She must’ve seen him before, although she was sure she’d have remembered.
She took a couple steps toward Croak, laying her hands on his shoulders, absently. “They are Liodari.” A moment passed before she whispered, “What are they doing here?”
Croak shrugged and grabbed Terena’s shoulders, much as she’d done to him, and shook her once before letting go. “No clue.”
She frowned at him but turned back to the waiting servant, motioning the woman to proceed.
“We can’t leave without finding out,” she said in a low voice, head bent close to Croak.
He slid his eyes to her and pursed his lips. “Distraction?”
“Definitely.”
“Chaos?”
Terena snorted. “A little less, please. I need to be able to hear them unseen, not have them find me on their way to help with whatever you caused.”
They entered the solarium at last. It was a beautiful room, she had to admit. The air was too humid for her tastes but she saw how relaxing it would be to honored guests of the duke.
The woman pointed out the refreshments being laid out by servants at the main tables to the right of a large fountain that graced the center of the room. Next, she motioned toward the reading nook nestled in the back and mentioned it as a favorite of the duke’s. Finally, the woman gestured to an area on the far left, which was where Duke Aurora’s mother took her tea when she visited.
All were available for them to enjoy as they awaited the conclusion of their business.
As soon as she left, Terena motioned with her head, leading Croak to the reading nook. She stopped and looked over his shoulder at the servants setting down cakes and sandwiches or pouring drinks.
Satisfied they wouldn’t be heard, she hissed, “We’ll get some food, and as soon as I pick up my drink, I’ll go toward the front of the fountain. You see me there, that’s when you…,” she waved her hands at Croak, “do whatever you’re gonna do. Get me at least ten minutes. Hopefully less. Good?”
Croak winked. He turned on his heel, chin high as he flourished his elbow at her. When she linked their arms, Croak said loudly, “My dear and beauteous sister, ofcoursewe’ll get you some food! I know you’re hungry, dear. I think even the duke can hear your belly growl!”
Terena barked a laugh and let him lead her to the tables laden with all kinds of small treats.
A servant floated close and proffered a plate, which Croak accepted graciously. He took his time and made a show of picking out only the most delectable pieces for his wondrously lovely sister.
Terena smiled and wandered toward the fountain. Another servant held a tray of wine, bending low in offer as she passed. She took a glass and thanked him, glancing at her brother, who was still reviewing the selections.
Terena cleared her throat, loudly, as she neared the front of the fountain.
Before she could turn to give him a look, a deafening crash sounded behind her and she jumped. Terena whirled, then moved around the fountain’s stream to see her brother collapsed on the floor, the table broken beneath him, food pooled around him in a mess of sugar, meats, and plates.
She had a second to gape before she whirled toward the entrance. The servants lunged for her hapless brother.
Hunching her shoulders and keeping her gaze lowered, Terena wound around the way they had come, slowing at the corners. She wasn’t sure where they’d gone after they rounded the last corner, but she guessed it might be to an audience with His Grace, so she strode back toward the receiving room.
Moving along the wall, she slowed when she neared the guards in front of the double doors to the room. They stood open as she passed. Glancing inside, she saw no one. Terena moved past the room.
If they aren’t there, she thought,they’d be in his private rooms.A study. Terena frowned. She didn’t know this castle. How would she?—
“….and tell His Majesty we eagerly await his visit once the?—”
Terena stopped short as she heard Danilos’s voice.
She shot a glance around, heart thudding as she sought a place to hide.
The voices drifted closer, and she knew she had seconds to run or be caught where the steward had obviously not left her.
Terena doubled back and dove for the first door she saw, lifting the latch and ducking inside. She pushed the door so only a crack remained, leaning her head against the cool stone as she willed her breath to calm.
The voices stopped close enough to the door she had a moment of panic. But they didn’t come in, only stopped as a rough, accented voice interrupted the steward’s sniveling.
