Song of Vines: A Jack and the Beanstalk Retelling (The Singer Tales Book 6) by Deborah Grace White

Author:Deborah Grace White [White, Deborah Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2024-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Matthias strode blindly down the hallway, hardly aware of his surroundings. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so distressed. Leaving the room had been his only option. Otherwise he might give in to his instinct to pull Jacinta into his arms and protect her from the world, and something told him that would create some problems with his parents.

And possibly with Jacinta.

Two gold coins the difference between life and death? Jacinta’s life and death? The thought was unendurable. And instead of having compassion for the suffering of their own people, his parents had hurled accusations at her, as if she was a thief.

Matthias ground his teeth together. He’d never felt so angry at his parents in his life. If they tried to turn her out of the castle, they would find that he’d reached his limit. He would fight for her if that was what it took.

Emerging from his haze of distress for long enough to remember his errand, he instructed a servant to request the housekeeper to prepare a room in the wing of the castle used for wealthy and titled guests. He almost hoped his parents would challenge him on the choice of location. He was spoiling for a fight.

Recognizing the state of his mind, he made for the training yard. He could think of no other way to burn off his anger. The group of noblemen’s daughters who seemed so often to hang hopefully about the area tried to catch his eye, but he ignored them completely. His heart was in too much turmoil to have the patience for politeness.

“Your Highness.” The captain on duty greeted him with a bow. “How can I help you today?”

“I need a hard fight,” Matthias said shortly. “Someone who won’t let me stop to think.”

The senior guard eyed him shrewdly. “I have just the candidate.”

He called over a burly soldier, who looked very ready to take on the challenge. After a brief warm up, Matthias had the satisfaction of losing himself to the rhythm of the fight, his mind blank as his body responded out of instinct to the constant attacks. Fueled by his restless energy, he gave a good account of himself, letting up after half an hour with the compliments of his opponent.

As soon as the fight ceased, Matthias’s mind flew straight back to Jacinta’s situation. He was tempted to seek another bout, but it was almost the dinner hour, and he needed time to clean himself up. He assumed that Mariella would have orchestrated for Jacinta to join the family at the meal, and he didn’t want to present himself to her sweaty and disheveled.

Having completed a quick wash, he made his way to the family’s private dining hall, only to be redirected to the dining hall they used when they had guests. Heartened by this unexpected sign of respect for Jacinta, he hurried that way, straightening his sword belt.

When he entered the dining hall, however, there was no sign of Jacinta. His father was seated at one end of the large table, with his mother at the other.

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