Page 79 of Kingdom of Dance

Zinnia’s head snapped up, her eyes searching the dragons’. What did that mean? Did they…was it possible they knew about Idric? She searched her mind frantically for a way to ask which the magic would allow, but nothing came to her.

“We’ve achieved our purpose in coming,” Dannsair said to Reka, her gaze on the guards standing not far away. “We have other matters to attend to.”

“Wait!” Zinnia was on her feet, her voice pleading. “Don’t leave without explaining!”

“Some knowledge is dangerous, Princess,” said Rekavidur calmly. And without another word, the two dragons sprang into the air and wheeled away northward.

“What was all that about?” Violet demanded, looking thoroughly rattled.

Zinnia shook her head, her heart in her throat. She didn’t know how to explain, and she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to.

“Come on,” she said instead. “We’ll be late for dinner if we don’t go back. And if we’re late, we won’t have time to eat before we have to go underground.”

“That makes it sound so sinister,” said Violet lightly.

Zinnia gave no answering smile, just leading the way back through the shallows and up the rocky path. They barely had time to change before the meal, and Zinnia slipped on the first clean dress she found. It was a little too fancy for dinner, the gold fabric shimmering in the fading light, set off by the golden flowers which were embroidered all over the bodice and ran down the skirt. She waved off the maid who attempted to pin her hair back up. It didn’t matter what she looked like, after all.

Or so she’d thought.

When she entered the dining room, she actually stumbled in her shock. Every face turned to hers, including the one that had shown an uncomfortable tendency to appear in her dreams—dark-eyed and brooding, with close-cropped black hair and a white scar along one jaw.

“Obsidian,” she said, forgetting to even greet the rest of her family. “Where did you spring from?”

He looked surprised by her direct question, although he should know better by now. Standing quickly, he bent in a bow, his eyes searching her face with unnecessary intensity.

“I’ve just returned from my errand, Princess Zinnia. I trust I find you well.”

She gave no reply, examining him in her turn. “Youlook well enough.”

Violet chose that moment to nudge her suggestively, and Zinnia sent her sister a dark look before flouncing into her seat. Now that the lieutenant was back, she felt doubly aggrieved with him for going away in the first place.

She avoided his eye for most of the meal, uncomfortably aware of the shadows under her eyes, and the general slump of her shoulders. But she couldn’t put on a better show. She’d been pretending for so long, and she had nothing left. No one else had commented. Surely he would just assume she was tired.

But as the meal went on, that optimistic conviction waned. He’d always been far too shrewd, and his eyes barely left her. Basil also seemed to be watching her with a strange intensity, which made her wonder again what Obsidian had been sent to do. In any event, she was sure the lieutenant could tell her condition had deteriorated, and she had the uneasy suspicion that he wasn’t going to let the matter go.

Idric’s call could come at any time, and she was too afraid to head for the nursery with those dark eyes fixed on her. Once, she’d hoped someone would find a way to follow them through the trapdoor. But now she was terrified of it. Idric had made it clear what the fate of any intruder would be, and she couldn’t bear to see Obsidian reduced to ash like the other unfortunate enchanter.

She tried to reassure herself that Obsidian wouldn’t be able to follow them—he’d be prevented by the magic. But she couldn’t be easy. He’d followed her through the city without her realizing, twice. And he had powerful magic of his own. What if it was enough to get him through the trapdoor? What if he’d acquired something in his absence—whether information or artifact—that would get him past Idric’s defenses?

She steeled herself. These fears weren’t new. They’d been plaguing her all week, and she’d prepared for the possibility. Now she just had to put her plan into action. As soon as some of the family began to rise from the table, Zinnia leaned forward.

“Lieutenant,” she said, a little too casually. “I was wondering if you’d like to walk with me. I’d love to hear about your journey.”

Obsidian’s eyes were wary. He definitely knew she was up to something. But he nodded, rising fluidly from his seat. Zinnia saw Basil watching them, looking more tense than she’d seen him in a long time, but she ignored her brother. Before joining her, Obsidian pulled a crimson traveling cloak from under his chair.

Zinnia raised an eyebrow, dipping her head toward it. “You were speaking literally when you said you’d just returned.”

The soldier nodded, brushing a bit of dirt off his sleeve in an almost self-conscious gesture. “I made my report to His Majesty the moment I arrived, and we were ushered straight to the dining hall.”

Zinnia was still eying the cloak. “That’s a little ostentatious for your usual style,” she commented, as the two of them emerged into the corridor.

Obsidian just grunted. “What can I do for you, Princess?”

Princess. Back to titles, were they?

“Walk with me,” she said, deciding she’d need to ease him in a little. Her heart leaped erratically, trying not to think about what he was going to make of her behavior. She might have only minutes, and she couldn’t afford to delay.

Their path took them past the courtyard where they’d once sat together, and Zinnia glanced in casually. To her surprise, there was a tall figure there, looking about with a restless air.

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