Page 33 of To Save a Kingdom

“Cheatin’ on yeh doesn’t seem like him, does it?”

Sniffling, Aliya shook her head. Everything El had ever done pointed to him loving her, completely and exclusively. Until now, his eyes had never wandered. Reluctantly, she whispered, “No.”

“People don’t usually do things outside o’ their personality, right?”

“Okay.” As much as she hated to admit it, Zadé had a point. “But then—”

“So,” Zadé interrupted, “We need ta think o’ a motivation or a reason fer Elsan ta do whatcha saw him doin’.” She blinked, her gaze burrowing into Aliya’s. “Could he be protectin’ someone? Or tryin’ ta prevent somethin’?”

Chewing her inner lip, Aliya let her vision unfocus as she contemplated the possibilities. “Hmm. I suppose I could see him protecting me, or his mother. But Tsara wouldn’t blackmail me.” Aliya and the elven princess might not be best friends, but their contract negotiations had been cordial, and there had been mutual respect.

Something flashed in Zadé’s eyes, gone too fast for Aliya to interpret it. “Do yeh think Tsara’d threaten Elsan’s mom?”

Elessan did. He’d mentioned it a couple of times in their travels. It was why he’d agreed to spy on her kingdom, to guarantee his mother a place among the sun elves. “I suppose you’re right. I should give him the benefit of the doubt.” She brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. “At least, until we have a chance to talk about it.” But she was in no mental state to do so now.

Meeting her gaze, Zadé gave her a ghost of a smile. “Let’s take a few days n’ letcha calm down. When we come back, we can chat with Elsan. Together, if’n yeh want.”

Aliya swallowed, nodding. Yes. Taking some time to sort her emotions would make it easier to face him. She did want to confront him before he took Tsara and left to go back to the home he missed so much.

But, if warranted, letting him go was going to be just as hard in the future as it was today.

A sour taste pooled in the back of her throat. And with Elessan gone, she’d lose her excuse to avoid selecting an acceptable suitor.

She shoved the thought to the back of her mind. That was a problem for another day.

Hauling herself into the saddle, she turned to Zadé. “Can we talk about something else?” Anything other than Elessan, or her own too-soft heart.

Zadé chewed the inside of her cheek as she studied Aliya. “Sure, Princess.” Something akin to mischief sparkled in her eyes as one side of her mouth curled into a wicked smile. “Yeh didn’t tell him yeh were leavin’, didja?”

Aliya shook her head, studying the reins she held in a white-knuckled grip.

Zadé tapped her horse with both heels and clicked her tongue. They moved forward. “Well, then, this should be interestin’.” She offered her flask, wiggling it in Aliya’s direction. “Need a drink?”

Aliya patted her own canteen tied to her belt. “No, thank you. I’ve got my own.” The last thing she needed was an upset stomach after imbibing whatever alcohol Zadé managed to get her hands on. Aliya raised her eyebrow. “Assuming, of course, there’s something stronger than water in there?”

Zadé flashed her a wicked grin, mischief glittering in her eyes. “It’s the good stuff. C’mon, Princess. No worthwhile story ever started with drinking water.”

In spite of herself, Aliya shook her head and chuckled. She reached for the proffered flask. “Well, when you put it that way, why not?”

They made it out of the castle without any problems. Likely courtesy of the oversized hood she kept up to hide her identity, and the fact that it was the middle of the night. Aliya would’ve been more upset her guards were so lax if it hadn’t been to her advantage. But her head was pleasantly light due to Zadé’s whiskey, so she let their dereliction of duties slide this time.

As the city lights faded behind them, Aliya glanced overhead. Ripping her gaze back to the darkened road at her feet, she shook her head. That had been a bad idea—the star-studded night sky reminded her of Elessan’s skin during the full moon, and the last thing she needed was yet another reason for her brain to obsess over him.

“Do you know where we’re going?” she asked.

Zadé peered over her shoulder, frowning as she met Aliya’s eyes. “Sure. Brisimin is ta th’ north. So… we go that-a-way.” She pointed.

“Are you certain?” Aliya asked, swallowing past her dry throat. “There’s a lot of ground to cover to the north.”

Zadé shrugged. “This road’ll get us there. Don’tcha worry, Princess. I has this all planned out.”

Thank the mages, because Aliya had no clue what she was doing. Hopefully, going on this little jaunt with Zadé and leaving her aunt in charge didn’t end up being a mistake. Though, after the Elessan development, a few days away from the palace was exactly what her heart needed, because Zadé was right. Elessan deserved the same second chance as the rest of her nobles.

Silence stretched between them as the eastern horizon lightened. The trail became more visible beneath their horses’ feet.

Zadé threw her a mischievous glance. “Wanna race to th’ top o’ the next hill?” Without waiting for Aliya’s response, Zadé flicked her reins with a whoop, urging her steed into a canter.

“Hey, no fair!” Aliya pressed her heels into her horse’s ribs, taking off after her.