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I was so confused my head felt like it was spinning from the cellar wine again. “I thought no one else was supposed to learn of it?”
“Patience, child.” Pater held up his hand, and for some reason, being called ‘child’ made me more annoyed than I already was. “The reason I wanted Bennett to learn of your position, and for the two of you to start training together immediately, is because I have an urgent assignment for the both of you that I need you to set out for next week.”
I had never once gone on an assignment with anyone else, and of course out of all the people walking on this planet, the one person that had to go with me was Bennett.
I stood up from the settee. “I have done completely fine on my own! I don’t need Bennett to babysit me. He will only drag me down,” I said defensively, not caring if I sounded like I was complaining, because I obviously was.
“I couldn’t agree more,” said Bennett, walking over to stand beside me.
“Both of you—QUIET!” Pater shouted. “How about you listen to what I have to say before interrupting me with your opinions?” He was bordering on losing his self-control, so I figured it would probably be wisest if I just kept my mouth shut from here on out.
“The two of you will leave in approximately five days, maybe even earlier, depending on the information my spies bring me. In the meantime, I will need the two of you to get to know each other’s fighting styles and try to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses so you can protect one another. It will be best in the long run for you to be able to work as a team.”
It took everything in me not to shout my disapproval right then and there, but I kept quiet. I worked better on my own, I always had. I didn’t need a teammate who was more like my personal enemy.
Pater sighed, his eyes softening as he looked at me. “Rhia, I know you are strong and more than capable of being able to defend yourself, and asking Bennett to join you is not to downplay that. It is because this assignment is in Vicinus. Considering Bennett has lived there for the past eight years, he will be very familiar with the area and will be especially helpful when it comes to tracking down members of the Red Bones and finding information about who and what their so-called Skull King is.”
I hadn’t been to the snowy kingdom since I was just a small child, and my memory of it was hazy. Even though it aggravated me, I couldn’t really be mad at Pater anymore for suggesting this plan.
Pater continued, saying, “The two of you will need to travel through the Silver Forest in order to get there instead of taking a boat and going through the harbor.”
I let out a small gasp at the mention of the Silver Forest and the memory it brought of the last time I was there. The creatures in the forest were dangerous and mythical. Hardly anyone ever traveled through the forest for that reason entirely.
Pater pursed his lips in a worried expression. “That’s another reason why I wanted you to travel together on this assignment. It will be safer and smarter to travel in a group than to go alone.”
“Why can’t we go through the harbor?” Bennett interrupted. “It would save us a lot of time, too.”
“If the two of you were to travel through the harbor, people would see you leave. Since you’re the prince and Rhia is a well-known healer, that would bring a lot of unwanted attention to you both. It could potentially out your mission, keeping you from being able to stay hidden. Plus, if I need to call on you quickly, there may not be a ship at the harbor ready to make the travel.”
He had a valid point, but that didn’t make traveling into the Silver Forest any better. Especially with Bennett as my only companion. Bennett stayed silent, which was his display of understanding.
“Based on the information you gave me from your last assignment, Rhia, as well as what my spies have gathered, I believe the army the Red Bones claim to be creating is in Vicinus, or on the other side of it. Multiple members of the Red Bones have stated that their Skull King and army are not here in Veladis, so it is time for us to start traveling outside of our kingdom walls to find out if the threats are true and serious.”
“Will Uncle Nix know of this arrival?” Bennett asked with a sense of urgency.
I’d never met the King of Vicinus, as Pater and his brother had a rocky relationship. The two were civil in their rule, but I wouldn’t consider them being anything close to friends.
Pater answered, “No, and it will stay that way.” Bennett’s shoulders loosened a bit in relief, and I wondered why he would care. “Only the three of us will know about the extent of this assignment. Not even my spies will be informed. As much as I trust them, there is always a possibility of someone who is or could become a traitor. If anyone else is to learn of your whereabouts, it is a risk to your safety, as you will not be on my land and therefore, I cannot protect you.”
“Won’t people notice we are gone?” I asked, beginning to pace the office as a million questions swarmed in my head.
“Patience, Rhia. You are to tell those close to you that you have been assigned an in-home patient by my orders and will be staying at their house until treatment is complete, because their condition is severe. Since it is regarding someone’s medical status, no one is allowed to ask questions about the patient’s name or specific condition under my law. So, if someone asks, simply state that.”
Well, this is going to be very difficult to explain to Amica. She’ll never believe me.
Pater turned to face his son. “As for you, I don’t think as many people will question your disappearance, since you don’t make yourself seen around the castle that often. However, it won’t hurt to mention to Mendex and your brother that you have decided you need a break from me and are going on a hunting trip for some time away.”
“I don’t even like hunting,” Bennett said tightly.
“And I don’t care,” Pater responded, matching his son’s tone.
The tension in the room was beginning to feel thick, and their stare down was making me feel uncomfortable.
I broke the silence. “So, do you have any exact locations in Vicinus we need to check out?”
“Yes, however, if it presents itself to be best to go somewhere else, follow your gut. I have gathered intel on a known Red Bones meeting spot in Vicinus. It’s a fighting den that’s hidden under a tavern called Jack Hacker.” He turned to Bennett. “Do you know where that is?”
“Yes,” he said quickly.
