The Death Kingdom

Chapter Ten

The party is in full swing—or so I'm told by Nena who's making prompt visits to me every hour. I'm stuck down in the servants' section washing the never-ending pile of dishes.

"I'm going to try and get you to help me with something so you can see upstairs," Nena whispers to me during another one of her visits. I know she feels bad about me being stuck down here while she gets to see the extravagant party above.

"You don't have to do anything, Nena. I'm fine down here," I tell her over my shoulder. I'm half worried if I stop washing the dishes for even a minute Rome will sense it and bark at me. The other half of me is terrified if I stop I'm going to drown in a sea of beautiful but dirty china.

"Please," Nena says, leaning her hip against the counter next to me. "It'll be nice to have you by my side even for a minute. I'm dreadfully bored."

I chuckle and place yet another dish off to the side to dry. "We've been over this Nena I'm not the most pleasant company to have around. I'm rather petulant, remember?" I crack a smile at the thought. I'm not normally so crass—I haven't really been that bad, but it's more than usual since I'm constantly fearful of someone figuring out I'm a part of the rebellion. Fear is a strong motivator to be as careful as possible.

Nena makes a noise in the back of her throat. "Just come with me, please? I need something to liven up my day."

"So, dressing a prince, sneaking onto a roof, and witnessing a royal banquet isn't lively enough for you? I'm afraid to know what it would take to fully entertain you. An adventurous ride into the mysterious and treacherous Misty Forest? Perhaps repelling down from the tallest tower on the castle into David's waiting arms?"

Nena laughs, her eyes sparkling. "I think I'll pass on that adventurous getaway into the Misty Forest. Now falling into David's arms on the other hand." She gives an overdramatic sigh and places a hand over her heart.

I take my hands out from the water to give them a very needed break, drying them on a hand towel. "Don't start daydreaming now. There are chores to do, you know." I give her a pointed look, once again using her own words against her.

"Yes, precisely," she says, snapping out of her daydream. "Chores that need your attention as well."

Nena pushes herself off the counter and struts over to where the head housekeeper Zaya is standing with piles of notes and an overwhelmed look cresting her features. I can't imagine the amount of stress on her shoulders during events like this. If one thing goes wrong I'm sure the king would blame her and her job would be nonexistent and more likely her life as well. The king would have no problem sentencing her to life in prison even though she's not even the one who planned it. Normally, the queen would plan this event, but since she's passed other nobles who stay in the castle plan out these types of events in her stead. Zaya just completes the vision of all the noblewomen but gets the blame if something is amiss.

I watch as Nena has an animated conversation with Zaya, gesturing to me more than I would like her to. She's speaking with a gusto I haven't seen since Fynn trying to convince me that he could climb up the side of the tavern we were in six months ago. He was drunk. He made it halfway up before he slipped, fell on his ass, cut up his hands, and tore open the fabric of his trousers so badly when he stood up they fell immediately to the floor.

To say I laughed would be the understatement of the year.

I'm just hoping Nena knows what she's doing.

I turn back to complete a few more dishes, not wanting to see how the conversation will play out. By the time I finish cleaning four dishes, I feel Nena's presence at my back.