Aurelia (10 page)

"you could try asking. There aren't many drivers could handle a team like that."

something in drew's tone made robert look up at his companion. "you know who drives that team," he accused.

The horseman hesitated. "I know a fellow who has driven that team. I can't be certain he was driving it the night you saw him." A pause. "Harvey ought to be able to tell you. He sees everything."

robert retraced his steps. With the name of the driver, he would have the name of the assassin--at least one assassin.

Harvey still sat on his bucket in the aisle, his fingers caressing another bridle. "enjoy your trip, youngin'?"

"He was enjoying it up until we ran into that mean black stallion of yours," drew answered. "What's his name again?"

"Animosity." Harvey frowned. "stupid name for a horse."

"seems a handful," said drew, propping a foot on a grain sack. "I've never seen anybody but gregory take that horse out."

"No one else can handle him." A bitter scent of polish wafted through the air as Harvey shook out his rag.

plunging into the conversation, robert said, "I thought I saw that team with the stallion a couple nights ago."

Harvey nodded. "gregory had them saddled up late, night of Carnival."

Gregory, Gregory, Gregory
--the assassin's name pulsed in robert's thoughts. No longer just a driver, but a man with a name. "Where was he headed?"

"It's here!" A distant shout interrupted the conversation before Harvey could answer. "Over in the east corral." A crowd of people poured into the corridor from around corners, out of stalls, through doorways; the stables suddenly teamed with men, women, and children. robert felt himself scooped up and swept down the aisle, drew and Harvey with him.

"Where are all these people coming from?" robert called, his feet struggling to keep pace with the crowd as he turned one corner, then another.

"All over midbury," Harvey answered. "This place is stocked with underground tunnels." He gestured to the right, where a row of seven or eight doors lined a wall. "each of these doors leads somewhere. That one there will take you a couple miles east of here into the woods. In case you ever want to walk two miles in the dark."

robert did not have time to consider the chilling prospect as the crush of the crowd shoved him up against the smooth planks of a corral. A golden head tossed in the corral's center. dark halter straps gleamed on the colt's face, and a lead rope whipped about like wet cloth.

"He's of racing age," drew crowed.

The colt bolted from its stance, galloped in a broad circle, and reared up, a blazing sun burning in the dark. shoulder muscles gleamed above a smooth back and powerful hindquarters. eyes snapped with fear, and the lead rope dangled dangerously. robert fought a sudden urge to tear the crowd away.

motioning toward a lone man perched on top of the corral's far side, Harvey said, "speakin' of marcus gregory."

The assassin.
From this distance, robert could not make out facial features, but he took in the slicked hair, long arms, slim torso, and short legs. perhaps a couple inches over five feet, the man could not weigh more than 110 pounds--the unmistakable build of a jockey.

robert's assessment was confirmed immediately. gregory hurtled into the paddock, snatched up the loose lead rope, and sprang onto the colt's back. Twisting in terror, the horse tried to unseat its invader, but gregory gripped the golden belly with strong legs. Arm muscles bulged as he clutched the horse's mane. The rope flashed into motion, beating the colt about the head until blood dripped from its ear.

Instinctively robert lurched forward, longing to rip the bully from the horse's back. drew's strong grip pushed down on robert's shoulder. "you can't go in there, lad," drew said. "Turn around, and walk back to the stables."

robert fled, unable to shake the vision of blood from his thoughts. The faint sound of drew's voice apologizing to Harvey ebbed in the background. robert moved without seeing, down the corridor, around the corner, down another corridor, around another corner, on and on. A net of dripping red draped over his mind, interfering with his ability to discriminate. He could not tell one stall from the next, much less one row or one intersection. Winding walls and empty halls closed in on him. The farther he ran, the tighter they gripped him, until the stalls were gone, the hay, the pitchforks, the light.

emotionally drained, he leaned his body up against a beam and waited for his eyes to adjust to the sudden dimness. He must have left the stables altogether. Instead of stalls, a solid wall rose up before him, featuring doors and windows with bars. He eased away from the beam to peer into one of the windows.

