All's Fair in Revenge

Chapter 17: A Knock at the Door

A knock half-metal, half-wood, rattled the door from outside our sitting chamber. Brix opened it and allowed my so-called Second Guard inside.

"Your Royal Highness." Sira Alona bowed her head, the pieces of her heavy onyx armor grinding like cogs in a broken clock. "A package from His Royal Highness, Prince Enric." Her voice stunk of the seriousness of a duty that reminded me too much of my sister.

"I cannot believe they make you wear that inside this maze of walls. What do they think will get in here? A dragon?" I had inspected her earlier, quickly concluding she was far too short to be my sister's murderer and therefore crossed her off my list with haste. Eliminating possibilities was just as important as locating them.

"Of course not. Dragons do not exist, Your Royal Highness," said the Second Guard, somehow stiller than the empty suits of armor lining the halls floors below us.

Liv, Brix, and I all laughed until we realized she was quite serious.

Sira Alona didn't respond. In fact, the only sign of life came from a single strand of bronze hair, unraveling from the tight braid woven around her head. It brushed against her high cheek bones, sharper than the steel sword at her hip. Warm skin juxtaposed the cold sternness fixed upon her broad, mauve lips. Wait...

"You're not Druvix."

"Hana. That's not polite," chided Liv as she flipped the page of a book.

The Second Guard gave no indication that I had said something rude. "No, Your Royal Highness. I am not."

I inspected the woman closer. "I assumed they hired Druvix for the Guard." If there had been one, why not all?

"Wickham is not Druvix," said Liv to me.

Sira Alona answered. "Lady Liv is correct, Your Royal Highness. Master Wickham is not a Druvix nor am I. Lord Thorne vouches for me, but if you'd rather another Second Guard, I can —"

"No," I said at the same time as Liv, simultaneously annoyed with me and fascinated with Sira Alona. "That won't be necessary," I added. "I didn't mean to insinuate you weren't up for the task, only that I was misinformed. Please, stay." I gestured to the settee.

Sira Alona remained standing. Brix retrieved the box with a letter fastened under its golden ribbon. "The prince sent you dresses, Your Highness." Promise filled the young servant's expression, eyes widening as she stared at the large parcel.

"How considerate of him." I waved off the present and pressed Liv to continue reading aloud the book I'd picked off the shelves. Its title, A History of Dorsi Architecture, promised a map and information about the Castle Moer, but we had found neither yet.

My friend placed a finger on the sentence, holding her place. "Actually, we should get ready. Your first impression was far from perfect. Unless we should be late, too?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You'll recall that was not my fault."

Brix covered a snort from behind the missive, followed by an apologetic downturn of her gaze.

"Oh, no? Losing your temper wasn't your fault?"

I huffed, crossing my arms. "What about the king's intentions? I won't put you in a dangerous situation, Liv."

On the far side of the room, Sira Alona bowed her head once more. Metal scrapped with each movement. "I'll be outside if you need me, Your Royal Highness."