A guard ushered Branwen in, his black robes swaying through the door. He dipped his white feathery head in a bow, and Denny emerged behind him. He looked relieved to be above ground. Rebecca exhaled in relief. She looked past Denny, but the guard had closed the door. Denny scowled and shook his head, dislodging a piece of straw from his golden waves.
What had Benjamin done now?
“As you can see, young Master Black is not with us.” The secretary raised a hand to silence her questions. “The stew needs some more time. I turned up the heat a little. I have full confidence that he will come to a decision.”
“Great! He’ll do the opposite just to prove he can.” Rebecca stood and began pacing the room, her long skirts tugging against her. “He’ll be in there forever! I need Benjamin out here,” Rebecca said as she rubbed her temples. Denny glowered at the rug. She strode over and squeezed his hand. “We all need him. He may rub us the wrong way, but he gets things done.”
Denny glanced up. “All the same, I hope you don’t mind if I enjoy taking a break from him. Benjamin’s getting off easy being down there alone. We need to find another Benjamin to lock in there with him. That kind of torture would motivate anyone, even Benjamin.”
“Don’t worry, Princess,” Branwen said. The use of her title caused Rebecca to jump. “I don’t care what decision he makes, just that he makes one.”
“Decision? What is it he must decide?”
“Who he is. Is he a raggedy scoundrel from the Thieves’ Plain, or is he a member of the nobility?”
“He’s only known that the Lieutenant is his father for less than a week, and you want him to make that decision right now?”
“Your Highness, Benjamin has based his whole life on surpassing his father’s achievements, so my sources tell me. But which father? The villain’s assistant who stabilized the Thieves’ Plain through the reign of Shreb the First? Or the duke who dedicated his life to protecting king and country? It is a vital question.” Branwen clasped his hands at the base of his hump. “I like to know who and what I have in my arsenal when I’m about to go to war.”
“You’ll support the Lieutenant’s plan?”
“Was this the Lieutenant’s plan? I thought perhaps it was Benjamin’s.” Branwen arched his white brows.
“Benjamin has made it his own,” Denny said, sighing thankfully as Dally handed him a cup of tea and a sweet bun. “That’s why the Lieutenant sent him in the first place, isn’t it? He was so certain Benjamin could convince the king to take action.”
Branwen circled like a vulture around the space that Rebecca was not using. The secretary paused and turned to her.
“He’s working with us now, because he found himself on the wrong side of events. I want him long term. As you say, Your Highness, we all need him. If he’s anything like his father (or his mother, for that matter), he will be a great man. I’d like him on our side of the line.”
Branwen accepted a cup of tea from Dally, drank it quickly, and returned the cup. He bowed his head slightly to the ladies and left the room.
Dally gave Rebecca another sweet bun. “I think we’ll need another cup tomorrow for tea. Secretary Branwen may be a dreary man, but he gets things done. You’ll see.” She smiled and went to order lunch.
Denny beamed as he grabbed another sweet bun.
“Well, you know what we have to do, don’t you?” Rebecca said, after sipping her tea.
Denny raised his eyebrows as he bit into his bun, icing sticking to his lips. His tongue darted out to remove the crumbs, and Rebecca looked away, her cheeks burning. She’d been watching too closely.
“We’ve got to get Benjamin to think about something other than his father. He’s got to see the big picture.”
Denny washed his bun down with his milky tea.
Rebecca sipped her own tea, its warmth bringing her thoughts back to the present. There were many dangers, known and unknown, in her life. It shouldn’t be hard to find something to dangle in front of Benjamin. The king had limited her movements around the castle for her own safety. How was she supposed to learn anything trapped in here? The castle held a web of possible allies and enemies. Benjamin could be gathering information and coming up with a plan.
She finished her tea in one long swig, to the horror of Dally, who had just returned from the kitchen. Rebecca set her cup on the tray, slipped one bun into her sleeve, and walked out the door.
