Page 48 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

“The assassin must have climbed,” said Alohi.

“Nobody can scale like that except Keanu,” Malakai said when we showed him the evidence. Peter rubbed his chin.

“It’s not that hard,” he said, and climbed it to show us. He scaled partway, then gave up.

I frowned, even more confused. Was Peter showing us he could almost do it, as if to prove it was not him? Or was he revealing the truth to our faces, mocking us?

Since then, I tried several times to sneakily follow in Peter and Malakai's footsteps, convinced that one of them was the murderer. However, they were also absent. I saw them here and there, but never long enough to draw any information on their whereabouts.

Keanu’s counselors encouraged me to do civilized tasks with the noblewomen, but after attending one get-together and finding Pua there, I didn’t want to put myself in that situation. She made my insides simmer with jealousy, especially when she spoke of previous encounters between herself and Keanu. She spoke of the many times they’d dance together at balls, or he’d sit next to her at dinners hosted for the nobility. I knew she was probably exaggerating all of it, but… still. Her words bothered me because I was sure there was some truth to it.

Besides, I had a riddle to solve. I spent too much time in the library, reading about past chiefs and scouring for any ways to break the curse.

When I shared everything–about the assassination attempt, Pua, and Peter–with Kiki, she was quiet for a moment, thinking.

“If Pua is a noblewoman, I doubt she’d be able to climb a wall.” She laughed. “I’d also like to see her try in a dress.”

“Kiki.” I gave her a serious look. “I’ve done some pretty crazy things in a skirt.” I thought about my night runs for mother’s medicine.

“What about Malakai?”

“He seems nice enough,” Kiki said and rubbed her chin. “Do he and Keanu disagree on anything?”

I had to think about it. Then I remembered Malakai and Keanu in the throne room and how Malakai thought they should attack Kalani. Keanu couldn’t disagree more.

“They have ideological differences,” I said. “But they’re still close. You can disagree on something and still have a relationship.”

“True. And what about Peter?”

I shrugged. I didn’t know anything about him. He was more and more mysterious to me.

After a pause, while Kiki sewed, she said, “Peter came by here the other day.”

I gaped. “What? When? Why?”

She concentrated on her work. “He brought some flowers.”

“He seems so serious all the time, I’m betting he murdered Keanu.”

“But he’s not really like that, which makes me believe he is not the murderer,” Kiki said. “He’s quite shy, and he’s learned to be hypervigilant. He says Keanu is like a brother to him, and he feels it’s his duty to look out for him at every turn.”

“He watches Keanu like a hawk,” I said. “Or like a predator about to attack its prey.”

“He really cares for Keanu. Remember, Keanu saved his life.”

“Did it occur to you that he might try to woo you for access?”

“Access to what?”

“The king.”

Kiki pursed her lips. “He seems sincere but…” She then shrugged. “We can’t jump to any conclusions until we find out more. I’ll be careful.”

Alohi knocked on the door, causing us both to jump, startled. “It’s getting late, Your Highness,” he said. So I hugged my sister goodbye, and kissed my mother’s forehead.

“Oli,” mother said, reaching out her hand before I left.

“Yes?” I held it and she did her best to squeeze it. “Thank you for bringing us here. I feel very peaceful in this kingdom.”