Page 6 of Escaping the Earl
Each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits:
Kits, cats, sacks and, wives,
How many were there going to St. Ives?
“Oh dear, would you tell it to me again?” she asked.
Peregrine dutifully repeated the riddle.
“May I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“I assume this person going to St. Ives is traveling upon a road and is not going faster or slower than any other travelers upon the road and is alone when he first sets out?”
It took Peregrine a moment to think the questions through as they related to the answer.
“Yes. Your assumptions are correct.”
She hesitated only a moment before answering. “One. One is going to St. Ives. The others mentioned are a mathematical misdirection. One would assume he could only pass these other travelers as they passed by him coming from the opposite direction.”
“Well done, my fae queen. Very well done. Would you like one more?”
“Yes, and be careful—if you choose one that’s too easy, I shall vanish forever.” She laughed.
“Very well. It is a short one but a very hard one. There are two doors, one leading to heaven and one leading to hell. Each one has an identical guard. You may ask one guard one question and then make your choice as to which door to pass through, with your goal to enter the gate to heaven. One of the guards always tells the truth and one always lies. What question would you ask of which guard?”
They stopped by a white marble bench and sat down beside each other. Peregrine was lost in the beauty of the moonlight upon her alabaster skin.
“Now that is difficult,” she said. “I would ask either guard what the other guard would say, then go through the opposite door.”
“My God,” Peregrine murmured. “You’ve heard of that one too?”
“No, but it is logical. Sometimes the answer to a riddle is the easiest solution one can manage. Assuming one does not overthink it.”
She stood and walked farther down the path, and he followed.
“My lady, please tell me your name.” He reached for her hand, pulling it into his own and stroking his fingertips over the inside of her palm. She took in a breath as he pressed a kiss against her inner wrist. She started to tremble, and he nearly forgot himself and tried to wrap his arms around her. He stopped at the last minute and instead released her hand, and she seemed to calm.
She chuckled softly as she composed herself. “I’m sorry. I cannot tell you. Even if I did, it would do neither of us any good.”
“Why?”
She looked up at the endless inky black sky. “Because after tomorrow, I shall be no one.” She stood and started to walk away
Peregrine went after her and caught her hand, halting her. “You frighten me with your talk of becoming no one on the morrow. Why do you say this?”
She turned her face away, but when he gently turned her back to look at him, tears trailed down the edge of her mask.
“You’re crying,” he breathed. His concern for this woman he didn’t know twisted him inside until he felt an almost physical pain. He’d never felt so connected to anyone in his life, and yet she was an utter stranger. But in that moment, it was the truth. Hewasconnected to her somehow.
“I am, but it does not matter.”
“It doesn’t? Then what does, my lady?”
She cupped his face and rose up on her tiptoes. “This...”
