Free The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler Page B

easy.” Then I remembered what Babette had said to me about thinking of how others feel. “Well, not easy, exactly. But I think it gets easier when you practice. And next time, we’ll go together. That way, whichever of us can do it can lead the way.”
    Breckin sighed and stood. “Well, at least I can get us out of the woods. You’d be lost in here trying to get back.”
    I nodded, smiling to myself. Boys were so proud—you always had to let them think they were good at things. I’d noticed this with the various fire boys I’d played with over the years. They needed to think that they were the best at spinning tops or running races. If I won acontest, they would sulk, sometimes for days. And I rarely would let them win, so we were often at odds with each other. But Breckin was right, after all—I always did get lost in the forest. And I was glad to have him to help me find my way back. So glad, in fact, that when I reached out to pull him up from the log where he sat, I kept my hand in his. We stood for a moment, palm to palm. I blushed, and I could see my blush reflected in Breckin’s red cheeks. We did not let go, but swung our hands between us as we started back.
    As we walked, I told him about what had happened at the cottage. He was impressed by my description of the divining bowl, and his eyes grew wide when I told him about what had happened when Babette tried to look into the palace.
    â€œThere’s magic there?” he said. “Why? Whose magic?”
    â€œWe couldn’t tell,” I told him. “You seem to have the ability to sense magic. Why didn’t you know about it?”
    â€œWell,” he said hesitantly, “I’ve…I’ve never actually been in the palace, except for the time you doctored my scrape.” He looked a little embarrassed.
    â€œReally!” I exclaimed. “Never? Not even for a meal?” Most of the servants took their meals together in the kitchen, though I ate as Cook and I worked, so I rarely joined them. But now that I thought on it, I didn’trecall ever seeing Breckin at the long, scarred wooden table where everyone sat down to their evening food—or anywhere else inside the palace.
    â€œI eat in the stables,” he said. “The horses seem to like it when I do—unless it’s venison. They get nervous when I eat that.”
    I was wondering why that would be when we emerged from the trees. The setting sun tinged the stone of the palace with pink and lavender, and it looked like one of Cook’s fanciest cakes, beribboned with icing.
    â€œWe’d better separate,” I said, and at last he let go of my hand. It had become a little damp and numb, but I did not mind. I cradled it as if it were a thing separate and special as we set off in different directions, me to the palace, Breckin back to the stables. As soon as he was out of sight, I realized that we had not set a time and place to meet again, and I thought about following him to do so. But I feared being seen—that would surely mean an end to any friendship I might have with him. So I decided to bide my time, sure that we could cross paths soon.
    That Sunday, my sisters seemed tired and listless. I thought perhaps it was because the cold weather was setting in and they were trapped inside more and more. They still rode when the sun shone, but the cold prevented them from boating, picking applesand berries, and engaging in the other outdoor activities that they enjoyed in the warmer months. Akila complained of a headache, and Asenka said that her legs hurt her. None of them seemed inclined to do my hair or try out their pink powder on my cheeks, nor did they want me to put on dresses from their great closet.
    â€œI just want to sleep,” Amina moaned, and the others nodded. Were they getting sick? I was worried and laid my hand on Amina’s head as I had seen Nurse do when Aurelia had scarlet fever and