I’ll keep an eye on him,Night assured her.
With as long as they’d been acquainted, he could read her expressions. Enough to know she was concerned about the duke’s intentions toward Roslyn. Perhaps she was being paranoid in thinking he’d take such drastic measures toward his daughter. But he did have a history.
“We’ll take the emperor’s elevator up to the palace since we’re close,” the duke informed her. “If they’re planning to raise the ship with the Rift as you think they are, Thaddeus needs to be apprised immediately and the Rift re-investigated and guarded.”
Tate couldn’t agree more. Now that they had an idea of what they were looking for, the Rift needed to be searched again. It was possible Nathan hadn’t accomplished what he’d intended on his last visit, which made ensuring he couldn’t get in again all the more important.
“Lead the way,” Tate said.
The duke’s expression was hard to read, his body backlit by the afternoon sun. Tate raised her eyebrows at him in silent question.
“Nothing, I simply thought there’d be more arguing.”
Tate scowled. “I don’t argue when the plan is sound. Only when people are being idiots.”
He grunted and turned to descend the stairs. “If you say so.”
She did say so.
Roslyn hid a smile as she started after her father.
“Where do they get these ideas?” Tate complained to Night.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you have a habit of doing exactly that.
“Says the bearcat who likes to stalk people and get caught.” Tate paused a few steps down and looked back at Vale. “Are you coming?”
He bowed. “My duty is here, reviewing the rest of the manuscripts. If I find anything, I’ll send word.”
“That’s all very well and good, but if I was you, I’d see about evacuating your people,” Tate instructed. “You know, just in case.”
Vale straightened. “I will not shrink from my duties simply because my life is in danger. You taught me that.”
Tate’s frown was troubled, not liking the idea that if Vale somehow ended up dead a portion of the blame could be laid at her feet. Mentally, she shrugged. It was his life. How he chose to live it and the risks he took were up to him.
Tate started down the stairs, saying over her shoulder, “I don’t remember teaching any such thing. At least, evacuate half your people. After all, if everyone dies here, there will be no one to remember you later.”
He inclined his chin. “Wise words as ever.”
Tate blew out a breath and lifted a hand in goodbye. Some people would only ever hear what they wanted to hear.
* * *
“Something must be done about the sleepers. They’re a threat to everything we hold dear. They must be eliminated.”
For those to be the first words Tate heard as she and Night stalked into the great hall didn’t make her already sour mood any better.
Somehow in the trip up from the Lower it had been decided Tate and Night would have the duty of informing the emperor of the impending threat while the duke and Roslyn would find the Lord Provost and arrange additional security around the Rift.
Perhaps that ridiculous statement coupled with the fact Tate was somewhere she really didn’t want to be was why she didn’t choose her next words with care.
“How original. What you don’t understand, or is different than you, must be eliminated. Different century, same old song.”
Maybe if she didn’t have the images Christopher had shoved in her brain still so close to the surface or the scene didn’t remind her of a conversation very like this one in a very different era. Maybe then, she could have acted with a bit more caution. Been a little more circumspect.
Or perhaps it was the grumpy expression on Thora’s face where he stood next to the emperor. An expression that said he was beyond frustrated.
Or the fact some of the best people she knew were sleepers or descended from sleepers.
