The City of Veils Page 17

  "Ah, I have a solution for that," Katarine said, reaching for the folds of my dress. Where I'd thought there was a seam was actually a deep pocket. "I told Norris you needed a place to put your cheat sheets."

  "You're brilliant," I said with a grin. "I think I could fit a few knives in there, too—"

  "No, Brynn," Felix said. "No weapons. We can't have the sovereign slicing people up."

  "Or worse, you'll slice up your dress," Katarine said, smoothing out the folds.

  "Fine, fine," I said, looking at myself in the mirror. For the first time, I thought I actually looked like a princess, what with the crown and the cream-colored dress, and the attendants staring lovingly. And when no one was looking, I slipped one of my knives into my dress and felt a little like myself, too.

  My private dining room had been transformed, with the usual garish place settings replaced by much more ostentatious ones. I hadn't thought it was possible to add more gold to the table, but there it was—gold-trimmed plates, goblets, napkin rings—even the silverware was gold. Forcadel flags hung around the room in place of the usual tapestries, and the Lonsdale crest hung right behind the biggest chair at the head of the table. I was loath to sit in it, so I remained standing.

  "You'll greet your guests outside," Felix said. "A short service of appetizers and drinks will be served, then you'll make your way in here."

  I noted the temperature of the room, which was warm, but not uncomfortable. "And when will you stoke the fires?"

  "While you're out there entertaining your guests," he said, handing me a list. "Some topics you could discuss."

  "Thanks," I said, putting the list in my secret pocket next to my knife.

  "You're going to do great," he said softly. "Just try to forget about Beswick and enjoy yourself for the first hour."

  "Right," I said, glancing down at the dress. "Because walking around in a tent is my idea of an enjoyable time."

  "You look beautiful," he said as the door opened. "Now, I think I see your first guests. Go be charming."

  I forced a smile onto my face as I walked out into the receiving room. A redheaded woman and a man in a nice suit coat were there, whispering under their breaths. When they saw me, their faces changed immediately.

  "Your Highness," Rosita said, curtseying. "It is an honor to be invited to your first dinner. May I introduce my business partner, George Pheros."

  "Pleasure," I said, nodding as he bowed. "Let's see about getting some wine, shall we?"

  Almost as soon as the words left my mouth, an attendant appeared with a tray of glasses. I plucked one off the tray and raised it.

  "Cheers."

  "To a long, happy reign," George said.

  "To a prosperous reign," Rosita replied.

  "Indeed." I took a sip, needing a little more liquid courage to get through the day. "So tell me, Rosita—may I call you Rosita?"

  "You may call me whatever you like, Your Highness." The forced smile said otherwise, but I went with it.

  "How are things on the western front?"

  "Oh." She twirled her drink around. "Well, as well as usual. We can't all have the queen swooping in to help us when we ask."

  I furrowed my brow then realization dawned. "You're talking about the ships I sent to assist? Surely the extra guards help you too?"

  "No, m'lady," she said, and the truth behind her distaste of me was clear. "There are several trade routes and ports the Severians used. You sent extra ships to Milaard. We trade out of Brockle. There are about three hundred miles between them."

  I sipped on my wine, giving myself some extra time. "And how might you resolve that problem? Of the pirates?"

  She looked taken aback, sharing a look of surprise with George. "W-well, I might consider upping the reward for pirates on the eastern front. And perhaps increasing military presence on all ports, not just Milaard. Because the Forcadel navy is spread so thin, often there's only the local governor, as the navy moves between all the ports."

  I nodded, taking another sip. "I'd like to talk more about this. Piracy concerns me, obviously. Ilara says they deal with it on their end as well."

  "Who cares about them?" Rosita said with a snort.

  "I do," I said with a cool look. "And if the Severians work with us to resolve the issue, you might benefit from it."

  She opened her mouth to argue, but luckily, I was saved by the Stolliday boy. Although I was barely eighteen myself, and the man who walked in was perhaps twenty, he gave the impression that he was a baby. He bowed clumsily and shook Rosita and George's hands.

