Sineater

Our escort caught up to us just outside the palace.

“Your Highness!” The shorter person jogged up to me. “A moment, please!”

I only partially turned to face him as we stopped. “Yes?”

None of the guards had impeded our way as we’d walked out. While the city was large, it wasn’t so big that we wouldn’t be able to find our way back to the jewelry store and from there make our way to the mining hub. I hadn’t planned on having any further discourse with the Dwarves until after we’d had a chance to talk to Alessa and I had a feeling that Starna wasn’t going to want to have that discussion along with her old master while in a place that we knew was spying on us.

There was the small issue of agreeing to meet Vin at the stables the day after tomorrow. The Dwarven mines were vast and there were tunnels even beyond that. I didn’t want to wander around inside the mountain looking for a hole in my magical senses.

“You left so suddenly.” The man paused to catch his breath from running. “My master instructed me to offer you accommodations at his manor for the duration of your stay.”

“I thought he lived above the store.” I raised my eyebrows as I waited for clarification.

“Oh, no. That’s just where he conducts business. Master Gladstone has a manor on the surface to entertain guests.” The Dwarf motioned for us to go deeper into the city. “If you’d follow me.”

“We really need to get our things and…”

“Your clothes and traveling bags have already been sent to the manor.” The servant cut me off as a covered buggy drawn by a pair of Ibex stopped in front of us. “After you.”

We did have the time to burn and we could try to get some of our talks out of the way. Before we met back up with Vin. I had a feeling the magical surveillance was going to be stronger at the main house, but we’d just have to watch what we said. There wasn’t much use in arguing. I couldn’t very well walk into the monster filled tunnels in a suit without my weapons. So at the very least our destination to change back into our regular clothes had been moved. Though I was starting to have an idea about how I might be able to spend some of our extra time.

“I guess we’re going to the surface.” I motioned for Starna to climb inside, then got in after her.

The Dwarf climbed up next to the driver after he shut the door. Once we started moving, I lowered my voice to try to talk to Starna in private.

“How much of our talks can you do from here?”

“I can contact Alessa, the tower, and my father from here easily enough.” Starna looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know how much security they’re going to have, so I might not need to until we’re out.”

“Gotcha.” I gestured around the buggy. “So how do you want to spend the rest of the time that we have until we meet up with Vin?”

“After we’ve basically just been kidnapped?” Starna shook her head. “We should have brought an escort.”

“Come on, it’s not so bad.” I grinned. “All I’d need is some flowers and you could consider this to be romantic.”

“How is being taken to where they are holding our clothes and gear hostage anywhere close to romantic?” Starna crossed her arms in front of her.

“You’re in a buggy with a prince driving through a city.” I could tell she wasn’t impressed.

“This was the only way we really ever got to leave the palace.” Starna shrugged. “Public appearances to inspire the citizens. Except we never got out because it was too dangerous.” She rubbed her throat. “This feels too similar to that for it to feel romantic for me.”

“Ah.” I chuckled. “So you’d rather be knee-deep in some monster guts than out in a pretty dress.”

What I’d meant to be a joke felt a lot closer to the truth when she didn’t deny it.

“Wait, seriously?”

Starna shrugged. “The freedom to run my own schedule with a target I can focus any frustrations on?” She blushed as she looked away and started to fidget with her hair. “Is that bad?”

“Not bad at all!” I held up my hands. “It’s just not like the women I’m usually around!”

“Oh.” She moved her hands to her lap and began picking at her fingers.

“That’s…” I cut myself off before I started rambling to try to salvage what I was trying to say. “What I mean is that in the last month since I met you, I’ve enjoyed our time together, even with all of the running-for-our-lives that we did. And while there could be less life-or-death situations, I’d like to spend more time with you.” I pulled off the tie. “What do you say we get changed and see if there are any jobs at the Ranger’s Station that we could do before we meet up with Vin?”

That seemed to brighten her mood. “I’d like that.”

The buggy stopped and I pushed the door open. “After we get our stuff, we’ll see what type of fun we can have.”

The Manticore leaning against the front gate promised to change those plans.

I groaned as he straightened up. “I said after we got changed!”