Ari took a step back, smacking into a potted plant and almost knocking it over. She quickly grabbed the pot, righting it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you weren’t clothed.”
Normally, he never slept naked. However, it had been especially hot last night when he returned to his room. Putting on sleeping clothes seemed like too much work, so he’d just stripped and climbed into bed. He shrugged. It really wasn’t a big deal. “Have we received word when we’ll meet to discuss the weapons deal?”
She turned away from him and headed toward her room. “No. When I spoke with Prince Patteon last night, he informed me that he would be the one conducting the negotiations.”
Excellent. Hopefully, Ari had been able to glean something of the man’s demeanor that would help. “Did he say anything else?”
She started to close the door connecting their rooms. “Get dressed,” she said. “We’ll talk when you’re clothed.” He could have sworn he heard her mumble, “And I can think clearly.”
Once Savenek was fully awake and dressed, he was certain of two things. One, Princess Lareissa was an endless flirt and did not have any worthwhile information; and two, the royal family was purposefully stalling the negotiations.
He knocked on Ari’s door and then opened it, peering inside. She was nowhere to be seen. Stepping into her room, he noticed her standing on the balcony wearing a soft pink dress that fluttered in the wind. He joined her.
“I haven’t been on many missions,” she said by way of greeting, “but I’m pretty sure this isn’t standard protocol.”
“I agree.” He leaned on the railing, gazing at the town. Compared to Emperor’s City, it looked lush with greenery, impeccably clean, and as if the inhabitants were all wealthy.
“What do you think we should do?” She drummed her fingers on the railing next to his arm. “Wait it out? Insist the negotiations start?”
“Did the prince say anything of importance?”
“No. He hardly spoke.”
“Did he ask you any questions?”
“He asked where I live, who my parents are, and why I’m here.”
Savenek suspected the royal family didn’t fully trust him and Ari. “Are our doors still locked?”
“I haven’t tried mine today.”
He went inside, going over to her door. It wasn’t locked. He started pacing around the room. The royal family was stalling, but for what purpose? The empress had sent a letter requesting permission to send a delegation to Apethaga to purchase weapons. Both Savenek and Ari had been attacked on the way here. He had assumed Telmena was behind it. However, how would Telmena know who was coming to Apethaga and what route they’d be taking? Unless Apethaga was somehow behind it. He needed information. And staying in this room would do him no good.
“Let’s go.”
Ari stepped off the balcony and into the room. “Excuse me?”
“No one said we couldn’t go anywhere. I propose we explore the town. Be tourists. And while we’re at it, we can snoop.”
“You’re the type of person who never sits still, aren’t you?” She tilted her head to the side, watching him.
He’d never really thought about it. “I’m up exercising before the sun rises. I train all day, run errands at night, and sometimes I work with my father. I never have time to idly sit around.” If Nathenek saw him being lazy, his father would find something for him to do. Clean weapons, dust the floor, help his aunt at the bakery, train.
“I suppose walking around the town won’t hurt.”
“You look frightened, as if this isn’t something you normally do.” Savenek knew Ari came from the upper class.
“I’ve walked around a city before,” she assured him.
“Then let’s be off.” He held out his arm for her.
She hesitated for a moment and then took it. “Yes, brother, let’s be off.”
He’d forgotten they were supposed to be siblings. He needed to be careful that he didn’t accidentally blow their cover by doing something stupid. It was better this way. It kept Ari at a distance. After all the training he’d had on why it was a bad idea to get emotionally attached while working, he was failing. Epically. Ari was off limits, out of his league, and clearly not interested in him. Besides, Savenek had a girlfriend back home. Being attracted to another woman, or even thinking about another woman that way, made him a horse’s arse. Yet…he didn’t have an understanding with Hana. He could ask her to marry him tomorrow and she could say no. Nathenek had said he didn’t approve of the match. What about Hana’s parents? Did her father expect her to marry a fellow merchant?
“What’s wrong?” Ari asked as they walked down the hallway. Savenek shook his head, not wanting to discuss Hana with her.
He hadn’t seen a single sentry along the way. Strange. If he’d calculated everything correctly after traversing the palace last night, the exit should be one level down, to the north, and then on the left. At the top of the staircase, Savenek noticed a sentry standing there. The man didn’t seem concerned that they were out and about, so they walked right past him, not saying a word. On the first level, they encountered several sentries stationed throughout the corridors. A few courtiers walked around. Ari kindly smiled at everyone she passed, all the while holding her head high and making sure Savenek didn’t falter.
The exit was exactly where he thought it would be. They went out of the palace. No one stopped them or even questioned what they were doing. He hoped returning would be as easy. They wound their way through the palace grounds. In Emperion, the palace in Emperor’s City was surrounded by several well-manicured gardens. The bushes were all trimmed in neat squares, the roses impeccably pruned, the grass shorn close to the ground. Here, the plants had large leaves that didn’t lend themselves to trimming, skinny trees with no leaves at all and only a few flimsy branches at the top lined the palace wall, and brightly-colored flowers edged the pathways. Everything was beautiful it its own right. However, Savenek didn’t care for the humidity that made him sweat buckets. At least his clothes were loose fitting.