The noxious smell of urine and molding hay boiled his tender insides. stomach muscles heaved, emptying their contents onto the dirt floor. gagging, he pressed the palm of his hand to his chest, then slid the hand up to cover his mouth and nose. His eyes strained against the shadows. He could just make out a set of metal chains anchored along the far wall. A dungeon, probably long out of use, but still reeking.

He turned around to backtrack, more anxious than ever to remove himself from his surroundings.
Just get out,
he told himself.
Once you get out of this building, you can walk around the outside and find Horizon. Drew will meet you there.
embarrassed by the blind flight, robert moved back into the stables and turned down a corridor.
Keep moving in this direction. Sooner or later, you'll hit the outside wall or an exit.

sure enough, in less than ten minutes, he stepped into open air. His lungs expanded with relief . . . and caught.

Not five yards from the stable entrance sat a black carriage, its sleek sides and plain trim blending into the darkness. The carriage from Carnival night. And out the carriage door stepped edward, king of Anthone.

Chapter Nine

COURTING DANGER

THE VANTAUGE COAT OF Arms ON THE SITTING-ROOM wall seemed to gaze at robert with disappointment. He slumped into his uncle's chair. A full week had passed since the trip to midbury, and he was no closer to solving the case than he had been the night edward stepped out of that black carriage.

perhaps king edward was not involved in the plot at all. perhaps he was here solely on a diplomatic mission; but as each day passed, robert found that less and less likely. The Anthonian king showed no sign of returning to his own country, no sign of cooperating with Aurelia's father, no sign of enjoying Tyralt. day after day, he met in king Lauzon's official chamber, yet nothing ever seemed to come from the meetings.

Aurelia might know more, but a lot of good that would do robert. He ran his hands through the waves of his hair in frustration. Here was the crux of the problem. For a week he had been trying to make contact with the crown princess to no avail. He could not find her alone, and the notes he had left with her lady's maid never came back with a reply. Thinking someone might be screening his messages, he had even sent Chris to deliver a note in his stead. There had been no response.

"Any luck with Her royal Highness?" Chris poked his head in the doorway. "I hear she's going to be stuck in the throne room all day."

"Not unless you consider silence to be fortunate."

Chris walked in, lifted the strap of his scabbard over his head, and propped his sword against the wall. "Anything else I can help you with?" he asked.

"Have you ever heard of a man named marcus gregory?"

"marc gregory?"

"marcus, yes. He works as a driver for the queen's stables, and I'm certain he's a jockey as well."

A baffled look crossed Chris's face. "you know how much attention I pay to horses, rob. I can ask my father. He never has a spare minute, but I can always conjure up a way to get into trouble. That should garner his attention."

"don't bother. I already asked him. besides, he's helping the king hammer away at edward of Anthone again."

Chris propped a foot on the bottom rung of a stool. "I think they ought to just send the old vulture back to his kingdom before edward rips into any more Tyralian policy."

"He may be doing a lot worse than ripping into policy." robert stood up and crossed to the other side of the room near the coat of arms. The large shield with its symbol of gold bars supporting the crown mocked him. What had made him think he could continue the family tradition? He turned so that the shield was at his back.

His cousin's eyes were wide. "you think edward is behind the assassination plot?"

robert opened his mouth to explain, then shut it. His father's words crept into his thoughts.
Never make an accusation until all the pieces fall into place.
"Listen, Chris, I really need to know what edward wants from the king."

"I can try again, but I must have asked that question five times last week after the council meeting. Father says it's none of my affair."

Ahhhhhh!
robert whirled and slammed his hand against the wall. The coat of arms slid from its hook, banged into the desk below, and crashed to the ground. As the clang echoed throughout the room, both cousins stared down at the damaged metal. A deep dent marred the shield's central symbol.

"I'll see what I can find out," Chris said, bolting for the door.

robert slouched against the wall, his knee and forehead pressed to the bare surface. His slip of the tongue just now about king edward reminded robert he had to be careful about sharing his suspicions.

