Chapter Ten
Analleia
The first Paravellian Ball did not produce everything I had hoped for, but it was not a total a failure.
I pulled the golden pins from my hair and dropped them onto my dresser.
Nadiyah and Desmond hadn’t returned yet.
I ran the layout of the palace through my mind over and over again, analyzing every possible outcome for when we pulled off the assassination.
I had gotten my hands on a stolen copy of the blueprints years ago, studying them into the late hours of the night and sacrificing sleep between grueling training sessions, but it was nothing compared to being there in person.
There was also the potential for the blueprints to have changed over time, unused passages boarded up or new constructions added.
I had ventured everywhere guests were allowed tonight, taking note of what did and didn’t match the blueprints.
A key clanked into the lock, and Nadiyah entered, catching the smug look on my face.
“Have a little too much fun with the prince tonight?” she asked.
I continued pulling the pins from of my hair as a crooked smile crept its way up my face. Yes, I was rather proud of that. I might have gone overboard, but it was worth ruining his night.
I glanced up at my reflection in the mirror.
He had stared at me when I first approached, his penetrating gaze so intense I thought he had recognized me.
Anxiety had snatched my breath away that all of our plans were about to be ruined, but I reminded myself he couldn’t recognize me—even if I was familiar after five years.
The enchantment would not reveal my true face to him.
“He stormed away with his uncle,” I said. “It caused quite a bit of gossip, although I don’t think any of the attendees know what prompted the outburst.”
I dropped the last pin into the basin and ran my fingers through my hair, undoing the braids and coaxing out the knots.
“The prince is a fool,” I continued. “He’ll never get Haskelle to agree to his terms again now that the diplomat knows he lied to him. Good riddance. I hope we destroy everything the royal family tries to accomplish while we’re here.”
“Any luck with the man you’re looking for?” Nadiyah asked.
“Nothing.” I pulled on the laces of my dress, slipping the gown off my shoulders until I was only in my chemise.
I’d been hoping to find the mysterious Richard Athello tonight so I could take his ring and be done with it.
“I brought his name up to nearly every person I spoke with but no one was able to place him. Surely he isn’t dead.
Maybe he didn’t make it or hasn’t arrived yet?
He could also be someone of little importance, and I need to dig deeper. ”
If he was difficult to find, the Enchantress should have given more instructions. Not that she had offered much of an explanation at all in the first place.
“What of your evening?” I asked. “Did you accomplish anything productive?”
Nadiyah rolled her eyes, unraveling her hair as well while I slipped into my nightdress.
“My target is on the guest list, but he wasn’t in attendance tonight.
So I engaged in pleasantries, gossip. If you want the best vantage point to shoot from, it will be the highest balcony.
It has a clear view of the dais and the curtains at the top will easily conceal you. ”
I nodded. “I wasn’t able to make it up there tonight, but I was thinking the same thing.”
Nadiyah’s fingers slowed as her face grew apprehensive. “And I spoke with King Zaricor.”
I froze, a prickle traveling across my skin, the hair on the back of my neck rising.
“You spoke to him?” My chest swelled with anger. This could ruin everything. “Nadiyah, you can’t risk exposing us before the first ball is even over!”
“He approached me, Analleia!” she snapped.
I gaped at her. “Approached you how?”
She crossed her arms, growing uncomfortable. “As in he flirted with me and it was difficult to direct his attentions elsewhere.”
A lump rose in my throat as fear raced up my spine. “Nadiyah, you have to be careful. You know what happened to—”
“Yes, I know what happened.” Nadiyah’s voice dropped to a whisper. “That’s part of the reason we’re here. I was careful, but if I can use this to my advantage, I will.”
I didn’t like it.
Didn’t like that the king had taken an interest in her so quickly.
It wasn’t part of the plan.
Tatanna’s face surfaced, and I pushed it away.
“Where’s Desmond?” I asked to change the subject.
She glanced around as if expecting him to appear. “I don’t think I’ve seen him since we first arrived at the ball.”
“I saw him in the ballroom briefly. He said he was going to see what he could learn in the gambling dens, but I thought he would have found you at some point during the ball.”
“If he went to the gambling dens, he will be severely late.” Nadiyah’s eyes hung with weariness. A dullness replaced the sparkle that usually gleamed from within.
I patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll wait up for him, Nadiyah. You need to get some rest.”
She turned without argument, disappearing into her room. One would think Nadiyah would be more concerned about Desmond making it back safely, but the only thing Nadiyah loved more than Desmond was sleep. She trusted Desmond. She knew he would return. So did I.
But I feared sleep.
And I knew what it was like to not have a family member return home.
I curled up on the couch by the door, pulling a blanket over me and keeping a dagger at my side. Desmond would return. It wouldn’t be long.
I tried to even my breaths and relax. Nighttime was the hardest. The darkness always swallowed me, tried to take me to the grave with my parents, cooed to me with a slithering tongue and haunted threats.
You’re mine, the guard’s voice whispered in my ear.
I shivered, trying to block out the memories.
The first few years in the tower, I woke up screaming every night, feeling flames on my skin and fingernails digging into my arms, dragging me back.
It interrupted not only my sleep, but the sleep of everyone else on our floor.
Nadiyah was the only trainee who spoke to me.
The only one who showed compassion. The only one who cared.
After disturbing her sleep for so many years, I was willing to give her every peaceful night of rest that I could.
In some ways she had treated me like an older sister in the tower, only now I was the one protecting her.
––––––––
I JERKED AWAKE TO A fist pounding on the door.
My fingers curled around my dagger and I sprang from the couch, blinking the sleep from my eyes as I took a few steps forward.
The banging continued. My breath snatched, my mind jerking back to torches lining the corridor and screams clawing their way inside the windows from outside.
Moonlight reflected off the flames of the city where—
I halted, drawing in a deep breath to calm myself as the room around me settled back into place.
I was not in my kingdom, and we were not under attack.
A fist pounded against the door again, and I swung my robe around my shoulders, concealing the dagger beneath its folds as I peered out the peephole of the entry door.
I bit my tongue.
Soldiers.
Six of them.
A captain at the head.
The door rattled as his fist continued to slam against the door.
Nadiyah appeared by my side, concern lining her face. Desmond? she mouthed.
My gaze flit around the room. Faint light infiltrated the sky outside our window, indicating daybreak.
I must have dozed. Desmond had not returned.
I rolled my eyes at the thought of him getting himself into trouble.
I motioned to the far wall and Nadiyah hid out of sight.
I transformed my face into sleepy surprise and flung open the door.
The soldier knocking nearly fell inward as the resistance from the door suddenly vanished. With a grunt and a perturbed expression, he threw back his shoulders, straightening his guard jacket. His royal guard jacket marked with a captain’s rank.
“We request the presence of Analleia Kallistar.”
Oh, my brother had done it now.
Swords hung from each of the guards’ leather belts, but no aggression marked their faces. Their relaxed stances emanated boredom with a hint of irritation. Annoyance lined the captain’s eyes, this visit appearing to be inconsequential and beneath him.
“Speaking,” I said.
He frowned, eyes flicking into the room behind me as if wishing for someone else. With the laziest movement I had ever seen, he pulled a folded piece of parchment from his inner pocket, reciting the written message like it was an inventory list.
“Analleia Kallistar, you are hereby expelled from the Seven Royal Balls of Paravellia and all other outlying activities. You are to gather your things and to be escorted from the city immediately. If escorted willingly, no charges will be pressed and all will be at peace. If unwillingly, well ...” He trailed off as if the latter wasn’t possible.
Whatever I had been expecting, it wasn’t that.
The captain turned the document around for me to inspect, and I took note of the seal at the bottom.
The seal of the royal house of Paravellia, with freshly dried wax.
I held in my scream and roar of frustration.
That stupid prince.
It had to be.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep quiet. That selfish, spoiled prince.
“And what, may I ask, are the crimes so severely laid against me?”
The captain opened his mouth to respond but then frowned and turned the document back over in his hands, reading over it again.
He hesitated at the bottom, but tucked it back in his pocket and shrugged.
He had no idea why I was being so unceremoniously thrown out.
No doubt he suspected I was one of the prince’s escapades being kicked out to avoid any embarrassment.
“Miss Kallistar, if you would kindly gather your things, we will escort you and your servants from the city.”