Fairy Thief (36 page)

The pixies worked quickly and quietly. They brought large, cupped blossoms from somewhere within the forest, filled the cups with water, and washed her hair and face. They had no reaction to the odd feel of her – they just lathered her up. They told her what scents they were using and Saffron tried her hardest to remember the hot smell of lemon-grass, mint, and vanilla. Her eyes rolled back as she sank farther into the water. Tai and his demands that she drop her physical self be damned.

Someone was watching.

He didn’t mean to — it was purely accidental that he had stumbled upon the maiden — the very nude maiden — enjoying her morning bath. On his father’s land, no less. Had he not been so stunned by her exotic beauty, he would have questioned her without delay about trespassing this day.

As it was, being blinded by her beauty and all, he hid behind the trunk of a great old tree and watched her. He did not think it wrong, this spying, because he decided he was in love with her. After all, there was nothing wrong with watching your beloved having her morning bath. He would have her for his bride, he decided. He did not know who she was, or where she was from. But he did not care. She would be his wife — the queen of this land where she now trespassed — when the title was handed to him on his father’s death.

He quirked an eyebrow. Where did she come from? The pixies attended to her as if they knew her. Yet, here he was, in the middle of his father’s land, miles and miles from any human inhabitants. She couldn’t be out here alone. Could she? Did she come out here with a man? Her man? Was her man close by? A frown formed on his face that deepened as he searched the silent woods around him. It didn’t seem likely that there was another person about. He relaxed, for he saw no betrothal bracelet round her right wrist.

He had another thought. Maybe she wasn’t human. Maybe she was of the Enchanted, and playing a trick on him. After all, she was too incredibly beautiful. He pushed a wavy, auburn lock from his forehead and stared at her some more. Should he slay her?

He didn’t care
what
she was, he wanted her.

Every girl in the realm wanted him — his title, his money — but finally, after what seemed a lifetime of searching, he had finally found someone that
he
wanted. Even if she was an enchantress, he could marry her — it wasn’t unheard off. He just hoped her true form wasn’t too incredibly hideous.

She was sponging her chest. He wanted to do that for her.

Saffron stood up and water streamed down her body. Sunlight accentuated and highlighted every wet curve. Steam rose and swirled about her, stroking her with possessive fingers.

The man couldn’t move, couldn’t blink. He watched as pixies flew in with soft, sun-warmed cloths to dry her. He held to the tree for support.

She dressed slowly, mesmerized by the songbirds flitting from tree to tree.

When Saffron was fully clothed, she continued her walk. After a time, she heard footfalls behind her. She spun around, expecting to find Orji stalking her. She wouldn’t be surprised. She had seen the look on his face when she told them she was going to venture out on her own – he didn’t like it.

But when she turned, ready to berate Orji for his hypocrisy, she was stunned to see a strange man behind her — an absolutely gorgeous guy, with hair as red as her own, leading an elegant, dappled horse.

The man smiled timidly, and gave her a half-wave. He saw the shock in her eyes, the naked fear at being alone in the woods with a strange man. He cut his wave short. He stopped walking towards her, so she wouldn’t feel threatened. He smiled again.

She didn’t move — just stared at him in total fear.

“
It’s okay,” he said finally. “I saw you a while back, and I just wanted to talk to you.”

A while back. A while back. Saffron tried to get beyond her fear to process this bit of information. A while back! When she was naked?! She took three steps back and held her hands out in front of her to ward him off.

The beautiful man took three steps back himself. The horse matched his movements. “No,” he said, as he walked, “Please…don’t be afraid. This is my father’s land. My father is the king. I ride this trail every morning. I mean you no harm. I was just out on my regular morning jaunt when I discovered you back there. I don’t mean any harm.” He held his hand out in a placating manner. “Please, really,” he shrugged, “I just wanted to talk to you.”

Saffron didn’t back away any more. She stared at the young man. They were in the middle of nowhere — he could attack her at any given moment. But, instinct told her everything was okay…. Her shoulders relaxed; she smiled at him. She didn’t exactly make eye contact, but she looked just to the right of his dark eyes and said, “You can never be too careful, you know….”

He grinned and took small steps forward, anxious to close the gap between them. He stood tall and proud, and was heartened to see the smile on her sweet lips. He swept his hand before him in a grand gesture. “All of this is my father’s. He is king of this land, and I am the king’s son — Prince John.”

Pleasant shock swept through Saffron’s body. She scanned the land around them —the thick forest, the bright, rolling meadow up ahead, the outline of mountains behind them —
King! Prince! Yeeha!

The look of pleasure on her face encouraged the young prince considerably. He quickly closed the space between them and stood not two feet from her.

She couldn’t help grinning like a goof. Giddy jolts ran down her legs and made her want to pee. “Wow!” she gushed.

“
My lady, even though we have yet to be properly acquainted, I am quite certain that will be rectified soon.” And here he showed all of his teeth; his smile was quite dazzling. “I was wondering — would you do me the honor of being my guest at a royal ball this evening? My father is hosting the ball.” His lips closed over his teeth, but his grin was permanent. “It is my father’s intent to find me a bride at this gala event….”

Saffron placed both hands behind her back and squeezed her fingers, forcing herself to show some decorum. Her eyebrow shot up. “Oh, my God!”

“
Indeed! Would you, fair maiden, allow me to escort you to the ball?”

