‘Just that letter, same time you got yours. She said she was OK but…’
‘I know. She didn’t sound happy. Poor kid. I hate to think of her being alone. Why did you leave her? I thought at least I could trust you to look after her.’ Theo couldn’t keep the note of censure from his voice.
‘Theo, I really didn’t have a choice. They drugged her—just sleeping tablets but, still, they took away her power to choose. They then marched me at gunpoint off the boat. I was allowed to leave her a note but I couldn’t tell her the whole truth. She thinks I chose to go. It was that or leave her worrying.’
Theo closed his eyes briefly and swore. ‘So Ade was right.’
‘Right about what?’
‘That the…those guys are as bad as your lot. Worse maybe.’
Kel could sense Theo now knew more than he had when they last met. He would never have been so careful with his words otherwise. How much did he know about the Teans and Perilous? ‘But she’s important to them. She thinks that maybe she can change things.’ Saying that aloud, Kel wasn’t convinced by his own arguments. Meri had been so determined that he had let himself dream of the possibility. Reality was now breaking through. ‘But she won’t be able to, will she? I’ve sent her into a far worse trap than the one Ade was making for her.’
‘So you agree with him?’
‘Agree?’
‘Ade let us out saying that we’ve got to go and get her.’
‘He said that? What else did he tell you?’
‘He explained. Everything.’
That was surprising and not necessarily good news for Theo. ‘I know it sounds crazy, but he was telling the truth about the war. This has its roots way back.’
‘Yeah, we saw. Your friend Lee put on quite a show.’
The Perilous had to be seriously worried if they were bringing outsiders into the secret. ‘Ade wants you to fetch her?’
‘Yes. He said he can’t do it himself for obvious reasons.’
‘He’ll be monitoring you.’
‘We’re well aware of that fact and have ideas how to throw off any tail. I’d’ve gone after Meri anyway and it’s only the thought that he wants me to do it that’s holding me back. But now, I don’t know. Talking to you, I’m thinking we have to go and find her. She’s all alone in the middle of this.’
‘Yeah, she is.’
‘So, are you up for a rescue mission?’
‘Well…yes…I guess I am.’ What good could Kel do sitting in Paris waiting for Meri to solve centuries of conflict? It was time to close the distance between them. She was right that it was a battle they had to fight together or not at all. ‘Do you know where she is?’
‘No. I was hoping you might.’
‘Southern Spain is my best guess.’
‘Other side of the disputed land between Aragon and Castile? That makes the overland route problematic.’
‘I wasn’t going to suggest we hitched our way through that war zone.’
‘I can siphon some carbon credits for you into your account, Theo. You could fly,’ said Sadie, poking her head into the conversation.
‘Hi, Sadie.' Theo waved. ‘And whose credits would we be stealing?’
‘Ade and Lee’s. They owe us, don’t they?’ Sadie rattled her armful of bracelets as she stretched.
‘Yes, they certainly do.’
Valerie popped up next to Theo. ‘Now, sweetie, don’t forget Saddiq and me. Raid Osun Waters’ account, Ade’s uncle, if you haven’t got enough credits to squeeze out of those others.’
Sadie dropped her arms. ‘But I haven’t got a grudge against him.’
‘I’ve got a big enough one for us both. Pinch his with no guilt, honey. He owes us.’
Sadie grinned. ‘OK, Valerie. Give me an hour and I’ll get you booked onto a Eurostar to Paris tomorrow. Then we can go find Meri. All I need is a destination.’
‘We?’ queried Kel. ‘What about your art trip?’
‘It’s fine. I have a few weeks to hand in my write up. I’ll tell Miss Hardcastle I was called away by a family emergency…developed flu…something. She won’t care.’
‘How are we going to pick a destination?’ asked Theo. ‘Southern Spain is a big place.’
‘I’m working on that too. Kel asked me to search for her on CCTV. Mates of mine in Cardiff are giving it a go overnight on the university computers.’
Theo and Valerie high-fived each other.
