Page 84 of A Wayward Movement

It wasn’t as though Xavier needed the warning. He had a very good idea of what to expect.

“All right,” he told the queen. “I’d like you to invite Alina, Lilah, and Benji, Mother.”

“Are those the three young people the housekeeper was asking about?” Queen Caroline asked absently. “Who are they exactly, Xavier? She seemed perplexed about what rooms to house them in, and I was quite unable to enlighten her.”

“I hope she put them somewhere comfortable,” Xavier said, frowning.

“Every guest room in our castle is comfortable,” his mother told him with a hint of offense. “You haven’t answered my question.”

“They’re residents of the town where we set up operations,” Xavier said. “The team hired Alina as a local guide of sorts, and the others are a brother and sister who room with her.”

“And you want these people invited to the luncheon tomorrow?” The queen still looked baffled.

“Yes,” said Xavier firmly. “I insist.”

She straightened a pendant that hung unflatteringly low over her high-necked gown. “Very well, my dear, if that’s what you wish.”

Xavier felt himself relax a little. At least he could be sure he’d see Alina once the next day.

He certainly didn’t see her before the luncheon. After a blissful sleep reunited with his own bed, he spent the whole morning closeted in a war room with his father and various advisors. Captain Mitchell was there, too. The king was very concerned when he heard the full account of all that they’d discovered, his gaze resting thoughtfully on his son.

“It seems we’re fortunate you returned to us at all, Xavier,” he said.

“Nonsense, Father,” Xavier said. “I was never in any real danger.”

It was the wrong answer. He recognized the king’s pursed lips. It was the look of a monarch frustrated by his heir’s lack of responsibility.

There was a knock at the door, and at the king’s command, it swung open to reveal a guard and, to Xavier’s surprise, his new sister-in-law.

“Ah, Elowen.” The king smiled kindly at the former Torrenese princess. “Thank you for coming.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” She dipped her head, then greeted the rest of the group appropriately.

“Princess Elowen has something to share.” The king gestured for her to speak.

“Yes, Your Majesty. As I told you yesterday, my friend Sophia and her husband have just recently arrived to take charge of the holdings you’ve so generously given them. They traveled from the Torrenese capital, and just before they left the city, word was received by my father about some suspicious disappearances in the south-west of the kingdom. Young people, unattached, generally with some skill in magic.”

Xavier’s heart sank. It was a familiar description. “The south-west of the kingdom,” he repeated. “So near the desert.”

“Thank you, Elowen.” At the king’s words, she retreated, leaving a moment of somber silence.

“The matter is more serious than we first imagined,” Xavier’s father said at last. He turned to his son. “Xavier—”

“Yes.” Xavier cut him off with a nod. “I was thinking the same, Father. If the issue is not contained to Siqual, it lends all the more weight to the theory that the continent is behind it. But I can’t understand their aim.”

“No.” The king’s brow was furrowed in surprise. “I was going to say, I imagine you’ll want to reassign control of the investigation to Captain Mitchell now.”

“What?” Xavier frowned. “No, of course not. Why would I?”

“Aren’t you planning to stay here in Sindon?” King Madoc asked.

“No.” Xavier stared at him. “We’ve barely achieved anything so far. We certainly haven’t caught the people behind it.”

“Which is precisely why I want someone experienced running this investigation,” his father said. “Xavier, we’ve all just heard about how you were directly attacked by the kidnappers. It’s past time for this particular game to end.”

“It’s not a game.” The familiar mix of hurt and anger was rising in Xavier, but he mastered it. He needed his father to see that he wasn’t volatile. “Father, I’m taking this very seriously. I’m determined to see the matter resolved. I’ll be glad to take Captain Mitchell’s advice in all matters pertaining to the investigation,” that last part was for the captain’s benefit, “but please don’t ask me to remove myself from the team.”

His father was studying his face, his expression contemplative. It was difficult to tell what was going on in his mind.