They passed through the gate in the wall and entered the town. Again, no one stopped or questioned them. From Ari’s balcony, it had appeared there was a market in the center of the town. Savenek headed that way, wanting to meander from cart to cart, giving him time to observe the local people.
“Are you armed?” Ari asked.
The Apethaga soldiers had taken all his weapons when he’d crossed the border. “No. However, I don’t need a weapon to keep you safe.” He could just as easily kill with his hands or find something in the environment to use.
“I’m not concerned about my own safety.” She pulled a knife out from under the folds of her dress. “I can handle myself.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “Where’d you get that?”
“Dinner last night.”
He wanted to kiss her. Instead, he stifled the urge and led her into the town. The people they passed were well-dressed, strolling about as if they didn’t have a care in the world. “Where do you live?”
“Lakeside,” she answered.
Where the royal family spent most of the year. “Do you walk the streets in Lakeside often?” He wiped his brow. The sun beat down on them, and the air felt thick with moisture.
“Sometimes. Why?”
“I’m from Emperor’s City,” he said. “It is significantly larger than Lakeside. The streets are narrow, the buildings crowded together, and there are people everywhere.”
Ari didn’t immediately respond. They turned onto another street. “In Lakeside,” she said, “we have an area where the wealthy live. There, the streets are cleaner and less crowded. But it is only a small portion of the city, and not the entire city itself.”
There wasn’t a speck of dirt anywhere in this town. They turned onto the main street lined with merchants selling goods from carts. Savenek went up to one selling bright pink fruit cut into small squares. “I’m looking for a bakery,” he said. “Where can I find one?”
The man working there peered strangely at him. “All merchants are in the stores on Sellers Road. Here you’ll only find fresh produce.”
Savenek thanked him and continued walking with Ari.
“Where do you think the servants live?” she asked.
He shrugged and went up to another cart. Picking up one of the oranges, he examined it. “I’m in town visiting,” he said by way of greeting to the woman working at the cart, flashing her a smile. “Do you live here?”
“Not in town, no. I live outside of it about five miles.”
Savenek put the orange down and thanked her for her time. When they were a few carts away, he said, “Feel up for a walk?”
“I am not hiking five miles in this heat to find a village just to see where the servants and workers live.”
She had a point—the heat was excessive. But if they were going to hear the local gossip and discover something helpful, they needed to mingle with the lower class. They’d reached the end of the market.
Ari went up to the last cart. “Excuse me, may I inquire as to where my brother and I can find a—”
“Tavern,” Savenek said, cutting her off. “I need a bloody drink after walking around in this heat and running errands.” He folded his arms and waited for the merchant to answer.
The merchant eyed them and then said something in a language Savenek didn’t understand. The merchant peered at Ari, waiting for her to answer. Instead, Ari shook her head, looking confused.
“What sort of a tavern are you wanting?” the merchant asked, now speaking the common language.
“Where do people who work in the palace go for a drink?” Ari asked.
The merchant smiled and pointed to the right. “Three blocks and then turn left. Go to the last building. If you look hard enough, you’ll see it.”
“Thank you.” They headed the way she’d indicated.
“Why did you pretend you didn’t know the Apethaga language?” Savenek murmured when they were out of earshot.
“Every person we encounter could be a spy for the royal family. It is best I keep that nugget of knowledge to myself for the time being.”
He blinked and kept walking, desperately trying not to think about Ari. And how perfect she was. Because she wasn’t his type. Too skinny. Too small. Not Hana. Blasted. If he’d met Ari first, he would have never glanced Hana’s way. He needed to focus. Maybe he could get into a bar fight. That would clear his head. Just because Ari challenged him and was witty as hell, didn’t mean she’d make a good wife.
“Is something wrong?” Ari asked him.
Without realizing it, he’d stopped walking. Cursing himself for being an idiot, he shook his head and caught back up with her. It was just the circumstances. Or the heat. Sweat dripped down the back of his neck, soaking his shirt.
They came to the last building on this end of town. “Where do you suppose it is?” Ari asked, turning in a slow circle.
“She said we’d find it if we looked hard enough,” Savenek mused. It had to be a place they didn’t want the nobles to easily spot. “There.” He pointed at a door smeared with mud. “What does that sign above the door say?”
“Public privy.” She glanced at him. “Do you think that’s it?”
“Only one way to find out.” He went over and pushed the door open. The handle was sticky, but he didn’t let that deter him.
“What is it?” Ari asked.
“A dark hallway.” This had to be the entrance to the tavern. He waved her closer. “Hold the door open so I can see.” She did as he asked, and he crept along the hallway. When he came to a dead end, he listened. He heard the faint sound of laughing and chairs scraping against a wooden floor. Sounds he knew well. Now he just had to find the door. Feeling around the wooden walls, his fingers came across a small indentation. He pushed on it and a hidden door flew open, revealing a packed tavern. Ari let go of the door and rushed to join him.
