Puss in Boots by K. M. Shea

Author:K. M. Shea [Shea, K. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BluA
Published: 2015-08-03T23:00:00+00:00

The following morning, Steffen glided down the stairs and entered the common room just as the sun peeked over the horizon. Pleased with the early hour, he glanced up the stairs to see if Gabrielle and Puss were coming down yet. He didn’t hear anyone stirring, so he sat on a bench in the empty taproom.

“Good morning,” he said when Okan—as quiet as ever—bowed and shuffled off to the kitchen, returning with a food-laden plate and a mug of steaming tea.

Steffen heartily dug in and had demolished his potato pancakes by the time King Henrik, Timo, Moritz, and Dominik fumbled downstairs. (Alwin followed behind them, awake, wearing a crisp uniform, and already sporting his helm.)

“You look cheerful,” King Henrik said, squinting in the sunlight that eased in from several open windows.

“Something good happen to you?” Timo asked, grunting in thanks when Okan set a tray of food down in front of him.

“I’m up before Gabrielle,” Steffen said, toasting the guard commander with his mug. “She’ll be so vexed.”

“Er…begging your pardon, Your Highness,” Okan said. His voice was deep and slow, somewhat similar to a giant’s.

“Yes?” Steffen asked.

“You’re not.”

“I’m not what?”

At that moment, Anja—Okan’s bright and boisterous wife—entered the common room, her baby strapped snug to her back. “Okan, did you make any—oh. Please, excuse me,” she said, blushing when she realized who was speaking with her husband.

“Not at all,” Steffen said, giving her his most charming smile in his good humor.

“Anja, Lady Gabrielle,” Okan said.

Anja’s blush cleared. “Oh. Oh, my.” She turned to Steffen and curtsied. “What my husband is trying to say, Your Highness, is that Lady Gabrielle has already left.”

“What?” Steffen asked, slamming his mug on the table. “Where is she running off to this time?”

“A neighboring village, I believe, given the pattern of her travels,” Anja said, clasping her hands together.

“When do you expect her to return?” Steffen asked.

“We don’t,” Anja said. “She and Master Puss in Boots left the village and are moving on.”

Steffen placed his hands on his lap so he could privately squeeze them into fists. “I see. Thank you for the information,” Steffen said, keeping his voice lighthearted.

When the innkeeper and his wife shuffled away, Steffen glared at his food. “I should have known better. Foolish girl,” he growled.

“Something wrong, Steffen?” King Henrik asked.

“No,” Steffen said, his voice curt.

“But, Kronprinz, you seem to be rather short of temper,” Timo said, his scar curling when a smug smile budded on his lips.

Steffen glared at him as Dominik and Moritz picked up their trays from their table and eagerly joined King Henrik, Timo, and Steffen at theirs.

“You aren’t often in a foul temper. Could it be Lady Gabrielle’s abrupt exit?” King Henrik asked, his voice too innocent as he smothered his potato pancake with sour cream.

“No,” Steffen said, making an effort to bring his foul temper under control. “While I find the lady’s impulsive behavior insufferable, it has no effect on my temper.”

“I’ve always thought Lady Gabrielle is quite logical,” Dominik said, drawing Steffen’s dark gaze and Timo and King Henrik’s bemused attention.

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