Saddiq thrust his face into view. The little screen was very crowded now. ‘Forgive them. I’ve told them that they’re too old to do that.’
‘Aw, you old guys are so sweet,’ crooned Sadie, knowing how to tease Saddiq. ‘So retro.’
‘So we have a plan of sorts. But has anyone got any idea what we do when we get there?’ asked Kel. ‘Are we sure she’s going to be pleased to see us?’
‘And there’s the little matter of your guys, Kel, wanting us to do this,’ added Theo.
‘Not my guys anymore.’
‘We’ll wing it,’ said Saddiq. ‘That’s the only kind of plan we three can stick to.’
Kel laughed, resigned to the coming confusion. If they didn’t know what they were doing, neither would anyone tailing them. ‘OK. Speak later.’ He ended the call. ‘Are you all right doing this, Sadie?’
‘Of course. But I think you’d better tell me what’s really going on if I’m going to go into theft on a grand scale. I need to know I’m justified. I’m getting bits and pieces and so far two and two are adding up to about six and a half.’ Sadie slid the bangles onto the side table, preparing to turn in for the night. ‘I’m ready for my story.’
It wasn’t fair to keep her in the dark, especially now Theo and his friends knew. ‘I’ll explain, I promise, but not tonight.’ He nodded towards Nixie.
The Danish girl closed the laptop with a snap. ‘You’re not blocking me like that, Kel. I already know you have a secret, remember?’
Between Sadie’s keen expression and Nixie’s hurt look, Kel knew he didn’t stand a chance. They knew a dangerous amount already. ‘OK but this is for your ears only, please. I’m not joking.’
They both nodded.
‘It’s like this. There are two kinds of people the world doesn’t know exist…’
Meri lay on her stomach in the darkened room. Leah hadn’t yet come in to open the curtains, probably assuming her mistress would want to sleep in after the trauma of the festival. Not much sleeping had happened between the time she came home from the hospital and now. If anything, the cut on her back hurt more than when the injury had been inflicted.
Why fight to remain here? Meri asked herself. She was without Kel, had no real friends or even allies around her, and she didn't want the position at the head of the Tean world if it meant being the kind of leader they desired. She had come here because it was a haven. Power hadn’t been the lure. In fact, it looked very much like a worse snare than the one she had been fleeing. Far better to live on the run and be free as she had managed for so many years with Theo than to have this existence of fighting those who should be her supporters.
Noise outside drew her attention. Normally her side of the palace was quiet with only the gardens and a little used access road to a series of outbuildings below the balcony. Someone was using it today though which was odd for a Saturday morning.
Meri checked the clock. It was still early, only just after six. Giving up on the idea of sleep, she went to check on what was happening. She slipped past the curtain and opened the door just enough to squeeze outside. Hearing Rio’s voice among the others talking in rapid Spanish, she instinctively ducked down to spy through the gaps between the balustrades. It was as well she did because at that moment Rio looked up at her room. Quickly checking over her shoulder, she was convinced all he would see was the closed curtains and shadowy balcony. She held herself still, the cream silk of her pyjamas blending with the stone. Rio’s glance was only brief. He was too busy with the crate his dive team were manoeuvring on the back of a g
ardener’s motorized cart. The box was made from a light blue toughened plastic, the kind used by the dive teams for the items they retrieved from their underwater excavations. Intrigued at the evident attempt at secrecy, she watched them go slowly out of sight and towards the outbuildings she had not yet explored.
Why was Rio up so early and moving the crate about in this underhand manner? She thought all finds had to be logged at the university before some were released to the palace, like the crown and her ring. What was he up to? Had he found royal items superior to the ones she had seen in the palace strongroom? She could just imagine him taking great pleasure in hoarding the best for himself, waiting for his chance to present them and his claim to a sympathetic audience.
Or perhaps there was a perfectly innocent explanation to what she had seen? Maybe the university labs had run out of storage space?
