Page 65 of Kingdom of Locks

Her thoughts had been elsewhere. It was the first time she could remember being so genuinely unconcerned by the enchanter’s visit. She’d just tuned him out altogether, her thoughts on Amell, wondering if he’d find answers while he was gone, and if he’d really be able to return the next day.

“Yes, it did,” Mama Gail said flatly. “And he was acting very strangely, I thought.”

“I did notice that,” Aurelia said, frowning in memory. “He hardly snapped at all.” She chuckled. “Maybe he’s found an enchantment for gaining an altogether new personality.”

Mama Gail grunted. “Somehow I doubt it.”

Aurelia didn’t answer, already having lost interest in the topic of the enchanter. She glanced out the window, her thoughts returning to the one person who seemed to dominate them now. He said he’d try to come today. But he hadn’t been any more specific than that. It couldn’t be much later than ten o’clock, and it was unlikely he’d come in the morning. She should probably—

“Honeysuckle? Abigail?”

Aurelia flew to the window with a gasp, a smile spreading across her face at the sight of the prince.

“You made it!” she cried, as Mama Gail joined her at a more sedate pace. “Let me pull you up.” She threaded her hair quickly through the loop, dropping it more hastily than was comfortable.

Amell grasped hold of it without hesitation this time, just waiting for her to confirm that she was ready. He seemed to pull himself up with extra speed. Was he as eager to see her as she was to see him?

“You came earlier than I expected,” she told him, once he stood in the tower room.

He flashed her the smile that made it hard to think. “I left the city at first light, and rode straight here.”

With interest, she watched as he swung a satchel from his shoulder and placed it on the small table. He’d never brought a bag before.

“I’ve done my best to find what you requested,” he said brightly, his smile encompassing Mama Gail as well. “Miss Abigail, for you.” With a flourish, he extracted a paper box, and Mama Gail took it eagerly. She peeked inside, and her eyes lit with more excitement than Aurelia had seen her show in a long time.

“I’ll cut it up at once,” she said, hurrying to find a plate. “Au—darling, you’re going to love it!”

Aurelia saw Amell look quickly between the two women, and knew he’d caught the slip. She bit her lip, feeling a prickle of guilt at her continued deception. Perhaps she should just tell him her real name. After all, he’d shown himself true to his word so far. But as she watched her mother bustling around, she knew what the other woman would say. A few days wasn’t long enough to know someone could be trusted.

“I also got the ingredients you asked for,” Amell told Mama Gail. “I hope I remembered them correctly, because the list disappeared. Unfortunately the letter was wiped clean as well.”

She sighed, beginning to slice up the cake. “I expected as much.”

Amell smiled at Aurelia, reaching back into his bag. “I thought you might like these,” he said, pulling out a small packet. “They’re from one of the best sweet stalls in Fernford. I brought enough for us all.” He gave a cheerful chuckle that made his eyes dance. “They’re popular with the children. You should have seen these little ragamuffins crowding around the stand at the market. They were like a swarm of bees.”

“I saw a bee once,” Aurelia told him brightly. “But I’ve never seen a whole swarm.”

Amell’s smile faltered the tiniest bit, but his voice remained just as cheerful. “Well, they’re loud, and they’re busy. Never still. And bright.”

“What else did you see at the market?” Aurelia asked eagerly. She listened with fascination as the prince described one of Fernford’s markets—the colors, the smells, the barking dogs, and shouting vendors. He pulled a number of other food items from his bag as he described the stalls where he’d acquired them. They all looked incredible, and the cheesecake was delicious, but she could hardly focus on any of it, her eyes locked on the prince’s animated face.

“You describe it so well,” she said wistfully. “I wish I could picture it, but too many of those things I’ve never seen.” She smiled. “It’s as fantastical as something out of a storybook to me.”

“Speaking of which,” Amell said brightly, reaching back into his bag. “I brought you books.” He slid a stack of five books onto the table, and Aurelia’s eyes widened.

“So many!” She gathered them up as gently as if they were breakable eggs. “A storybook,” she lifted the top one, “and another, and a book on the history of Fernedellian fashion—”

“You seemed interested the first time we met,” Amell interjected, “when I mentioned how brightly everyone dresses in the capital. I thought you might like to learn more about how our customs developed.”

“I would,” Aurelia breathed, her heart in her eyes as she looked up at him. “Thank you, Amell, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“It’s nothing,” he said, a little gruffly. His face had taken on a hint of color, but she thought he looked pleased by her thanks.

She looked through the other books, running her fingers down the spines. One appeared to be a traveler’s account of other lands, and the last one was a book on dragon lore. She could hardly wait to read them.

“These are very fine books,” she said, with a touch of anxiety. “Were they expensive? We have no coins to pay you for them.”

Amell laughed. “I don’t want your coins, and if I took them, I’d be a thief. I didn’t actually purchase these books. They come from the castle library.”

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