The Gadgeteer

Chapter 25

"WHAT ARE YOU doing here?" Maralise asked.

"I need to talk to Father." Arabeth stepped inside, waving Sam to follow her in. "It's urgent."

It was late, nearly midnight, but this couldn't wait.

The pre-revival birth-of-an-empire styling of her parents' house always struck her as strange. Yes, her mother was ambitious, but it served a purpose. There was nothing revolutionary in this home.

"What have you done this time?" Maralise frowned.

Arabeth responded with a scathing glance, but moved on. She didn't have time for her sister's vituperation.

"Sam, let's go."

"Where are you going?" Maralise asked.

Arabeth ignored her and hurried up the staircase.

"Wait," her sister called after her. "Stop. You'll get us all killed."

Arabeth stopped abruptly and turned back.

"I'm guessing you'll explain that last comment," she said, slowly walking back down the stairs.

"I can't. You'll have to trust me," Maralise said.

"Is there someone up there with him? Who is it?"

Maralise looked startled. "It's no one you should know about."

"This is important enough to be an exception." Arabeth turned to go back up, but Maralise grabbed her arm.

"Fine. It's the finance minister."

"Finance minister of where?"

"Of here, stupid. Of our country."

"Why are you even awake?" Arabeth wondered.

"Who can sleep with all that's going on? This is the fourth government official to stay here, and this one's been here a week."

"Why are they up so late?"

Maralise shook her head and yawned. "I'm on call, so to speak. If they need coffee, sandwiches... boring things. Maybe you can be the maid for a while. Get them food and drinks when the bell rings, okay? And you - " She looked at Sam. "Don't even breathe near that door."

He smirked but didn't reply.

"Fine, you go nap. I can't be here long. And if anyone asks, we were never here, understand?" Arabeth said.

"Yes, yes. I just need two hours, okay? Will that suit you?"

That was a bit longer than she'd hoped for, but what choice did she have? "Fine. And you'd better wake when I come for you."

Maralise shrugged and meandered away.

"It would seem your father is not as removed from politics we'd thought," Hicks said.

"My mother must be in her version of a seventh heaven. She lives for days when she can entertain guests like this."

"Why aren't the regular servants tasked, though? Are they not trusted?" he wondered.

"They're still human. My parents would say that it is the right thing to let them continue looking after the family and let the family look after these guests." She stared at Hicks a moment. He was working with the military. Sure, he was a civilian, but wasn't his job to surveil and report?

"Who do you report to, in the military?" She stood back, feet squared.

He didn't react, but returned her stare.