Silence fell as everyone turned to stare at the two of them. “Need a bloody drink,” Savenek said, speaking slowly, hoping they understood him. He moved to the bar and asked for a cup of ale.
Most people were dressed in plain, nondescript clothing. Quite the contrast from the nobles they’d seen strolling on the streets or around the palace. Savenek relaxed, leaning against the bar. He could feel Ari tense beside him, but he ignored her.
“What do you want?” the bartender asked.
“A drink,” Savenek responded.
“But why here?”
“We are servants for the Emperion crown,” Ari said not missing a beat. “Back home, we always go for a drink after work. We thought we’d do the same here.”
“Yeah,” Savenek added, “and there was no way I was having a drink with a courtier.”
“I think it’s more like there was no way they were going to have a drink with us,” Ari muttered.
“You two are workers?” the bartender asked, eyeing their fine clothing.
“Yes,” Ari confirmed. “And this is what our employers insisted we wear."
“Then you can stay.” He poured each of them a mug of ale.
They took their drinks and moved through the crowd, heading for a table off to the side. The crowd resumed talking after a few minutes. Savenek slouched on his chair. The cool air in here felt fantastic. Maybe the lack of windows blocked the humidity. Although, now that he was thinking about it, the place didn’t have many exits. Just the one they’d come in through and one behind the bar. That was it. If they had to leave quickly, they’d be in trouble. Too many people. At least Ari wasn’t the only woman. He closed his eyes, trying to relax.
“Are you going to just sit there?” Ari asked.
Savenek opened one eyelid. “For now.” He shut it again. He could hear more when his eyes were closed and he wasn’t distracted.
Ari kicked him.
He cursed. “What did you do that for?”
“I’m not going to sit at a tavern with no one to talk to.”
“Seriously?”
“I’m always serious. You’ve slept the entire morning away while I patiently waited for you. There’s no need for you to sleep now. You should be plenty awake.”
She took a sip from her mug and scrunched her nose. The gesture was cute. Wait…had he just thought Ari was cute? He couldn’t afford to think along those lines. She wasn’t his type. They were working together. He was on a mission.
“Fine.” He sat upright.
“After all your complaining about being hot and wanting a drink, I’m surprised you’re just sitting there.”
He smiled at her. “I’m getting a feel for the place.” And he rarely drank while working. Not only did he need to be alert, but he needed his aim to be accurate in case he had to defend himself. Or Ari.
She took another sip, once again scrunching her nose. He wished she’d stop doing that.
Three musicians started playing a lively tune. It was nothing like what was played last night at the ball. This music made Savenek tap his foot. A few couples started dancing. He watched them, noticing patterns, footsteps, and hand gestures. Not so different from Emperion dances.
Ari’s hands gripped her mug, her knuckles turning white.
“What’s wrong?” he asked her.
She shook her head.
He reached across the table, peeling one of her hands off the mug and holding it. “What’s wrong?” he asked again. This time, he made sure his eyes remained on hers, willing her to talk to him.
“Nothing is going according to plan,” she admitted. “I’m afraid we’re going to fail.”
He’d been thinking the same thing. “Nothing ever goes as planned. If it did, then we’d have a real problem on our hands.” He flashed her a smile.
“Stop that.”
“What?” Smiling at her?
“Stop flirting with me.”
“I’m not flirting. I’m just trying to make you feel better.”
“By flirting.”
Well, no. If he wa
s flirting, he’d be sitting next to her. His hand would be on her knee. He’d be playing with her hair. But she wouldn’t fall for any of his usual antics.
“Ven,” Ari said firmly.
“What?”
“Will you focus?” She tugged her hand from his and drank her ale.
“Let’s dance.”
“We’re supposed to be working.”
“And that’s why we should dance. We need to get closer to the locals so we can overhear their conversations.”
“Fine.” She finished off her drink and stood.
He took her hand, pulling her along after him to the dance area. It was awkward at first, trying to get his feet to match the quick steps that coincided with the music. Once he got the hang of it, he didn’t have to think and he could just feel. Feel the music, feel the energy.
And listen.
People’s tongues were loose when they thought no one was paying attention. The couple sitting next to the dance area was discussing the eldest prince and his lack of marriage prospects. Another person was talking about having to clean up after Princess Lareissa, again. Savenek wondered what that was about. Someone mentioned the arrival of a person from a foreign land. Not Emperion. That piqued Savenek’s interest. And so did the fact that everyone here spoke the common language.
Ari grabbed him. “The room is spinning,” she panted. Sweat dripped down her cheeks, and he reached out, wiping it away.
“I think you drank your ale too quickly,” he replied. With the excessive heat, she needed to be drinking water. “Come on, let’s take a break.”
“No.” She flung her arms around his neck, pulling his body closer to hers.
Well, this was definitely not what he’d expected. Normally, she was so reserved. Leave it to a little alcohol to change things. Of course, once it was out of her system and she came to her senses, she’d be mortified. Which meant he had to make sure she didn’t do anything stupid because she would blame him for it.
Oath of Deception Page 11
