“Yeah,” he said. “That’s pretty much it.” The sound of a nearby coffee grinder rumbled through the stone walkway, and the smell of baking bread assaulted his senses. He braced himself. “Also, I think you’re sort of pretty. You know. On a good day.”
She giggled and nudged him with her shoulder. He nudged her back and she stumbled into a flower planter, laughing harder now.
“You’re sort of pretty too,” she said. He threw a scowl at her, but it was impossible to hold on to when she was laughing like that.
“Your Highness!”
They both paused. Jacin stiffened, his hand going to his gun holster, but it was only a young girl watching them from the doorway of a little shop. A soap-filled bucket stood untouched at her feet and her eyes were as big as the full Earth.
“Oh, hello,” said Winter, adjusting her basket. “Astrid, isn’t it?”
The girl nodded, heat climbing up her cheeks as she gaped at the princess. “I—” She glanced toward the shop, then back to Winter. “Wait here!” she squealed, then dropped a rag into the bucket with a wet plop and rushed through the door.
Winter cocked her head to one side, her hair tumbling over her shoulder.
“You know that kid?”
“Her mother and father run this florist.” She ran her fingers along a trailing vine in the window box.
Jacin grunted. “What does she want?”
“How should I know? I wish I’d brought them something…”
The girl reappeared, now with two younger boys in tow. “See? I told you she’d be back!” she was saying. The boys each paused to stare at Winter, their jaws hanging. The youngest was gripping a ring of twigs and dried flowers in both hands.
“Hello,” said Winter, curtsying to each one. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I’m Winter.”
When the boys couldn’t find the courage to speak, Astrid answered, “These are my brothers, Your Highness, Dorsey and Dylan. I told them you bought flowers from our shop before and they didn’t believe me.”
“Well, it’s true. I bought a posy of blue belldandies and kept them on my nightstand for a week.”
“Wow,” Dorsey breathed.
Winter smiled. “I’m sorry we can’t stay to take a look through your shop this morning, but we’re off to visit the milliner’s assistant. Have you been to see the new baby yet?”
All three of them shook their heads. Then Astrid nudged the younger boy, Dylan, with her elbow. He jumped, but still couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“We made something for you,” said Astrid. “We’ve been waiting for you to come back. It’s just … it’s just from the leftovers, but…” She nudged her brother again, harder this time, and he finally held up the ring of flowers.
“What is this?” asked Winter, taking it into her hands.
Jacin frowned, then jolted as he realized what it was.
The older boy answered, “It’s a crown, Your Highness. Took us almost a week of scrounging to get all the pieces.” His cheeks were flushed bright red.
“I know it’s not much,” said the girl, “but it’s for you.”
The younger boy, having divested his gift, blurted suddenly, “You’re beautiful,” before ducking behind his brother.
Winter laughed. “You’re all too kind. Thank you.”
A hazy light caught Jacin’s eye. Glancing upward, he spotted a nodule in the eaves of the next shop—a tiny camera watching over the shops and servants. There were thousands of identical cameras in sectors all over Luna, and he knew the chances of anyone minding the footage from a dull morning in AR-2 was unlikely, but a threatening chill still crept down his spine.
“The crown is lovely,” Winter said, admiring the tiny white sprigs of flowers. She settled it on top of her thick black curls. “As splendid as the queen’s jewels. I shall cherish it always.”
With a growl, Jacin snatched the crown off her head and dropped it into the basket. “She will cherish it just as well in there,” he snapped, his tone a warning. “The princess is busy. Go back inside, and don’t go bragging about this to all your friends.”
With frightened squeaks and wide eyes, the children couldn’t have scurried back into the florist shop any faster. Grabbing Winter’s elbow, Jacin dragged her away, though she soon ripped her arm out of his grip.
“Why did you do that?” she demanded.
“It looked bad.”
“Accepting a gift from a few children? Honestly, Jacin, you don’t have to be so mean.”
“You could stand to be a little less nice,” he spat back, scanning the walls and windows but not seeing any more cameras. “Putting it on your head. Are you insane?” She scowled at him and he scowled unapologetically back. “You’re lucky no one saw.” He gestured to the basket. “Cover it up before I rip it apart and bury it in one of these planters.”
“You’re overreacting,” Winter said, though she did tuck a few of her hand towels around the mess of branches.
“You’re not a queen, Princess.”
Her gaze met his again, aghast. “I do not wish to be queen.”
“Then stop accepting crowns.”
Huffing, Winter turned away and marched on ahead—like a true princess would march ahead of her guard.
Fourteen
Kai waited until Thorne’s podship was a glint in the distance before he pulled out the portscreen Cinder had given him. Without an official ID chip confirming his identity, his comm to Royal Adviser Konn Torin was intercepted by the palace communications mainframe. The face of a young intern appeared.