Chapter 11 #2
She reached for the door and yanked it open, but when she did, the hallway was empty.
She stood there, panting for breath, waiting for the voice to mock her again, but she heard nothing.
She closed the door again and paced to the other end of the room, massaging her temples.
She’d been working herself too hard, and she was hearing things.
That was all. Then the door opened, and Aristea nearly jumped out of her skin to see the captain standing in the doorway with a frown.
“Forgive my lateness, your majesty,” Captain Rosen said with a scooped bow.
Aristea pressed a hand to her chest as she tried to catch her breath. “It’s fine. I thought I heard someone speaking in the halls. Are you alone?”
Captain Rosen raised a skeptical brow. “I was…”
She opened her mouth to reply and then closed it again.
The captain’s voice was deeper and gruffer than the melodic taunting voice she’d heard.
It couldn’t have been her. But admitting out loud that she was hearing voices would make her look insane.
Something that didn’t exactly instill confidence in a future ruler.
On top of that, she was here to tease out information about Heinrich’s co-conspirators.
“I must have been hearing the wind.”
Captain Rosen looked concerned, but she didn’t press the issue. She walked over to her desk and offered Aristea a seat, which she took gratefully.
“Forgive my tardiness. We uncovered a new stardust den, and we were interrogating the men we captured.”
Then her hunch was right. Someone was still supplying the city.
“Did you find anything?” Aristea asked.
“I wish I had good news to share. But it feels as if we’re cutting the heads off a hydra.” Captain Rosen sighed. “Every time I take out a den, two more pop up. Is that why you came to see me?”
Aristea shook her head. The captain was direct and to the point.
She wasn’t one for wordplay and subterfuge.
It was a risk to play her cards, but Aristea reasoned it was better to be blunt.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that Heinrich wasn’t the mastermind behind the stardust plot.
I think either he might have been leaning on one of his friends, or they were pulling the strings.
” She offered up her list, and Captain Rosen leaned forward to take it from her.
She silently scanned the list of names before setting it down again. “These are powerful men. I cannot simply arrest them without cause. It would incite unrest.”
“Believe me, I’m well aware. Is there anyone on this list who stands out among the rest?” Aristea asked as she studied Captain Rosen’s expression.
Captain Rosen tapped her fingers on the top of her desk as she considered the list.
“I cannot recall any connections to the names listed here. But I shall keep these names under advisement, and should any new developments emerge, I shall inform you straight away.”
It wasn’t what she’d hoped for, but Aristea tried not to show her disappointment on her face. “I thank you for your time, then.” Aristea began to stand.
“Though one name has come up that isn’t on your list,” Captain Rosen said.
Aristea turned to look at her. “Oh?”
Upon seeing the captain’s somber expression, Aristea sank back in her seat, and Captain Rosen folded her hands on top of her desk.
“As you’re aware, the men we’ve captured report receiving the stardust through an elven supplier. We were fortunate enough to catch one of these elves. And while he gave away little, Prince Mathias’ name did come up.”
Her stomach clenched. “Is my brother hurt or captured?”
“No.”
“Then that’s good news…”
“We don’t know much, but we learned he is no longer in the feral lands, and it appears he’s working with the elves. We have since received reports of him in the northern provinces. When members of the army tried to approach him, he fled and—”
Her stomach sank. “Surely it was a mistake or some plot to sow discord?”
“He was seen by a former squad member of his who confirmed his identity. And he was also spotted in the home on the border of Duke Wagner’s territory.”
She didn’t add on the part that Duke Wagner’s father had famously introduced Heinrich’s father to elven mages who’d aided in his rebellion.
The former duke had been executed, and his then-infant son had been spared and warded by the rival faction.
But he might have sought revenge. She could see it all, but not Mathias.
Sweet Mathias wouldn’t rally a rebellion.
He was the family peacemaker. He wouldn’t attempt to rise against her.
