Free Dragonskin Slippers by Jessica Day George Page B

thrown at her carriage, threats of harm from people who couldn’t possibly do anything to a heavily guarded princess.” He shrugged again. “But as a precaution my father has ordered that everyone stay in after dark, at least until after the wedding.”
    “Oh.” I felt I owed him some sort of explanation, since he was helping me, after all. “I’m from Carlieff Town, all the way in the north. We had barely even heard that the crown prince was betrothed.”
    “I’m hardly surprised, it’s been rather sudden.” The prince flashed his bodyguard a grim look, which Tobin returned with an eloquent expression, making me realise that he wasn’t taking part in the conversation because he was a mute. Despite his handicap, it was clear that he shared his prince’s distaste for the speed of this controversial marriage.
    “So,” I began, thinking to change the subject, “who exactly are you taking me to? Not that I’m not grateful to you, Your Highness, for all your help,” I added hastily.
    “Tobin’s older sister runs an inn just outside the cloth-workers’ district,” the prince explained patiently. “Ulfrid was my nanny when I was a child, and will be happy to help you.”
    “Oh, thank you.” I looked back at Tobin, who was shadowing us with one hand on the hilt of his sword. “And thank you, Tobin,” I told the bodyguard.
    He raised his eyebrows and nodded curtly.
    I slowed my steps, though, as we passed beneath a brightly burning lamp. “But, Your Highness, if I may ask:
Why
are you helping me?”
    He stopped and raised his eyebrows. “Why shouldn’t I help you?”
    “Because … well, I’m nobody. I’m a farm girl from Carlieff. You’re a prince: Why do you care if I get locked up for vagrancy?”
    The prince looked at me thoughtfully. “Had a hard day, eh?”
    I looked down at the blue toes of my slippers, peeping out from under my hem. “You have no idea,” I said softly, thinking of the endless walking, the dust, the raucous laughter of the woman who had shaken her broom at me. And that was before I had stepped on the princess’s dog.
    “Well, that’s why. Because it is my duty to make up for the harsh treatment you have received thus far,” he said, striking a noble pose.
    Now I raised my eyebrows.
    He grinned. “Actually, I like to walk around at night. I think the curfew is stupid. And the city jail is no place for a young girl.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Also, Ulfrid makes some very fine sausage rolls.” He took a few steps forward. “Shall we?”
    I was so tired. I nodded.
    Tobin’s sister was not a mute, but neither was she much of a talker. She opened the door after her brother gave it a few loud knocks and ushered us inside without saying a word. She had seated us by the remains of the common-room fire, stirred the ashes to life again, and brought sausage rolls and tea before I heard her say a thing.
    “Do that, did you?” Ulfrid was pointing at the cuffs of my gown. She had a heavy accent. But then, from the looks of her brother’s tattoos and earrings, and the strange way her long white-blonde braids were wrapped around her head, I had figured that they weren’t from Feravel. “Your work?” she asked.
    “Er, yes, it is.” I straightened my skirt to display more of the hem, now rather dusty, that I had also embroidered.“And these.” I pulled open my bundle and showed her the woven sashes and embroidered kerchiefs. She grunted and nodded.
    “Think you can help her find some work?” The prince smiled cheerfully at her. “I would hate to have her carted off by the guards for breaking curfew again.” He winked at me cheekily and I pulled a face, forgetting for the moment that he was a prince, and treating him as I would my brother, Hagen. Then I remembered my place and looked away, cheeks hot.
    “There are places,” the woman said, nodding her head. “I will take her tomorrow.” Her tone was neither encouraging nor discouraging, merely