Heir of Amber and Fire by Rachanee Lumayno (non fiction books to read TXT) 📗

“The palace is not sufficient?”

“Let’s just say, the less questions you ask, the better it will be,” Taryn said.

Rufan looked troubled, but nodded slowly. “I trust you, sister. Were you followed?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Good.” He gestured down the darkened hallway. “Come, then, and make yourself comfortable, Your Highness.”

He held the candle higher and led us farther into the house, where he lit a small lamp and blew out the candle.

As we followed, I commented to Taryn, “I daresay, once I left the palace, I’m no longer a princess.”

“You’ll always be a princess,” Taryn said, warmly. “But in a sense, you’re right. It would be dangerous for you to be addressed or treated as such from here on out.”

Yet another odd thing to get used to, but I would have to adapt. No time like the present.

“Then I guess I’m just Jennica now,” I said, a bit sadly. “No more Your Highness or Princess.”

“Begging your pardon, Your Highness,” Taryn said. “But you might want to use a different name. Your given name is too recognizable, and it would be sure to get back to King Hendon if you used it.”

“Good point, Taryn.” I thought a minute. “What about Allayne? Since it’s one of my middle names, I’ll still answer to it.”

Taryn nodded her approval. “It’s a little old-fashioned, but much more commonly used than Jennica is.”

Rufan chimed in, “A baby girl born two weeks ago here in town was actually named Allayne. Her parents had always admired the stories.”

“Perfect, then. Allayne it is.” I felt a twinge at having yet another part of my normal life stripped away. But at the same time, being able to choose my own name felt strangely exhilarating. Like Princess Jennica was one person, and Allayne was someone else. And Allayne could be anyone she wanted to be.

Rufan’s small lamp spilled light across a wooden table in a modest kitchen, where the lone window had curtains drawn against the night. I was grateful for the imposed darkness of the kitchen; it would be harder to see any lights here in the back of the house.

“Are you hungry, Prin... Allayne?” Rufan asked me.

I hadn’t eaten much at dinner, which felt like a lifetime ago. I was also parched after the adrenaline-filled flight from the castle. I was suddenly acutely aware of just how empty my stomach was.

“If it’s no trouble,” I told my host.

“Not at all,” he said, carefully opening a cupboard. He reached in and grabbed something, quietly closed the cupboard, and then placed the items on the table in front of me. A sliver of cheese and a slice of bread.

“I’m sorry it’s not much,” Rufan said apologetically.

I was already tearing into the cheese. “No, this is wonderful,” I said, trying not to talk with my mouth full.

Rufan poured some water from a pitcher into two glasses and handed one each to Taryn and me. For a few moments the little kitchen was filled with a small pool of light and the sounds of two people drinking and munching.

“How are Patrice and the girls?” Taryn asked Rufan after she had put her glass down.

“They’re well,” Rufan said. “Now that the girls are both school-age and gone for most of the day, Patrice has a lot more energy. Until the girls come home, of course.”

Taryn smiled at that. To me, she said, “My nieces are sweet, but a handful. The youngest just started school this year and loves it. Feels like she’s a big girl ‘just like her older sister.’ And the older one is level — what? Three? Four?”

“Level Four,” Rufan confirmed.

“Oh, that’s lovely,” I said politely. “I look forward to meeting them.”

Rufan and Taryn exchanged a look with each other. “Not to be rude, Your... Miss... Allayne. It’s probably best if you don’t. My girls are very excitable. If they met someone new, they’d be liable to gossip about it with their friends.”

Instantly, I understood his hesitation. I was increasingly becoming aware of the danger I was in. As Taryn had mentioned, people — no matter their age or station — liked to talk. I would have to take extra care not to give myself away by accident, or my true identity would easily get back to King Hendon.

Rufan looked apprehensive. Lack of titles or not, I was still the princess and could enforce my will upon him.

“I understand,” I told him. He visibly relaxed.

“My wife takes the girls to school early in the morning,” he said. “After they leave, then it would be safe for you to leave your room.”

“Look on the bright side, Allayne,” Taryn said, winking at me as she emphasized my new name. “At least we get to sleep in tomorrow.”

Chapter Seven

EVEN WITHOUT RUFAN’S warning to avoid running into his family, I was exhausted enough from the flight from the castle that I slept in quite easily the next day. When I opened my eyes, Taryn was already up and moving about.

“My sister-in-law and nieces have already left,” she told me. “I’ll head downstairs to find Rufan. Join us when you’ve gotten dressed.”

“Dressed?” I repeated in dismay.

Taryn pointed at the bag. “There’s an extra change of clothes in there, if you like, or you can just wear what you wore yesterday.”

Those clothes were piled in a heap on a side table.

“But Taryn, I...” It seemed embarrassing to say that at nineteen, I required aid to dress myself. But it was the unfortunate truth.

She smiled at me sympathetically. “I know, Princess.” She picked up my dress from the table and turned it front and back, showing off the simple pullover design. “When I packed your bag I took that into account. I actually gave you some of my clothes. It will be easier for you to put them on, and they won’t attract as much attention as yours would have.”

I laughed. It was my first real laugh in what felt like forever, and it felt good. “Taryn, I can’t wear your clothes!