Whatever was behind it, she was the heir and had every right to poke her nose into every nook and cranny of the palace. Prudence dictated, though, that she wait until she could be sure Rio was away for the day.
She began making her plans. If she was going to prove wrongdoing on Rio’s part—a useful hold to have over him in their battle for supremacy—she was going to need evidence. They had denied her a phone but surely no one could object to giving her a camera? She submitted the request via Leah to the head of the household tech and was pleasantly surprised when only thirty minutes later a top of the range digital camera came back to her with no fuss. She passed the morning far more pleasantly than she expected, experimenting with her new toy.
When Leah announced that her council wanted to see her, Meri decided she had had enough of dancing to their tune. She was injured. For once, they should come to her. To project an image of being more fragile than she actually was, she retired to bed and waited for them to approach.
‘Your highness, how are you this morning?’ asked Rayne, managing to sound genuinely concerned.
‘Recovering, thank you.’ Meri put aside the magazine she had pretended to be reading. Perhaps she should always hold her meetings in her bedroom: Tegel and Derwent looked quite nervous being in her personal space, not daring to sit down. Only Rio appeared at home. He went to the window to study her view. She wondered for a moment if he was checking what she could have seen but he didn’t seem unduly interested in the balcony. It had probably merely been one of his offhand gestures showing he didn’t respect her enough to pay her his full attention. Hopefully, he’d soon regret that.
‘The attack raises two issues: why was your security so lax last night and whether you should cease to go to the university until we can guarantee your safety,’ said Rayne.
Meri eased back on the pillows. ‘Odd. I would’ve thought the main issue is why someone was angry enough to try to kill me? I’m far more interested in answers as to the who and the why than the other minor issues you raise.’
‘Your security is not minor,’ huffed Tegel.
‘I was with my bodyguard and Rio: that’s hardly a relaxation of the guard put on me. No one can be a hundred percent safe if they wish to have as much normality as possible—and that is my wish. I will continue to go to my classes. I trust you will do your job and make that happen.’
‘Rio?’ Rayne appealed to the regent.
He shrugged. ‘The attack last night came out of the blue. I’m not aware of any intelligence that suggested we should expect anyone to strike in such a public place so I don’t think it fair to blame Bernard or myself for failing to prevent it.’
At least it sounded like Bernard’s job was safe.
‘Now we know people are out there who will resort to violence against her,’ Rio continued, ‘I agree with Miss Marlowe that we should adapt her security arrangements rather than confine her to the palace. In her place, any attempt to keep me here against my will would have me crawling up the walls.’ He gave Meri a look that might’ve been sympathetic if she didn’t know him better. He saw an advantage for himself in letting her carry on and she would have to work out what that meant. The most obvious answer was that he would welcome a successful assassination attempt but that was extreme even for him.
‘Thank you, Rio,’ said Rayne. ‘In that case, while Miss Marlowe is recovering, we will take the opportunity to review her security detail. Clearly one close protection officer is not sufficient.’
Rio had found the camera and was going through the images.
‘Do you mind?’ said Meri, holding out her hand.
‘You’re good.’ He passed her the device.
‘I am taking Art. I have a visual sense.’
‘Yeah, it shows.’
‘But people usually wait until they are invited to view my work.’
He grinned. ‘I’m not people.’
The council members departed after formal wishes for a swift recovery. Meri had been amused that Tegel clearly had wanted to berate her for putting herself in danger in the first place but he was under instructions to hold his tongue. Any time he strayed towards criticism, Rayne leapt in and turned the subject. Just as well or Meri would’ve been tempted to sack her council member for exceeding his authority and she wasn’t sure any of them would have even pretended to obey her will. Once again, it was an area best left untested.
Pushing back the covers, Meri decided that, rather than spend the day languishing in bed, she would visit Ben and Daro. She hadn’t checked in on them for a week and Ben would be worrying after hearing about the assault.
Changing into her most comfortable gear—grey tracksuit and zip-up hoodie—she ventured out into the grounds.
