Maddox slowed in step, and a shadow passed over his face. “You’re very curious about the king.”
Oh shit. Did he still think I was a spy? An assassin? “Only because I’ve never met one before. Before you, I’d never met a real knight either.”
He appeared to accept that answer. No more was said as we continued toward the courtyard, then over to the door outside my room.
“I suggest you rest well,” Maddox said, a touch of humor back in his eyes. “Tomorrow begins early.”
“How early are we talking? Do I get coffee first? Callum said I could buy beans from the market. It’s been two days since I had a fix. I may die.”
That humor spread to his mouth. “If coffee will silence those rambles, I’ll see what I can do. But you’ll have to earn it.”
“Earn it how? Because I’d do some sketchy things for a cup right now. Not even joking.”
“You’ll find out at first light.” He pushed open the door. “Good night, Evan.”
I stepped across the threshold and turned back to him. “Good night.”
He hesitated before shutting the door. Once it closed, I leaned against it. There were no footsteps. He hadn’t moved from the other side. But then, finally, I heard him walk away.
As I crawled into bed that night, I was excited for what awaited me in the morning. Little did I know it wouldn’t be anything like I’d expected.
Chapter Four
Evan Gets a Job
“This is bullshit,” I said, leaning against the rake. My muscles ached, I was sweaty, and I couldn’t remember what it was like to breathe in fresh air. “Well, horse shit, actually.”
A horse snorted from the stall beside me.
“Yeah, laugh all you want, Seabiscuit.” I used the back of my hand to wipe at my damp forehead. I had taken off my shirt earlier and rolled up the bottom of my jeans but had still managed to get them dirty. “Sweat is in my ass crack. Do you know how that feels? I’ll tell ya. It’s not good.”
The horse made another sound.
I sighed.
Maddox had woken me before the sun even fully rose in the sky, dragged me from bed, and led me to the knights’ quarters. My mood had perked up as he’d offered me a steaming mug that wafted an oh-so-familiar scent. Coffee. Had it been the best I’d ever had? Well, no. But beggars couldn’t be choosers, and I’d chugged the thing like it was the elixir of life and I was a dying man.
But then, the morning had taken a turn.
“Time to earn your keep,” Maddox had said, leading me across the yard.
Which led me to the present. My new life as a stable boy.
“Sorry if I stink,” I told Seabiscuit. Not its real name, but he reminded me of the one from the movie. “Do you know Maddox? He’s a real pain, isn’t he?”
A pain who had dropped me off in the stable and left me. It was about midafternoon now, and my stomach rumbled. I hoped I could eat lunch soon.
“I’m a pain, am I?” a deep voice said from behind me.
My head whirled around, and I inwardly cursed at the way my heart thumped harder at the sight of Maddox. I stepped from the stall and approached him. His eyes followed my every movement. I stopped about two feet away from him. “About time you came back.”
Maddox gave me a once-over. “What have you been doing? I told you to clean the stables, not roll around in it.”
“Listen here, you.” I put my hands on my hips. “I’ve been working my ass off. And know what I’ve decided?”
“Oh, do tell me.”
“I’ve decided that the stable-boy life isn’t for me. I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m not the physical type. Hard labor isn’t my forte.”
