A Dove's Tale

Chapter 128

"You had better have a good reason for being here."

Chevalier's frigid voice rumbled through his chest and into my ear, waking me from a deep sleep to a state of foggy drowsiness. The pleasant warmth surrounding me made his tone seem strangely out of place. His arm was still snug around my back, and his heart was still beating a slow, steady rhythm beneath my cheek, so I sighed and snuggled closer, content to remain in blissful ignorance.

"Unfortunately, I do, but first, let me say that-"

Clavis.

So much for blissful ignorance.

I kept my eyes closed as he rattled on about how cute we were, that it was just like Jin said, how surprised he was that I got Chevalier to wake up so early, and, for once, I was more annoyed than embarrassed. Was it so impossible for us to get a little time alone?

"Gilbert will be at the meeting," Chevalier interrupted.

Clavis paused. I hadn't been listening too carefully to him, but I hadn't heard him mention a meeting.

"Yes, and before you say Nokto and I can handle it, he's requested Ivetta's presence, too."

This just kept getting better.

I sighed and sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Why?"

"Beats me," Clavis said lightly. "What about you, Chev? Have you figured it out already?"

I looked at Chevalier, still lying on the picnic blanket beside me. His narrowed crystal blue eyes were on the sky, and although the rest of his face was impassive, his left hand rested on the hilt of his sword. It lay in the grass next to him, sheathed and, for the moment, benign. He tapped a finger on it. I wasn't sure if the gesture was thoughtful or threatening, but Clavis took it as a threat. The grass rustled as he took a step back, his smile still in place, but his wary golden eyes trained on Chevalier.

"It's really in poor taste to kill someone at a picnic," he quipped.

"How long?" Chevalier asked, tapping his sword hilt again.

"An hour. Plenty of time for you to tell Gil-"

"We'll be there. Leave."

I looked back at Chevalier, surprised. There was another pause before Clavis burst into laughter.

"And I thought this meeting would be dull," he said, turning away and climbing the hill back to the treeline. He'd tied his chestnut horse next to Rose, safely out of Blade's reach. "Sorry to ruin your picnic, Ivetta. Invite me next time."

I shook my head and returned my attention to Chevalier, whose right hand had found mine on the blanket. "Is this about whatever was going on before?" I asked, interlacing my fingers with his.

"Indirectly. It's a meeting with a trade delegation from Obsidian."

I tilted my head to the side, thinking. There had been no time over the past couple of days to set up a business meeting with a foreign country, which meant someone, probably Nokto, had already arranged this before he or anybody else knew of a problem.

"Did Nokto uncover the threat to me when he was preparing for this meeting?" I guessed.

"I heard you left before your horse got breakfast, Ivetta, but don't worry," Clavis called. "I'll make sure she eats!"

"Clavis-" I started, looking up in alarm, but it was too late. He was already riding away on his horse and leading Rose away, too. I exhaled my irritation in a huff, and then Chevalier yanked my hand out from under me, surprising a squeak from me as I fell on his chest.