Bridging the Ancient ✓

Chapter 22

I pace back and forth in my chambers. I didn't think I would see this room anytime soon, in a month or two. But now that I shuffle along the rug and the floorboards, I wonder if this room belonged to Darlene at some point. Or if Oisin had run through here with his father and laughed underneath the presence of the golden bear tapestry.

If they were here, every evidence of their existence has been wiped away. They're merely ghosts now, the same regarding their belongings and the stories people are keeping locked up. If they lived anywhere near here, I haven't seen their chambers or hints of their past. Like Renit wanted nothing to do with their reminder once they were gone.

Part of the healing process, I tell myself.

After we left, someone came in here and straightened everything. My clothes have been straightened in the closet, my boots rearranged to sit from tallest to shortest on the shelves. I wonder if a servant was that precise or if Mani woke up in the middle of the night, wondering if I had bothered to be so clean with my belongings.

The crown I despise looking at rests on top of the armoire, out of sight, out of mind. I ignore the opal and black rubies staring back at me and glistening in the strip of light that casts across the room—as if the person that put it there knew the crown would cast a sheen. In a matter of hours, all notice of that royal emblem will be gone and I won't have to think about that heavy weight anymore.

I have other things to worry about. Not the emptiness of this room or the entire tower as Renit isn't here yet and he won't be for a while, if my plan works. If she doesn't take—

The door opens slowly and I nearly jump for joy as Dalis peeks her head in, surveying the room first and then me. I wave her in with a desperate hand and the door clicks shut behind, leaving us in the room—alone. There's no backing out now, we're officially in a secret meeting.

I rush to her and throw my arms around her neck. With the coins I gave her to watch over Celestine, she bought herself an entirely new wardrobe of clean tunics, comfortable pants, and stylish boots. She sports every piece of that as she wraps her arms around me in a tight embrace. She smells of spices and smoke from the kitchens and I breathe in the familiar scent of the castle itself.

When Dalis pulls away, she holds me at arm's length. "You summoned me?" She asks quietly.

"I need your help," I respond equally as silent. No one can know we're talking about this, not even the lowly guards at the bottom of the tower. Now that we're back, the king ordered two guards to stand watch in case the rebellion came inside the castle.

He doesn't want to relive the past as much as Renit doesn't. But would the prince be opposed to extra watch?

Dalis nods quickly, her sapphire eyes wide with concentration. Not fear like I've seen expressed so many times when others are around me but concern; she wants to help. Anyone in Arego would have offered an excuse to get out of helping me so I never bothered asking more than one person. I'll do it myself was a common thought.

"I need you to order one of the healers to sedate Renit for the night," I mutter. I wince and she draws herself back, lips parting to speak before she closes them again.

"Why...what? You want me to order the prince to be sedated?" She asks, somewhat harsh.

"You're close with the healers, you work with them to create remedies. I've seen you down there." I place both my hands on her thin shoulders and force her stare to me. A warrior's face, a fighter forced to spend her days in the kitchens. "You can tell them this is an order from me but I need you to ask—without Renit knowing. Slip it into something he eats or drinks."