by RJ Metcalf
Conversation ceased while the stranger walked ahead of them until he turned into a small shopfront, flipping a sign to “open” as he entered. Clara breathed out a small sigh and rolled her tense shoulders.
“Sincerely, my lady.” She pitched her voice low, despite the lack of people walking near them, “I want you to not be out so much right now. After this, we stay in the palace for the next few weeks.”
Sapphire pursed her lips, and her knuckles whitened as she gripped the baby carriage’s handle. Blue eyes glinted at Clara. “It was Richard’s order, and I haven’t heard news of any backlash here.”
“Just because you haven’t heard anything, doesn’t mean there isn’t any danger.” Clara pressed her forearm against her bodice, confirming yet again that her dagger was there. She lowered her voice and stepped close, cautious to not be overheard. “You’re his sister-in-law. Brandon has an heir because of you, and Reformers have a fresh reason to dislike royalty. Whether you admit it or not, you are a target to some degree right now. And where are you?” Clara gestured a hand to the bustling street. “You’re out, in the open! Don’t make my job any harder, please.”
“I won’t,” Sapphire promised, raising a hand in a vow. “Sla—” she cut herself off as a lady stepped out onto the path by her. “My brother,” she amended, “and I are planning to spend the day together soon. We’ll stay indoors, at home, if that helps.”
“That would, thank you.”
The lady walked the opposite direction of them, and Clara bumped her elbow against Sapphire’s. “Good catch, by the way.”
Sapphire grinned. “Remembering to not mention specific names is the most difficult part of blending in.” She gestured at her muted brown dress and her worn boots. “Getting to wear comfortable and practical clothing again is a pleasant sidenote.”
“I’m sure it is.” Clara inhaled deeply and pivoted on her heel to look across the street. “I’ll allow one detour on the way back. We’re going to that bakery.”
“Cinnamon rolls?” Sapphire popped her head out to look around Clara. “If we can find something with chocolate for me, it’s a deal.” She raised a finger. “But no telling Doctor Jaxton.”
Clara laughed. “What happens outside the palace, stays outside the palace.”
They left the cramped middle tier of Doldra and entered the outer district where homes and larger business buildings sprawled like a creeping vine. The Stohner Shipping Yards would be at the very edge of the urban development, in the region that, two decades ago, would have been considered the middle of nowhere, but now was as vital as the City Circle itself.
Sapphire sighed as she adjusted her grip on the buggy. “What rumors about the Reformers have you been hearing?”
Clara mentally sifted through what she knew, quickly cataloging what to share and what to downplay. Sapphire having any sudden, vocal reactions in public would not do them any good for blending in. “In regards to Richard and Violet, there are quite a few who are saying that it’s proof of one of the evils of royalty.”
Sapphire wrinkled her brow and raised an eyebrow.
“Forcing Violet to marry her brother-in-law,” Clara clarified, “just so he can have an heir before being allowed to rule. There are those who say such a law is archaic.”
Sapphire shrugged a shoulder and nodded. “I can’t argue with their logic on the law. But it’s not like Violet is being forced. Perennia was amiable to it.”
“Indeed. But do people listen to or care for the truth? Or whatever truth they choose to believe in.” Clara twisted, stretching her spine and taking the opportunity to look behind them. “Then there’re those that say he isn’t fit for the throne anymore—not after Selvage.”
“That order is going to haunt him, eventually.” Sapphire’s soft voice radiated sorrow. “Even if he doesn’t think it will, someday he’ll regret it.” She lifted her face and arched a brow. “And what do the people say of Brandon and me?”
Clara shrugged. “The usual. You’re both still fairly popular: good for him, marrying someone low on the noble chain, and good for you, marrying higher in rank.” She reached out and touched Sapphire’s linen sleeve, pausing her friend’s pleased nod. “But there is something new. A rumor I heard only yesterday.” She swallowed. “That you aren’t worthy to be married to Brandon. That it would be better if Violet were married to him, as that would keep the line of royalty pure, and would prevent her from needing to marry her brother-in-law.”
