“I think it’s too early to return home to Praetha,” Nash said. “Do we know if King Sargus is still looking for us?”
“Sargus is impotent,” Daniel said. “By now, King Rowley will have put significant pressure on Sargus and turned him into a little lap dog.”
“You know this for a fact?” Nash asked.
“No,” Daniel admitted, “but the armed delegation that was headed to Sargus’s castle will surely have cowed him by now.”
“But you’re not sure,” Nash pressed.
Daniel smiled. “I have no way of being absolutely sure short of going to Sargus’s castle and finding out,” she said.
“Okay,” Saria said suddenly. “We will wait a few more weeks while Daniel confirms that it’s safe for me to travel.”
Daniel stared at her with slitted eyes. “I’m not sure it’s necessary, but you are the Princess,” she said.
“You can stay with us tonight, or for a few days to rest if you need to, and then begin your trip,” Saria offered.
“I can make up another pallet in no time,” Nash offered.
“I’ll stay tonight,” Daniel said. She felt like she knew what was going on, but she wanted to confirm it before reporting back empty-handed.
Nash stood. “I’ll ride into town and get what I need.”
“Take your time, Nash,” Saria said. “Daniel and I can catch up while I finish scrubbing the stove.”
They watched as Nash rode away. “So,” Daniel said with a grin, “You have feelings for this one?”
Saria blushed. “Is it that obvious?” she asked as she scrubbed. She was nearly done and wanted to get on to making dinner.
“Yeah, kind of,” Daniel said. “You looked to him for guidance. It was pretty clear you wanted him to ask you to stay.”
“Well, it took him long enough to get it,” Saria said, wringing the rag for the last time and wiping the bottom edge. “I have to light this and get it up to temperature,” Saria said.
“How long do you plan on playing house?” Daniel asked, bluntly.
“As long as it takes,” Saria said, trying to light the fire.
“Takes for what?” Daniel pressed her.
“For Nash to realize he feels the same and tells me,” Saria sighed. She blew on the spark that had caught on the kindling, and a flame came alive and danced in the stove. She stacked on some thicker sticks and closed the door. “Rabbit and potato stew for dinner tonight. Nash snagged two large ones a few hours ago.
She moved to the bodies on the counter and pulled out a cutting board. “I’m still a little freaked out by this part, so don’t make fun of me if I make faces,” Saria said as she drew a knife across the rabbit’s neck to begin skinning it.
“I’m not going to make fun of you. I can’t believe that a Princess is processing her own meat, though,” Daniel said impressed. “I might just stay a few days to find out what else you have learned.”
Once the fire was hot, the smell of the vinegar burning off of the casting drove them outside for a little while. Saria had opened the windows, and they waited on the front porch.
“Your father was very relieved to receive your letter,” Daniel said. “The letter was my first clue of where to start searching for you.”
“I suggested a letter to let father know I was okay to Nash, and he advised me on how to write it so only my father would know who wrote it,” Saria explained.
“So he’s smart, too?” Daniel asked.
“He has a lot of worldly experience,” Saria explained.
“He’s older than I am,” Daniel laughed.
Saria laughed, too, but for a different reason. “No, he’s not,” she teased.
“Even if he’s not, he must be at least in his thirties,” Daniel guessed.
“Not quite,” Saria giggled. “He’s only twenty-five,” she revealed.
“If that’s so, why does he look so old?” Daniel asked in disbelief.
“It’s a curse of some kind,” Saria lied. “He ages quicker than his years.”
“I think I’ve heard of that before,” Daniel responded sympathetically. Motion caught their eyes as Nash entered the clearing on his horse. Saria waved to him, and he waved back.
“I have to get the pot started,” Saria excused herself and went inside. The smell had mostly abated, and she moved a pot of water onto the stovetop before adding more wood inside. The meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions were already chopped and waiting for the water to boil. As she set the table, she was glad Nash had convinced her to get four plates, bowls, and utensils.
“Just in case they had guests,” he had said to her with a laugh.
She had thought he was kidding and wanted to avoid doing dishes every night, but his foresight was being proven out.
Other than an evening walk, Daniel saw nothing “romantic” happening between Nash and Saria, but they were cute together.
Daniel decided to stay a few more days and monitor their behavior. King Rowley would not be happy that Daniel came back without Saria, but if she could report on her happiness and growth, it might placate him some. She watched them for three days before deciding Saria was in good hands.
On the evening of the third day, Daniel announced that she would be leaving in the morning.
“I will not be accompanying you, Daniel,” Saria told her.
Daniel chuckled. “I didn’t expect you would,” she said. “I really hope you two can make this work. I’m not sure how King Rowley is going to react, though.”
“Tell him, I’ll visit soon,” Saria said, “but Sargus must pay dearly. He’s the one that started all this trouble, even if he’s not the one who committed the act. The pawns only do what the king tells them.”
“I’ll tell him,” Daniel said.