AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m here for Petrik.”
“Oh,” he says again, and his tone lowers. “Well, I’ll see you around, then.”
His blue robe sweeps behind him as he takes off, his advisers trailing behind him. Petrik exits last.
“Everything all right?” I ask.
Petrik doesn’t hide his frustration from me, which I like. “No. All anyone wants to discuss is strategies for negotiating with Ravis. What we’re willing to give him to go away. No matter how manytimes I try to bring up a discussion for what we should do should Ravis attack, my worries are discarded as though meaningless.”
“Why would they do something so stupid?”
“It’s like they can’t even entertain the notion of a battle, because…”
“We’ll all be slaughtered if it comes to that.”
“Tactful, as ever, Ziva.”
“At least I agree with you.”
We start walking toward our bedroom together, and I bring up the reason for my visit.
“Why do you want my staff?” Petrik asks.
“I wanted to try magicking it so no one but the caster can catch it. See if I can get rid of the weaknesses in its magic.”
“Wow.”
“It’s no big deal,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat.
Petrik shakes his head. “Sure. I’ll grab it for you.” He doesn’t exactly carry the large weapon with him wherever he goes.
But before he enters the room, he asks, “Did she eat it? Did she like it?”
“I am sworn to secrecy,” I say.
“Fine.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Another week passes. The palace now looks gutted, most of the supplies having been taken to the people living outdoors. Bedding, storage chests, washroom supplies. Anything to help Skiro’s subjects have an easier time of it.
I finish magicking the weapons belonging to Temra, Kellyn, and Petrik before returning them to their owners. Skiro’s men are all properly outfitted with repaired weapons. Most walk the palace halls fully armored, just waiting for the warning bells that will signal Ravis’s approach.
Yet the prince doesn’t come when he ought to come, and everyone grows more edgy than ever.
Time crawls by, as it always does, and I start to worry that everyone will think Kellyn and I made the whole thing up.
Especially when he’s late by a whole fortnight.
But we stay busy. Kellyn and Temra continue to train with the guards. Petrik remains an adviser to the prince. I keep working with Abelyn.
With all the official work done in the smithy, only the occasional cookware request or horseshoe replacement comes to us.
Abelyn grows grouchier than usual with nothing to do. “Ugh. Another dull day. Let’s not bore ourselves with small talk. Go. Find something useful to occupy yourself.”
Trying not to take that personally, I return to the castle.
I’d hoped for work today. Free time means thinking time, and there is much to fret over.
