The Ex-Princess by Fiona West

Author:Fiona West [West, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tempest and Kite Publishing
Published: 2019-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

THE LACK OF SLEEP DID not bode well for the following day. Having spent all morning bonding with her bad mood in the wagon, Abbie decided to ride with Stargazer after lunch. They were riding in silence when it was broken by a shout.

“Wheat eaters!”

Abbie looked around and found a small child with a bucket of water balanced upright on her head. She stood akimbo, a defiant look on her face.

“Pardon?”

“Wheat eaters! Wheat eaters!”

Abbie glanced at Rubald for help, and he shrugged.

“It’s a mild insult here, referring to the agriculture where you live.”

Abbie snickered and turned back to the child. “Garden eater!”

The child’s eyes widened before she ran away, and they all laughed.

“So, uh, how’s the thing with your brother going?”

Parker sighed. “Not great. They hit two of my father’s ships. It’s repairable, but regrettable, especially since it was wholly preventable.”

“Aren’t they your ships, too?”

“Huh?”

“It’s your country, right?”

“Yes, they are, and yes, it is. But technically, my father currently retains command of the navy. It’s some old, obscure rule.” Parker seemed tense, and Abbie wondered if she should have waited to bring up the subject of his brother’s rebellion until later. “Thankfully, we’ve had minimal casualties, but we also don’t seem to be moving toward a clear conclusion to this mess,” he finished.

“So you don’t think you’re going to win?”

Parker shook his head. “I’m not sure.”

“What were you thinking about before I asked you about your brother?”

He glanced at her, Greenback’s gentle swaying not breaking his eye contact. “You caught me in a moment of sentimental reverie.”

“About?”

“Our shared time at King’s Beach.”

She grinned. “Why?”

“Besides ‘because it’s a happy memory?’”

“Yeah.”

He looked away for a moment, then turned back to her. “I suppose in some ways, you remind me of the ocean; you’re both predictably unpredictable.”

She scowled. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

“Also, you should never turn your back to either of you,” he continued, flashing her a grin. “Very dangerous.”

Abbie felt her temper rising. Can’t he just flirt like a normal person without insulting me in the same breath? “Why, because I’m going to sneak up behind you with a hammer?”

“I wouldn’t discount the possibility.”

“Really. Wow. That’s something coming from someone who’s seen attempted regicide in action.”

The moment the words were out of her mouth she regretted them. Parker’s head whipped around to glare at Rubald, and the other man’s shoulders slumped.

“Well, I don’t know what they told you about that, but it’s probably not accurate,” Parker said. There are a lot of rumors flying around. Just like when you left for Gardenia.”

The mention of her departure due to her illness raised her hackles again, and her regret at bringing up Parker’s family drama evaporated like steam from a hot cup of coffee. “So it wasn’t your indecision that allowed him to get away? And you don’t feel guilty about it?”

Rutha and Rubald led them into a grove with picnic tables and dismounted while Parker and Abbie continued to bicker.

“Attack me all you want, but there’s plenty in your life that doesn’t add up, too,” Parker said.

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