Page 30 of Within the Flames
Eight
She didn't recognise any of the men or women her father had sent with her, but that wasn't surprising. She'd been a classic sheltered Princess while living underwater. Just thinking about it had anger rising within her. There'd been no reason to keep her away from everyone. No other kelpie Princess in history had been treated that way. Unless it was something to do with her parentage.
Whatever the reason, she planned on getting to the bottom of it now.
"Princess."
"Your Highness."
"Your Majesty."
Each of the kelpies had their own way of formally greeting her, none of which were by her name. She wished she'd said yes to one of her men being in here with her, then at least she'd have someone who saw her as a person and not something to be worshiped.
"Please sit." She indicated towards the sofa opposite and all three of the kelpies sat hastily.
She smiled at them, but it did nothing to alleviate the nerves they were evidently feeling.
"You called for us?"
Macey held back a sigh of relief. At least one of them was talking to her and not in some falsely awe-struck state.
"I did. What we discuss can't leave this room," she warned. It wasn't that she didn't want her allies to know, it was more about protecting her own reputation. Whether she liked it or not, she was the leader of their army. Even if she had no idea what that entailed.
"Of course," the boldest one answered. "We would never betray you."
She refrained from commenting, but the phrase never-say-never reverberated around her head. Particularly after what she had to ask them.
"I have a few questions about my brothers..." She studied each of their faces, trying to work out how they'd react.
"The Princes?" The middle kelpie frowned as she asked. "What about them? They were fine when we left the Loch."
"When you...left?" Macey's eyes widened. She couldn't be hearing that right.
"Yes, last week when you came to get us. Has something happened to the Princes since then?" The kelpie cocked her head to the side. Macey wasn't fooled. The woman really was worried. She wondered if there was anything in that.
"And you talked to my brothers?"
"Yes, all the time. I was one of Bruce's partners." The kelpie to her right shot her a look. "His sparring partners," she added hastily, but there was something about her words that suggested more to Macey.
"And you talked to him last week?"
"Yes, we were say...making arrangements for while I was away," the female kelpie answered.
"Did you know him before we went on land?" She crossed her fingers, hoping the woman would say yes.
"Of course, we're the same age."
Macey took the woman's word for it. She had no way of knowing if she was telling the truth or not. She certainly didn't recognise the other kelpie, but that didn't mean anything.
"Was he acting...strangely at all?"
"No. He was the same Bruce as when we were children."
Macey leaned back, not too sure what to make of it all. "When did he return to the Loch?"
"Just after you became a Warden, I think? The two of them brought news of what had happened to you." The woman shrugged like it wasn't important.
Macey was lost for words. How had her brothers even known about her becoming a Warden? She hadn't seen them since she'd been taken by her men.
