“Tomorrow.”
Tate’s eyes threatened to bug out of her head. Tomorrow? Was she kidding? Did George not know what was involved with a court visit? Not that Tate was entirely clear on that herself, but what she did know was that it wasn’t as simple as popping over to a friend’s house to say hello.
There were protocols. Procedures in place that required weeks of preparation.
Granted, she’d sat in on the same lessons as the dragonlettes in an attempt to fill in the gaps in her knowledge base, but it was nowhere near enough for what George was asking of her.
“She’ll be there,” Thora said.
She would? Good to know the person in question was being consulted. She was so happy her needs and desires were considered in situations like this.
George turned to go and paused. “Oh. The emperor requests one of the children attend as well.”
“No.” Thora’s expression was unyielding.
“The emperor was clear.”
Thora’s mask shredded as he bared his teeth. “I don’t care.”
“I’ll do it,” Daisy said from the side of the house. She stepped into view, lifting her chin as they all looked in her direction. “I’ll represent all of us.”
A stricken expression crossed Dewdrop’s face. Tate could see how much he wanted to protest and how hard he fought to swallow those words.
His reaction reminded her of something important. So many choices had been ripped from Daisy and the others when they were forced to become dragon-ridden. Their very identity as human stolen. Even if Tate didn’t fully agree with Daisy’s choice, it was still her decision. Tate knew how important control was when it felt like you’d lost everything else. Unless Daisy was reckless and put others in danger, Tate wouldn’t stop her.
Moreover, Tate understood her reasoning.
As the eldest and someone who already had experience taking care of a brother, Daisy couldn’t do anything else but protect the rest.
“Absolutely not,” Thora snapped.
“It’s decided then,” George said at the same time. “Further instructions will follow later.”
She walked away before Thora could argue.
Tate raised her eyebrows at Ben. “You couldn’t have warned us?”
“Orders.”
Tate sighed. She knew how that went. She lifted a hand in farewell as he started after the dragon slayer.
“How bad is this?” Tate asked Thora when they were gone.
Thora stared after George and Ben with a serious expression. Several minutes passed before he scrubbed a hand down his face. He looked tired. Worried.
Two things Tate didn’t often associate with him.
“Go home for now. Daisy, you too. There’s some things I need to take care of.”
“That bad, huh?” Tate said to his back as he headed into the building.
Only the wind answered her.
The bravado in Dewdrop’s face didn’t quite mask his concern. Of the two of them, Dewdrop had more experience in this arena. His history might have been with the Night Court, a gathering place for some of the most shady and powerful people in the empire. Those who often operated outside the law. But like the Night Court, the emperor’s court was no doubt an insidious snake pit. The closer you got to the throne; the more dangerous and treacherous it was.
If it was up to her, she’d stay as far from the halls of power as she could get.
“It can’t be as bad as that time Ilith stole the emperor’s crown,” Dewdrop offered.
