Page 59 of MidKnight
Connor nodded. “They seemed to, though they never visited one another.
I thought back. Connor was right. I’d been sent once or twice in my teen years. But always by myself on a gargoyle. “Yes, that’s odd isn’t it?”
“Mother never liked the ocean,” I said. “She always refused to let Avia and I even board a ship. She’d send our fathers to do any christenings or whatnot.”
“Yet, she somehow convinced Queen Diamoni to send over Declan.”
I shrugged. “The way Declan speaks, the Sedarians were just happy to be rid of the embarrassing bastard prince.”
Connor took my hand and turned me toward him. “She might not have loved him. But Diamoni knew how powerful Declan was.”
“Well, he’s powerful, of course, but—”
“No, Bloss Boss,” Connor interrupted. “Why do you think Isla was so eager to get her hands on Declan? He’s incredibly unique. He’s the closest thing there is to a wizard left.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m wondering how two queens who never saw one another were so close. I’m wondering why the queen of the strongest nation in Kenmare, the nation with the greatest navy, would willingly hand over her most powerful son.”
I studied Connor’s eyes. The green was more prevalent than the blue when he was upset. Just then, his eyes looked like emeralds. “Well, what’s your theory?”
“I think that Declan was sent here as protection.”
Connor’s words washed over me like ice water. Goosebumps formed along my spine. My entire being felt cold.
“Protection from what?”
Connor simply stared at me as the pieces fell together in my head and I said, “Gorg brought Avia. But he was our spy master. He wasn’t a diplomat. Spy masters don’t negotiate. They steal. Information. People.”
Connor nodded, “I think Gorg stole Avia. From someone powerful.”
I blinked. I felt drunk. Dizzy drunk. But I was sober. And the world around me was simply wavering, changing shape, morphing to throw me off balance. I braced myself on Connor’s shoulder. I took a few breaths. What he said made sense. Too much awful sense.
Connor rubbed my arm sympathetically. “Do you want me to stop?”
“There’s more?”
He led me over to a bench and helped me sit. I waved him on. If my world was collapsing, better to get it over with.
“I’m guessing Sedara knows who Gorg stole from. That’s why they sent Declan.”
“But why protect us? Why send him?”
Connor shrugged. “It’s just a guess. But, if I had to bet on it, I’d say that Sedara helped your mother get Avia.”
Just then Blue plummeted out of the sky. It felt like my heart went with him. Two countries conspired to steal a baby and keep her hidden? Did I not know my mother at all?
I watched, dazed, as Blue nabbed a beetle that had been trundling along in the garden and pecked at it until he seemed to remember he wasn’t really a bird. He dropped the beetle and frantically wiped his beak on his feathers. He flew back to me, distress on his bird face.
I knew exactly how he felt. Lost. Confused. The world didn’t make sense anymore. We were in the same boat.
I petted his tummy and crooned, “It’s alright, Blue. I’ll feed you some apple when we go inside.”
He rubbed his head against my thumb.
“Did Lewart ever say anything to you about Avia?” I asked Connor, still staring off into the distance, trying to come to terms with all of this. The wind pushed the clouds quickly. In the distance, it looked like there was a storm.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Connor slid the letters into his vest and took my arm, helping me stand back up. “We need to walk so the nobles don’t become suspicious.”
