Page 2 of A Thieving Curse

Raelyn gasped, then laughed.

“But the hero was brave and fought and killed the monster prince”—Gareth mimed stabbing with a sword—“saving the kingdom from certain doom. The people were so happy, they crowned the hero as king.”

Her eyes widened. “A prince really turned into a monster?”

“Fred said it happened less than a year ago. In Rat… Ref…somewhere close.”

She shuddered. Usually the stories of monsters seemed far away. “I’m glad the king killed the monster.”

Gareth leaned back on his hands. “I wish he hadn’t. Then I could go hunt him down and become famous and people would sing songs about me, like Sir Roderick!”

Raelyn giggled again. “You’re too little to kill a monster.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

Gareth curled his arms to show off his muscles, although the loose sleeves of his blue tunic hid his arms. “I’m gonna be stronger and taller than Fred when I grow up. And I’ll find a monster to kill.”

“Can I help?”

He snorted. “You’re agirl.Maybe you’ll get captured by a monster, and I’ll have to save you.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Maybe I won’t want to wait for you to save me, and I’ll kill the monster myself.”

“Maybe.” He tilted his head. “You could sneak up on the monster while it sleeps, because you’re small.”

“I’m almost as tall as you!”

“I’m two inches taller.” He jutted out his chin.

Outside their hiding place, Nurse called for them again. Raelyn stiffened as Gareth held a finger to his lips.

“You last saw them enter this hallway?” the steward’s voice asked. “They’re probably in the walls again. There’s a safe room along here somewhere, hmm…”

Gareth groaned. “Aw, I don’t want to go back to studying history.”

“I’ll go to your history lesson if you do my embroidery.” Raelyn scowled at her stubby fingers. “I keep poking my fingertips.” Something knocked on the wall behind her, and she jumped.

“If you’re in there, Your Graces, come out,” the steward called.

Gareth snuffed out the lantern. Darkness enveloped them, and Raelyn held her breath. Stone rasped against stone. The door opened inward, letting daylight shine in from the window across the hall.

Nurse stood behind the steward with her hands planted on her hips. The steward motioned them out. “You have studies to attend to, Your Graces.”

Raelyn stuck out her lower lip.

“Princess, that pout is most unbecoming,” Nurse chided. “Princesses must maintain a pleasant countenance.”

Raelyn pointed at Gareth, who was also pouting. “Why don’t you scold him for frowning?”

Nurse held out her hand. “Please come back to the drawing room now, Princess Raelyn.”

Raelyn slumped and shuffled out of the secret room. Another hiding place ruined.

“And stand up straight, Princess. You too, Prince Gareth.”

At least her brother got a rebuke, too. Gareth pulled his shoulders back and rolled his eyes. The steward pushed the door closed and straightened the suit of armor.

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