A Beast's Tale

Chapter 48

The clip-clop of horses' hooves on cobblestone and the rattling of the carriage wheels were a backdrop for my brothers' conversation as I read. Clavis and Nokto sat across from me, discussing the party Nokto and Belle would attend in the evening, and Ivetta sat beside me, doing her best to read and ignore their attempts to tease her. I hadn't intervened yet, although their segue into styles of dresses that would best suit Belle and Ivetta had approached indecency. At least they knew when to stop. Ivetta was uncomfortable enough without Clavis wishing aloud that her uniform exposed more of her legs.

I'd told her nothing about our destination or our goal, wanting her to know nothing more than was necessary. She had asked questions, of course, and Nokto had been happy to give her a basic understanding of the Benitoitian embassy's design and purpose, but Clavis could do little more than hint about Luke's involvement in our day trip. I'd withheld my plans from them as well.

If I were correct and Luke were making preparations in or near the embassy for sabotage tomorrow, seeing her might disrupt his focus. It was possible he would even reveal himself long enough to remove her from the situation. All the better if he did. I needed to eliminate the threat he posed to Rhodolite, and uprooting the source would be much more effective than neutralizing one incident. He wouldn't hurt her, but she could deliver a severe tongue-lashing once she realized he was up to no good, if she were of a mind to do so. I was under no delusions about her reforming him with a single conversation; however, she could make him stop and think, and that was more than I could say for anybody else attempting a confrontation with him.

The carriage came to a stop. I closed my book and suppressed a smile at her gasp. Clavis chuckled.

"This is what the Benitoitian palace looks like? It's beautiful!" she exclaimed, staring wide-eyed through the window at the chalk-white stonework with gold inlays and roofs in shades of blue. Bold tropical flowers chosen for their tolerance to our more temperate climate outnumbered the roses lining the white driveway, and clear water spouted from the tops of fountains down to brilliant blue ponds stocked with colorful fish. The doormen wore the vibrant teal and white livery characteristic of their home country.

"No, it's much bigger than this," Nokto said. He alighted from the carriage first and offered her a hand. She bit her lip and glanced at Clavis and me, uncertain if she should follow propriety and allow us to exit first, or if she should take his hand.

"Go on," Clavis urged her. "Ladies first. Right, Chev?" He waited until she took Nokto's hand and stepped down before leaning toward me and asking in a low voice, "Now will you tell me what we're doing here?"

"Preparing for the grand opening."

I pushed past him and exited the carriage. Nokto was still holding Ivetta's hand and standing close enough to her for their arms to brush as he pointed at something with his free hand. She listened with rapt attention to whatever was telling her, likely an explanation of what she would see in that spot had we been in Benitoite. The sight annoyed me.

"Clavis, check with the servants and ensure all is in order. Pay particular attention to the western ground floor. Take her with you. Clown, see to the ballroom and the peripheral rooms set aside to accommodate guests, again with a focus on the west."

"Got it. And what will you be doing, King Highness?"

I was already walking away. My part was to evaluate Licht's security measures. He had, upon my advice, pulled some guards from the entry points I'd deemed most vulnerable to attack—not enough to make anyone suspicious, but enough to make those locations more appealing. I would survey them first to further allay the saboteurs' concerns and circle back later. In the meantime, Lucien and Cyril would monitor that area discreetly, as Ivetta would be in that vicinity.