Who could he trust? He had a sinking feeling he knew why his father had needed to escape this job. Who was likely to plot against a member of the royal family? people of high rank. people robert could not afford to cross without consequences. The queen. The king of the neighboring kingdom. And all the people under them.

Add to this the fact that robert could not share his fears with Aurelia's father without evidence, and almost everyone became an unsafe haven for information. uncle Henry wanted Aurelia alive, yes, but he worked for the king first. And robert could not ask Chris to withhold information from his father. Not that Chris would have minded, but with a father like uncle Henry, planning to keep a secret and doing so were two different things.

but keeping Chris out of the loop created a gaping hole in robert's resources. Chris had the contacts and the current knowledge about court life. Without Chris, robert needed help. someone inside the palace. someone he could rely on. someone with the same knowledge as his cousin. Apart from Chris, only one person fit that role.

robert straightened. He could not wait any longer. If Aurelia was in the throne room today, then that was where he would talk to her.

Aurelia felt robert grab her elbow. she flinched, not used to having anyone touch her when she was dressed for court. The guards in the throne room doorway leaped forward, and in her surprise, she barely remembered to wave them off.

"I need to talk with you," said robert.

"Let me go," she snapped. "This room has a thousand eyes." For days she had been waiting for him to tell her about his trip to midbury, and she had not seen him once. If her father had not demanded her presence today, she would have sneaked off for the haven of the city streets--alone, since her escort was no longer worried enough to make himself available.

she tugged away. For someone who was trying to protect her, he little realized the danger he was courting. Throne-room gossip was a weapon more destructive than cannon. even now she could feel her stepmother's poison stare boring into her forehead.

The attempt to salvage his reputation was wasted. As she continued toward her place at the left front corner of the room, he grabbed her elbow again. "Today, Aurelia. I need to speak with you today. I've sent several messages in the past week, but you haven't responded."

she frowned. "I have to spend the entire day at court. The earliest I can see you will be after supper." Her voice hardened. "Now please remove your hand from my arm."

Anger flushed his face, but she didn't recognize the cause until she had already swept down the aisle and taken a seat. Of course he was angry. He thought she had refused to answer his messages--but she had never received any. Was someone keeping him from helping her? That seemed impossible. The only people who knew why he was there were her father, Henry, and Chris. They would not keep him away.

Who else had the power to screen her messages? Her gaze dived upon elise. The queen sat on the dais beside her husband with the same stiff and powdered bearing she always wore at court, a frozen expression for each petitioner and honored guest.

Anger swelled in Aurelia, expanding as the morning progressed. The heat of an uncommonly beautiful day radiated through the arched windows and seeped into every corner of the throne room. It spared no one: not the petitioners huddling at the back, not the courtiers lining the aisle, not the king and queen sitting at the front, and not the princesses watching in their gilt chairs on opposite sides of the room. beads of sweat lined Aurelia's neckline and tickled the small of her back. Warmth drenched her petticoat and court gown, and her mind stretched for an escape.

From her spot between the king and the courtiers, she could see everyone and everything: the gold patterns on the side of her father's throne, the flicking fans of bored audience members, and the sullen look on robert's face as he slumped in a chair by the doorway. He looked utterly frustrated, yet there he was, still waiting, despite the fact that she had dismissed him when he had approached her. It was a maddening trait of his, this undeniable patience. The only way past it was to give him what he wanted.

salvation slid into her mind. Her back straightened, her shoulders squared, and her head lifted. robert's stubbornness could be just as powerful as hers. Why not give him what he wanted and fulfill her own desires at the same time? If he was brave enough to take a risk.

she made a quick motion for a servant boy to approach. "I need a pen and several pieces of paper," she whispered. Within moments, the boy had returned with a quill pen, an ink bottle, and three sheets of stiff parchment.

On the first sheet, Aurelia scribbled a message to the kitchen staff. On the second, she wrote to the stables. The third was for robert.

