Tree Singer by Jacci Turner (best novels for beginners TXT) 📕

that he was keeping a close eye on Cather who also sat next to the prince.

No one seemed aware that Nan had glowered at her.

The king reached for his glass—filled partway with what appeared to be red wine—and raised it high, his children quickly following suit, though the younger children’s glasses appeared to be filled with milk.

Mayten stared at the table set with plates, more forks than she knew what to do with, and two glasses at each place. She glanced at the prince who sat to her right. He was also holding a wine glass.

She grabbed the glass and lifted it. She’d had wine at holidays and never really cared for it. Would she be able to actually drink the stuff without choking?

“To our guests!” the king said, his voice ringing throughout the room. “May your stay in our home be restful, may you sleep deeply and well, and may you each take one child when you leave!”

With a hearty bellow, the king lifted his glass to his lips. The children let out a chorus of protests and groans.

“I’ll take this one,” Adven said with a grin. He ruffled Blue’s hair again.

Mayten frowned, then quickly smoothed her expression. Why did he have to go and choose the boy she liked best?

The king studied Blue. “Number two, is it? Well, now, I don’t know.” He stroked his beard.

Little Blue’s lip quivered. Did he really think his father might actually send him off with Adven? Poor thing—

“No, Traveler. I’ve grown a bit fond of Number Two.”

The little boy let out a breath and smiled.

The king glanced around the table. “Matter of fact, it appears I’ve become attached to them all. Maybe that new one . . . what was her name?”

Blue looked up, a crease furrowing his forehead. “Father, how can you forget her name? It’s Thomasina Five, little Plumb! And you can’t give her away. She’s my favorite!”

A chorus of laughter rose from the table. The children didn’t realize the king was joking—they all called out in protest, distraught over the idea of losing their baby sister. The twins started to whimper.

All at once, Mayten felt an urge to be somewhere else. The noise was overwhelming, sound echoing off the stone walls.

“Okay, okay.” The king raised his arms in surrender. “I promise I’ll keep you all. Except Prince Thomas.”

The children quieted, though their eyes grew large and round. The king raised a bushy eyebrow at his eldest son. “I’m afraid Thomas here has been bitten by the bug of adventure. Being a prince isn’t enough for him anymore. He would rather join a quest.”

The king turned to Adven. “Would you consider taking him with you?”

Something in the king’s demeanor led Mayten to believe the question was not really a question but a kindly worded demand.

The prince’s dour expression turned hopeful as he looked at Adven, waiting for a reply.

What would Adven think of taking a prince on a quest? Especially a spoiled, haughty one? He’d been reluctant enough to bring her and Cather along.

Adven sipped his wine and regarded the prince. Mayten jumped as Adven slammed his wine glass on the table. “Of course!”

The children erupted in cheers.

Adven raised a hand and they immediately quieted. “As long as I’m not responsible if he gets eaten by a bear, mauled by a mountain lion, or gored by the tusks of a wild boar.”

Mayten’s throat clenched as visions of Hunter lying still on the ground flooded her mind.

The children all protested at once, determined their beloved brother wouldn’t be eaten by a bear. The prince’s jaw clenched. Was he afraid his father would change his mind?

Again, the king raised his hands and the children quieted. Judging by the serious look in his eyes, this man knew what had happened to their woodsman. He was also aware of the very real dangers his son might encounter. “I trust you will do everything in your power to protect the prince. That said, if something out of your control were to happen, I would not hold you responsible.”

The prince grinned so wide it seemed his face might split. A thrill ran down Mayten’s back. When he smiled, he was almost handsome with the same charming space between his front teeth his father had. He should try smiling more often.

Adven lifted his glass to the king in acknowledgment, but she knew him well enough by now to see that his smile did not reach his eye.

“Now that that’s settled,” the king clapped his hands, “let’s eat!”

The door behind him burst open and servants streamed in, bearing heaping platters of meat, fruits, and vegetables. Mayten’s mouth watered. The sight of fresh fruits and vegetables made her heart glad and her stomach growl.

Save for the clinking of glasses and the scraping of fork against plate, the room fell silent. Mayten lost all of her nervousness about which fork to use for what and ate until she could eat no more.

She sat back in her seat with a sigh just as the king tapped his spoon on his water glass. “Friends, I’ve promised the young ones an opportunity to ask one question of each of our visitors before they must go off to bed. Who will go first?”

All four little ones waved their arms in the air with a chorus of “pick me!” and “I will.”

The king held up his hand, and they quieted. “We’ll go by age. Thomasina the Third, Lemmy. You’ll go first.”

The twin to Sir Underbrush’s right didn’t hesitate. “We heard you came with a dog!” she said to Mayten. “What’s his name? Can we play with him?”

The king laughed. “Just like you to sneak in extra questions, Number Three.” He turned to Mayten. “I had the opportunity to meet your canine friend earlier. He is quite an impressive fellow and seems gentle. Some sort of mastiff, is he?”

“That’s what the trader said.” Mayten nodded. “He was a puppy when we got him, and we had no idea how big he would grow.”

“Is it all right with you