your Highness,” Alina said. “I can’t just leave it unattended.”
At that moment, a balding man in middle age bustled into the stall.
“Alina, child, how many of the—” He cut himself off as he caught sight of Xavier, bowing so low his forehead was in danger of knocking the plates down. “Your Highness! What an honor to have you visit my stall.”
“Your wares are of fine quality,” Xavier told him in a friendly way. “I was just saying what excellent workmanship went into these plates.”
The artisan beamed, bowing again.
“I’m afraid I’m not here to buy, however,” Xavier continued smoothly. “I was hoping this young lady could assist with our investigation, but she’s very diligent, and assures me she’s not able to step away from her duties.”
“Nonsense, Alina,” the man said, shocked. “Of course you may consider yourself released if His Highness wishes to speak with you.”
Alina bit her lip, her brow furrowing as she looked from the artisan to a blandly smiling Xavier. Was she really as reluctant as all that? But her next words, murmured to the other man, took Xavier by surprise.
“I beg your pardon, sir, but I’d rather take the work.”
“I’ll still pay you for a half day, Alina. Don’t keep the prince waiting.”
The artisan’s words were even quieter than Alina’s, but Xavier caught them.
He pretended not to, however, feigning interest in the next stall over.
Inside, he felt sobered. He’d told himself he wanted his questions answered, but he wasn’t enjoying the knowledge.
It was hard to comprehend that the loss of half a day’s wages was such a blow to the girl to whom he’d once promised the world.
Alina emerged from behind the stall, looking a little self-conscious as she glanced over the many people watching them.
“You have some further questions for me?” she asked him, her smile gone.
“Yes.” It suddenly occurred to Xavier that people might think she was under suspicion, and he made his tone friendly. “We’re hoping you can help us with the investigation. I’ll explain.”
He gestured for her to precede him down the busy row of stalls. She did so, and space cleared instantly before them. Xavier waited until they were out of the markets completely to speak again.
“I don’t know the town. You choose a direction. Somewhere less crowded.”
Alina asked no questions, just walking swiftly away from the markets. Xavier followed her, noting that his guards were staying closer to him than usual. That wasn’t what he wanted for this particular interview.
“Is something amiss?” he asked one calmly.
“This girl has skill with magic craft, Your Highness, is that correct?” the guard answered.
Xavier nodded, then took his meaning. “She’s not a threat to me,” he said with a touch of impatience.
“With respect, Your Highness, it’s our duty to assess that for ourselves,” the other guard chimed in.
Xavier frowned between them. “And you can do that duty from a more respectable distance.”
He turned to find that Alina had stopped, looking confused as she took in the trio.
“Where have you brought us?” Xavier asked, glancing around. They hadn’t left the town, but it was much quieter, and instead of a house, the fence beside which they’d stopped bordered a garden.
“People have vegetable plots in this part of town,” Alina said. “It’s a pleasant place to walk.” She tucked her hands into the folds of her skirts. “Do you really have further questions for me?”
Amusement swept over him at her choice of words. “So, so many.”
“About the investigation,” she clarified hastily.
Xavier glanced at his guards, his expression full of silent meaning. Their faces were stoic as they discreetly moved a little further back. He’d thought he was subtle, but looking back at Alina, he realized she’d caught the exchange.
“My guards think you’re going to attack me with your magical abilities,” he said cheerfully.
She made a noise in her throat. “Then my skills have been exaggerated.” She seemed to realize her omission and added quickly, “And also I have no desire to attack you, of course.”
“I’m so relieved,” Xavier told her politely.
“You said you had questions about the investigation?” she prompted him, apparently not in the mood for pleasantries.
“Just one, but we’ll get to that.” He reached out and plucked a passion fruit from a vine that was curling around the fence. He held it out to her, eyebrows raised.
Alina gave her head a small shake. “That belongs to someone, you know. It’s not a public garden.”
“I’m sure they won’t miss just one,” Xavier said, drawing it back at her continued refusal.
His eyes were on her face as he tossed the lopsided fruit into the air and caught it.
“You said your family wasn’t wealthy before your parents died.
But when I knew you, your father was possibly the most successful merchant in the kingdom. What happened?”
“I don’t know.” Alina said the words without heat.
Taking in Xavier’s raised eyebrow, she shrugged.
“Honestly, I don’t know. One day we were setting up a new life in a city on the other edge of the forest, fresh from the capital, just after the last time I saw you.
” She cleared her throat, obviously feeling the awkwardness of that memory as much as he did.
Then she pushed on. “The next we had nothing. Everything had to be sold, and we moved into a small house. A hovel, I thought at the time, but that’s because I was spoiled.
It was fine, and we had enough for our needs.
Just not enough for the extravagances we wanted, I suppose. ”
“But that makes no sense,” said Xavier. “Even if a fleet with your father’s cargo went down, or a land caravan was robbed, it might set him back, but it wouldn’t cost him everything.”