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Before I could ask why on earth Noah would bring me here, we turned a corner and a set of golden double doors waited for us at the end of the hall. I’d have to hold my questions for after this secret meeting.
Two royal guards moved to open the doors and Noah leaned back.
“The smell shouldn’t attract too much attention, don’t worry,” he whispered before turning his head toward the opening doors.
I couldn’t even scoff for fear that someone would see after his eyes and ears everywhere comment. I lowered my head and watched Noah move elegantly toward a long rectangular table. He stood at the head, which looked large enough to seat two or three people instead of just his own commanding presence.
The others in attendance had already been seated at the table and rose for his approach. I turned, looking toward the left side of the room where a group of staff had congregated. I didn’t recognize any of the other servants here. Not a single familiar face.
Noah’s voice echoed as he addressed the room, and I remained quiet and listened as he welcomed the esteemed and devoted members of the council. His words, not mine.
When he had finished his welcome, the council members sat down and I approached a female servant with the tightest bun and straightest stance. She had to be in charge.
“Hello, I’m Prince Noah’s feeder. He asked me here today to help,” I said.
The woman’s eyes raked over me as if she was appraising me, or maybe waiting for some visible reason to pop out at her as to why I’d be asked to attend something clearly so important. “Grab the pitcher on the table over there. You’ll be refilling water. Can you manage?”
Her tone wasn’t snotty, but it wasn’t welcoming either. I liked it. Straight and to the point. I could at least get a good read on this one.
“Yes, ma’am,” I answered. Two other servants, a man and a woman, picked up pitchers from the table I was moving toward. I copied and followed their lead as they moved around the council table. I poured and looked for empty glasses, settling into however long this task would take.
Some of the council members looked to be making themselves comfortable. The warm aroma of honey and meat cascaded into the large room as I finished pouring the last empty glassware on the table. A sure sign that this meeting would last at least the duration of a hearty meal. My stomach growled and I shuffled away as respectfully as I could, praying that no one heard.
A man rose and addressed the council members, drowning out any further rumblings from my body, before turning his attention to Noah. “May we inquire as to if the king and queen will be joining us.”
I stiffened. After Nicole’s warnings about the queen, I highly doubted my presence at a secret meeting would go over well. If those inside the room had gained the trust of the court, she’d certainly see my new face and wonder what was happening.
Prince Noah answered, his voice holding a more powerful tone than I’d heard him use before. “The king and queen are in an envoy back from Dukesburg. There was an important meeting there in our sister city regarding a few recent threats at the border. I’ll be running this meeting in their absence.”
I watched to see how that information was received by the council. No one looked put out or perturbed by Noah running this meeting instead of his parents.
He must be a strong leader on his own. It was good to know that he was respected by those that mattered.
“You've aided in my introduction, Lord McIlvroy, and led me right into the topic for today,” Noah continued. “The business of the king and queen in Dukesburg.”
The council members had given Noah their full attention. I stepped back, trying to move even more out of sight and follow the lead of the others with pitchers. My best bet was to only move forward when they did.
In the meantime, I held as still as I could.
“The reason for their impromptu visit was because a skirmish broke out in a smaller village bordering Dukesburg. A dozen Unseelie were wounded. And there was one dead.”
The rustle through the room was sudden, and tension erupted almost immediately. Gasps and audible frustrations weren’t held back as Noah lost some of his control of the room.
“Let him finish,” Lord McIlvroy instructed the others, who calmed at the command.
Noah bowed his head toward the apparent council leader, Lord McIlvroy.
“The Seelie staged the attack, and while most escaped, one was taken into custody. They were to bring him here, to the palace, but as soon as they left Dukesburg, the transport truck was attacked. Our men were left for dead, but more importantly, so was the Seelie criminal.”
I twitched listening to the information. An attack by the Seelie was something Noah had just voiced a concern about the other day. Had it been because he already knew of it? Was this a sign that the impending war that had been looming for years in Faerie was about to hit us head-on?
The murmurs among the council members picked up again.
“Typical Seelie,” one woman said closest to me. “Leaving even their own warriors for dead.”
I watched the faces of concern around the table; most were uncomfortable, many looked agitated to a point of fear. I guessed if there was a potential war threatening the land, it’d be reason for anyone to have that fear.
Noah stood and the room went silent again. “There’s a bigger problem at hand than just a skirmish.” He took a slow breath and looked around the table. “The fact that the Seelie were even aware of a transport truck making its way toward the palace, and when that would happen so that an attack could be planned, means something is amiss in our halls. Someone is leaking information.”
