Chapter 17
Seventeen
“I’ll be right outside to escort you to your rooms when you’re finished,” Brevan says as we stop in front of the double doors that lead to the prince’s quarters.
Apparently, Caiden has a free afternoon and thinks we should spend some time together.
My palms are damp with sweat. I can’t believe how nervous I am.
This won’t be like our nightly meals. Dinner is usually short because he’s busy, and I tell him I’m tired.
Conversations are kept to safe topics. I flirt enough to keep his interest but make sure I’m not over the top.
He’s been on his best behavior, like he wants to impress me. I have no idea what today will bring.
Caiden himself opens the door. “Come in, Princess.”
There’s a table in the center of the room that wasn’t there last time. A black tablecloth has been draped over it, and there’s a chessboard in the center. Caiden gestures toward it. “I thought we could play a game.”
“I didn’t know you like chess,” I say.
“I’m guessing there’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he says as he pulls out my chair.
After he’s seated, he gestures to me. “Ladies first.”
I’m suddenly grateful for the late nights when my brothers would play chess. I watched more often than I played, but at least I know the rules.
“I haven’t played since I was a child,” I say as I move a pawn.
“It’s been years for me as well. Brevan and I used to unwind with a game from time to time. But I can’t recall the last time we did,” he says.
We focus on the game, making the first few moves in silence. After a while, I feel like I’ve reacquainted myself with the board.
“Did you play games with your family?” I ask.
“No. Never. Father was too busy and Mother was…Well, she had her attentions elsewhere,” he says.
“Who did you spend time with? Just Brevan?” I ask.
“Sometimes one of my father’s councilmen or their children. After Brevan arrived, we kept each other company on occasion, but it wasn’t long before both of us were sent to training and no longer had time for games.”
“That sounds lonely,” I say.
“Can’t be much different than your childhood,” he points out. “Unless your parents were more involved.”
What was Sabina’s childhood like? Probably similar to his. “There were a few more children around. Girls,” I add because of what Brevan told me, “who I had as playmates.”
“Yet, you snuck out alone.” He pauses with a pawn between his finger and thumb.
“And that was supposed to be private,” I scold.
“I won’t tell. I went through my own rebellious phase.”
“You did?” I ask. “What was that like?”
“I don’t think you’re ready for those stories.”
There’s a knock on the door, and he rises, then answers it. I catch sight of two legionnaires before he steps into the hall. It’s not long before he’s back in the room, his expression dark. Brevan is by his side. “Warships from Duneport just spotted off the coast. I have to go.”
“Would you like me to escort the princess to her rooms before we leave?” Brevan asks.
“No. You’ll stay here. Make sure nothing happens to Sabina and that nobody knows why I’m gone. We already have enough unrest. I don’t want the nobles finding out that Duneport is getting involved in this.”
“I didn’t know we were at war with them,” I say quietly.
“We aren’t, and I’m hoping to keep it that way,” Caiden replies. “I need you not to tell your ladies.”
“I won’t,” I promise.
He leaves without a backward glance, all the legionnaires following him.
I’m sitting at the abandoned game while Brevan stands in the doorway.
I gesture toward the chessboard. “Want to take Caiden’s place?”
“Wouldn’t you rather go back to your ladies?” he asks.
“No.”
He enters slowly, then sits at the table. His dark hair is pulled away from his eyes, and he’s wearing his black leather armor. I wonder if it’s as uncomfortable as the corset I have on under my dress.
I move a piece, then look up at him. “Your turn.”
He takes his turn, and I can see just a hint of his gift mark extending beyond his sleeve. I know everyone with a god’s gift has a mark, but I’ve heard they’re usually small and kept hidden. I’ve never seen one in real life. I wonder what Brevan’s looks like.
“Giving up already?” He asks.
My cheeks heat. I have no business thinking about his gift marks. “Never.” I glance up at him. “Don’t rush me.”
