Lady Meredith held her spoon halfway to her mouth, then lowered it. “Your devotion to your cousin is admirable, if perhaps frighteningly stated.”
After a heartbeat of realization, James sucked in a breath and smiled. “My apologies for alarming anyone.” He bobbed his head toward Lady Meredith.
Mother glanced at Father, her eyes narrowed with . . . what? Anger?
Rain pattered on outside as more courses were served, and talk turned to lighter subjects. Renovations of Hawksbill houses, Aunt Kathleen’s upcoming return to Hawes—a conversation in which she did not participate—and even Lord Chuter’s affinity for his dogs and the hope that they might be trained to sniff out shine in the city.
“What a clever idea.” Lady Hensley leaned back as a plate of sugar-covered pastries was placed in front of her. “And these dogs—could they be used for finding the people who use shine, as well?”
“Presumably,” I said, “though I imagine a man who used shine in the last several days smells quite different than his stash. So the police might need different dogs for the various tasks. I’m not sure. I’m hardly an expert on the subject.”
Father sat back in his chair, not even looking at his dessert. “I’ll be sure to speak to Lord Chuter about it. Of course I’m interested in anything that will help put a stop to the plague of shine. And that new variation.”
“Firefly, I believe.” Lord Hensley released a long sigh. “Such a shame, what people are willing to put into themselves. It’s such a waste of life.”
Finally, the meal came to a close and James and I excused ourselves, stopping by my rooms to grab our training gear. We had to go over every one of today’s bouts in detail, and work out how he might have disarmed his opponent more quickly or blocked a particularly tricky attack.
By the time we started down the grand stairs in front of the palace, the storm had faded and the sun dipped toward the horizon, its honeyed light shining beneath the line of black clouds. The sky turned molten gold and every mirror in Hawksbill illuminated with reflected glow.
The heat had broken, leaving the evening cool and damp. Rain-glazed paving stones gleamed.
The training building loomed ahead, a big block of a structure. It wasn’t quite disguised into beauty with carved designs representing the four houses and stylized knots that had been all the fashion two hundred years ago. My guards entered first, checking for danger, as always. The room was safe, of course, but even practice needed to be supervised by the best men in the Indigo Order.
Gaslights hissed overhead as we stomped the water from our boots and tossed our bags by the wall. On the far end with mirrors, our reflections moved with us, reminding me of the night I’d spotted Hensley by noticing him in the mirror.
Maybe I could learn to use that to my advantage—if I could learn to keep out of the mirrors myself.
I snorted a laugh as I stretched my arms across my chest.
“What?” James frowned, echoing my movements.
“Nothing.” I glanced at the guards. “Why don’t you wait outside? Get some fresh air.”
“We’re not supposed to let you out of our sight.” Stewart didn’t move. None of them did.
“There’s only one door, and you’ve already cleared the room. Anyone who wants to come in and kill me will have to go through you.” I frowned. “Anyway, it’s not fair for you to watch James practice before tomorrow’s matches. You might be his opponents.”
“We’ve been watching you and Rayner practice for years. Nothing you do tonight will change anything tomorrow.” Thomas crossed his arms and smirked. He was definitely fighting James tomorrow.
“Fine.” I moved deeper into the room, away from the guards. James followed, and we drew our practice swords. “The mirrors made me think of last week, and trying to stay out of view.”
James pulled his sword, too. “Do you think that’s a skill you’ll need to pick up?”
“Need or no, it’d be a handy skill to have.” I raised my voice to a normal volume and held my sword at guard. “Ready?”
James mirrored my movements. “Born that way. Let’s start with the match against Cadet Harvey. You be him. I’ll be me. I want to figure out how he almost disarmed me.”
“All right, then I attack first.”
We practiced that way for two hours, until both of us were satisfied James was prepared for tomorrow morning’s bouts.
Exhausted, but pleased with the day’s progress, we returned to my apartments in the Dragon Wing. But just as we stepped into the parlor, the thud of footfalls in the hall made me look back.
Thomas scowled into the hall. “What is it?”
“I’d like to speak with Prince Tobiah.” Professor Knight had never come to see me in my quarters, but I’d know his voice anywhere. I signaled James to wait and sheathed my sword.
“Send him in,” I called.
I was ready for answers.
THREE
PROFESSOR KNIGHT STRODE across the parlor, his boots clomping on the rugs. “You two smell like sweat.”
“And here James and I thought we smelled rather pleasant today.” I smirked and motioned for him to sit, and then, somewhat hurriedly, waved the guards to take their places in the hall.
This, at least, was one place they wouldn’t shadow my every move. I didn’t like the idea of a quartet of heavily armed men standing around while I slept.
When the door shut with a low click, I turned back to Professor Knight. “How are you feeling?”
The thick pad of bandaging made his sleeve tight, but when he glanced at the injury, he shrugged it off. “Better, thank you.” His chair creaked as he leaned back. “The physicians have done everything they can and the rest will just take time to heal. But there shouldn’t be a scar.”
“Thank saints.” I grinned and sat across from him. “Everyone knows how vain you are.”
