The Point of A Dagger

Nine

"I want to try something," I say by way of greeting as Ronan walks into my study, closing the doors behind him. "With the prince."

"What do you mean?" he asks, sitting down across from me as I sit at my desk, toying with a quill.

"I need to learn what kind of role he has in all of this. For the day, I want to take away his guards and see what he does."

"Is that wise?"

"The guards wouldn't be removed so much as simply out of his sight. He needs to think they are gone."

"And you think he would fall for that? With all due respect, Your Highness, Prince Griffin is not dim-witted." I nod.

"I know, I've already thought of that," I tell him with a grin.

Waking up this morning, the idea came to me. With only three days until the ball, and no new information on Saunin, or even a whisper from the King, I've been rolling over at night trying to come up with something. It wasn't until I received Erora's letter last night, informing me that she would be continuing on to Omadra with Adda, and returning the day before the ball with the rest of her family, that my plan fell together.

"When I bring him his breakfast today, a guard will rush me with a letter, bringing urgent news from Erora on her expedition. I'll play along, opening the letter, learning of an 'attack,' their boat set on fire while docked at a port. We will all leave immediately, and I will require as many guards as possible. One will be left behind to watch the prince, but other than that, it will seem empty.

"Now, if Griffin is in on whatever his father is planning, I'm sure he'll be anxious to know what this attack was carried out, since it obviously was not planned. My bet is that he will sneak out of his room through the window, into the forest to light a fire to draw power from to call upon the spirits. He'll want to be in touch with his father, immediately."

"And when he does," Ronan asks, raising a brow. I can see his mind whirring in his eyes, playing out every possible scenario, every different outcome. "Call on the spirits, that is, to speak to his father. The King will know that we are on to him."

"Ah," I say, smiling. I lean back in my chair sipping the warm, chamomile tea out of my cup. "That is where you come in." He stays quiet, waiting for me to continue. "Your guards will be hidden, and as soon as we know that he has information before he is able to channel the spirits, they will move in and take him into custody." He leans back, his legs crossed, rubbing his jaw. It baffles me how Ronan is the picture of ease in these situations, whereas I am clutching my hands, rubbing the skin, making them red.

"It could work," he says after a few silent moments.

"Yes?"

"Yes. I will gather my guards and put this together. How long do you need?"

"Two hours," I say. "I'll have Nova help me with the letter. I'll bring him breakfast in two hours." Ronan stands, nodding once more.

"I will come find you in an hour and a half."

"Thank you, Ronan." He leaves quickly, putting the pieces of my plan into place.

I listen to his footsteps fade behind the closed door, waiting for silence. Once I have it, I move to the window, opening it wide. The sky is still a dark blue, slowly brightening as the sunrise nears. Through the silhouette of trees, at the horizon line, faint oranges and pinks are beginning to peek through, breaking the veil of night. The crickets slowly stop chirping, the wolves cease howling, and the birds behind singing, the deer's waking up. I hear it all as I tune into my power, touching life itself.