Ruined - Amy Tintera Page 0,33

grabbed the rope when he was on the ground and began her own descent. Galo followed, his boots hitting the ground with a thud. He straightened and grinned at the older guard standing by the wall.

“Usual warning,” Roberto barked at Galo.

“Yes, I know,” Galo said. “Endless shame and a lifetime of misery if anything happens to Prince Casimir.” He took a quick glance at Em. “Or Princess Mary.”

“I’ll also remind you that an attempt was just made on Prince Casimir’s life,” Roberto said.

“I’ll be fine,” Cas said. He gestured at Em. “I brought her.”

Em barely managed to hold back a laugh. That was her. Protector of the prince of Lera.

Roberto pointed out at the city. “Go ahead, then. If you’re not back by sundown, I’ll alert the king that you left.”

When Cas turned away, Roberto grabbed Galo by the arm and said something Em couldn’t hear. Galo nodded, his expression more serious when the guard let him go.

Em traipsed down the hill behind Cas. It was clear and sunny, the ocean breeze rustling the leaves of nearby trees. Green grass dotted with a few trees spread out in front of them, and Cas headed to a thin dirt path.

“Did you see Royal City when you came in?” Cas asked, slowing so he was walking beside her. Galo walked on his other side, scanning the area around them. She’d never seen this guard in action, but she liked the way he didn’t keep his hand poised over his sword. She could easily take it from him, if she caught him by surprise.

“No,” she said. “The royal escorts took us around the city.”

The dirt path rounded a corner, and the sounds of people talking and hooves clomping filled the air. They were suddenly in the center of Royal City, with people streaming in and out of shops and making their way through the streets.

Em watched a father and daughter walk across the street with bags full of food in their arms. She could see a food market, a clothing store, and a feed store just in her immediate area. Carts lined the street, with men and women selling jewelry, trinkets, and sweet-smelling breads.

There was nowhere like this in Ruina. Even before King Salomir destroyed their cities, they weren’t like this. A city was maybe made up of three shops, and it wasn’t unusual to find the food market had run out of everything except dried beans. She’d never even considered sneaking out to visit Ruina cities by herself.

Cas jerked his head, indicating that she should follow him. He had his hands in his pockets, his thin white shirt flapping with the wind against his chest. He didn’t look much like a prince to the unsuspecting public, but the people of Royal City must have known him.

“Does anyone ever recognize you?” she asked, glancing around at the people walking past.

“No. Sometimes I get a few looks, but no one expects me to just be wandering around the city by myself, so they don’t notice.” He stopped at a cart with an umbrella over it. “Three, please.”

The man reached into the cart with a pair of tongs and pulled out three steaming buns. He put each one in a separate paper bag, holding his open hand out to Cas without giving him much of a glance. Cas dropped a few coins in his hand and took the bags.

“Cheese bread,” he said, handing one bag to her, and another to Galo. “Every time you come to the city, you buy one. It’s a rule.”

She opened the bag and peeked inside, the smell of fresh bread wafting through the air. She grabbed the bun and took a small bite. It was soft and chewy, with a hint of cheese flavor, and she took a second, bigger bite.

“It’s delicious,” she said.

“I’m glad you like it. The marriage might not have worked out if you didn’t.” The edges of Cas’s mouth twitched.

“How tragic. The union between Lera and Vallos destroyed over cheese bread.”

Cas laughed, revealing the dimple on his left cheek. His eyes sparkled in the sun, and it was easy for Em to forget for a moment that he was the prince of Lera. He was more relaxed than she’d ever seen, like the castle sucked half his energy away.

“Cas takes his food very seriously,” Galo said. The prince didn’t blink at being called “Cas” by a guard.

“I don’t blame you,” she said. She took another bite of her bun.

They finished their bread and Cas led them