Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
BIANCA
M atias is in the clinic wing of the castle. I’m assured he has his own room and will remain under the care of the clinic staff until they can wake him up. The spell that took him was strong, and it would take a spell just as strong to bring him back. Items need to be collected, and despite being in no position to request anything, I will make it my mission to push for this to happen as soon as possible.
After hearing a mapped-out schedule of my training for the tour, I asked to see him. My training will be split into three categories. Combat, spells, and history. Though it sounds like a lot, I’m not about to complain, not when I saw spells on the list of things I would learn. I’m actually going to get to train in magic. The idea gives me goosebumps. I will get to read books about magic and learn spells I will forever get to keep.
Though the concept that I must undergo training simply to pretend to be employed by the crown prince is absurd and irritating. I didn’t grow up with high class and finery, but I never thought there were expectations from the staff .
I’m not looking forward to the history of high society and royal families, but Brandon was adamant that it was important for me to know whose houses I would be entering. I know he is right. In my line of work, I know all I need to know before I go in for a job. Know your enemy and all that.
“Here we are.” Brandon opens a door and gestures for me to follow him.
I’m not sure why he insisted on bringing me here himself. I would think he had better things to do with his time, but who am I to question him?
The place smells clean, and it’s freezing cold. A short woman in a white uniform with shoulder-length blonde hair stands in front of a desk off to the side.. When our eyes meet, I do a double take. One aqua blue eye and one honey brown eye look back at me.
“You must be Bianca.” She approaches to shake my hand. Well, that is an unexpected friendly gesture. Her level of energy is imposing. “I’m Amy Bee. I’ve been meaning to see your injuries. Did my potion work fine?” She gives Brandon a look behind me.
“She slept like the dead,” he confirms.
The report causes her to beam.
“I feel fine now.” I touch my head subconsciously.
Amy nods. “I’ll check your head, just in case.” Something tells me this woman is a force of nature all on her own. She looks inside a closet-like room behind her desk, gesturing to the cracked door in the hall. “Your friend is in the second door to the right.”
“I’ll wait here.” Brandon sits behind Amy’s desk, making himself at home.
From the disapproving frown on her face and the careless expression on his, I can see they’re more than acquainted with each other. Their low banter and ease with each other remind me of Matias and me.
I open the door and peek inside tentatively, not knowing what I would find, but the room looks cozy with soft cream colors. I take a seat on a chair on the side of the bed. Matias looks peaceful, like he has been sleeping this whole time. His skin is soft and healthy-looking. I take his hand in mine and cringe at the icy touch. He’s freezing. When I place my hand above his forehead, it’s the same. I touch his chest and leg in confirmation. The blanket above his body is doing nothing for him. I am about to race back outside, but Amy is already walking in, holding a black bag.
“He is freezing,” I say to her.
“A body without a soul always is.” Her words are matter-of-fact.. “Come here. Let me do a quick check-up.”
I let her do her health test on me to get Matias to myself. The quicker we finish, the better. Once satisfied, she leaves the room. I can hear her whisper with Brandon outside, so I close the door.
A wince escapes me as I take Matias’s hand in mine. “I know we usually aren’t the lovey-dovey type, but I need you to know I love you. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe. You’re the one person I could always count on, Matias. I will not let you down.” I can almost feel the tears coming, but I push them down. Instead, I try to focus on the silver linings.
“If only you could see the room I’m sleeping in right now. The food is still questionable, but with how many times we have gone hungry, I shouldn’t be picky.”
I think back on the challenges we used to face. Our daily concerns. They all look so small now. But they’re still there, waiting for us to return. Perhaps there’s more that I can get out of this situation. An idea pops into my head. I don’t know if Brandon will do it, but I lose nothing by asking .
“Remember what we said about this lifestyle? We’ll only do it until we find a way out. This can be our way out.” Tears drip down my cheeks. I lost the fight, but it’s not like anyone is here to see them. “I am going to fix this.”
I sit for a few more minutes in silence. I gather my wits and deliberate on what to say. When I step out of the room, I feel more than ready.
Brandon and Amy are looking over some paperwork. They’re so focused on what they are looking for that they don’t look up to me until I’m right in front of them. Once closer, I see that they’re looking at my schedule. Amy has made some adjustments and suggestions on the side of the paper.
I clear my throat. “I agree to aid you and do everything in my power to ensure your mission is successful.”
Brandon’s eyes narrow at my declaration. Being the sole focus of his attention makes me fidget. He knows I’m going somewhere with this. He waves his hand back and forth, gesturing for me to spit it out.
“However, I can’t simply return to my life after this is over.”
He says nothing; he simply waits.
I continue, “Call it a second incentive to do well on this journey. I want a place here for Matias and me. I don’t care what we do, but we cannot return to our old lives.”
“What do you mean, exactly?”
“Anything, really. We can work in the kitchen or clean. Maybe work in the library.” I trail off. That might not be the best place to request because of my current situation. But working around books would be a dream.
