Dividing Eden (Dividing Eden #1)(6)
You’re a prince, not some common laborer. Act like it.
You should be more like your brother.
If you were less of a distraction, the Masters of Light wouldn’t be having such problems with the power on the walls.
“It works!” an apprentice half-hanging over the battlements yelled. “The lights are all shining—even brighter than before!”
The other apprentices cheered as Andreus pushed away from the white wall and walked over to where three Masters were huddled over the control panel.
“How does it look?” he asked.
Master Triden turned and grinned, showing off his broken front tooth. “The gauges show less power loss from this line. We are going to have the boys watching all of the power measurements throughout the next week. If this design continues to prove superior—as I expect it will, Prince Andreus—we will begin the process of replacing them all. With any luck, this winter there will be no outages and the kingdom will have you to thank. The King will be pleased.”
Andreus scoffed. The King was rarely pleased with a son who spent more time studying windmills than brandishing a sword. “I think we’ll all be pleased if Garden City gets through the winter without an attack.”
“The Council, our seer, and the King will all hear about your success in my next report, as will everyone else in the city. Your work to keep Garden City and the rest of Eden safe makes you no less a hero than Prince Micah fighting on the battlefields.”
Of course it did. Andreus should be with Micah and his father, winning glory on the battlefield. If death were the only thing to fear, he would be there—without question. It was revealing his secret that was far more threatening.
Master Triden bowed, then turned to shout orders at the apprentices. The gusting wind made Andreus pull his cloak tighter around himself as he turned and headed toward the closest tower staircase. The wind was blowing steady and strong. The temperature was dropping. Now that he’d been successful, he wanted to get to his next appointment, which was not only out of the cold but would, if the lady could be taken at her word, make him very, very warm.
Still, as cold as it was, Andreus stopped before he reached the tower door and walked to the wall to look at the city far below. The glow of the beacons was faint at this time of day, but soon they’d create a bright outline of the sprawling city. It was this light that kept the tens of thousands of people below safe from the soon-to-be hunting Xhelozi.
Not bad for a day’s work.
Smiling, Andreus walked out of the fading light and jogged down the staircase, trying to decide if he should wash before meeting the lovely Lady Mirabella or if she would find the streaks of grease on his hands appealing. He sniffed at his tunic and veered down the hall toward the royal family’s private section of the castle. There was nothing sexy about smelling like a rusted pot. A quick wash, fresh clothes, and—
“Prince Andreus,” a familiar silken voice called at his back. “Excuse me, Your Highness, but the Queen sent me to look for you.”
Andreus sighed, then turned and gave his mother’s favored lady-in-waiting his most charming smile. “Lady Therese, I hope my mother isn’t the only reason you’re looking for me. Because the Queen is certainly not the reason I’m happy to see you.”
The dress Lady Therese wore today showed off rounded hips, and the low neckline gave him a peek at her other assets. Since she’d come to court two months ago, the young widow had managed to dodge his interest, even turning down his offer of an up close and personal look at the orb of Eden. It was, at first, vexing. But he had to admit, her refusal made for an interesting change of pace. Having a crown meant that, more often than not, he didn’t have to chase his quarry.
“I am here at the Queen’s bidding, Your Highness. Your mother needs to speak with you.” Lady Therese curtsied and lowered her gaze.
“Did my mother tell you what she needed to speak about?”
Lady Therese shook her head. “She only said that it is urgent.”
The Queen thought discussing his breakfast menu was urgent. Heaven forbid he skip a meal and get lightheaded.
“Tell my mother you searched everywhere and couldn’t find me inside the castle.”
Lady Therese’s blue eyes widened. “You wish me to lie?”
Yes. Women liked him better when he didn’t tell the truth. “Would I ask you to betray your own conscience for me?” He gave her a mocking bow. A spark of amusement lit her features and he smiled in return. “If you turn your back and I suddenly disappear, you’d be able to return to my mother and tell her the absolute truth.”
His words pulled a low chuckle from Therese. “You don’t believe she’ll see through the ruse?”
“Of course she will. She will also assume that I used the charm she taught me in order to misdirect you. Believe me, the Queen will not punish you for what is essentially her fault.”
“You’re incorrigible, Your Highness.”
Andreus closed the distance between them and lowered his voice so she had to lean in to hear his words. “And you are bewitching when you smile.”
Closer now. So close the fabric of her sleeve was brushing against his vest. “We both have dealt with my mother’s urgent matters long enough to know that whatever problem she has can wait. And since you are supposed to be scouring the castle for me, my mother will not expect you to report back anytime soon. We could . . . pass some time together.” Suddenly, the smell of rust and grease didn’t seem all that unpleasant.