“Stealing Preetis’s clothes and sneaking off.” Nellie laughed. “I’m glad to see you haven’t lost all your spunk.”
“I may live at the New Hope Government Center, but I’m still Kimball Degray’s daughter,” she said with a sly smile, sitting down on the bed. “Where’s Preetis anyway?”
“Oh, you know Preetis.” Nellie sat beside her, the weight of her body sinking the mattress and sending Renna up like a teeter-totter. “He’s always about some task. Now let me look at you, child.” Nellie’s eyes scanned over Renna. “You look so beautiful. Your father would be so proud.” She placed her hand on Renna’s cheek. “I see him in your eyes and your smile. You went to see him, didn’t you?”
Renna nodded. She didn’t dare speak, or else her emotion would escape, spilling out like water from a broken dam.
“Good.” She sniffed and looked away but not before Renna saw tears brimming in her eyes. “Now that’s enough of that.” Nellie stood up like she was too busy to sit still another moment. “I would unpack your things, but you have some fancy maid to do that for you now.”
“Nora? You’d like her. She’s very chatty.”
“I don’t have time for chitchat. I’ve got a princess to feed and must make sure she’s comfortable. Not to mention all my regular tasks.” Nellie shook her head as she spoke. “And don’t even get me started on the hoity-toity, good-for-nothing girls taking over my kitchen downstairs.”
Renna laughed.
Nellie’s eyes turned serious. “Have they been good to you, child?”
“The girls downstairs? Not a bit.”
“Not just the girls, but everyone. Are you happy there?”
Renna forced a smile. “It’s been okay. I wouldn’t say I fit in. But most days, I’m happy.”
“And your mom . . . is she happy?” It was a delicate question that required a delicate answer.
“She’s doing better than I’ve ever seen her do.” There was a sadness in Renna’s voice that she couldn’t hide—a longing for her childhood.
“It’s all that expensive stuff. That’d make any of us happier.” Nellie smoothed her apron. “Well, I best be getting back to work before your mother notices dinner isn’t ready.”
“I’ll come help after I change.”
Nellie smiled back at her, reaching for the doorknob.
“Hey, Nellie?”
“Yes, child?” She turned back to Renna.
“I ran into a man at the pond today. He looked only a little older than me. He had dark curly hair and . . .” A handsome face, easy smile, vibrant blue eyes. “He was on a PT. Is he local?”
“Not that I reckon. Nobody around here is allowed to have a PT,” Nellie answered before shuffling out the door.
Nellie was right, of course. Only someone working in a government position had access to a PT. Ordinary people didn’t have clearance to drive machines like that. Renna remembered seeing the man’s weapons belt tossed at the pond’s edge with the rest of his things. A soldier, then, most likely. Not from New Hope, though—she would have remembered seeing a man that attractive walking the halls of the Government Center. She wouldn’t have forgotten a face like his.
4
Trev
Daylight faded, shining its last light on the cement buildings of Vassel. The small New Hope city was the only town for miles with an inn. One dirt road split a row of cream plastered shops. Trev parked his PT for the night and gathered his things from inside the bike’s seat compartment. Lights emanated from the inn’s windows, the glow inviting him in. Sounds of laughter and casual talk grew as he approached and swung the door open.
The front room was lined with brown tables and booths where several guests ate dinner. Trev’s stomach growled with hunger as a wave of delicious smells overtook him; the scent of fresh bread was the strongest. Drake sat alone at a booth in the corner, his tall body towering inches above the other guests, though he was seated, and his broad shoulders almost spanning the width of the bench. A plate of meat had already been brought out to him.
“You couldn’t wait to eat until I arrived?” Trev threw his bag down on the opposite bench before sitting.
“Well, I didn’t know when you were going to appear again since you snuck off this afternoon,” Drake said coolly, hardly greeting him with a glance. His shaggy brown hair fell over his forehead, and he whipped his head to the side to shake it away from his brown eyes. “Where have you been?”
“Sorry. I visited that pond we found by the border.” Trev leaned forward to survey the array of chicken and pork on Drake’s platter before selecting a chunk.
Drake finally looked up at him, exasperation on his face. “Trev, I am the head of your security. How can I protect you if I don’t even know where you are?”
“Protect me from what?” Trev looked around as he tore the piece of chicken between his fingers, the smaller bite ending up in his mouth. “Vassel is small, remote, and friendly to Albion.”
“It’s my job to assess threats to your safety.”
“And what’s the risk level here in Vassel?”
Drake was stone-faced until a small smile cracked the surface. “Extremely low.”
Trev grinned, popping another piece of chicken into his mouth.
Drake softened. “Next time, just tell me where you’re going, okay? The king will have my head if anything happens to you on my watch.”
Trev nodded, knowing his friend was right. He should have told him where he was.
“Did you enjoy your swim?” Drake asked sardonically.
The girl’s face flickered through Trev’s mind. “It was interesting.”
Who was this Mangum guy? Trev decided he didn’t like him, whoever he was.
“I met a girl,” Trev said, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice.
Drake paused mid-bite. “And?”
“And, I don’t know.” Trev shrugged. “She was really fun.”
Drake was silent for a moment. “May I remind you that we’re meeting your fiancée in two days?”
“I know that,” Trev said with a touch of irritation.
“Then you’re also aware that it’s in poor taste to flirt with some New Hope country girl.”
“I never said we flirted.”
Drake leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. “It was implied.”
Trev rolled his eyes, hating the fact that Drake knew him so well.
“You haven’t noticed a girl in years,” Drake continued. “As your friend, I’m happy for you. But as your head of security, it’s my responsibility to tell you—”
“Drake,” Trev interrupted. “I know my duty. You don’t have to tell me anything.”
Drake’s stare was heavy. “You’re lucky you didn’t see the New Hope caravan when you were at the pond. The innkeeper said they’re staying at the farmhouse down in the valley.”
Trev took a breath. He hadn’t realized the New Hope royalty was so close. But of course they were. They were expected at the ruler’s palace in a few days. “I didn’t see anyone but the girl.”