Alabaster Cities (Kings and Thieves Book #2)

Chapter 14

**I'm aware that this chapter should have been posted yesterday... fashionably late, what can I say**

Chapter 14

The next morning, Aveline and her friends snuck back into the castle at dawn, just before a servant banged on their doors to deliver breakfast. The morning held slightly less clouds, but Aveline wasn't expecting to see a blue sky anytime soon.

She dressed quickly, avoiding the tray of food she had been given in favor of visiting the dining room again that morning. The more people they spoke to, the more answers they were likely to receive.

Aveline's stay at the castle so far was... Odd, in a word. The staff were extremely attentive and hospitable, if not very talkative. Someone was there to help her practically every time she sneezed... and yet whenever she posed a question about the mysterious case she would only receive an uncomfortable smile and a curtsy.

The next appropriate course of action would perhaps be to ask what exactly was expected of her here in Verignes, but Aveline suspected the answer would be for her to leave; that they didn't need her or her friends there at all.

Needless to say, Aveline wouldn't believe this until she had seen it herself. Something very serious seemed to be happening, and she was determined to figure out just what that was.

Her new maid (she had a maid now, which was just strange) offered to do her hair, but Aveline declined once she realized that she wasn't going to get any information out of her. She straightened her gown- a royal blue shift- and tied her curls up in a simple bun before leaving to meet her friends.

"I wish there was a door between our rooms," said Ari in greeting. "Then I wouldn't have to rap on your wall just to speak to you."

Aveline raised her fist to knock on Jamie's door. "We'll have to build one."

He kept talking- Ari was a morning person, opposite of her, which was nice, really, because then she didn't have to fill the silence.
"I know you're joking, but really, what if something happened and we needed a quick escape?"

"Then I'd walk two feet away to your room."

"You're not getting this, Aveline-"

A fresh-faced Jamie opened the door and gave them each an uncertain smile. Her hostility towards Ari seemed to be relaxing just a little; at least enough to be civil, which was relieving because Aveline was tired of their making things awkward for everyone else.

Ari and Jamie continued to pretend that they weren't staring at each other while Lyla, on cue, opened the door next to them. Her blonde hair lay loose on her neck, a shawl slung around her shoulders.

"Good morning," she sang. "I'm famished."

Their new friends were at breakfast, shoving poached eggs into their mouths like they were starving. From one haphazard glance out the window Aveline could see that the sky was still heavy and white. It would likely be damp outside— she'd have to bring a wrap.

The old woman from the previous evening- Lady Belfast, apparently- was nowhere to be seen this morning. Upon inquiring after her, her dining companions informed Aveline that the king's great-aunt only dined with the rest of the palace occasionally.

"So," said the girl - Sarya, her grin friendly and open, and Aveline decided she rather liked her. "What are you four up to today?"

Ari, who Aveline figured had a difficult time trusting anyone, eyed them warily. "We're going into the village."

Aiken's eyebrows rose. "Careful, there."

"I expect we'll be just fine, thank you."

"Alright, but if the villagers aren't helpful, don't blame them, yes?"