Aimilia supposed people like Nikias and Hypatia never really changed.
“So… what are you going to do?” Aimilia asked.
“That’s what we’re trying to decide,” Gavril said, tapping the paper he’d been writing on. “The bird won’t leave until we send a response. Hypatia is determined to have one.”
“But if you want that information?—”
“The only one who will have it is Nikias. Which means I’d either have to get it from him subtly, or…”
“Tell him about Hypatia’s message,” Aimilia finished.
“And who knows how he would react to finding out Hypatia is asking Marcella for sensitive information?”
“Or how your parents would react if it reached them.” At Aimilia’s words, Gavril brushed his fingertips over his arm.
Marcella put her hand over her husband’s and said, “But should we go with the first. Not telling him now, it will come out. These things always do. How much worse will that be?” Marcella shook her head. “I do not want to repeat the past.”
Aimilia couldn’t blame her.
Gavril turned to his wife. “But if we do tell them, they could see it as you being a spy for Hypatia, which puts our already new, shaky truce on even worse ground. And for what? The answer could simply be no, and that’s the end of it.”
“Hypatia does not ask empty questions,” Marcella said, and the raven shifted its weight, shaking out its feathers.
“So this certainly won’t be the end of it,” Aimilia said, glaring at the raven. “Even if the answer is no.”
Marcella nodded as Gavril ran a hand through his hair and said, “First things first, we reply and tell her we have not heard of anything. Then we decide if we tell Nikias or wait to see if wehear anything else. Considering the circumstances, I’m inclined to wait.”
“I still think we should tell him,” Marcella said.
“I think waiting—” Aimilia raised a hand defensively at Marcella’s harsh glare. “—just long enough to see if Hypatia says anything else and give Nikias time to forget about this recent debacle is the better option. And if we’re lucky, he’ll send me to a post near the border where maybe I could get to the bottom of this concern about the Elemens. They haven’t been giving your people trouble, right?”
“If they have, it has not reached me. Konstantin and Hypatia have not told me of it until now, if this counts,” Marcella said.
Gavril finished writing and passed the note to Marcella. “Can you look this over and send it? I’ve got practicals to oversee for the command track I’m about to be late for.”
Marcella pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Of course, go on.”
As Gavril headed for the door, he looked over his shoulder. “If you want to continue to put off whatever is waiting for you back at the palace, you’re welcome to come with.”
It was a tempting offer, but Aimilia was ready to make another scene.
And make another scene she did as she walked up to the palace gates in broad daylight, commander’s cloak around her shoulders and arms up in the air as the guards gaped at her.
“Good afternoon, I believe His Highness will want to have a few words with me.”
As they grabbed her arms and started hauling her through the gate and the courtyard, the Runai watching broke out intowhispers, eyes wide as the girl who refused the crown prince was taken into custody before their eyes.
If Nikias wanted to act like a petty little tyrant, she would make sure everyone in Areator knew about it.
Chapter 9
NIKIAS
Nikias was a patient man, but as the hours stretched on and the door to his study remained closed it wore thin.
Dare he send for her directly?
He wanted her to come to him.