“Where are you going? Don’t forget your guard,” Dally called after her. She then turned to Denny for an answer.
He swallowed forcefully before speaking. “I think that she went to dangle a carrot.” He stood up and took the lunch tray from her. “Thank you.”
THIRTY NINE
Rebecca followed her guard through a dark maze to get to Benjamin’s cell. He sat in a shadowy corner. Rebecca couldn’t see his face. Was he sullen or secretly plotting? She asked the guard for privacy, and he stepped back an appropriate distance.
She pressed against the bars and hissed Benjamin’s name. When he did not look up, she held out the bun that she had hidden in her sleeve. Hopefully it wouldn’t leave a stain: Dally was already worried about her lack of wardrobe options. He looked up and crept toward her without speaking. He palmed the bun, sliding it into his own sleeve.
“I’m sorry you’re stuck down here. If it helps, the king has asked that I keep to my rooms,” Rebecca said with a sigh, trying to only let a little of her real annoyance show. “I have guards posted outside my door and no idea what is going on.”
“Why do you need to be kept safe in the castle?” Benjamin stepped back from the bars, one of his brows arching upward. “I thought we were ordered to bring you here to keep you safe.”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s fine. He might not want my presence known until the right moment.” Rebecca tried to sound light. “You do have to think about that sort of thing when you’re the king. He does have to gain the support of his nobility to be able to secure his crown, and so on. Just another hiccup.”
She looked around. “I hope the king makes a decision soon about Mouthrot. We’ve left the Lieutenant alone too long.”
Benjamin nodded. “He knew it would take a lot of time and effort to convince the king.”
“But he didn’t know that we would have to go over a mountain.” She let her worry for the Lieutenant show. “What if—”
“There’s no point in worrying about what we don’t know,” Benjamin said, rubbing the back of his head. “The Lieutenant will have figured this all out. He’s been around for a while.”
“You’re right. I guess I’m just nervous about Jalene.” She smiled, looking embarrassed. “Dally and I are trying to decide if I should invite her to tea.”
“Jalene?” Benjamin stepped closer, gripping the bars.
“Oh.” Rebecca looked over her shoulder before lowering her voice. “She’s the one Aldo is thinking of marrying. I think he wants us to be friends.”
“Well, of course he does. It would be nice if wolves played nice with lambs as well.” Benjamin twisted his hands around the bars, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Honestly, Benjamin, I think you’re getting extra paranoid being in this cell all alone.” She smiled, amused, and tapped his arm. “I’ve heard very nice things about her.”
“I suppose you heard these things from the king?”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t true.” She patted his hand and turned away from the bars.
“You know that Denny thinks—”
Rebecca gripped her locket. She didn’t want Benjamin to finish. “Yes, I do. I think I’ve got him set straight on that.” She smiled. Actually, she had no idea what Denny thought, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “Don’t worry about me, Benjamin. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
She followed her guard away from Benjamin, and he gnawed on his bun, staring blankly at the floor. The dark passage thankfully cooled her burning cheeks. She smiled to herself as she climbed the
stairs. She would tell Dally to order an extra breakfast for tomorrow.
FORTY
Branwen walked like an injured bird, straining for each step. And yet, he had fetched Benjamin personally from the dungeons. Benjamin was shocked. What drove this man through so much physical difficulty? It must burn to know he cannot fly. And yet he shuffles along awkwardly, because that is what he must do. Why was he so devoted to King Aldo?
Once inside the antechamber, Branwen dismissed their escort with a flap of his arm. He instructed the guards at the door to announce them. When they were alone, the secretary gathered his black robes around him like wings.
“See if you can be respectful and truthful.” He turned a granite-colored eye to Benjamin. “Aldo cannot stand falseness. He sees too much of it. Speak in a courteous tone. It will help your truth strike home. People often underestimate the power of civility.”
