She’s chatting with a table of soldiers and their dates, their voices fade to the background as I scan the room, on high alert for any possible threat.
The shorter, rosy-cheeked male from the breezeway catches my eye. He has three empty tankards before him on a table, and another half-full in his hand.
He’s leaning forward, telling a story to the small crowd gathered around his table. I think I pick up the words “bitch” and “queen” as he mouths off, clearly worked up about something.
It dawns on me that he may be digging his own grave with every word out of his mouth. I need to find an excuse to get closer to him and confirm that he’s talking about murdering the queen. That he’s a rebel.
The table he’s at is directly across the dance floor from where I stand behind Phillipa like a shadow. It’s going to take us far too long to get through the rest of her social obligations before we reach that spot.
I search my mind for an excuse to light a fire under Phil, and turn over my shoulder to ensure the other two rebels are still where I saw them last. My heart races when I discover they are not.Fuck.
One thing at a time, Arina.Think.
When I snap my head back to look at the loose-lipped male, I curse at the gods for the only option they seem to have deemed me worthy of.
Eryk is sitting near the table I need to reach. I don’t think my plan all the way through, and my hand reaches out to squeeze Phil’s shoulder.
“What?” she sounds a little annoyed with me, and the couples she’s speaking with share her displeased demeanor.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt, but I need to borrow you.” I tilt my head and make a thin line with my lips, hoping she catches on.
“Oh? Ohhh!” She follows my eyes, and puts things together quickly. Thank the gods for best friends who don’t need words to communicate.
Phil apologizes to her friends and reassures them that she’ll find them again soon. Then her full focus is on me, and I have to think fast while we walk closer to Eryk’s table.
“I’m so proud of you. Kind of surprised, but proud. I had thought you’d find every excuse you could think of not to dance with anyone tonight. Particularly not Eryk,” she teases, poking me in the ribs.
I swat her hand away. We are three tables from the rebel and his big mouth. “It’s just me keeping my promise,” I lie.
“Right.” Phil knows me so much better than that and rolls her eyes impishly.
I stop her, strategically placing her between myself and what I’m assuming is an entire table of rebels. We’re far enough away that it seems like a natural place for us to be, and there are people moving between us and the table.
I smooth out my dress, playing with the lace details. Then I gesture for her to help me with my hair. The red-cheeked rebel is shoving food in his face and grumbling loudly, airing out his grievances without even stopping to swallow.
“I say we be done with it! Old Queeny has had plenty of time to do somethin’ to help the land, and what has she done? Jack shit, that’s what.”
Phil waves her hand in front of my face. “Hello? Are you in there?”
“And what’re you going to do about it?” one of the males asks, egging him on.
I hold on tight to both Phil’s shoulders, and try to speak and listen at the same time.
“Yes, I’m just …” I start.
“I’m going to slit her throat, is what.” He looks so fucking proud of himself as he rips a bite of chicken from the bone. It’s sickening how he’s being allowed to benefit from Queen Daphne’s generosity. Chicken is a rarity, and she willingly shares it with us tonight. I want to shove that fucking bone down his throat.
Why isn’t anyone stopping him? I glance around, trying to gauge whether any of the soldiers have overheard him, but none of them seem to have noticed.
“You’re just what?” Phil asks, equally oblivious to the traitors sitting among us. “Why are you acting so weird?”
“Nothing. I swear. I think maybe I’m a little nervous to dance with Eryk. It’s been a really long time, and I am worried I’ll make an ass of myself.” It’s not a lie, not really.
Phil grins, the glint in her eyes is contagious, and I smile sheepishly back at her. “Maybe we could just sneak out? Do you think I could get away with leaving early?”
“Dressed like that? Not a chance.”
Arina