‘Lil’chick, what are you doing out of bed?’ asked Ben when she surprised him and Daro tinkering with an electric motorcycle.
‘Taking some exercise.’ She perched on an old barrel that was positioned near the back door of their cottage. It smelt faintly of vinegar, betraying its previous life as storage for wine before it became a seat.
‘We were going to come and see you but the council said you needed rest.’
‘That’s what I want them to think. At least I get a break from them.’ She switched to Spanish. ‘Hey, Daro, how’s the old man treating you?’
Daro smiled and pushed his long fringe out of his eyes, leaving an oil smudge behind. ‘We’re good, thank you. Did you know that Ben is a good cook?’
‘No, I did not!’ She reverted to English. ‘Ben, what’s all this about you and baking?’
He looked sheepish. ‘I had a café, Lil’chick, didn’t you realize why?’
‘You have so got to open one here. I miss biscuits and cakes.’
‘Why didn’t you say?’ Ben wiped his hands on a rag. ‘I baked a batch of cinnamon cookies last night. I think Daro might’ve left one or two.’
‘Hah! I saw you eat some for breakfast so don’t blame me!’ answered Daro in English, showing he was coming along in that language.
‘I’ll fetch some and a drink for us all. I think it’s going to be a hot day.’ Ben disappeared inside the house.
As soon as Ben was gone, Daro came over and knelt beside her. ‘Your highness, was it one of my people who hurt you?’
‘What?’
‘That’s what they are saying. One of the gardeners spat at me this morning and told me to get out of here.’
Meri hadn’t anticipated that Daro would suffer in a backlash. ‘No! No, it wasn’t! The attacker didn’t show markings which he should’ve done as he was acting violently. I think it was probably one of the Teans here who doesn’t like me.’
‘I don’t understand: why don’t they like you?’ From the admiring expression in his eyes, Meri had at least one supporter in the palace.
‘Because I want to change things. I tell them that they shouldn’t treat the Perilous as their enemies but seek to make peace.’
Ben returned with a tray which he set on a bench between geranium pots. ‘She’s a revolutionary, Daro, and that’s not an easy thing to be.’
‘But you think I’m right, don’t you, Ben?’
/> ‘I’m just an old man: what do I know?’
‘You’re not old; I was teasing.’
He winked and handed her a glass of homemade lemonade. ‘Yes, you are right but, for what it’s worth, I think you’re trying to move too fast, like when you attempted to bring Kel here. Now’s not the time to raise these issues. You need to be crowned first so you can do so from a position of power.’
‘But if I pretend to be something I’m not, then won’t they feel betrayed when they realize I’m not the monarch they thought they were getting?’
‘If they don’t realize already that you’re made in a different mould then they need their heads examined. The only thing you haven’t done is hired a skywriter plane to put the message in the heavens.’
Meri took a sip of her drink. ‘Now you mention it, Ben, where do you think I can get one of those?’
‘Have a biscuit.’ Ben waggled his eyebrows at Daro. ‘See what I mean: she’s trouble.’
18
Meri had to wait until Monday to be sure that Rio was offsite. He wasn’t much in evidence over the weekend but she feared that was because he was locked in with his mysterious crate, rather than because he was away.
‘I thought you said you felt better, ma’am?’ asked Bernard when Meri went down to the foyer where they normally met each weekday morning and announced that she needed another day at home before returning to classes.
Meri tugged at the strings of her hoodie. ‘I feel OK but I don’t want to face all those questions my classmates will have. Much better to let everyone get the gossip out of their systems before I go back. You have the day off as I don’t plan on leaving the palace.’
He grimaced. ‘I’m scheduled to take some refresher courses this week. Tegel doesn’t think my training is sufficient. He was going to assign you someone else. I was supposed to introduce you.’
‘Even better then. I don’t want to be trailed by a stranger.’ She patted Bernard’s arm. ‘You did fine. It wasn’t something any of us anticipated.’
He shook his head. ‘I should’ve done. That’s my job.’
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