Branwen turned abruptly as the doors opened into the king’s chamber. He led Benjamin in and bowed deferentially, though it was a strain for his twisted frame. Aldo sat upon a stone throne upon which a Great Wolf had been carved. It peered menacingly over his head. Perhaps the king was doing Branwen a favor in seeing Benjamin again. Interesting. The old secretary stepped aside, allowing Benjamin to step forward and bow again. Aldo motioned for him to speak.
“Your Majesty, I ask forgiveness for the brashness of my words before, but—”
“Let me stop you there, before you hang yourself. A word of advice, young man: never make a wager with Branwen. He always wins.” Aldo smiled good-naturedly at his secretary. “I was willing to put good money down that you would rot in my most comfortable cell for eternity before admitting any error on your part. Even now, I see pride in your eyes as you stand before your king and lord.”
Benjamin bowed slightly, smiling. “It is a fault I possess, or so I’ve been told. I always thought of it as confidence. It’s a fine line, is it not?”
The king smiled and glanced over at his secretary and then walked up to Benjamin. Their eyes locked, and Benjamin was sure that King Aldo could see every misdeed he had ever committed. Benjamin tugged at his collar and lowered his eyes, belatedly remembering that this was the correct response.
“It was not your rudeness alone that landed you and your friend in my dungeons.” Benjamin looked up. The king frowned down at him. “To have a student of the Villains’ Academy here in my court is not something to take lightly. Granted, you are your father’s son, but I cannot easily overlook where your entire upbringing has been.” With that, the king retreated to his throne.
“To anyone so educated, I am a villain and the enemy. Allowing you here in my presence is allowing a potential assassin an easy opportunity. The princess has spoken on your behalf, and Branwen has done his own investigating. You recently discovered who your father is; I wonder if you know who your mother is as well?”
“I know she was a bitter woman who could not resolve herself to who my father really was. It drove her to an early death.”
A look passed between Aldo and Branwen. Both faces remained as blank as slate.
“Your Majesty, forgive me, but I have no desire to discuss my family history. My mother’s life is behind me, and she is gone.” Benjamin swallowed, trying to gather his thoughts. What did my mother have to do with this? “I came here to ask you to destroy the world I was raised in. There are two archvillains on the horizon, and both wish to wear your crown. The truce has not bound them. In fact, one attempted to kill the crown’s only living heir. If you will not heal this country, they will gladly bleed it dry.
“When it is known that Mouthrot murdered Prince Evan and his wife, Brynn, and made an attempt on the princess’s life, the people of the Thieves’ Plain will expect you to act boldly. Mouthrot is still connected to Shreb. Waiting will allow him time to disassociate himself, and then it will get messy.”
“It is not so easy,” the king said, his brow creasing. He ran a finger over his auburn beard.
Benjamin bit the inside of his lip as he considered his response. The secretary shook his head ever so slightly.
Aldo looked past him, probably deciding how seriously he should take a sixteen-year-old boy. Well, in the king’s defense, most boys my age are idiots, Benjamin thought smugly. Look at Denny. The monarch finally nodded. “I agree, but how? I’d rather not send in a full force.” The king pressed his lips together for a moment and then glanced at Branwen. “I want to see some different options, Secretary. Something subtle.”
Branwen’s lips pulled back into a smile revealing small, sharp teeth. He bobbed his head in a bow. Goose bumps ran down Benjamin’s arms. He hoped never to see that smile again.
“Whatever I may do to aid Your Majesty in this,” Benjamin said, bowing more deeply than needed.
“I’ll leave that to Branwen.”
And with that, Aldo dismissed him.
Two guards escorted Benjamin to the princess. His chest tightened as he walked the long hallways. It was the right decision, and he had meant it. He would help the king. Why couldn’t he breathe? Great Wolves! How did I get here? I just agreed to tear down the Thieves’ Plain. Benjamin staggered. Feeling lightheaded, he paused to take a few deep breaths outside Rebecca’s door.