After I go, he seems to take the game very seriously. He studies the board and is intentional with each action. Every time he leans forward, I try for a glimpse of that mark, but his sleeve covers it.
“You must hate being stuck with me.” I set a bishop on the square.
“I go where I’m needed,” he says.
“I can’t imagine it’s a good use of your skills. Making you sit here, where I’m already protected.” I glance at him. “I’ve heard about you. The things you can do.”
He lifts his brow. “You have?”
“Of course. The man who burns whole cities to the ground for his emperor.”
“We all have our role to play, don’t we, Princess?” He moves a knight.
“We do. But we still have choices.” I counter his play and he frowns.
“What do you know about choices? You’re here to marry a stranger because your kingdom demanded it of you.” He’s studying the board, his hand moving between pieces while he decides what to do next.
“I know what I’m doing,” I reply.
“Do you?” He looks up at me, eyebrow quirked.
“Yes.”
“You say you’ve heard of me, but have you heard about your betrothed? Do you know about him?”
“Of course I have,” I say defensively.
He takes his turn, his eyes never leaving mine.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think it was worth it,” I add.
“Then you understand why I do the things I do.” He shrugs. “Your move.”
I scrutinize the board and realize he’s left his king unguarded. “I don’t want you to let me win.”
“It’s your turn,” he repeats.
With a sigh, I move. “Checkmate.”
“Well played, Princess.”
“You let me win,” I accuse.
He stands, then adjusts his armor before gesturing toward the door. “I’ll take you to your rooms.”
“No. Take me to the library.”
He sighs. “Fine.”
We walk in silence, but Brevan’s words reverberate in my mind. Did I make the wrong choice? Am I going to help anyone? If Katherine was already coming, why am I here? What is the point? So far, I’ve accomplished nothing.
When we reach the library, I enter the expansive room and expect him to wait outside but he follows me. “Do you think someone is going to harm me in the library?”
“I thought you might need help finding books,” he says. “The emperor no longer retains any librarians or priests in here.”
While the space is impressive, I notice how cold and impersonal it is. No fires burn in the hearths today. The only light or warmth comes from the lancet windows above the shelves.
“I’d like to find some books about Darkfall,” I tell him.
“I’m not sure there’s anything about fashion on the shelves,” he says.
“Very funny. I want the history. Why we celebrate it, how it came about, what it means…” What I really want is something about how magic works and if the emperor is truly mortal, but I can’t tell him that.
“This way.” He walks toward a dark corner of the library, where several shelves are tucked away. The books are dusty and smell moldy. Nobody has touched these tomes in a long time. “Here.”
I lean closer to the shelf he indicates and begin to read the spines. Not all of them are labeled, so I get to work pulling the books out and skimming the contents.
While I’m going through them, Brevan gets bored. He sprawls out on a nearby chair, but he continues to scan the room, his head turning slowly as he investigates. Maybe he really is concerned about my safety.
I find four books that seem promising and carry them over to where he’s sitting. “I’m ready.”
When I return to my rooms, my ladies are huddled together, whispering rapidly. When they see me, they break apart and hurry to their usual positions, picking up their abandoned embroidery or cards.
I set my books down on my bed as I scan the room with a furrowed brow. None of them make eye contact. They’re all suddenly focused on whatever is in their hands. “What’s going on? Where’s Marian?”
Katherine is the first to make eye contact. “She’s dead.”
I cover my mouth with my hand as I gasp. “What happened?”
“Nobody will tell us.” Katherine says. “They just said she had an accident.”
I march back to the door and throw it open. Brevan straightens, his hand moving to the hilt of his weapon. Then his expression softens and he drops his arm to his side. “What is it?”
“What happened to Marian?” I demand.
His brow furrows. He doesn’t know.
“Find out. Now.” I slam the door and return to my room. “We will get to the bottom of this.”
None of the ladies are pretending to work on their activities anymore.