He chuckled and turned to James, who was leaning against the table. “I had the pleasure of watching you fight earlier. You did quite well, as far as I could see. Everyone says you’re the favorite for the top positions this autumn.”
James bowed a little. “That’s kind of you to say, but I know I made mistakes today. I won’t make them tomorrow.”
“Good, because I’ve put some money on you winning. Don’t let me down.”
“Of course not, sir.”
“I hope you’re returning to classes tomorrow, Professor.”
“Indeed, I’ll be in our usual room at the usual time. But that’s not what I came to discuss.”
“Oh?” Finally. Maybe I could get some answers without even having to ask the questions.
“This won’t take long. I have errands to run before I return to the Academy.” He paused, as though regretting saying that. “I wanted to ask what you saw the night of your birthday party. Every detail.”
I knew a test when I heard one. He wanted me to agree it hadn’t been Lord Hensley who’d attacked him, but I wasn’t going to lie.
I covered my hesitation by pretending to be distracted by the ticking of the mantel clock. “Ah, well, I’m sure you’ve already heard about that.”
“Everyone knows that you had Gerald Hensley arrested and brought before your father.”
My face went hot at the memory.
“I’m more concerned with what you actually saw. You didn’t see the man’s face while he was in the house? Or after?”
“No, unfortunately.” Not that me seeing his face would have made a difference. I knew it was Hensley. “What about you? Any idea who he was?”
“I’m afraid not, though I’ve been assured that the Indigo Order is doing their best to find him. I’ve given as complete a description as I’m able, but that’s as much as I can do.”
“So you don’t think it was someone from the party?” I asked, and glanced at James.
“Oh, certainly not. I’d have been able to identify them.” Professor Knight leaned one elbow on the table, not quite managing to look casual. “I have to say, Tobiah, while I
’m touched that you went to such lengths to apprehend my attacker, I’m a little embarrassed that it was Lord Hensley you caught. Of course he would never do anything to harm anyone.”
I wanted to ask how long he’d been practicing that denial, but that probably wasn’t the best way to get real answers. “What were the two of you talking about during the tournament this afternoon?”
Knight scowled. “You, of course. He knows we’re close and was hoping that I could persuade you to apologize for the allegations.”
“Lord Hensley doesn’t seem like the kind of man who requires an apology in order to live a satisfying life.” I didn’t add that apology-seeking wasn’t what Hensley had told me they discussed.
“I think you underestimate his respect for you, Your Highness. When you accused him, you hurt him quite deeply. Plus, his peers look at him differently. If you do not respect him enough to apologize for a simple mistake, why should they respect him at all?”
“Ah. I see. Well, I’m afraid I cannot offer an apology, as it would be insincere.” It was a risk, but I said it anyway. “I’m still quite certain it was Lord Hensley who attacked you. I saw the way you flinched when he touched your shoulder this afternoon. And when I saw him at dinner, he said he’d simply wanted to inquire about your health.”
Knight’s expression turned stormy. “Of course he wouldn’t admit to you that he wanted an apology, sire. And as for this afternoon, I think anyone would be jumpy when they were attacked just a week ago.” He shook his head. “I’m disappointed. I hoped you would see past your biases.”
“And I hoped you would be honest with me.” The words were out before I’d considered the wisdom, but I wouldn’t feel guilty. He’d been my professor for years and I’d always believed he’d never lied to me. He’d told me about his history of shine use, how he’d gotten into it, and why he continued. All the things I’d thought were the darkest parts of him.
But he wouldn’t tell me the truth about his attacker when I might be the only one who’d believe him? The lie made me question everything he’d ever told me.
“I’m sorry you feel that way.” Professor Knight’s face closed up as he pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll let you get prepared for bed. I need to go.”
“Why was Hensley leaving Hawksbill that late at night?” I stood, too.
“He’s working for your father. Of course. And I’m certain that if Hensley’s business was any of yours, your father would have told you by now.”
Knight marched through the room, not waiting to be dismissed from royal presence. Not that royal dismissal meant that much to me, but the insult in this neglect was clear.
I glared after him until he vanished out the door. My guards shot interested looks, but I let the door shut before anyone could get too nosy.
“That was harsh,” James muttered.
“Him or me?”
“Both.” James nudged me with his elbow. “Don’t let his jabs get to you. He’s scared. That’s why he said those things.”
That was true. He was scared of Lord Hensley. I’d seen that much this afternoon. Midnight, it had looked like Knight repeated. After I’ll do it.
Professor Knight had said he needed to run an errand. An errand for Hensley?
It was dangerous. Maybe stupid. But I know it was right.
I turned to James. “I’m going to follow him.”
FOUR
“WHAT’S OUR PLAN?” James asked. “How are we going to get from here to wherever Knight is going? We have no idea where his errand could take him.”
“Hensley was trying to leave Hawksbill when I followed him last week.”
James counted items on his fingers. “One, there’s no reason to believe that means Knight wants to leave Hawksbill tonight. And two, that makes the problem of getting to him even more difficult. How are we going to get past the gate guards? Scale the wall?”
I’d never scaled anything in my life, but now that he mentioned it, that did seem the best way to get into Thornton. Not that I had anything useful for scaling walls.