The guards looked straight ahead but seemed keenly aware of his position. Of course they’re keeping a close eye on me. He straightened up, walked through the door, and his guards left. Rebecca already had her own guard outside her door.
Denny was eating happily at a table, and Benjamin felt an urge to punch his well-groomed face. He simply looked too happy. Denny nodded as he continued eating. Benjamin spied an empty plate. Rebecca wore a light summer gown of teal that flowed like water around her. She paced in the far corner, wringing her hands. She looked up and smiled as if all were well.
Dally nodded and pulled out a chair for Benjamin. While he certainly had not been starved in the dungeon the last two days, the cuisine hadn’t satisfied him. He had just climbed a mountain, after all! He clenched the padding of the seat as he sat down. His movements felt stiff and artificial as he picked up his napkin and laid it in his lap.
The sight of herbed chicken, fragrant root vegetables, bread, and sweet honeyed pears softened him. Benjamin planned on enjoying this meal thoroughly. Rebecca also sat at the table. Denny was already up and helping her with her chair. Benjamin grabbed a berry and popped it into his mouth. The sweet burst silenced his raging thoughts.
Rebecca motioned for them all to eat. Dally filled their glasses with something that smelled sweet.
“Normally, you’d wait for the princess to sit and eat before you start, but this is a special circumstance,” Dally said, eying Denny.
Rebecca sighed. “Thank you, Dally. It’s good for all of us to keep that in mind. But when it’s just us, I’d rather they carry on as normal. It’s nice to have something familiar.”
“Well, we could have Dally sit down, and you could serve us instead.” Benjamin winked at Dally, who quickly knocked his head with a surprisingly firm knuckle.
“I don’t even like to think about that.” Dally sat down to eat, clearly demonstrating the correct way to eat in polite company.
Benjamin made the appropriate adjustments and continued to eat quickly.
Rebecca sat down and laughed. She stuck her tongue out so only Benjamin could see.
“Isn’t this cozy?” Benjamin said with feigned gaiety. “What have you all been doing while I was downstairs?”
Rebecca rolled her eyes at Benjamin in disgust. She deliberately put chicken in her mouth and chewed thoroughly. Her gray eyes glinted wickedly at him. And Denny thinks I have amorous feelings for Benjamin? Bah.
“Picking fabric for dresses, as well as feathers, bows, and flowers for hats,” Denny said. “Trust me; you had it easy, except for the food. Oh, never mind; the food made it all worth it.”
“You’ve just been eating since you got out, haven’t you?”
Denny just wagged his eyebrows as he chewed. Benjamin want
ed to weep as he ate. The robust flavors entwined in every bite he took. It was unbelievable how a mere bite or two lifted his mood so completely. As he raised his glass, Benjamin noticed Dally watching Rebecca push her food around her plate. The juice sang on his tongue. He forced himself not to drink it in one swallow.
Rebecca sipped from her own glass and met Benjamin’s gaze questioningly. He immediately focused on his meal and the ecstasy of truly fine food. Every new flavor seemed to complement the previous. He was sure that in his darkest hour, he would merely have to close his eyes and remember this meal to find happiness again.
FORTY ONE
Featherbeds are divine! Benjamin almost gasped out loud. He didn’t want Denny to suspect that he hadn’t enjoyed his stay in the dungeons. They were assigned the same room, which was big enough for ten beds, instead of just the two. Two chairs and a sofa sat by a fireplace. It was nowhere near as grand as Rebecca’s room (and rightfully so), but it was still luxurious.
Denny’s bed was at least two arm lengths away, providing an acceptable safety buffer. His antagonistic ally already breathed deeply on his bed. Considering the amount of heavy foods he ate all evening, it wasn’t surprising. Benjamin had also eaten at a healthy pace. He felt his dinner heavy in his belly. Dally had ordered extra dessert for the boys with only the slightest shaking of her head. She was a dear woman! He made a note to stay on her good side.
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