There is a sudden bird call and we both turn to see Chana hooded and standing at the edge of the crowd. She nods in our direction.
“Time to go, White Fox. We have other matters to attend to.”
21
IANN
Today, the hunting is over and it is time to focus on why I’m really here.
Though my body is physically in the castle’s library, my mind keeps drifting back to last night’s dinner. Most of the meal was dull and consisted of Marcel and Queen Cayleen discussing politics. The other, and better half, came with the kittenish glances from Ariah at the other end of the table.
Fingers snap in front of my face. “You here to help or daydream?” Deean says, leaning on the table in front of me. “We’re waiting.”
He and Benny recently uncovered a symbol on the anchor and are having a debate on what it could be. Benny is certain it’s a tree and Deean assures us that it’s coral.
“Sorry.” I take the anchor from him. On the bottom is indeed a small symbol. “Coral would make sense given the object…but it does look like a leafless tree.”
Deean plucks it from my hands. “That was unhelpful. And where were you last night? And the night before? Benny and I have practically been sleeping alone in this place.”
“It is true,” Benny adds. “Left this library far too late both nights.” He uses a magnifying glass to examine another object in his hand.
“Sorry,” I say again, for the tenth time this morning. “I forgot we were meeting this morning.”
“Ah yes,” Deean says, “Ariah told us of your absence from the castle yesterday. You know, I find it a bit insulting that I found out your whereabouts from a woman we just met. Aren’t you supposed to tell your courtier these things?”
“I would have, had he not been replaced with a fraud.” I lean my head in my palms, annoyed with all these early morning questions.
“You could have at least taken Ariah. Isn’t she supposed to be your guide or something?”
My shoulders tense and I roll my neck back and forth trying to rid any built-up tension. “I didn’t see the point. I’m sure she had better things to do, so I suggested she stay behind.”
He clicks his tongue. “A queen provides you with a woman to wait on your every need and you dismiss her. If I weren’tEli, I would take full advantage of every pleasantry provided.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re no prince,” Benny says, and he and Deean erupt with laughter. Clearly my absence has allowed them to bond. Benny suddenly becomes quiet. “On a more serious note, does anyone else get the feeling of being watched? I swear there was a figure on the roof watching me as I went back to the workers’ quarters.”
“Spies,” Deean says plainly, and although it sounds outlandish, in this life it’s not surprising. “Maybe an animal though. We did open the bottle of whiskey, you sure you weren’t seeing things?”
“Spies?”
“Benny”—Deean walks past him and pats him on the back before leaning over and looking at whatever it is Benny stillexamines—“you don’t get to be a royal without everyone wanting to know your every move. And not just you, but everyone associated with you. You think my father doesn’t have spies of his own roaming these halls?” Deean gives him a cheeky smile.
“There you are!” My head snaps up at the sound of the familiar voice. Ariah curtsies at the sight of me. “Figures you would be in the one place I have yet to venture into.” Unsure how she does it, but her presence lightens the room, and my mood suddenly shifts. “This arrived for you.”
Today, she wears an ivory dress with an annoying number of buttons, like all the other outfits in Haymel. It’s a style choice that needs to perish. I count fifteen on her dress. Fifteen isn’t a desirable number but it’s not impossible to work through. Her hair is down today—curls are allowed to roam freely wherever they like. A parade of sandalwood, amber, and peony moves towards me at her approach. Even the scent of her is desirable.
“Are you okay, Your Highness?” Benny asks when I bump into the table as I stand.
“I’m fine. Thank you, Benny,” I reply.
Ariah hands me the letter and I recognize my father’s handwriting immediately. “Thank you for delivering it,” I tell her, tucking it away.
Her eyes dart away. “What are all of you up to?” She walks past me to the other side of the table where Benny and Deean are seated. She picks up an empty glass and pulls it to her nose. She sets it down with a smile and then touches pages of open books. “The Ivian Flower?” She perks up and her eyes float back to me. “Are you studying it?”
“Why would you think that?” It’s Deean who speaks, plucking the thoughts out of my head.
She chuckles. “Maybe because he’s an explorer and half of these books are about the flower.” She takes a seat next to Benny. “It all reminds me of my father.”
“Is he an explorer too?” I ask excitedly.