Saffron took a deep breath and held it. She was about to accept, to scream ‘Hell, yeah – that would be awesome!’ when her smile faltered. She released her fingers, and her arms hung limply at her sides. Why in the world would she suddenly be feeling guilt right now — and over
Orji,
of all the ridiculous things. Why Orji? Why not Markis, her lost love? Why did Markis seem so distant to her — like the tiny shadow of a hawk trailing over a far-off mountain? It was almost as if Markis wasn’t a real person, but a dream about a boy from childhood.

The prince noticed the not-so-subtle change that came over Saffron, and her deepening frown. Quickly, his hands swooped forward. He wrapped his fingers around the upper part of her arms. “What is it?”

“
Oh, it’s nothing.” Saffron managed a weak smile. “It’s just that — I have…I have a…someone…that I need to bring with me.” She wanted to slap herself in the head.

The prince laughed. In his joy, he rubbed her arms with passion before he realized his fault in such a familiar display. He dropped his hands immediately. Ah! Her eyes blazed like faceted jewels! “Of course, you have an escort — it is only proper.”

“
Ah, yeah, that’s right….”

“
But, feel yourself! You are cold! Will you walk with me to the castle where I will have a proper invitation drawn up for you and your escort? Once there, I will find you a suitable fur, then escort you back to…” he looked at the empty woods behind her, “…to where you need to be.”

His eyes met hers again — his were dark, like bittersweet chocolate.

“
How gallant of you!” Saffron nodded her acquiescence. This was it — this was all her playacting in the woods come true! Although, when she played in the woods, the prince was always Markis….

There was no fairy dust now — just Saffron in her worn, black pants, mussed up hair, and nearly-flat chest. Yet still, this gorgeous prince that stood before her looked at her as if she were Venus just stepped down from her shell. No one had ever been so
immediately
entranced with her before. Pride swooped through her chest and raced to her head, making her feel slightly intoxicated. This was a moment to squeal about at a slumber party!

On a whim, she decided to enjoy this maiden-in-the-woods-meets-the-eligible- good-looking-prince scene for all its worth. She needed a break — and this would be harmless. After all, she liked the idea of a
prince
liking her
.
She wasn’t about to fall in love with him — so she wasn’t really cheating on Markis or anything.

A royal ball!

Talk about cloud nine!

Not only did the Prince take her to the castle to receive her formal invitation, but he also took her out among his people later that afternoon to show her around. Tears slid down her cheeks as she nodded to passersby, waved to workers in their fields, and patted the heads of small children with chubby, red cheeks.

This land, these people, were exactly out of a fairy tale. The mountain she had stood on top of yesterday seemed so close; it lined the back of the town — a natural, towering barrier against invaders. The people lived in a deep valley, green and lush. The prince told her, in high summer, eight-foot-tall grasses rippled in the wind. The grasses were a staple for the animals that the people depended upon for their livelihood.

Saffron and Prince John walked past a cobbler’s shop, a bakeshop, a smithy, and stopped front of a tailor shop. They entered. A bevy of women rushed forward to address their needs. Prince John dismissed the women with a smile and a wave of his hand. He turned to look down into Saffron’s eyes. She breathed deep — still hoping against hope to detect a hint of aroma from the scarlet silks that robed him, or the spices of his freshly, washed hair. She smelled nothing and her heart fell.

Prince John noticed. He chuckled softly. “Why so sad, my angel? Your countenance was pure felicity when we walked among my people — what is it?” Before she could answer, he held up his hand to answer his own question for her.

Saffron was relieved — she didn’t know how she’d explain to him that she was sad because she was trying to get a
whiff
of him and failed.

“
My dove, I know what is troubling you — I have figured it out. You do not have a gown for the ball this evening, do you?” He grinned widely, pleased with his intuitiveness. He hoped he impressed her as much as he impressed himself.

Saffron snapped up straight, as if she had just awakened from a long slumber. “Ahhh….” She looked around the shop at the half-finished gowns of jewel-tone silk. He was right about one thing; she
didn’t
have a gown. Was he about to offer to buy her a gown for the ball? She faltered. That was nice and everything, but she doubted these non-magical seamstresses could make anything close to the spectacular piece that Wo could conjure. This was her big chance at a royal ball — and Wo could use magic here…. If Prince John bought her a gown from this shop, she would be so…
average.
The corner of her lip went up at the thought.

She shook herself and cursed herself in her mind.
You snotty little witch! A royal prince, a ROYAL fairy tale-like prince is about to offer you a brand new gown so you can attend his ball, on HIS arm, and you’re getting snide about it?

Shame, swift and sudden, slid down Saffron like a greasy sheet of muck. “I would love for you to purchase one of these fine gowns for me so that I may wear it to the Royal Ball, thank you.”

The prince frowned in confusion. “Oh — of course.”

Saffron slapped her forehead — which startled the prince so much, he grabbed her hand and stared at it, as if it had attacked Saffron’s forehead of its own accord. He held her hand tightly and gawked at her.

Saffron, you ass, he didn’t even offer yet!

The women slyly looked up from their stitching, embroidering, cutting and measuring. They cast the prince and the odd girl glances. Then they sneaked looks at each other and rolled their eyes.

They didn’t hide their looks well enough — Saffron saw them. She felt stupid. She sighed. “Look, I’m sorry — that was incredibly rude. I mean, don’t buy me a gown. I mean — I’m not expecting you to buy me a gown.” She put her hand on his chest. “But if you did, I would love it….but, you don’t have to….but, I would love it….but, it’s not necessary.” She rolled her eyes.

He was grinning. “I can’t buy you a dress today. It would never be ready in time for the ball. These dresses take months to make….” Still smiling, he narrowed his eyes and said, “Where are you from?”