Mr. Va tauge, if you wish to complet yo plans today, you for must prese t yourself o my father before court is dismissed for the noon hour. Reques is permission for me to a attend you on a picnic outing My father must be informed before I may be granted leave to depart.

She did not bother to sign the message. It was not as if anyone in the room would fail to notice she had passed it to robert. Her stomach turned at the thought. but he had already ignored the threat of court gossip once this morning. perhaps he would do so again. Craning her neck to check for his presence, she lifted the note and passed it to the servant.

robert took the parchment from the boy's hands rapidly, as if he had expected it and was wondering why it had taken her this long to respond to his demand. He bowed his head over the words, then met her eyes with a look of appalled shock. she could see the thoughts whirling in his mind:
A picnic? And present himself to her father? In court!

Her gaze held steady. His dropped to the intimidating aisle lined by courtiers waiting for a victim to distract them from their corseted cages. robert stood up, and for a moment she thought he might walk out, rejecting her dare and leaving her behind to simmer for the rest of the day.

but instead he moved toward the man who was listing those who wished to speak with the king. robert's name would be placed at the top, considering his uncle's position. Within minutes the announcer's voice rang throughout the room. "may it please your majesty, robert Vantauge."

A strange skittering ran through Aurelia's veins, not the triumph she had expected to feel, but something else, as if it were her own heart on the line, moving up the aisle in front of the critical whispers and skeptical gazes.

but robert did not waver. For the first time all morning, he looked neither uncomfortable nor out of place. His borrowed court clothes fit as though he had been born to them, and he held his head erect as he stepped up to the platform. His eyes met the king's gaze with confidence.
As if speaking with my father were perfectly natural.

Aurelia missed the brief exchange of greetings, her thoughts tangled with emotion. she had to remind herself this was only a dare.

"your majesty," robert said without hesitation, "I would like your permission to take your daughter on a picnic." Nothing improper, nothing fancy, every word stated without a glint of anxiety.

Then why do I feel nervous?

"Well, young man." Her father chuckled. "Far be it from me to grant or deny my daughter an opportunity. you may address the princess melony with your plans and proceed as she sees fit."

Aurelia's heart plummeted. Of course the king would assume robert was asking for melony. melony's suitors begged the king for scraps of his daughter's time. suitors for Aurelia brought bribes and mediators. she was not desirable or even pretty. she was only a means to political advancement.

robert did not allow the error to affect his demeanor. Instead, he complimented her father. "It is my honor to have a ruler who values the rights of his citizens and family members."

"I have raised my children to make wise choices," said the king, nodding with pride.

Within the limits of your parameters.

"I am afraid my request was unclear," robert continued, returning to the main point of the conversation. "I had meant to ask to spend the afternoon with my former classmate, princess Aurelia. I understand her presence here is important, and I would not deprive you of her company if it causes difficulty."

Her heart scaled back up her rib cage and kept on soaring. robert had done it. Asked to court her in public. And what could her father do? He had been praised for valuing his daughters' freedom and had been all too willing to accept the praise.

"yes, um, well . . . , " stumbled the king, then managed a shaky, "my reply stands. you may ask the lady in question."

robert nodded as though he had expected this all along. Aurelia reined in the desire to applaud. she held herself still, waiting for him to turn around and walk back down the aisle. Once a suitor obtained her father's permission, the suitor must present his request to the princess either through a written note or a private audience.

robert, however, did not retreat down the aisle. Instead he turned to face her, strode forward, and swept her a deep bow. "What say you, your Highness?" His voice carried throughout the room. "Will you come with me this afternoon?"

Her breath left her as his eyes drilled into hers. For a moment she forgot she had pushed him into this, that this had been her idea instead of his and that he was standing there at
her
request. Her whole body tingled at the boldness of his action.

Then she realized this was his revenge. He was daring her to put her own reputation on the line. Air whooshed back into her lungs, and she matched him stare for stare. "I would be honored."