Page 25 of The Beauty and the Griffin

I found myself a chair and dropped into it. Xiretta didn’t mean any harm, I’m sure, but her cheerful gravelly voice stating these devastating speculations made it all feel that much worse. The Gamekeeper had always maintained his protective barriers without conscious thought or effort. None of us had expected an attack on the Forbidden Land’s borders since no one except me and a few other people were supposed to know where it was.

How limited was the Gamekeeper’s magic? Would he be able to help us at all?

Did anyone on the council know that Faraway Castle’s Gamekeeper was also the Trollkarl, Head of the World Magic Council? Could they also know his true name and identity? Impossible. Neither Pukai nor I had ever told a soul our deepest secret, and no one else knew about the deadline.

But what if the secret somehow got out?

11

BEATRICE

Restless, worried, and hungryfor information, I donned a sparkly golden gown (seriously, Auntie Bella’s fashion sense was impeccable), freshened my makeup, left my hair mostly loose, and hurried downstairs, following my ears to the ballroom where the dancing and celebrations continued as if all were normal.

As I entered through a side door, some tiny gray human-like creatures scuttled under the dessert tables—hobgoblins, of course. Brownies dashed about, removing empty plates, refilling platters of sweets and crudités, and sweeping up crumbs. I recognized faces among the guests, none of them actual acquaintances. Aside from the magical beings, the party looked unremarkable, yet I sensed a strained undertone.

Where was the Gamekeeper?

“Beatrice!”

Turning, I saw a beautiful woman with silky black hair that flowed past her waist and braced myself just in time to meet her enthusiastic hug without disaster.

“Kammy!” I exclaimed in genuine delight. “Jeralee told me you were here.”

“Yes! And Tor is over there, speaking with one of his scientist friends”—she hardly needed to point out her husband, who stood half a head taller than most of the crowd—“but our little son is already in bed. I can hardly wait for you to meet him! Tor’s sister Vigga is babysitting for us. Did you just arrive?”

“Maybe an hour ago. My grandaunt was called away, but she should join me soon. The last time she brought me here as a guest, I was seven years old.”

Kammy’s dark eyes sparkled when she smiled. “I might even have seen you then; I enjoyed spying on the human children, especially since it was strictly forbidden.” She was petite, like Eddi, and had a similar disregard for rules. Funny, at one time I’d felt like a gawky giantess around my dainty friends, but my height didn’t really bother me anymore. Possibly because the Gamekeeper towered over me . . .

Kammy and I picked up some refreshments, sat at a tiny table in a corner, and caught up on life, chatting about Kammy’s little son, Eddi’s happy romance with Kai, and my work. Finally, I lowered my voice to ask, “Do you know what has happened to the Gamekeeper?”

Kammy’s expression instantly clouded. She glanced around, then leaned toward me to say, “No one has mentioned anything about him. I’m also concerned about my mother, who should have been here for the weddings. I would ask Prince Briar to check on her, but he already left on his honeymoon.”

I nodded, mirroring her concern. “Yeah, I wouldn’t expect news from him anytime soon.”

“Tor and I plan to head home tomorrow,” Kammy said, “but first we’ll check in at Palau Kalah. My sisters and our families often gather on the island over the holidays. If our mother doesn’t show up, I guarantee we will find out why not.”

Kammy was a sweet little thing, but I suspected she and her sisters would be terrifying as enemies. Her mention of the tropical island roused my curiosity. “Could the Gamekeeper be at Palau Kalah?”

She wrinkled her brow in evident concern. “It’s possible, I suppose. He and my mother are old friends. And the island conceals anyone who enters the council cave.”

Even so, I knew in my gut that he wasn’t anywhere nearby. His power had never felt so ephemeral before.

When Kammy excused herself to go check on her son, I filled a plate with hors d’oeuvres, fruit slices, and tiny cakes, mostly to occupy my hands. I was starving, but my stomach felt too tense to handle rich foods.

“Beatrice?”

I turned, barely restraining a groan when I recognized the beautiful golden-haired Lady Gillian, who would be a charter member of Faraway Castle’s Mean Girls Society if such a thing existed.

She gave me a tentative smile. “I’m pleased to see you. I don’t have many friends here.” She winced slightly. “For good reason, of course. But you were always civil to me. Kinder than I deserved.”

I fumbled for a response. “I’m . . . I, uh, heard that you were married recently. Congratulations.” Eddi had mentioned a change in Gillian, but seeing was believing.

Her expression brightened. No hint of a sneer . . . yet. “Thank you. Truly, he’s the best man I know—far too good for me. I don’t feel like I belong here, celebrating the royal weddings. I was horrid to Princess Marielle when she worked here, and Prince Omar isn’t fond of me either—but Prince Briar invited Manny and me, and his grandmother insisted on coming for the weddings.” She glanced beyond me. “Manny is over there with her and a few of her cronies. Lady Beneventi’s mind flickers in and out at times, but she’s still a force to be reckoned with.”

I vaguely recognized the old woman in the wheelchair, and not in an agreeable context. “Yes, I remember her.”

Something of my thoughts must have leaked into my voice; I saw Lady Gillian repress a smile before she spoke in an undertone. “She’s unforgettable for all the wrong reasons, but she’s been very good for me. I mean, I can relate to her.”

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