“Who’s heard anything?” I ask. “Any rumors? Any guesses? I want to know.”
They’re quiet a long time, then Antonia rises from where she was sitting at the window seat. “I heard it was poison. But I don’t know why.”
“That’s what I heard, too,” Charlotte says.
“Do you think she upset the emperor?” Genevieve adds.
“She was sleeping with him,” Charlotte says. “Everyone knew that.”
“I didn’t know that,” I say. “Was she with him? When she died?”
“I think so,” Charlotte says.
“No, she wasn’t. She doesn’t go to him during the day. He always calls for her at night,” Antonia says.
“Not always,” Charlotte returns.
“Are you sure she was still with him?” Genevieve asks. “He’s so old now.”
There’s a knock on the door, and I hurry to open it. Brevan actually looks concerned. “There was an assassination attempt on the emperor. Marian drank the wine meant for him.”
“Thank you for checking into that for me.” I walk back into the room numbly.
I find my way to a chair and sit. “You were right, it was poison.” I wait to feel sad, but it isn’t there. I’m shocked. How can she just be gone?
Genevive wipes her eyes, and Charlotte comforts her on the nearby couch. Antonia plops down on a chair. “It’s hard to believe she won’t walk through that door.”
“I know.” It doesn’t feel real.
I catch sight of Katherine near the window. She’s as pale as a ghost. The surprise fades to anger and frustration. Was this planned? And if so, how could they get that close and end up killing his mistress instead?
And then I realize that if someone else is trying to kill the emperor, I’m not alone.
Aside from Katherine, my other ladies are huddled in a group, comforting each other and wiping their tears. I should probably be there with them, but I can use their distraction first.
I head to the window and pause in front of Katherine, leaning close so I can whisper in her ear. “Was it you?”
She shakes her head. “I know as much as you.”
“Alright.” I pat her on the shoulder and offer a stiff smile. “You should be with the others.”
I rub my temples, then sit in the window seat.
I’m there a long time, staring at the clouds and the gardeners trimming the topiaries.
The others continue to sniffle and cry but I don’t join them.
This is their time to grieve and as much as I’m trying to act like I belong, I don’t.
And I’m not sure I can pretend right now.
Eventually, the ladies find other distractions. They pretend to work on small tasks, but most of them are staring into space. Charlotte and Antonia are huddled together, whispering. Both of them have red faces and puffy eyes. They must have been the closest to Marian.
A knock sounds, then an envelope shoots out from the crack under the door.
Brow furrowed, I hasten to retrieve the letter. Everyone watches me.
“It’s addressed to Princess Sabina and her ladies.” I open the envelope, then read the card aloud. “Your presence is requested at a ball tonight. Nine o’clock. Grand Ballroom.”
“There isn’t supposed to be a ball tonight,” Antonia says.
“The next one isn’t for weeks,” Genevieve adds.
“I guess they made a change.” I read the note again, making sure I didn’t make a mistake.
“Do you think it has something to do with Marian?” Katherine asks.
Yes. I absolutely do. And considering how she died, I can’t imagine this will be an uplifting affair. I swallow hard. It’s possible this isn’t a ball at all. What if it’s something nefarious? Someone did just try to kill the emperor.
My ladies watch me with worried expressions. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Maybe the emperor wants to do something to take our mind off it.” I force a smile. “You all should go get ready.”
“I’ll stay and help you,” Katherine offers.
“Thank you. The rest of you, I’ll see you there,” I say.
As soon as the others are gone, I turn to Katherine. “Is there another rebel in the castle? Anyone who might be trying to kill the emperor that you’re not telling me about?”
“All I know is that someone takes my messages. But I was told that was their only job.”
“We need to know if it was a rebel or if we’ve got competition,” I say. “Can you get a message to your contact now?”
She nods. “I already wrote it. I just need to drop it.”
“Go.”
I just hope that whoever else is after the emperor is friend and not foe.