Chapter Twenty
Valeris
Howland remained rooted to my side as Uncle Wylan ordered for all members of the royal family to be escorted from the ball to our secret meeting room.
After being informed about what was going on, my mother and father had remained on the dais to keep up appearances but would be allowed no food or drink.
Zandyr leaned against the far wall with a concerned look on his face. Ezrielle lounged across the dilapidated couch, wearing a mask of annoyance, but she was well aware of the severity of the situation.
“Can you please explain what happened in the ballroom?” Irritation tinged her tone.
I clenched my jaw. “Someone tampered with Uncle Wylan’s drink.”
Ezrielle held in a laugh. “Oh, I thought this was going to be serious.”
I held in a growl, and even Zandyr showed visible disapproval of her indifference.
I glared down at her. “Next time you’re writhing on the ground from poison, remind me to stand over you and laugh, Ezrielle. I wouldn’t need to call for the royal physician since it wouldn’t be serious. You would get over it, right?”
Ezrielle scowled at me. “When you invoke the name of Lord Curbington, that insinuates there has been an attempted attack on the royal household. Every royal in here appears fine.”
“Uncle Wylan is of royal blood, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not,” I said.
“If someone attacked him we could be next. It might have been a test to see how close they could get to the royal family. I don’t think I need to remind you our eldest brother was assassinated mere weeks ago and his killer is at large. ”
“Do you know who tampered with your drink, Wylan?” Zandyr asked.
“They arrested a girl as she was fleeing the palace,” Uncle Wylan said. “She was the only one near my drink, and it was obvious she was trying to distract me.”
Ezrielle rolled her eyes. “Then hang her and be done with it.”
“Not until we know who she is working for,” I said. “It’s unlikely she was working alone. She probably is just a piece in the game, not the one controlling the strings.”
The head of our royal guard stepped forward, addressing all of us.
“Until we find out exactly what happened, none of you are to eat or drink anything at the ball. A royal guard will always be one step behind you. If you do require sustenance, you will take the back stairwell down to the royal sitting room in the kitchens where a taster will test everything before you are allowed to consume it.”
Inwardly, I groaned, but I knew it was necessary. The last thing we needed was one of us turning up dead because we failed to follow the proper protocols.
Ezrielle examined a colored fingernail, picking out dirt that had burrowed beneath. “What do we know about this girl?”
“Not much yet,” Uncle Wylan said. “The royal guard is working on it as we speak, but we needed to address all of you before moving forward. Once it is appropriate, the king will be taken to a different room for a full debrief. You are free to return to the ball, but watch your backs and look out for danger.”
“Understood,” Ezrielle sighed. “Are we free to leave?”
The head guard nodded, and she sauntered out of the room. Zandyr and the other guards followed behind, leaving my uncle and I alone.
“Do you think the Kallistar girl was involved with this?” he asked.
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “She was dancing with me the whole time your drink was getting spiked.”
“But she—” Uncle Wylan cut off, shaking his head. “I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about her.”
My eyes drifted to the far wall. “She’s lying about who she is.”
“Didn’t we already know that?” His voice turned cynical.
“We suspected that,” I corrected. “But I got her brother’s name. Desmiondo Kallistar.”
“You don’t think she can help you solve your brother’s murder, do you?”
I grinned. “Not in the slightest.” My smile fell. “But as long as she thinks she can help me, we’re in good standing. She’s lying about who she is and why she’s here. None of her motives have made any sense yet.”
“I’ll look into her brother’s name, ask around, but right now I have a prisoner to interrogate, and you, you have alliances you need to secure this evening.”
I groaned, crossing the room and flinging open the door. “And no pastries to help me do it!”