After almost a month of only David as company with the exception of the three times a day Sarah brought them food, Zephaniah was overjoyed when he was pronounced well enough to start taking short walks outside. The cave seemed so stuffy and it was hard to keep his secrets from a guardian who was rarely more than an arm’s length away and always scrutinizing him for any signs that something was amiss. The only reason he got away with his odd mannerisms and requests was probably because David shrugged it off as the oddities of nobles and the boy didn’t want to ruin his chances of joining the Robin’s crew by offending his patient. Whatever the circumstances, it is nice to get some time alone as he walks through the glade he had only caught glances of before.

Just out of sight of the cave entrance, Zephaniah becomes weary of walking and decides to rest beneath a tree he notes is similar to the one he liked to have his lunches under when he was at the castle. Setting the handmade crutches by his side, he lies down and ends up falling asleep in the mid-morning sun.

***

Zephaniah wakes to two female voices. One belongs to Sarah and the other sounds vaguely familiar. Sitting up he sees why. “Oh, Lady Victoria, this is a surprise to see you.” Sarah looks at the other woman, quite confused.

“Arai, do you and the prince know each other?”

“Yes, he gave me a ride when my carriage had broken.” Turning to address Zephaniah, she continues. “I am sorry for lying to you about my name. My father told me to be careful and I felt safer traveling under a false name. You see, my father felt I was in danger so he sent me to stay with the one person he was sure he could trust – the Robin.”

“So, Miss Arai,” Zephaniah smirked at some thought, “have you gotten to meet our elusive host yet?”

“No, and I’m guessing you haven’t either as I heard the Robin’s been gone for the past month.”

“Well your guess would be only half right. Though I didn’t get to see a face, we were in the same room about a month ago.” But how did she know I’ve only been here for a month? Zephaniah wonders.

“Enough talk, you two. Would you like to join us for some lunch, Sire?” At the mention of food, Zephaniah notices that there is already a picnic set up where the ladies sit a few feet from him and his stomach growls. He graciously accepts.

Near the end of the meal, Sarah suggests Zephaniah play a game of chess with Arai. “Arai loves to play but I always lose so she always feels guilty asking me to play against her. I wouldn’t be surprised if it does you both some good.”

***

In no time at all, Arai discovers they had spent the whole afternoon over the chessboard and it is almost dusk. Realizing that her day of rest is almost over and she would have to be up early to work tomorrow, Arai decides it is time to retire for the night. But before that, it would be a smart idea to make sure her injured guest gets back to David safe first. “How about I walk you back before it gets dark, Prince Zephaniah,” she offers as she starts getting up.

“You can call me Zeph. My friends do.” He gets a confused look on his face. “At least I think they did, when I had friends. It’s been awhile since then.” The pathetically somber feeling he is giving off made Arai desperately want to make him laugh.

“Well then, Zeph, may I have the pleasure of accompanying you back to your lodgings,” she says with her most phony snobbish upper-class accent. Reaching out her hand, Arai cracks a smile at her own corny attempt at a joke.

Thankfully Zephaniah decides to play along. “Certainly madam, it is the least I can do after you have graced me with your company for so long today.” Failing to keep a straight face, he accepts the offered hand. Once they are both on their feet, Arai and Zephaniah start heading for the caves. “So…” He feels a sense of awkwardness, but he can’t identify where it’s coming from. “I really did enjoy your company today. I was wondering if we could do this again sometime. There isn’t really much to do around here while I’m healing.”

Arai smiles, partly in agreement and partly in amusement at his awkwardness. He’s like a lost puppy who has finally found someone to care for him. “You’re right, it was quite enjoyable. I have plans for the next few days, but perhaps we could plan to meet for a game or two later this week. How are you at droughts?”

“I haven’t lost to anyone in years.” He seems proud of this, like it’s his only worthy feature but Arai just smirks.

“I bet it’s merely because no one wants to beat a prince and I’ll prove it. Meet me where we were today in three days, around mid-morning. If you lose, when you get home, I get an invite to your next masquerade ball.” At this point an arrogant smile has covered her face. “Those stakes shouldn’t be too high for you, right?”

“And if I win? What do I get?”

“Well, what do you want if you win?”

Zephaniah seems to think about it for a minute as they walked. He abruptly smiles, showing that he has decided. “I want you to tell me something about yourself, something no one here knows about you.”

Having come to the entrance of her previous quarters, Arai turns to shake his hand. “It’s a deal. I’ll see you then.” She then heads to the cottage across the glade that she and Sarah are staying in while their own dwelling is in use. Even though she has confidence in her ability to win against him, as she walks to the cottage, Arai wonders what information she would feel safe giving this prince she has gained an unexplained interest in these last few weeks.