  "My lady, my brother sends his appreciation that you invited our family to your first dinner," he said.

  "Sent the child, I see," Rosita mumbled under her breath.

  I cleared my throat. "Glad you could join us, Aran."

  Fitzsimmons was a tall man with a pencil mustache who offered his congratulations on my impending coronation. Vernice was the next arrival, arm-in-arm with a handsome man with a charming smile, Obuch, I assumed. He seemed to be the only one in the room actually glad to be there.

  "It is an honor to meet you," he said, taking a glass from the passing attendant. "I'm looking forward to discussing how we can continue to use our Forcadel navy to enhance our alliances with the Kulkans."

  Rosita snorted; she was on her second glass. "You've taken plenty of the navy's time, Obuch. It's time the rest of us got some consideration."

  "You are welcome to move your ships to a more prosperous port, Finkle, as am I," he said with a casual shrug.

  As they got into it, calmly sniping at each other's businesses, my gaze drew to the door. One final invitee should've been on their way, and I was starting to get antsy.

  "Your Highness," Stolliday said, coming to stand next to me. "Are you settling in into your role?"

  "Somewhat," I said with a forced smile. Perhaps Felix was just taking his time in inspecting him, or maybe he'd run into trouble. Or maybe, I hoped, Felix had found the contracts, arrested the man, and was coming to tell me so.

  "Are we going to dine or are we going to stand around all night?" Rosita asked, now on her third glass.

  "One moment," I said, my hopes rising as Felix walked into the room. I hurried over to him, rubbing my sweaty hands on my dress as he pulled me into the corner. "What's going on?"

  "He's not coming," he whispered, pulling a small piece of paper from his back pocket. "We just received this."

  I snatched the scrawled paper out of his hand and read it three times before understanding what it said. Beswick sent his regrets, but he had a business emergency to attend to.

  "An emergency?" I growled, crumpling up the paper. "What's more important than meeting me?"

  "Take a breath," Felix said, glancing behind me at the partygoers, who were undoubtably watching. "We'll try again some other way. Ilara couldn't make it either. Apparently, she's taken ill."

  "But now I have to make do with these idiots and there's no upside for me," I said. "Can I fake an illness, too? Maybe I'll throw up."

  "Go entertain your guests," he said softly. "It's a good opportunity to try to get on Vernice's good side."

  I glared at him, hoping that the string of vulgarities on the tip of my tongue was accurately conveyed, but all it seemed to do was make him laugh.

  "Do you want me to join you?" he asked softly. "After all, it's no fun to dine without at least one friend."

  I would've rather dined with Beswick, but in the end, I nodded.

  It was hard to hide the fury back on my face as I stormed into the dining room. I had the good sense to be patient as an attendant pulled back my chair and I sat down. The rest of the guests took their seats, Felix in the one set aside for Ilara, and I glared angrily at the empty one set for Beswick.

  "Is the queen not joining us?" Rosita asked.

  "Ah, no," I said, grabbing my napkin from the plate. "She has taken ill."

  "Perhaps she shouldn't have traveled so far from home," Vernice said, fanning herself. "It may be my age
, but it's awfully toasty in here, isn't it?"

  "Yes," I said, waving my hand. "Tell the attendants to put out the fires, we're warm enough."

  "But—"

  "I said," I smiled thinly, "we're warm enough."

  The attendant nodded and set about the room, as the first course arrived, a green vegetable soup that Katarine had picked out a few days before.

  "So we were just discussing your navy," Obuch said, his spoon delicately perched in his hand. "It seems you've sent a fleet to help out our neighbors to the north. Does this have anything to do with Queen Ilara's arrival?"

  "No," I said, pushing the green, creamy liquid around in my bowl. Damn, it was hard not to pout.

  An awkward silence followed as they waited for me to continue.

  "I'm concerned," I began slowly, "with something Ilara did tell me though. Apparently, the Severians are paying for protection from some unknown parties."

