A Dove's Tale

Chapter 29

The blood was gone when I sat in the alcove on my lunch break, looking down at the gardens through the window. Unevaporated moisture darkened the paving stones. If I didn't know what had happened, I wouldn't have given them a passing glance. But I did know, and my gaze lingered.

"Hello there," said a friendly voice that nonetheless filled me with dread.

I sighed. "Hello, Prince Clavis."

"You were all smiles yesterday," he commented, sitting on the opposite end of the window bench. "Didn't your mother like the beignets?"

Was that only yesterday? It seemed a lifetime ago.

"She loved them, actually. Thank you for asking, Prince Clavis." I tried to give him a smile, but I knew it wasn't very convincing. "I guess I'm just a little down today. Maybe it's the weather."

The window drew my eyes again, but not to the gray clouds advancing slowly across the blue sky. I was still looking at that spot in the gardens.

"Ah, Chev told you about the assassination attempt," Prince Clavis said, chuckling as if he remembered a great joke. I didn't see the humor in this situation, and I didn't bother wasting a reprimand on him. This was normal for him. For all the princes.

His chuckling died down, and he sighed. "I wish he hadn't told you. Your naivety is refreshing in this wicked place. If Chev insists on bringing you down to our level, I may have to try a little harder to kill him."

My head snapped to look at Prince Clavis' grinning face so quickly that I heard my neck crack. His golden eyes glittered with mischief, but there was something in them that made me think he wasn't joking. He laughed and sprang to his feet, holding out his hand for me.

"That's enough of that for now. I think it's time to put a smile back on your face. Come on."

I looked doubtfully at his outstretched hand. "Where do you plan on taking me?"

"Where, indeed? Guess you'll just have to see. But I can assure you, on my honor as a gentleman, there will be no blood or death involved."

Gentleman? That wasn't a word I'd choose to describe Prince Clavis.

"I think I'd rather-"

"Mope around? No, I can't let you do that. Come now, I know you must be delirious with joy at the prospect of waltzing through the palace on a handsome prince's arm."

Was he living in an alternate reality?

"Prince Clavis-"

He sighed dramatically. "I suppose you're right. We really should have a chaperone, shouldn't we? I'm sure Luke will be delighted to accompany us."

"Well, I guess if Prince Luke is coming," I said reluctantly, placing my hand in Prince Clavis' and resigning myself to whatever may come.

Prince Clavis laughed again and pulled me to my feet. "If we can find him, that is. If not, it will just be the two of us, a pair of carefree young lovers."

He was spinning quite the fantasy for himself. Luckily for him, the morning had drained me too much for me to bother trying to correct him. He took off, and I allowed him to pull me along, a feeling of dread settling in my chest and building with every step. We were heading toward Prince Chevalier's office. I didn't want to deal with Prince Chevalier any sooner than I had to, and I especially didn't want to have an audience around when I did. But Prince Clavis maintained a tight grip on my hand as he threw the door open. I stepped back against the wall next to the door so I was out of sight.

"Luke, just the man I want to see. Come here."

Prince Luke's heavy sigh easily reached me in the hallway. I felt the urge to smile when I realized he dreaded whatever Prince Clavis had in store, too.