k_a_webb | The World Walkers: Unknown World: Thalia: Meeting the King (part 5)

Felix stared at Thalia. “I don’t understand how you know as much as you do.”

“My mother thought it was important for me to learn, just in case.” For the first time Thalia was grateful for the lessons, even though she’d thought they were a waste of time then, because she could have been doing something useful, rather than spending her time poring over books. “It’s entirely possible she knew what would happen, if she did know that I was the daughter of the King. Of course it could also have been because we were close to the Eastern border and she wanted me to understand that we’re semi-permanently on the brink of war.”

“Was your mother a Seer?”

“No, she just understood people. You were a boy without siblings, a King without an heir, a man who might find himself in a precarious position if someone else found out about his sister, so as soon as you realised that I existed you would have invited me here. To her it would have been the only logical option and she might have been right about the last one. It’s possible you might not have been the first person to find out about me.” Thalia shrugged. “If that is the case it doesn’t matter any longer because I’m here.”

“It might still matter.” The Queen Mother sounded thoughtful. “You…” She glanced at Felix. “Before my son brought you here you were a courtesan…”

Thalia laughed. “That’s the nice way of putting it.” She smiled at the Queen Mother. “Yes, before I came here I was a prostitute, although I was lucky enough that I could be a little picky about who I spent my time with. When I told them I was leaving they promised me that I would always have a job there if I needed it, so if this Princess thing doesn’t work out I do have another option.”

“Listen to me, sweetheart, because the people that you slept with…” The Queen Mother sighed. “There is a chance you might have come across someone who could help us in the future.”

After a moment Thalia shook her head, realising that she had known someone, but it wasn’t someone who might be able to help Felix in the future. There was no chance of building an alliance with the East, even if he did work out who she was. Of course it hadn’t mattered then. She had no idea she was the only sister of the King and sleeping with the Prince of the East didn’t matter. It helped that he was good in bed, tipped well, and returned to her often enough that she was beginning to think of him as a friend when she knew she shouldn’t be. He should have always been an enemy, no matter what.

“Thalia…”

“Would you believe me if I told you that I didn’t come across anyone that could help us?”

“From the colour your face has gone I would. It would be best if you told us now rather than leaving to to be a rather nasty surprise later.”

“You’re probably right about that.” Thalia sighed. “Our town was close to the East border and it isn’t unusual for some of our clients to be from the East, although we probably shouldn’t have permitted them into the premises. It’s just in places like that you take what you can get.” She shrugged. “When he first walked in I didn’t think anything of it. He looked like any of the other Eastern nobles, so we treated him in the same way.”

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.