  "Why don't they just use their own people to protect their shipments?" Vernice asked.

  I picked up my fresh goblet of wine and lifted it to my lips, wondering if getting drunk was an acceptable alternative to this nightmare dinner. But I stopped myself before I put it to my lips, smelling something…new. The wine I'd been drinking had been a pungent red, the bitterness contrasting nicely with the powerful flavors of the pheasant. But this glass smelled sweet.

  Almost like poison.

  "Are you all right?" Stolliday asked.

  "I'm feeling a touch under the weather myself," I replied, putting the goblet down and wishing I could throw it across the room. I casually lifted my fingers to my nose, smelling for traces of poison there, but blessedly finding nothing. It must be confined to my goblet.

  "Something amiss with your wine?" Vernice asked, hesitantly.

  A smile curled onto my lips. "Why so interested in my food, Vernice? Something here that I absolutely must try?"

  Felix caught my gaze and his brow furrowed.

  "Because it seems to me that this wine has soured somewhat," I said, picking it up and smelling it again. There was no doubt now—it was poisoned. "But please, try it and tell me your opinion."

  "I have my own," she said, but didn't reach for her glass.

  "I would try it," Aran said, reaching across the table.

  I pulled the glass out of his reach, shaking my head. "Unless you'd like it to be your last, I wouldn't. My drink has been poisoned."

  Vernice laughed loudly, a noise that sounded guilty. "Poisoned? Your Highness, you must be getting paranoid."

  "Must I be?" I replied. "Then I welcome you to drink it."

  Her eyes narrowed. "I have had enough, thank you. But perhaps your captain could try it."

  "Perhaps he could," I said, rising to my feet. "Believe me, it's crossed my mind more than once to poison the man, but as it stands, I need him to arrest you."

  Felix cleared his throat as he rose from the table. "A word, Your Highness."

  I followed him out of the dining room and into the main hall, still within sight of the guests, who were watching me with unabashed curiosity. I kept my gaze on Vernice, who was conferring with Obuch and one of her attendants.

  "First of all, you have no proof it was Vernice," Felix said, gently turning my chin back to look at him. "So quit staring at her like you're going to murder her."

  I blinked at him. "The cup is poisoned, I promise you. And based on her reaction—"

  "You can't hang a woman on her reaction," Felix said. "And if you go around accusing your Council of poisoning you—"

  "What?" I said. "Did you see the look on her face?"

  "Lower your voice," Felix commanded, and I nearly saw red.

  "Don't you dare say that to me again," I said, poking him in his velvet-clad chest. "And if you won't do the work to get rid of this murderer then maybe The Veil will. If I hadn't smelled that poison, I'd be the third royal dead. Not a great way to start your career as captain of the guard, Felix."

  He brushed off my jab. "The Veil would do well not to go after a Councilwoman. Vernice is well-liked and, more importantly, well-connected. It smacks of paranoia to accuse her of attempted murder, especially on such flimsy evidence."

  "Then I will find better evidence," I snarled, spinning and walking out of the room.

  "And where are you going?" Felix asked. "What about your dinner party?"

  "Where do you think?"

  Chapter 25

  I donned my mask and hood that night, filled with righteous indignation. I was to be queen and still had no power to vanquish my enemies. I knew—in my gut—Vernice was the one who'd ordered my poisoning.

  Unfortunately, I was stopped before I even began.

  "You can't murder a Councilwoman," Felix said, leaning against the garden wall as I passed by. He was still in his uniform, his sword at his side.

  "I told you, The Veil doesn't kill," I said. "If she did, Beswick would be a dead man already."

  "Fine, you can't maim her either," he said, following behind me. "I don't arrest you because the people like what you do, however illegal it may be. If you hurt Vernice, I will have no choice."

  I straightened. "You would arrest your princess?"

  "I'd have no choice but to unmask you." He put his hands on my shoulders. "I've already got my men questioning the kitchen staff. It was poison in your glass, by the way. And yes, Vernice is one of our suspects."

