Part 39
Wildman and his friends could care less about the city. No
Name and his friends were useless. I fumed the entire way through the tunnel.
“It’s all on us, Teddy. No one else is going to help stop the king, at least
not before he’s sucked every speck of our abilities from us. What are we going
to do?”
Teddy shrugged. “Sneak into the king’s palace, find
Schvesla’s machine and shut it down, and then find a key so we can sneak out of
the secret tunnel to the theater.”
I stopped. “You make it sound so simple, but it’s anything
but easy.”
“You’re right, it won’t be. I don’t even know how we’ll
manage it.” Teddy pulled me to a stop. “But I’ll be by your side, the entire
time, no matter what.” His smile was too sweet.
“I can’t let anything happen to you.” I reached up and
stroked his cheek. This moment, maybe one of the last we’d have together like
this, was everything to me. Teddy’s lips were dry and warm against mine. I
tasted him, stroking my tongue between his lips. I shuddered when he slipped
the tip of his tongue out and touched it to mine.
Warm, slick… taking my breath away. The kiss scrambled my
brain. Teddy slid his hand up my arm, capturing the back of my neck and
squeezing it tight. I broke away, gasping. We rested against each other,
forehead to forehead.
“Won’t let anything happen to you, either.”
The entire house was in a tizzy when we got back. My mother
and father were so relieved we were back in time, they didn’t even ask where we’d
been. Teddy and I were shoved into my room, instructed to make use of the now
tepid bathing water, and dress in the suits laid out on the bed.
We’d been summoned before the king for an important
audience, an opportunity of a lifetime, my father said.
“Do you think this is it?” Teddy asked.
My stomach churned. “I don’t know. Why would they take us
now, before our abilities mature? It wouldn’t make sense.”
Law said we couldn’t take a weapon when attending an
audience with the king, but I wouldn’t go like a lamb to the slaughter. We
smuggled in a dagger wrapped inside the sling Teddy wore to support his
shoulder. I changed the belt my mother had chosen for one with small pockets
inside. I lined it with flexible blades and a lock-picking set.
“Just in case we can’t find keys.”
The excitement inside the carriage made me uncomfortable.
Teddy and I sat a decorous distance apart on the bench, facing my mother and
father. I desperately wished I could hold his hand, but there was nothing we
could do.
“You must have impressed him with your knowledge of
architecture,” Mother said.
“I highly doubt that. He must have quite a few men with far
more knowledge and experience than I. Perhaps it has something to do with the
novelty of my status as a beta.” I watched her closely, taking in the
tightening of her lips and the way her gaze shifted down and away.
“Either way, remember your manners and mind your tongue,” my
father barked. “And make sure that one stays aware.” He gestured with his chin
at Teddy, who hadn’t said a word.
“He’s not in a fugue state, Father.” I wanted to tell them
to leave him alone, but I didn’t dare. Not yet.
Arriving at the palace, there were other carriages lining
the courtyard, stable hands standing by the traces and waiting the return of
the nobles. A footman helped my mother out and the rest of us followed her
inside. Our secreted weapons passed the cursory search from the guards.
“This is a public audience?” I hadn’t been aware of that.
Some of my tension drained away. They wouldn’t try to capture us in front of
the masses.
“The king is making appointments.”
Why would we be called to his yearly appointments audience?
This all tied together; I was sure of it. We melted in with the masses. My mother
preened, brushing her hands across her skirt. My father stood with his nose in
the air, stroking his mustache. Their greedy excitement was palpable.
They were so fake. How had I missed it for so long?
Teddy and I stood silently beside them in the ranks of those
not of the noble class, who ranked seats closer to the king. Then we were
called forward.
“After a private audience, the king would like to
acknowledge your position and skill. We have decided to create an advisory
committee of the public avenues to ensure they properly reflect our endorsement
of the arts. You will head this committee and present a report for the king on
a bi-weekly basis. This is to supersede any previous commitments or
apprenticeships. A private appointment to discuss your recommendations will be
scheduled at our convenience. That is all.”
The king waved his hand and his master of ceremonies passed
two certificates down to a scribe who scurried over to us and handed them over.
He’d just handed us legal means to stay together and the
excuse for our absences each day. We even had cause to enter the palace again,
twice a week. With all the apathy toward stopping him before he could steal our
abilities, I’d almost given up hope. I’d started to wonder if my stubborn
desire to stop him myself wasn’t going to damn us both, and thoughts of running
away to find a safe place for us to be together was tempting me.
But I was afraid if we didn’t stand up to the king’s
machinations, no one would. Everywhere we turned there were clues of where we
had to go and what we had to do, and now we had a wax sealed pass.
It was
almost too good to be true.
TBCWant more flash fiction? Check out these other authors:
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