Isa nodded. “Excellent. That covers Cam’s absence. Hopefully we can keep it up until help arrives.”
“Speaking of which,” Luca said, “we should also plan on keeping a watch down at the canyon once it is likely the villagers have been alerted. Probably don’t need to worry about that for a week or so, though.”
“Right.” Isa nodded. “I can help with that as well when the time comes.”
“That will be difficult, as our packed food stores will be running low by then.” Blanca clicked her tongue as though thinking of other solutions.
“This would be quite the adventure,” Luca said, “except that we have not addressed the real reason we are huddled at the top of a tower and whispering like naughty children.”
Isa sighed. She had hoped the easy part of the conversation would last longer. But Luca was right; they had to decide what to do about the beast. “First, I think we must know where it is at all times.”
“He,” Blanca said. “Prince Aden.”
“He?” Isa bristled at the correction.
“Do you not believe he is who he says he is?” Blanca asked. “You were at the Iseldis ball and saw the Majis attack.”
“Right.” Isa shifted uncomfortably. “And I did not see a beast.”
“I agree,” Luca cut in. “I think we must know where this beast is at all times.”
“As in, play nursemaid to a monster?” Blanca asked, chuckling at her own jest.
Isa rolled her eyes with a small chuckle of her own. “That’s one way to put it. But how will we accomplish that? I already tried restricting him to the west wing, and that failed. He defied me immediately. We can’t exactly punish him like a naughty child.”
“Maybe a less restrictive approach,” Blanca offered. “We can ask him to help us with our various tasks. That would give us an excuse to have him close by.”
“But how much trust are we willing to extend here?” Luca pushed back on her suggestion. “We have no idea what he’s doing here, in such a remote place, by himself. I don’t know that we should be spending time alone with him until we know more about him.”
“I agree,” Isa said. “If he is who he says he is, what is he doing all the way out here and why did he leave Iseldis?”
“Exactly,” Luca responded. “One of us needs to find out.”
Isa nodded, then realized that both Luca and Blanca were staring at her. “What, me? Why me?”
“He’s more likely to answer your questions than ours,” Blanca said.
“And your task leaves the most time for chitchat,” Luca added.
In other words, she was the only one with the courage and patience to face him. “Fine,” Isa conceded. “I’ll try to find out why he’s here, but that means the two of you are responsible for keeping an eye on him.”
Luca nodded.
“Wait,” Blanca said. “If this Prince Aden has such powerful hearing, can’t he just stay outside and listen for any sound coming from the canyon?”
Isa gaped at her over the lantern, unable to ascertain whether she was jesting or serious. “We can’t trust him with that kind of responsibility!” she hissed.
Blanca shrugged, seemingly undeterred by the incredulous looks that both Isa and Luca were giving her. “It could save us loads of trouble. We’ll be running ourselves ragged just trying to keep us all fed and safe. He might as well make himself useful. Besides, it allows us to keep him within our own watch. He watches the river. We watch him watching the river. None of us have to watch the river.” She nodded her head emphatically.
“That sounds good to me,” a new voice rumbled from the doorway. “I am more than happy to help.”
Isa, Luca, and Blanca scrambled to their feet as the hulking beast squeezed himself through the small door. He looked even larger in the confines of the small room.
“You are quite right,” he continued. “I can hear the river running, even from up here, and we can test that tomorrow by sending someone down there to yell things back up at me.” He joined their circle, sitting himself comfortably on the floor next to the lantern.
Isa stared down at him. How much of their conversation had he heard?
“Sit, sit.” He pointed to the stools around him. “Now that we have confirmed who I am, we can get to the matter of why I am here. Although, I would also like to know why you are here.”
