Chapter 8: Prince Jai

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” We both spoke those words at the same time, surprising each other. It was the first time anyone had ever spoken to me in such a manner in my life.

My natural brashness when dealing with strangers or those of a lesser rank than myself, which was everyone except my father and grandfather, came to the forefront.

“What do you mean what am I doing here? Do you know this place is forbidden?” I looked around for her attendants but there was no one following behind her. Almost unheard of for a young lady of breeding.

She didn’t seem at all fazed by my abrupt manner but instead tapped her foot on the ground as she glared up at me. Her boldness fascinated more than offended. I was more than a little bit intrigued.

“Are you a thief?” She indicated the forgotten bag on my shoulder. What cheek!

“Excuse me?” I still hadn’t climbed down from my perch when she turned to head back the way she came. I hurried down the ladder, jumping the last few rungs and ran after her before I could think better of my actions.

“Where are you going?” She tugged her elbow from my grasp and took a stance that seemed almost as if she were getting ready for a fight. How absurd, I thought. Something that delicate wouldn’t have the first clue about combat of any sort.

I released her reluctantly and took a step back when I realized I was crowding her. Not only that but my hand was slightly shaking, with a tingling sensation where our flesh had met. “I’m going to get the guards what do you think?”

“No, you’re not.” I wasn’t exactly panicked but it was close. How much time had gone by since I stood gazing at her from atop the ladder? And how soon before I was found out?

If she went after the palace guards it will be all over for sure. I had to think fast since she seemed adamant and the look on her face said she meant what she said. I decided to go on the defensive and throw her off guard.

“I’m no thief, you, on the other hand, are the one who’s trespassing. Explain yourself!” She actually turned to walk away without deigning to answer me and I was the one left running after her after being struck dumb with surprise at her actions.

“Wait!” She stopped reluctantly and turned back with a look of annoyance on her face. This time instead of tapping her foot, her hand went to her hip as she faced me down.

“What is it?” She all but sneered the words at me. I was beginning to wonder why she acted so different from everyone else who came into contact with me, and then I remembered what I was wearing.

No wonder she was so abrasive with me, she has no idea who I am. For some odd reason, I didn’t want to reveal my identity to her, not yet.

Maybe because I knew once she realized who I was she’d change and become like everyone else. Bowing to me in reverence. Not being her true self.

“I can explain. I’m not a thief, just one of the many guests here today. I got bored and decided to go into town.” That was as close to the truth as I was going to get. Besides, I’m not in the habit of explaining myself to anyone, it felt kind of strange.

She studied me for what felt like minutes until the suspicion left her eyes and it appeared that she believed my story. Then she looked beyond me and scowled.

“Oh darn it, it got away.” She seemed to only now remember the bird as she looked around for it, but it was long gone. She scowled at me this time, seeming truly put out by the loss and blaming me for it.

I looked back at the ladder and back at her again, not even upset at the interruption of the day I’d been planning forever. “Follow me!”

I was surprised when she did just that after I took the ladder from the wall and headed back to the place I’d kept it hidden before.

I’ll have to put off my grand escape for another day it seems. Though I couldn’t explain why something that had seemed so important just moments ago no longer held much appeal.

She kept a decent amount of space between us as we walked and I got the sense that she was alert and aware of my every step. Again I got the feeling that she was braced for a fight.

I replaced the ladder and stood there for a few seconds not knowing what to do with myself. Then I remembered the bag on my back and the snacks I’d pilfered earlier.

“So who are you? Are you trying to get away from the banquet as well?” She gave me a slightly guilty smile and seemed to relax at my question.

“Yes I am, but I’ve been gone too long already, I should be getting back...”

“No!” I actually grabbed her hand to keep her there.

“Sorry!” I dropped it just as quickly as I’d grabbed it. I looked down at the ground to escape her bold stare, suddenly tongue-tied and feeling out of my depth. That had never happened to me before and I didn’t like it one bit.

“I really need to go! You should think more carefully about your actions in the future. How would your poor parents feel if something were to happen to you?”

“What about you? Where are your parents, do they even know where you are?” How old was she anyway? Her words didn’t exactly go with what I had first believed her age to be, which was younger than my seventeen years.

“At least I’ve stayed to the relative safety of the palace grounds. What you were attempting to do was far more dangerous and very selfish I might add.”

I felt my hackles rise at her reprimand. How dare she? No one ever dared before and here this slip of a girl was doing it without an ounce of fear of reprisal.

“Selfish, how am I being selfish?” I knew I was just asking to keep her here a little longer. Even her scolding voice was beautiful and soft, almost melodic. This close I could see the unnatural color of her eyes and was almost drawn into their depths. Hypnotic!

“Did you stop to think how your parents would feel? And where are your attendants? As a young master, I’m sure you have some. What would happen to them if you went missing? Wouldn’t they be punished for your misdeeds?”

She didn’t think much of me at all. That’s what her words conveyed to me anyway. I couldn’t answer her because her every word rang true. I had only been thinking of myself. But it was my surety that I wouldn’t be caught and not my lack of care for my people.

“How old are you?” The question coming out of nowhere seemed to stump her for a second and she looked at me quizzically.

“Why? What has that got to do with anything?”

“Are you always this rude?” She bit her lip at my question and her shoulders slumped slightly as if I’d scolded her.

“I’m fifteen, now if there’s nothing else I really need to be getting back.” I couldn’t stop her this time as she bowed slightly before turning away. I felt that fluttering in my heart again and the hand I’d used to grab her still tingled.