Chapter 5

I couldn't help the cringe when the carriage door shut.

"It should be a fairly quick trip; we're taking a boat down the main channel to avoid the maze. It freezes and they don't want to risk being trapped inside. I'll give you some calming salts before we board."

I huffed and looked out the window. We would have to share a boat with the Brittannicans. For land travel we needed separate carriages to fit everyone but if we were going down the channel…

The channel had been made shortly after the maze; when they realized that winter would freeze the bolts and lock anyone in it, until spring came and melted their decimated bodies. Most of the trading during the colder months happened on the channel. The Brittannicans charged a tax to use their protected waterways once you crossed their border, otherwise you would have to move your product through bandit country.

They thought that, since they were the only ones who figured out the maze, they were entitled to certain privileges.

Privileges I would be privy to but would not abuse. Well, unless I really needed to.

"Pray tell, Janson what did the late king of Brittannica die of?"

I hadn't forgotten what had transpired during tea. Moreover, Janson had to pretend he didn't know what had happened for his own sake.

"Well, the official report was that he fell ill and struggled for quite some time. He was a weak man and his death was not a surprise." Janson said, analyzing me. He wanted to know what I was plotting.

It was too bad Thomas was in the other carriage. We always wore Janson down quicker when were together.

"Hmm, what illness? I want to take precautions and ensure I don't catch it when we reach that wretched palace."

It was truly wretched, the current regent had seen to that.

"It was chronical. You'll be fine."

Janson's lips twitched in annoyance. I was onto something.

"I hope it's not hereditary. I certainly hope none of my children get it."

"Let sleeping dogs lie, Roan."

"Oh? Since when were they sleeping? If it was chronical then there is nothing to hide…well unless it wasn't chronical?"

Janson shook his head.

"Just mind your own business until the wedding. When you're queen you can turn over all the stones you want."

"Did you take any calming salts?"

Thomas came up beside me on the wooden rail.

"No, I feel like a delirious fool when I do."

The wind chill was worse on the water than it had been on the docks. It hit my cheeks and burned my nose. I had lost the feeling in my fingers despite my tight grip on the rail.

"We need to get below deck before we turn into ice statues."

Thomas turned to go but I stayed.

"Roan, its going to get worse the darker it gets. We need to get below deck."

The sun had long disappeared. The moon had already sat on the empty throne.

I hadn't gone below deck since we boarded. I had stayed in the same spot all afternoon.

"If I go below deck, I might never leave it Thomas." I said, tightening my numb grip on the rail.

"What? Of course you will." He said, tilting his body in my direction.

"No, I won't Thomas. I'll be stuck in there forever, trapped between my duty and personal agendas."

Thomas sighed and leaned over the wooden rail on his arms.

"Wood is easy to destroy. You can burn it or hack it; sometimes it destroys itself from the inside."

"Not this wood. This wood is different."

"Roa-"

"Let me have my freedom, Thomas. I'll come down when I'm ready."

Thomas huffed but didn't argue.

If I went below deck, I would have to sleep and when I woke, I would be in Britannica and there would be no turning back. They would throw me a ball and crowd around to see me. They would flatter my dress and then turn their backs to spread rumors.

My life would lose meaning. I would never be happy.

I was lost in my self wallowing when I was rudely interrupted again.

"Princess Roan."

I didn't hear him walk up to me. His presence made me jump and back away in alarm.

As soon as I recognized him, my heart resumed its frantic beating and heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Prince Newt, I thought you would be below deck. It's cold."

He dropped his eyes and stared at the bottom of my cloak before continuing.

"I wanted to talk to you…privately."

I tried to hide the disdain on my face. Thankfully, the prince didn't look at me, instead he turned to face the water.

"About what?" I asked, returning to my position. That way I didn't have to look at him.

"First of all, I wanted to apologize on my mother's behalf. She thinks she can take certain liberties. Second of all, I wanted to come to an agreement with you." He said, slightly glancing at me.

"What type of agreement?"

"Well…we…the thing is, I want us to get along better for… for the people of Britannica. If we can't communicate I don't think can rule."

He had a point but that didn't necessarily mean I wanted to have anything to do with him.

"All right. What do you suggest?"

"I suggest we at least attempt at speaking to one another more frequently."

A bitter taste settled in my mouth. Ignoring reality, like I had been doing, would be much more difficult if I had someone constantly reminding me of it every time we stepped in the same room.

"If its for the well being of the people, I'll agree to be more amiable towards you."

"Wonderful." P.T said, he turned to face me and held out his hand.

The ability to breathe left once more and I hesitantly took his hand.

It was cold and softer than mine was.

I let go first after two shakes.

"Do you remember the first time we met?"

I hadn't been made aware that the agreement's protocol was immediate action.

I shook my head and he smiled.

It was the first genuine smile I had ever seen from him.

"We were rather young and your parents came on a diplomatic visit. You were running around a fountain with Thomas when I came up from behind and pushed in for playing on my grounds. I took off after that."

My mouth hung open. The flashes off marble and chilling water all rushing back in blurry images.

"That was you? I always thought that had been Gally."

I knew he was a rotten character.

"We'll it was his idea. I didn't see you after that for years."

I took a step back. My thoughts running in a hurried panic.

"So you're telling me that all these years I have been ungracious to Gally for no reason whatsoever?"

It was his turn to take a step back.

"We were children. I did not think it would be such a…"

"A what? That it wouldn't be as offensive? That the scar on the back of my neck simply wouldn't matter because of our infancy?"

"It was merely prank? Gally said…"

"Well I've hated Gally for a really long time and to know that all the work I've put into gaining even ground has been for naught is quite infuriating."

His brow furrowed and he held out his hands.

"I wasn't aware that this had been such…"

"You know what Prince Newt, I rid my involvement in your agreement. I think you can handle your country all by yourself. I'll just wait around fountains so if you are free and bored you can push me into one."

Ruined. Absolutely Ruined. My relative peace had been thrown overboard.

I huffed at him once more and spun around.

I walked about ten paces before I realized my mistake.

"It's the other way."

"I realize that."

I turned around again and stomped away. The stairs were on the bow of the ship.

I wasn't naïve or stupid enough to fool myself.

I had overreacted. P.T just didn't know it had been on purpose.

It was my latest method of keeping him away.

If he thought that, I was going to roll over that easily he had another thing coming.

Yes, it did bother me that he had pushed me into a fountain as children but No, it wasn't that big of a deal. Also, the scar that had been on my neck healed years ago and only showed if light directly hit it.

Being immature was an effective way of delaying the unavoidable and I had no grievance milking that cow until it dried.