Sapphire blinked several times before nodding slowly. She waved a hand behind them. “Is that why you have incognito guards following us?”
Clara’s eyes widened. “When did you notice them?”
A smirk flashed her direction. “Actually, I haven’t seen anyone. But thank you for confirming it.”
Clara laughed aloud, delighted. “You’re learning. Excellent.” She sobered quickly. “Your safety is my priority. Even if it wasn’t my job, you’re my friend, and I plan to keep you and her”—Clara gestured to Adeline, asleep in the perambulator—“safe and whole.” A wide array of vibrant flowers came into view, the Stohner Shipping Yards visible just beyond. “And if I have to bring half the garrison to make sure of that when you’re insisting on going out, I’ll do it.”
Chapter Nineteen
Slate
Slate surveyed the tavern, nodding in approval as a soldier hauled the last broken chair outside. A wry smile crossed Slate’s face, and he held out his hand to the tavern owner. “And if you need anything else, you know how to contact me.”
“Yes sir. Thank you for coming out to take care of this.” The tavern owner looked around the room and rubbed his forehead. “I really wasn’t sure how it would be handled. Thank you.”
“Of course. Now please excuse me. I need to talk to the captain again.” Slate strode out of the tavern and back into the afternoon sunshine. Pausing a moment for his eyes to adjust, he spotted Cole and walked over to him. “Can we please encourage our men to take out their frustrations on the discus field next time?”
Cole shook his head, staring at the large pile of broken chairs next to the building. “I hope so. I’m all for a good fight, but preferably one that doesn’t involve so much damage. Our budget can’t afford this on a regular basis.” He gestured at the pile in agitation. “Fourteen chairs! Two tables! And for what? A perceived slight?” Cole groaned and dragged a hand across his stubble-shadowed chin in a weary gesture. “I can’t believe Captain Stevens put up with us so much.”
Slate snorted. “He was a good man.” He nudged Cole in mid-yawn, causing his friend to stumble. “Actually he was great man. He put up with you all the time.”
“Ha ha.” Cole scowled up at the sun. “They woke me up early for this, and it’s taken half the day. I’m going back to the barracks and sleeping until my next shift. And no one better interrupt me.” He shot Slate a half-real glare. “Seriously. I will hurt someone if they get between me and my pillow.”
“Oh, I believe you.” Slate held his hands up with a laugh. “If there’s anything more to deal with, I’ll cover it. I’m just glad to hear that you are sleeping again, man.”
Cole’s eyes shadowed momentarily, then he shook his head and grinned at Slate. “And I’m glad to hear you stopped sneezing all the time. Feeling better now that the princess is gone?”
It had only been two weeks since Princess Violet had returned to Perennia and all the extra flowers and pollinated decor had been taken down. Slate was finally able to breathe again, to his great relief.
Nose twitching at the idea of all the flowers, Slate grimaced. “Very glad to be breathing normally again. The end of Arilis is always brutal, but the palace being decked out in it all was horrid. I couldn’t even breathe out in the City Circle thanks to all the extra flowers there.” He rubbed his forehead in exasperation. “And how often was she at the City Circle to see all of it? Twice. When she came and when she left.”
Cole snickered at his friend’s expense. “When is she coming back? How much
time do you get of normal air?”
Slate shrugged, causing the silver braid on his uniform shoulder to sway. “Not entirely sure. I’m guessing in a few weeks. They plan to publicly announce their engagement sometime late summer, and I think Sapphire said the wedding itself will be in Setrius.”
“Setrius?” Cole’s smile dropped, and he lifted a hand and twitched his fingers as he counted silently. He looked up at Slate askance. “Isn’t that just a few months before the anniversary for Princes Rose’s passing?”
“Yeah. Horrible timing for Richard, if you ask me.” Slate crossed his arms. “The entire time of her visit he was around physically, but you could tell it’s just too much for him. Palace life is going to be really interesting the next few months.”