He takes a step back from the table and crosses his arms. “I’m sure we can find something for you two.”
“Just like that?” I ask before I can stop myself.
“Do you wish for me to argue with you?” His knowing glint makes me fidget again.
The way he agrees so quickly unnerves me. It’s almost like this was his idea, and he tricked me into thinking it was mine. It feels like I’m being played, but if I can’t trust the word of the crown prince, I can’t trust anyone. I need to look at this as an opportunity.
“Positive thinking,” I say to myself.
I need to keep thinking positively. We could be happier here. We wouldn’t have to steal, and we would always have food and shelter. Blessings in disguise and all that.
“Now,” he says, interrupting my thoughts, “let’s take you to your first lesson of the day.”
I follow him out and toward the back of the castle. I already know this path will lead us to the back buildings. The first lesson is a combat training session, and luckily, the weather is perfect for it.
“Alejandra will be the person you answer to. She’s the head of security at the castle and will be the head of security on tour. If you have questions about your training, discuss them with her. As far as you’re concerned, she is in charge.”
The latter statement is said over his shoulder with a meaningful look. I give him a thumbs up. Whoever Alejandra is, I am sure we’ll be friends in no time.
“There’s something that keeps bothering me,” I say as we near the training circle. I slow my pace to a full stop, waiting for Brandon to do the same.
There are people in both training circles dressed in all types of tactical gear to simple shorts and no shirts. I force my eyes away from the very fit men sparring back to Brandon. I need to ask this before any prying ears come into hearing distance.
“Let’s say the book took my soul. Now it’s open. Someone in the castle is expecting to get the book. Did anyone try to?”
Brandon pauses. There is a debate happening behind his eyes. He is deciding if this is part of the need-to-know information. I know he has come to a conclusion when he sighs.
“Jesse already posted surveillance to see who would enter the vault.”
“And?” I pull further.
“No one so far.”
Another dead end. They must have figured out I failed on my part of the deal. I can only imagine how many people saw me being dragged to the cells unconscious.
Movement takes my attention. Isabel waves us over from the side of one training circle. Her smile is gentle. She has a notepad in one hand and a bag in another. Roman is standing at the other side of the same circle, yelling instructions at the two men sparring and talking to a man who’s also watching the match intensively. Despite his eyes not missing a step she takes as she makes her way to Brandon and me.
“Here.” She hands Brandon the notepad. “The names of all guards who will accompany us on tour.”
“Thank you.” Brandon inclines his head.
“Unless you need anything else, I’ll be off to see if the nursery needs any help.”
“You’re free,” Brandon says.
With a grateful nod, she turns and heads to the castle.
“Isabel works for you?” I ask.
“She’s my personal assistant,” Brandon confirms.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
It’s not so much that I don’t think she can do the job because I don’t know her. But it just doesn’t seem to fit. I wouldn’t expect her to keep up with Brandon’s high-energy. I’ve only known the man for a day, but his personality is too forceful. But I can’t exactly say all that to him, so I choose my words wisely .
“She’s so quiet and fragile,” I say instead.
“Do you know a safer place for her than near the crown prince?”
I tilt my head. Ha, now we’re getting somewhere. He wants to keep her safe. I don’t think he wishes to do it for himself, though. Their interactions this morning were more familiar than personal. I think of the fading bruise on the side of my head.
“Your brother asked you to give her the position, didn’t he?”
“We all have been very close friends since childhood.”
Not exactly a denial, but not a confirmation either. “She comes from a royal family?” I ask, invested in finding out.
Brandon side-eyes me. “No, Isabel’s mother worked here at the castle. Her family has for generations. She was born and raised here with us.”
“Your brother is in love with her.” The words sound blunt once spoken out loud.
“They’re best friends.” His eyes avoid me, favoring looking forward.
Him not making eye contact with me is very telling.
“He punched me for her.”
Brandon finally looks back at me. “She would have never done it. Roman is sensitive when it comes to her.”
I recall her standing behind him when they confronted me in the vault. The way she clung to his arm. That is definitely not the stand of a girl who wants nothing to do with a guy.
“Like I said, your brother is in love with her.” I cross my arms.
“You have made quite a few assumptions based on fleeing interactions.”
His eyes take me in. All of me.
“Are they good assumptions?”
I can’t help but grin up at him. He’s a good foot taller than me, and being so close to him means I have to strain my head back to look him in the eye. Before he can answer, an approaching figure interrupts us.
“Bianca, this is Alejandra,” Brandon introduces a young woman coming from the training circles. “Alejandra, this is Bianca.”
Alejandra is short, no taller than five-five, and has her hair pulled back in a braid.
I paste a respectable smile onto my face. She doesn’t look at me for over a second before she says, “I hope you’re ready to show me what you got, thief.” Without a second glance, she walks off to the group of people staring at us expectantly in one of the training circles.
Well, there goes my intention of making her my friend. It’s obvious she has no inclination to do any of that. No point in dwelling on it, I have to focus on surviving this training session.