“Tobiah.” His tone was all exasperation. “I’m the last person who’d tell you to ignore this situation, but we don’t even know how you’re going to get out of this room without your guards tailing you, let alone out of Hawksbill. Maybe it’s time to send the police after him.”
“Sending the police after Knight won’t solve the problem with Hensley. We don’t even know what the problem is yet. Not the whole thing.” I mimicked James’s posture and counted on my fingers. “One, Hensley threatened and attacked Knight, and we don’t know why. But tonight is our best chance to get that answer. Two, Hensley might have killed Lord Roth, but again we don’t know why. And three, Hensley is a flasher and until we find irrefutable proof of that, he’s going to keep getting away with using his magic because police don’t go after noble lords.”
James wrinkled his nose. “Having more numbers than me doesn’t make you right. What you’re proposing is vigilantism.”
“I don’t think so. I’m a prince. This is my duty.”
“No, I’m pretty sure that investigating criminals and sneaking around to gather evidence are the actions of a vigilante, not a prince. Princes have people to do the sneaking for them.”
“If you insist that’s what I am, I suppose that’s what I’ll be.”
“We.” James straightened his shirt.
I cocked my head. “We?”
“Obviously I’m going with you.”
“Oh no, you’re not.” I stalked toward him. “Me. Not we. You’re going to be a member of the Indigo Order. You can’t go around breaking the law.”
“You’re a prince. And you have an Order uniform, if I recall.”
“It’s ceremonial. I didn’t earn it and they won’t kick me out if I’m discovered. But you will be punished if you’re caught, so I’m forbidding you to join me.”
James’s mouth dropped open. “You forbid it?”
A shard of self-loathing sliced through me. I’d promised myself I’d never use that word with him. I wouldn’t order him around. He needed to have a choice to follow me, always.
“I’m sorry.” The words tasted like ash, because I wasn’t going to rescind the command. He had too much to lose, and I could not lose him.
“It’s fine.” He shook off my harsh words. He didn’t know how much I hated myself for them, though. “Well, if you’re going to do this, I’m going to make sure you do it right.”
I faked a grin. “I knew you’d come around. First I need a disguise. If Knight happens to see me, I’d rather he not recognize me.” I threw open the nearest wardrobe and inspected the contents. Fine shirts, jackets, and trousers. Suits for every occasion. The next wardrobe held more of the same. How could I have so many clothes with various purposes, and none of them remotely appropriate for sneaking?
“That’s the first rational thing you’ve said. So, a mask?” He wandered toward one of the bookcases where I kept trinkets Mother insisted would hold emotional value one day.
“I don’t have a mask. What am I going to do? Cut eye holes into stockings and put that over my face?”
“Your head is too big. What about this?” He picked up a metal mask I’d worn to a costume ball two years ago. It was a ghastly looking thing, with hollow eyes and parted lips, meant to represent the saint whose face had burned in a fire. Saint Fade Christopher had been so horribly disfigured he was forced to wear a silver mask as he went about the land performing his good works. Over time, the silver tarnished and he asked his disciples to polish it. But he’d worn the mask for so long it stuck to his face; removing it killed him immediately.
I never quite understood why he didn’t remove it and clean it regularly, but when I asked, teachers insisted that wasn’t the point of the story.
“It looks like a mask to me.” James tossed it to me. Sacrilegious, probably, even if it was only a reproduction meant for costume.
I pressed the mask to my face, silk ties dangling below my shoulders.
“Do I look dangerous and mysterious?”
“You look ridiculous. But if you insist on going, you need a disguise, and this will do.” James motioned at my training clothes. “Wear those for now. They’re loose enough to move in and they’re nothing particularly memorable. You’re aiming for anonymity.”
“There’s nothing anonymous about the mask.”
“It’s all there is for now. We’ll find something more practical later, if you need it.”
He was right. Practical and anonymous. Those were two things I needed if I was going to keep Professor Knight from knowing me, should he spot me tonight. And if I was going to scale the wall, I needed tools of some sort. A line.
I looked up at the curtain pulls.
Not ideal, but I needed something now.
Quickly, James and I moved through my room, dismantling objects where necessary. The curtain pulls. A C-shaped handle from a wardrobe door. We altered an old sword belt into a crude baldric, meant to hold my sheath against my back. If I was climbing, I didn’t need a sword hanging at my hip, banging on thighs.
“I’ve been thinking about the best way to get out of here.” I adjusted my shirt under the baldric until there were no wrinkles to rub and cause blisters where the leather straps fell.
“Yes?” James took the mask from the foot of my bed where I’d left it.
“I’ll rappel straight down from the balcony.” I jerked my head toward the curtained doors.
James snorted a laugh. “That’s three stories. And have you ever rappelled in your life?”
“You don’t think I can do anything, do you?” How did he think I was planning on getting off the wall once I climbed up?
“I think you’re very good at doing that thing with your hair.”
I started to comb my fingers through my hair, realized maybe that was what he meant, and grabbed the mask instead. “Even if I was to get past my guards out there, I’d be noticed right away by anyone else. There’s no way I’m getting out of the palace through the front doors.”
“What about the servant doors?”
“What servant doors?”