Page 94 of Song of the Shadow Prince
I smiled brightly. “How else? By painting.”
As I strodeout of the grand hall, I asked Maeve to get the carriage ready to take me to the beach house.
“Are we leaving now?” she asked as we quickly walked down the walkway.
I shook my head. “Notwe,” I said. “Iam. You’re staying behind.”
She furrowed her brows. “Why? Are you upset with me?”
I stopped walking and turned to her, taking ahold of her hands. I smiled. “No, Maeve, I’m not. I could never. But I want you to stay behind to prepare for Arya’s brother’s arrival next week.”
Maeve’s eyes widened. “Oh, I forgot!”
I nodded. “His courtyard needs to be cleaned and organized, and he needs proper servants assigned to him. Do you think you can handle that while I’m gone?”
She beamed. “Of course, my lady!”
I knew how much she liked Jacob. I was manipulating her, and I hated it. But I couldn’t uncover the hidden money around her or else she would find out we have it. It was best she didn’t know about it. It was also best that she didn’t know I had to go to the palace to pay off a bribe. With everything going on, the less she had to worry about the better.
Lord Zacharia was sending a messenger pigeon to Minister Malachai, the slimeball who ratted me out, with instructions to meet me at the palace entrance so I wouldn’t have to go inside. That was where we’d be doing the exchange. According to Zacharia, our meeting wouldn’t be odd in the slightest and could easily be explained away since Minister Malachai controlled Elaria’s silkworm farms. This would appear as payment for silk and the many pretty dresses Lord Zacharia bought for his daughters.
When the carriage was ready, Maeve quickly bundled me up in my cloak and I headed outdoors. She helped me climb the steps up to the carriage and I climbed inside.
“Be careful, my lady. Send a messenger pigeon if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you, Maeve.”
The driver snapped the reins and we trundled down the road. I settled back against the seat and tried to enjoy the ride to the beach house.
After selectinga trunk full of coins, which Garrick suspiciously gave to me without question, the warlock helped load it in the carriage. I took the opportunity to remind him about Damien’s arrival this evening, just in case I didn’t make it back in time to see him after delivering the minister’s hush money.
I didn’t bother looking out the window as the carriage bounced along the road to Dragon Valley. Exhaustion weighed down my limbs and addled my mind. Recent events had siphoned the energy out of me and more than ever, I wanted to go home. And I meant my home in West Hollywood, not my fantasy home in the Ryder residence. If only I could figure out how.
Then, I had a lightbulb moment.
“I’m going to the palace,” I muttered, “and the seer is in the palace.”
Klaus told me the seer had the answers I sought. If I could sneak around and find him, maybe, just maybe I could get home by this weekend.
This was my only shot.
Although I’d planned to nap during the long trip to the palace, the excitement of potentially meeting the seer again had me wired. I practically vibrated in my seat until the carriage stopped in front of the palace gates.
Once again, I was awed by the spectacle. The palace walls shimmered with a scaly mosaic that reflected the sunlight in a thousand hues—reds, golds, and deep greens that shifted with the play of light on shadow. Massive archways loomed like the open jaws of a dragon. After a beat of stillness, the palace gatesopened to reveal a courtyard paved with stones that sparkled with embedded gems.
The carriage came to a stop and the driver stepped down, then quickly dislodged the steps and helped me out of the carriage. I looked up to see a tall, older gentleman with salt and pepper, shoulder-length hair briskly walking toward me. He wore a royal blue robe lined with gold, with tanned, wrinkled skin and a broad smile.
“Lady Arya!” he greeted.
I bowed, assuming this was the odious man for whom I’d brought the trunk of coins. “Minister Malachai.”
“What a lovely surprise seeing you here!” he simpered, lightly gripping my elbows like a long-lost uncle. “I expected your father, but when he told me you were coming instead, I was delighted. It’s so wonderful to see you! My daughter told me it’s been ages since she’s seen you,” he added with a knowing look.
I narrowed my gaze on him and sighed as I walked past him with my head held high and my nose in the air. “I’ve been busy, but I’m sure you’re aware of that,” I said casually. The last thing I wanted to do was give credence to his claims of seeing me in the brothel, no matter how true they were.
He laughed awkwardly and had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. “Right… I mentioned to your father how I’d seen you in rather…compromising establishments lately. You certainlyhavebeen busy,” he said tightly.
“Yes, I have.” I spun on my heels to face him and smirked. “I just never realized that the emperor’s ministers gossiped far more than the ladies of the Northern District.”