“Sounds like it. I don’t envy you at all.” Cole yawned again and flopped a hand in a halfhearted attempt at a wave. “I’ll let you get back to the fun of the palace, though. I’ve got a rendezvous with my pillow, and I don’t want to be any later than I already am.”
Slate grinned and clapped the man on his back. “Enjoy your date with your pillow. I’m off to go meet with Sapphire. Time for some long overdue sibling bonding.”
Cole paused and glanced over his shoulder, hesitant. “Tell her hi for me.”
“Of course.” Slate scratched the back of his neck. “You know, she’d be tickled if you were to come by sometime, say hi, meet Adeline.”
Cole shrugged, looking away. “I’ll have to see if I can schedule a visit.” He lifted his hand. “See you later.”
“Bye.”
Breathing deeply, Slate pushed his hands in his pockets and basked in the beautiful afternoon sun as he strolled back to the palace. The breeze complemented the light perfectly, and the lack of copious amounts of flowers only served to buoy his spirits higher. He had a whole afternoon with just him and Sapphire. Too much time had passed since they’d last been able to spend time together, and he wasn’t about to let her be cooped up, held hostage by his adorable niece and the stuffy in-law royals. No, it had been his job as older brother to protect her, and now that she was married and that role had passed to Brandon, it was now Slate’s responsibility to break her out and make sure she got a breath of fresh air. Assuming Clara would let him, that is.
Slate smirked with that thought as a dame passed by and he merely nodded a greeting, resisting the habitual urge to wink at her. He scoffed to himself. It seemed that one date with Samantha had already proven to be life altering.
Slate squinted as he approached the gleaming white palace, and he nodded to the guards, keeping an eye cracked open in case he saw General Brigley. Just because he had the time off right now didn’t mean that Brigley wouldn’t try to rope him into something if he saw a need.
No sir. This afternoon is all about time with my baby sister, and nothing is going to prevent that!
Whistling a jaunty tune, he passed through the foyer and waved to Brandon, who stood at the top of the stairs. Brandon waved back and walked down the steps towards Slate.
“During breakfast with Richard and me, she mentioned she was going to be in the library. So look there for her; I doubt she’ll realize what time it is,” Brandon called out as he neared Slate, grinning with amusement. “She’s such a bookworm. I’ll be in a case dispute meeting in the throne room; you’re welcome to listen in if you decide that books and Sapphire are too overwhelming a combination.”
Slate waved a hand airily as he walked up the steps, pausing on the same step as his brother-in-law. “It’s the library. It’s only a bad combination when we’re at a bookstore and she ‘forgets’ her money pouch. Then it’s overwhelming.”
Brandon snorted. “True. And hopefully she’ll be feeling better. She had a headache this morning.”
“Oh?” Slate cocked his head. “Should I stop by Doctor Jaxton’s office and get her something for that?”
“No need. Richard asked Doctor Jaxton to send her something right before his airship flight a few hours ago.” He pulled out a silver pocketwatch and grimaced. “I need to go. I should be back for supper at six. Let her know for me. Will you?”
“Of course!”
They parted ways, and Slate picked up his tune again as he walked down the hall to the library. He opened the door and sauntered in, striking a pose in the doorway. “The fun has arrived!”
Removing his hand from his hip, he paused and looked around. “Sapphire? Where—” He broke off when he saw her, leaning heavily against an ornate mahogany bookshelf near the corner of the room, eyes scrunched closed. He rushed across the room and gently took her arm and slung it across his shoulders, supporting the brunt of her weight.
Her skin was clammy, her face was flushed, and her eyelids fluttered.
“Sapphire? Are you sick?” Slate guided her over to a cush couch and helped her to sit. She’d had bad headaches before, but Brandon would have said more if her headache was this severe. He scanned the room for anything out of the ordinary, noting a spilled mug of tea on the floor by the table. He turned his attention back to her, worried.
“I’m fine,” she whispered, wincing as she shifted on the couch. “My head just hurts.” She took a deep breath and gestured towards the table. “I spilled my tea. I … need to clean it up.”