  "No shit." I stepped away from him. "So why the lying in the dining room?"

  "Because I can't very well tell the subject of my investigation that she's being investigated," he replied. "I had to make her think I wasn't going to do anything, so when I do, she doesn't have time to cover her tracks."

  Shifting from foot to foot, I tried to find fault with him. "Well, you waited too long."

  "Joella left the room the moment you mentioned poison," he said, coming to stand behind me. "I've been expecting this for some time, and they know what to do."

  I was grateful for my mask, because it hid my red cheeks. Perhaps he wasn't as stupid as I'd thought. "I'm not going sit idly by while someone out there tries to kill me. You can't ask me to do that. Not when you know I can help."

  He exhaled loudly and yanked a piece of paper from his trousers. "We're starting with the staff. Here's a list of them. I'm giving you this—" He pulled it out of my grasp as I reached for it. "Brynna, I'm giving you this with your promise that you won't threaten, maim, or hurt anyone on the list. And that you won't go after Beswick or do anything stupid."

  "I could give two shits about Beswick tonight," I growled. Then, I realized what he was saying. "So…you're trusting me?"

  "I trust that you're more fired up about the poisoner than Beswick." He took a step back. "But don't be surprised if we find him first. We're very good at what we do."

  "I'm so sure."

  My first stop of the night was Stank's. If the poisoner had spent any time in the slums, John would know. I arrived at the bar in record time, enjoying the return to freedom without Felix trailing me, but also kind of missing his constant breath on my shoulder. Pushing open the bar door, I searched for familiar faces and saw few. The room was filled with Severians, which I supposed made sense considering the numbers Ilara had brought. They paid me little attention, talking in low voices as they played a dice game I'd never seen before.

  "Evening," Frank said. "John's in the back."

  "Thanks," I said, throwing a couple coins on the bar.

  "Ah, my dear Veil," John said, sitting against the window. "Sorry I missed you a few weeks ago, and for meeting back here. All these Severians hanging around." He shuddered. "I've made one too many bad deals with them and they aren't very fond of me."

  "So they don't know you own this place?" I asked, walking closer.

  He nodded, kicking out the chair for me to sit. "Nobody else is in port, either. Nothing but Severians as far as the eye can see. Kieran was supposed to be back this week, but I doubt he can even get into the bay."

  "Are they all here for Il
ara?" I asked.

  "No, apparently they're all here for the summer festival," he said, shaking his head. "Beswick opened the floodgates and let as many of them in as could fit on a boat. Surprised they even know how to sail."

  "Yes, well…" I cleared my throat. "There was an attempt on the princess's life tonight. A poisoning. Know anything about it?"

  His brows shot up—not a good sign. "Poor girl. Somebody's trying really hard to make sure the Lonsdale line ends."

  "Luckily for us, she can scent a poison," I said, thankful my anger at Beswick not showing up hadn't gotten the better of me. Had I not been paying attention, things could've turned out quite differently. "I take it you know nothing about it?"

  "When the prince died, there was some talk around here, but it disappeared pretty quickly. Nothing concrete, of course, just rumors. You know how it goes. They say it was done by someone in the kitchens."

  "The captain's searched the kitchens, hasn't found a trace of it. And they're pretty good about keeping track of who's touched the royals' food—for obvious reasons. And I saw…know that the princess's wine came from the same bottle as the rest of the room's, so—"

  "Ah, yeah, but…" He picked up the goblet next to him. "Are you checking the glasses?"

  My mouth fell open and I hopped to my feet. "John, you're worth your weight in gold."

  And with that, I dumped the contents of Felix's coin purse on the table and ran from the room.

  Of course, of course. It would've been the person who set the table. It was the perfect crime—Felix and his men would've been so focused on the food that they never would've suspected. As soon as I was out of the bar, I yanked the list from my pocket, scanning the names and their roles. I was beginning to worry that Felix had missed the place setters; after all, they hadn't been on his suspect list. But there they were at the bottom.