Page 24 of Pippa of Lauramore
Two young boys stand on tiptoes, eyeing the candy at the stall. They check their pockets, but their hands comeout empty. They begin to argue about who had the coin when Archer flips one to them.
“Thank you, Master Archer,” they say, delighted.
“What?” he asks after the boys buy their candy and run off.
I shake my head. “Inside that irritable exterior, you’re really quite soft.”
His forehead creases. “I am not irritable.”
“You are. You won’t even tell me what’s included in the scavenger hunt. Really—what harm is there in me knowing?”
Archer crosses his arms. “I don’t know everything on the list.”
“What do you know?” I look him right in the eye, make him hold my gaze.
He hesitates but gives in after only a few moments. “Grim boar.”
Grim boars are huge, gray pig-beasts with large, sharp tusks. I believe they’re named for their smell—they reek like death.
They’re quite tasty, though.
I cringe. “Why would an animal be on the list?”
“They’ll be roasted for the feast. Any we can’t use will be smoked for later.”
There are thirty men participating in the tournament. If they each kill one, that will be a lot of pig.
“Do we need thirty boars hanging in the cellars?”
We pass through the stalls at a lazy pace. Archer casually scans the crowd as we go, looking for trouble before it finds us.
“There are too many in the woods right now. It’sbecoming dangerous. There’s not enough food for them, and they’re starting to scavenge the farms near the wall.”
In my mind, I see a young shepherdess finding a boar in her field. “It’s a good idea to include them, then.”
“Thank you.” Archer’s lips almost tip up in a smile. “It was mine.”
It doesn’t surprise me Percival enlisted him to help with the scavenger list. He’s already in charge of the archery tournament.
“What else is on the list?” I press. “I’m sure you know more.”
He shakes his head.
I wrap my arm around his and tilt my head toward him, batting my eyelashes playfully. “Please, Archer.”
He untangles his arm and rolls his eyes. “Save the charm for your prince.”
I let the playful look fall from my face. Softly, I say his name, letting him know how much I need him.
“You really care for this man?” His tone is even and his face expressionless. “After only knowing him for a few hours?”
I nod.
He’s thinking, deciding. Knowing Archer, I’m sure he’s debating whether our friendship is a valid enough reason to break the rules.
“My entire life is decided by this tournament,” I say, serious now. “I can’t marry Lionel. Please, help me.”
“Grim boar,” he repeats as he takes a step back and crosses his arms again. “Maid-of-the-shadows, inger egg, and Eldentimber resin.”
