Dividing Eden (Dividing Eden #1)(13)

She thought about the outage of the lights and Andreus’s test and what Larkin said about the lack of power below, and tried to see three steps ahead on the chessboard.

Andreus thought she was looking for connections because of the dreams she couldn’t remember, dreams that had left her feeling so unsettled the past few months. Maybe he was right, but Carys doubted it. Someone was playing a game. The question was who, and which piece in this game were they taking aim at? Andreus? Their father? Or was it someone else?

Taking his arm again, she asked quietly, “Was your test today successful?”

Andreus grinned, transforming his handsome features into those of the boy she used to play hide-and-go-seek with. “It was. The Masters are going to watch the gauges, and if everything continues to go well, they’ll replace the wire in the lines starting next week. And while they do that, they can fix the design flaw that has now been discovered and clearly leaves us vulnerable.”

Carys frowned. “Father is going to think you set him up. He’s going to believe you defied him, made him look weak, and are attempting to gain power for yourself.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Andreus said. Although she could see by the way her brother’s eyes narrowed that he realized it might not be. “You know I can’t afford to draw attention to myself.”

“I do know that, Dreus,” she said as she spotted Chief Elder Cestrum watching them from across the way. “But others don’t. Did you tell anyone about the test? One of your ladies?”

“My ladies, as you call them, aren’t interested in talk, sister. If they were I’d be doing it wrong and further . . . ” Andreus frowned.

“What?”

He turned and looked up at the orb, then took Carys by the arm and led her inside the tower. While the walls protected her from the cold, Carys couldn’t shake the chill running through her. Her brother checked the stairs and whispered, “All right. There is one person I told. Max’s family used to tell him that the Xhelozi came in the dark to take the children that were deformed or sickly. I told him the Xhelozi would never come for him. I thought he’d finally feel safe if he understood how it all worked.”

Max. The little boy Andreus had rescued. “You told him about your new wire?”

Andreus sighed. “And the test, after he asked when the castle would start using it. But he wouldn’t have said anything to anyone. I was just trying to reassure him by letting him know that the lights will always shine. The boy was scared. I know what it’s like to live with that kind of fear.”

“I know you do, Dreus.” Too well. “But you have to be careful. Everyone has been talking about the boy.”

“Because I saved him.”

“Dreus, the boy doesn’t understand life in the castle or the games the court plays. He doesn’t know that one innocent word about you can cause us problems. You have to find out if he spoke to anyone. We have to know who is behind this. If Father thinks you’ve deliberately acted against him, you will be ordered into service with the guard.”

If that happened, it was only a matter of time before Andreus’s affliction made itself known, and unlike the other times, she would not be able to distract everyone before they realized what was happening.

“I’ll talk with him. He’s a curious boy and is probably nosing around here somewhere.” Andreus turned to her and took her cold hand in his. “You should go down to the Hall of Virtues. Make sure everyone knows we aren’t under attack and the world is not going to end. I’ll meet you down there as soon as I have answers. Then we’ll figure out our next move.”

“Next move, Prince Andreus?”

Chief Elder Cestrum stood in the doorway. Carys felt her breath catch as the Elder carefully studied them both.

Smoothly, her brother said, “In assuring everyone that the city is safe and that the almost immediate restoration of the lights demonstrates that we are more than prepared for the cold months ahead. The last thing the King would want is to find unrest when he returns.”

“Which is why I’m going down to circulate among the members of the court now. They need to know that I have seen the Masters of Light at work, that the wind is blowing strong, and that all is as it should be,” Carys said. She smiled at the Chief Elder and added, “Would you care to join me, my lord? As you are the most respected member of the Council, your voice would go a long way to assuaging any residual fears.”

Chief Elder Cestrum stepped forward and stroked the tip of his white beard with a gloved hand. “I would be happy to join you, Princess, since I’m sure your brother wants to check in with the Masters before he goes inside.” He turned toward Andreus and smiled. “I hear we have you to thank for the quick fix to tonight’s problem. The King might not respect those who favor brains over brawn, but the Council does. You have the thanks of the Elders, Prince Andreus.”

He bowed to her brother, who took the opportunity to stride out of the door and back into the cold and wind. Elder Cestrum looked at Carys and held out his right arm. “Shall we, Your Highness?” Carys placed her hand on top of the iron claw and gathered her skirts with the other hand, then she started down the stone steps.

“Your brother is handling this crisis well,” Elder Cestrum said with a small smile. “As are you, Princess. Perhaps the King and Queen have been too cautious in involving you both in more serious matters of our kingdom and court.”