Breaking protocol and calling her by her first name did the trick. It brought the conversation down from a military level to a personal one and softened Jade’s tough exterior. In many ways, Matherson had taken the place of the father she’d barely known.
“No, sir. I won’t,” she finally replied, her posture relaxing as her growing pride deflated.
He nodded at her and sat back again, folding his hands in his lap. “Good. Now, let’s go over a few details.”
Jade retrieved a small notebook and pen from one of her jacket’s front pockets. She flipped past filled pages, covered in scribbled notes about the royal family and sketches of plants used to make rienevoir. Her neck craned over the pad, the tip of the pen hovering over the paper.
“The military is in possession of an abandoned country estate in Tourrine that has been repurposed to function as an undercover outpost. We’ll set up headquarters there. And Captain Redman, as I said previously, I’m assigning you this mission as well.” Matherson shifted his gaze to Theo, who straightened slightly in his chair.
“Yes, sir?”
“Captain Ni’ihm needs another intelligence officer for backup. I’m not going to send her into these situations alone. Now, you won’t be as immersed with a new identity as she will be, but I want you in a guise always nearby.”
“Of course, sir.”
Jade dropped her eyes, casting her gaze to the periphery to manage a glance at Theo. She didn’t miss the flash of his eyes toward her, either.
“Captain Ni’ihm, your primary objective on this assignment is to get close to the attendees. Become one of them. Give them reason to trust you. Do what you can to make the right people want to get to know you. I trust your judgment and your skill in determining who is best to get close to. This is a place where you excel, Ni’ihm, and I’m counting on you to play this part to the fullest.”
Jade looked up from her notes to give Matherson a small smile for the compliment. A thrill rushed through her veins at the thought of her role at the ball. Yes, she knew as much. She was already forming a character in her mind, figuring out mannerisms, characteristics, and quirks she could employ to make her act appear genuine.
Commander Matherson leaned forward onto the desk, placing his interlocked fingers on its polished surface, and his eyes flicked between the captains. “I believe this conflict is at a critical point. I have it on good authority from Kingdom Command that the king’s condition has significantly declined over the last week. He might not live much longer. This may break out into something much bloodier very soon.”
Jade’s eyebrows drew together. “But, sir, Lady Arabella has never indicated an intent for violence.”
“No, but if Arabella takes any action, Grannam will answer.” Matherson’s voice dipped to a low, serious tone. “He won’t stand idly by and let Arabella—or anyone, for that matter—take the throne from him. He’s proven that much already with his intense refusal to back down and his enmity with Arabella.”
“Surely he couldn’t expect to keep power if he took the throne by force,” Theo said with a small shake of his head. “He wouldn’t be recognized as a true sovereign.”
An ironic smile played on Matherson’s lips. “I beg to differ, Captain Redman. Fear is a powerful tool. All of Grannam’s movements so far have shown he won’t go down without a fight. He knows that if he is brutal and ruthless, it is unlikely people will take a stand against him.” Matherson adjusted in his seat, leaning back and resting his hands on his trim stomach. “And if people don’t stand against him, they will eventually grow complacent, and his progeny will be the new royal line.”
“What about Prince Reynauld?” Jade asked, her hand stilling on her notepad. “I don’t imagine he would tolerate any kind of insurrection from his daughter, or his cousin.”
“Reynauld is set to become the next king. It’s unlikely he would involve himself in Arabella and Grannam’s infighting unless it pulled him in as well. While those two are focused on each other, he seems content to let that play out. Arabella is Grannam’s stumbling block on the way to Reynauld.”
Silence covered them like a tangible thing as Jade mulled over the implications of what Matherson had said. If Grannam was willing to cut them all down, why hadn’t he done so yet? What was he waiting for? Perhaps Grannam was the one behind the murders, and taking out his victims were small steps toward his victory. Venturing into the world of the elites would hopefully allow Jade to learn the answers to such questions. This game the royals were playing had lots of moving parts, and Grannam was only one piece of a larger plot.
Matherson straightened before continuing, changing the subject. “The ball is in three days, so I’ll have the Tourrine estate prepared for your arrival. Redman, choose a small brigade of troopers you trust, and bring me the list when you return to base. We’ll have everyone ready to depart the morning of the ball and sent over in waves. The two of you will go last, that afternoon. Since the ball will last late into the night, you will all spend the night at the estate and return the following morning for debriefing.”
Matherson’s pointed gaze homed in on Jade. “If anything should go wrong, or you feel as though you may be in any danger, you abort the mission.” He leaned forward onto the desk again, the lines between his eyebrows severe. “Don’t do anything too risky. Know when to step away. Be confident, but don’t let that confidence run away from you. I need you to attract these people. Understood?”
He really did know her too well. His warning wasn’t only against recklessness, but against arrogance—the arrogance of considering herself better than all those foolish snobs. Meeting Matherson’s intense stare, Jade inhaled through her nose and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“And, Redman, you must be prepared to come to Ni’ihm’s aid or abandon the estate as necessary.”
“Yes, sir.”
Matherson sat back. “Good. Captain Redman, I’ll see you back here in two days with the rest of your company. On the day of the ball, be at the gate ready to depart at hour fourteen. Pack only the essentials for one night. Dismissed.”
Six
Theo opened the front doorof Command and gestured for Jade to exit first. She stepped through the open door, Theo easily returning to her side with his long strides. Once they’d put several paces between them and Command, he halted abruptly and turned to face her. Jade followed suit, angling toward him with a slight furrow to her eyebrows.
Being with Theo again brought back a long-lost part of Jade, reuniting her not only with her best friend but also with herself. She had nearly forgotten the girl who traded shells for rocks, who spent her summers in the creek or on the shore, who learned at a young age that life was rarely fair. The girl who dreamed of accomplishing something meaningful with her life and held on to whatever she could control of it with an iron grip.
They still weren’t alone, but only a few people traversed the base during mealtimes, which gave them a greater semblance of solitude. A swell ofemotion rushed through Jade’s heart as Theo crossed his arms and cocked his head, a slow smile stretching across his face.
“It’s been a long time, Jimmy.”