“That’s not a problem. I’ll glow someone to come clean it. Stay here.” Slate got up, watching his sister as he moved toward the door. He looked at the panel inset with various crystals. Finding the orange jasper he was looking for, he held a finger on it until it warmed to his touch and started glowing. Satisfied, he turned back to Sapphire.
“Brandon mentioned that you had a headache this morning. Has Jaxton sent anything to help it yet?”
Sapphire’s nod was barely discernible. “Yes.” She flicked a hand toward the spilled tea. “One of the staff brought in the tea for me. It’s supposed to help.” She sighed out the last bit of her sentence, wilting into the couch despite her stiff corset. A strand of red hair fell across her forehead, having escaped her blue ribbon.
“Well, whatever he gave you sure seems to not be helping with the headache that much.” Slate returned to her side. “We should get you to bed so you can rest.”
She waved a hand in the direction of the tea. “Not his fault. I accidentally knocked over the tea he brought me before I could have too much of it.” Her blue eyes looked as glassy as one of Adeline’s dolls’. “I dropped a book too close to it by accident.”
Her eyes shifted away from him, the two of them sitting in silence while they waited for someone to clean the spilled drink.
Sapphire shifted forward suddenly with the fluidity of a drunk, her focus intent on the corner case of books. “Oh, Father.” She waved her hand sloppily and let it flop on the couch. “I miss you, too. Whenever will you be home?” She turned to Slate, body swaying, a vacant smile on her face. “Isn’t it wonderful that Father will be home soon? And that he’s bringing Rose?”
Fear slid icy fingers down Slate’s spine as Sapphire lolled her head back. What was going on? Why was she hallucinating?
“Sap.” He touched her arm and frowned at her clammy skin. “Sap, Father has been dead for years. Rose has been gone for almost a full year now.”
Sapphire stared just over his shoulder, her gaze sliding away from his eyes. She fixated on something he couldn’t see, and a euphoric smile spread across her face. “Rose! You brought the baby!” Her smile twisted into a soundless shriek, and she shrank back against the couch, cowering behind him, digging sharp nails into his arm. “That’s not a baby! That’s a dragon!”
Thoroughly alarmed, Slate glanced over his shoulder to confirm that no one was behind him. His mind raced. Headache at breakfast. Something in the food that only she’d eaten? Something in her tea? He looked back to see her grasping out to the open air as if she were reaching for someone.
He bolted off the couch, lunging for the door at the same time as it opened. The servant blinked at him.
“Run and get Prince Brandon—he should b
e in the throne room. Find someone else to run for Doctor Jaxton, and I need guards to help carry the Lady Sapphire to her room. Hurry!” Words tumbled out of Slate’s mouth as fast as he could say them.
The lad took in Slate’s expression, pivoted on his heel and raced down the hall, pausing only long enough to grab a maid passing by.
There was no satisfaction in watching them run. Only fear for his baby sister. Slate hovered in the doorway. He looked back in at Sapphire, then rapped his knuckles against the door frame. Hurry. Hurry. Two guards came sprinting from the same direction the servants scurried, allowing Slate a brief moment of relief. He dove back into the room as they got closer.
He knelt by Sapphire’s side as they came barreling through the doorway, hands on their hilts. Slate searched Sapphire’s face for any changes. She looked pale under her flushed cheeks.
“What’s the problem?” One of the guards asked. Slate glanced up and recognized Jakob and Isak from his own royal guard unit.
“I don’t know. Lady Sapphire is sick. We need the doctor, and we need to get her to her chambers.” Slate spoke quickly, his concern rising even more as she muttered something about their long-deceased father. She had wilted into the couch, twitching occasionally as she muttered under her breath.
“Doctor Jaxton left this afternoon. He’s not supposed to return for at least a day!” Jakob’s eyes widened as he stared at her. He turned to look at another pair of guards coming through the door. “Go send for Doctor Walter; he’s covering for Jaxton here. Send him to her ladyship’s chambers! And make haste!”