Unless the elves had gotten hold of him, put him under a spell. ..
“There must be an explanation...” Aristea trailed off, her heart in her throat. She knew her brother; he wouldn’t betray the empire.
“We won’t know until we speak with him. But I’ve been keeping track of the dukes closest to the deceased Prince Heinrich, at your mother’s behest, and they are restless. Now that he’s gone, we’re hearing more and more of them calling for Mathias to be made heir.”
“But Mathias would never agree to that. He has no ambitions for power.” The voice had known. Before Captain Rosen had told her. How was such a thing possible?
“What else is in the dungeons?”
Captain Rosen seemed surprised by the change of subject. “Nothing as of now. Are you sure you’re alright, your majesty? You look pale.”
Aristea swallowed past the lump in her throat. It was madness. All of it.
Captain Rosen leaned forward across her desk. “I know he’s your brother, and it’s impossible to imagine a family member would betray us. But I think we need to be prepared for a possible attempted coup.”
Aristea wrung her hands together and then dropped them to her sides.
She couldn’t show weakness. Even to the captain.
But she was right. Aristea couldn’t know her brother’s heart.
And even though she trusted him and couldn’t imagine he would turn against her, she also could not, as future empress, pretend the threat wasn’t very real.
“Thank you for telling me. I shall inform my mother straight away.”
“I’m sorry for giving you such troubling news, princess.”
Aristea waved away her concern. “You’re merely doing your duty. And I thank you for it.”
She excused herself and exited the tower as fast as her feet could carry her. But with each step she took toward her mother, she felt as if she were walking to her own funeral. She refused to believe Mathias would willingly betray them. But the voice’s whispered taunts had her second-guessing.
“If only you were strong enough to claim the throne with your own power,” the voice whispered. “But you aren’t, are you? The power is in your blood. You simply need something to awaken it. I can help you…”.
She turned, seeking its source. But she was alone, and she was afraid she was starting to jump at shadows.
A few passing courtiers saw her spinning around like a madwoman, and Aristea laughed too high and falsely as she blamed her erratic behavior on an insect under her veil.
She walked away as fast as she could, on the verge of a run.
All the way to her mother’s chambers. The guards stepped aside and let her in.
Mother was speaking with her steward, but when Aristea entered, she sent them away.
“What’s happened?” Mother asked.
Aristea unraveled all that Captain Rosen had told her.
Mother looked pale by the end of it, and her hands were white-knuckled even while folded on the table in front of her.
“We’ll keep this quiet. I agree with you.
Mathias wouldn’t turn on our family this way.
But we must move with caution. If some foreign entity has taken hold of him, if the elves have him… we are all in danger.”
Aristea felt the weight of it all landing on her shoulders. She felt powerless. Forces beyond her control were closing in, and what could she do? Maybe Heinrich was right, and she was useless.
“What about the duke’s dinner party? Any progress there?” Mother asked.
Aristea picked her thumbnail below the lip of the desk to keep her fidgeting out of sight. “The duke seems amiable to an alliance.”
“Marriage?” Mother asked bluntly.
Aristea nodded. “He implied as much in his toast. But isn’t it unseemly? I’m not even two months widowed...”
“I would not have you jump into another marriage so soon after the death of Heinrich. But we cannot dismiss important allies when our enemies are closing in.”
“Of course.” Aristea’s head sank down to her chest.
Mother stood and came around to kneel in front of her, the way she had when Aristea was small.
She cupped each of Aristea’s cheeks. “I wish I did not have to lay this burden at your feet. Even though you’re older than I was when I inherited an empire, I still fear you’re too young.
You’ve made so many sacrifices. If you do not wish this marriage, tell me now and I will find another way. ”
The refusal was on the tip of her tongue. Mother would be good to her word, she knew. But asking for it, knowing that her claim was shaky as it was, felt too selfish.
“I’m willing to give my all for the empire. Don’t worry.”