Page 32 of A Dagger in the Ivy

But now there is nothing, so I sheathe my dagger and go back theway I came. I still don’t know where Prince Torbin ran off to, but maybe he returned to our spot in the courtyard. I can just imagine his confusion, not finding me there, waiting for him.

I pick up my pace and return to the large, glass doors that lead to the ballroom, but I stop short when I run into Nadya.

She takes my hands, looking over my face. “There you are. Where have you been?”

“I, uh… What’s wrong?”

She leans closer. “I was worried about you. The prince said he couldn’t find you, and I won’t lie, but it crossed my mind that you might have fled.”

“You do know me well,” I murmur. “Where is the prince now?”

As soon as I say it, I spot him headed my way. His gaze darts around my face, a line creasing his forehead. I’m grateful his expression is of concern and not anger.

“Celeste. You disappeared.” Torbin approaches and sets a hand on my arm. “Whatever happened?”

Nadya releases me and steps back. She continues to study me, just to be sure, but I give her a nod to let her know I’m fine.

I turn back to Torbin. I want to throw his question back at him and find out where he’s been. But at the same time, I’m reluctant to be honest with him and tell him I was about to throw open some door to a private room because I thought I heard crying behind it. Crying that might have just been my imagination. Suddenly, I don’t want to play the inquiry game. I guess the prince isn’t the only one hiding things.

“I’m sorry. I got lost.”

CHapter

Fourteen

Indirathrows back the curtains, and sunlight pierces my eyes like blades. I squint and roll to my side, suppressing a groan.

“Morning, Your Highness. Rise and shine.”

I can’t recall the hour in which I returned to my room from the ball, but I know it was later than I had intended. After my run-in with Dante, there was more dancing with Torbin, and small talk with nobles. But the king and queen never returned from wherever they disappeared to. I know that must have been her crying in that room, but I have no proof. My theory is the king wasn’t pleased with her drinking and reprimanded her in that private room. Perhaps the glass shattering was the queen dropping or throwing a wineglass in her drunken stupor.

It’s really not for me to speculate or judge. It irks me that I’ve come to agree with Dante. But he’s right: it’s not my place.

“Indira, have you no decency?” Nadya yammers as she stumbles into my room, rubbing her eyes. She’s being more or less pushed into my room by Indira.

“No time to dally.” Indira pulls a dress out of my trunk and lays it on the bed. “This will do for your lessons, I think.”

“Lessons?”I ask through a yawn.

“With the magister.” Indira gives me an exasperated look. “To learn about Hedera.”

“Oh, right.” I wrinkle my nose. My uncle said I would need to brush up on my knowledge of the Land of Ivy, but I wasn’t aware these were actual lessons that I would be required to attend.

Nadya giggles, plopping down on a settee. “Sounds boring. Have fun, Celeste.”

Indira clucks her tongue. “I don’t know what you’re laughing at, Lady Nadya. You’re required to attend as well.”

Nadya’s eyes bulge. “You lie.”

“I do not, my lady.”

As Nadya grunts and buries her head in her hands, I stand and stretch. I’m actually used to rising early for my post as commander, but my regiment duties don’t usually follow a ball that continued into all hours of the night.

“Before your lessons, you’re invited to have breakfast with His and Her Majesties in the royal dining hall.” Indira shoves me down in the vanity chair and starts pulling a brush through my hair.

Though I’m not really in the mood to play nice with the king and queen so early in the morning, I am extremely curious about their disappearance last night.

“After you’ve eaten,” Indira continues, “the chamberlain, Master Zimmerman, will escort you to your lessons.”

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