Page 27 of Wicked Thieves
PART TWO
TO THE THREADS
THAT BIND
THE BLOOD OF A PRINCE
What makes the blood of a prince?
Pure and rich, it runs through his veins.
Yet his pride remains something to convince.
What cost does he pay for the power he holds?
Blood ever must be spilled,
or he shall never sit upon his throne.
What makes the blood of a prince?
I wonder, for his story is yet untold.
13
The next morning, the sound of footsteps running down the hall made Anelize pause in braiding her hair before the vanity. When she heard it again, she walked over to the door and peered out, spotting two small feet disappearing around the corner.
Frowning, she closed the door and followed the bubbling laughter that carried from downstairs. Peering over the balcony, she spotted two small children running down the stairs, chasing each other in a game of leap?a. Along the tables and behind the bar, she saw many others either eating or singing songs together.
There wasn’t a man or woman in sight, but the children were not lacking in numbers by any means.
“We try to take in as many as we can,” Henry said as he climbed the stairs.
She looked to him as he came to stand beside her and followed her gaze to the children below. There was a steaming cup of what looked to be spiced tea in his hand, a curled orange peel dancing on the surface. He offered it to her, and she murmured a thank you. The scent of cinnamon and oranges sweet and warming as she took a sip.
“Orphans are far more susceptible to succumbing to the winter, you see. Someone needs to teach them how to first live before they learn how to survive.”
Anelize asked, “How long have you been taking children in?”
“As often as we can with our limited resources, though Aeric has contributed much of his earnings as a Watchman to help with that.”
That came as a surprise. It was one thing that he was part of the rebels, but for him to display such a sense of responsibility was not something she expected. A lesser man, aWatchman, would have kept every singleruenthat landed in his palm. Not that she knew him well enough to make such an assumption. Not that she cared to think about him at all.
As if hearing her thoughts, Henry glanced at her and said, “He is a good man, that Aeric. I can imagine it is difficult for you to accept that after what happened with your sister…but believe me, if not anyone else, Anya, when I say that he does not take any enjoyment in his part to play.”
Perhaps she was feeling particularly cruel today for she felt no inclination to believe that Aeric was completely innocent in all of this. If he was a Watchman, then it meant he’d also willingly torn Vedran families apart. Made orphans out of children after their parents were executed. If he didn’t look the same age as her, she would have wondered if he’d also been there when her father was killed.
“How did he come to be here? The prince as well? I have been trying to make sense of it all night, if I am being honest.”
Henry crossed his arms, nodding. “Aeric was an orphan, but he did not come to us as a child. I believe he always knew that what the king was doing was wrong while serving in his court. How he came to be a part of our rebellion, I fear is not my story to tell. You’ll need to ask him about that yourself.” When she made a face at that suggestion, he laughed. “Theprince’s situation is complicated as well. Though, not as complicated as his health. The poor boy has gone through a great ordeal.”
Before she could ask him to elaborate further, one of the little boys panted as he stumbled up the steps and made to run past them, eyes bright with mischief.
“Where do you think you’re going, boy?” Henry scooped him up with one arm and swung him over his shoulder. “Planning on stirring trouble again, are you?”
The boy stuck out his bottom lip as he looked down at Henry. “I want to see Cas. I want him to play with us.”
“You know the rules now. Cas will come down to see you when he’s feeling better.”
