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Her gaze caught on one of her sketch books, and an idea formed.
She went to Grayson’s desk and found the letter he’d written her before he’d left for Mortise. She set it carefully aside to pack in her things, and then she found a blank sheet of paper, quill, and ink.
She wrote a letter, folded it, and tucked it into the front of her sketchbook, which she set on the desk.
Feeling more settled, Mia stood and started to pack.
Chapter 12
Clare
Clarebreathedindeeply,pulling the briny sea air into her lungs. She was glad she’d agreed to walk on the beach with Bennick this morning. Getting outside of the palace, away from the concerned and pitying glances of her friends . . . It was nice to be able to just walk with Bennick.
This stretch of beach was private, walled in as part of the palace grounds. It was beautiful. Before coming to Mortise, Clare had never seen the sea. She only wished her brothers had had a chance to see it, too.
Bennick was beside her, their hands joined. No one else was on the beach, probably because everyone in the palace had been up half the night celebrating Desfan’s coronation. She hoped Desfan could also sleep in, but she’d been around royals enough to know that such a thing was doubtful. He probably had a full schedule of meetings today.
She hadn’t known Desfan long or well, but what she’d seen, she admired. She’d never thought to have something in common with him. He’d lost his entre family, just as she now had. She hoped, one day, she could display even a measure of the strength he seemed to exude.
For now, avoidance was her preferred method of coping. So, after a long time with no words between them, she asked Bennick, “Did I hear Cardon say you have a meeting with Karim Safar today?”
“Yes, along with Kiv Arcas. They’ll be discussing some additional security measures, and I’ll hopefully get an update on the palace searches that are still being conducted.” Bennick’s forehead grew lined. “A lot of the Devendran rebels were killed the night of the attack, but I’m sure many escaped.”
“None have been found hiding in the castle, though. They probably left that night.”
“Probably,” he agreed. But a shadow remained in his crystal blue eyes.
Clare said nothing, though her thoughts raced. Bennick didn’t know that the rebels who had attacked the palace weren’t the only Devendran rebels. There were two factions; one was the group her brother Eliot had belonged to—the ones who had tried to kill her so many times—and the other was led by Serene. She did so largely in secret; only the most high-ranking rebels knew she was their leader. The rest of the rebels simply knew they wanted her on the Devendran throne.
While Clare had assisted Serene and her rebels on occasion, she hadn’t accepted the princess’s offer to officially join their ranks. The potential risk to her brothers had felt too great at the time. Now, she wondered if sheshouldjoin. Serene would make a much better ruler than Newlan or Grandeur.
Bennick touched her arm, drawing her from her thoughts. “We should head back.”
She nodded, and they wordlessly turned and started toward the palace.
“My meeting with Karim and Arcas shouldn’t take long,” Bennick said.
“Take your time.” She felt a little guilty that she’d been selfishly keeping Bennick so close. He had many responsibilities, and he needed to feel free to do them. “While you’re gone, I think I’ll write to your father,” she said. “He might have concluded his investigation by now, and I’d like to ask him about Mistress Keller. I don’t know if she had any family, but if she did, they should be informed.”
“I’m sure he’s already taken care of that,” Bennick said. “He’s efficient at his job.”
That was true enough. Commander Markam had always taken his career seriously. Unfortunately, that dedication did not extend to his responsibilities as a father or husband. Bennick’s relationship with the commander was not good, and that was before he’d learned that the infamous assassin—the Rose—was his father’s illegitimate son.
Zilas was out there, somewhere. Probably still in Mortise, and certainly just as determined to kill her and Serene. Killing the princess was for his professional pride. Killing Clare would simply torture Bennick, and that was reason enough to drive him. Jealousy, hatred, and a fierce desire to turn Bennick against the commander—it had twisted Zilas’s soul.
Family. It could be complicated, messy, and sometimes terrible. It could bring the greatest joy, and the most soul-crushing heartache. In the end, family was everything. Especially the family one chose.
“Bennick! Clare!”
They both tensed and looked across the beach, up the steep stone staircase that led to the palace.
Wilf was halfway down the steps and barreling toward them.
Clare’s stomach plunged.
Bennick gripped her hand as they darted toward the steps. Running on sand wasn’t easy or quick, and by the time they reached the base of the stairs, Wilf was already there.
He was breathing hard, but his eyes were bright. Clare was shocked to see not panic or alarm, but relief etched on his pox-scarred face. “They’re here,” he said, breathing hard. “Venn and Vera are here.”
