The Bound (Ascension #2)(79)

“How exactly do you know Basille Selby?” Cyrene asked.

“He used to work in the palace,” Dean told her.

“Used to?”

Dean frowned and looked away from her. “He used to sit on the Privy Council.”

Cyrene started forward, shaking the boat and receiving a glare from the gondolier pushing them through the Upper Sector. “Excuse me? Are you sure we’re talking about the same person?”

“It was a long time ago, but I knew him as a child. He always shared wild stories about other lands, and he could keep a crowd captive for hours. I’d say he doted on me. But, after what happened, I’m not so sure.”

“The Basille Selby I met in the Laelish Market in Byern did not seem the type to ever be on a Privy Council. He certainly seemed to have stories of adventure, but he was not a nobleman. What happened?”

“He was caught in bed with my sister,” Dean said softly.

Cyrene’s eyebrows rose, and she gasped. “Which sister?”

“Brigette. But don’t mention it to him or her. No one really speaks about it at court anymore after he left the Council.”

“The royal heir to Eleysia was caught in bed with a man on the Privy Council.”

“A married man on the Privy Council, who was ten years older than her.”

Cyrene put her hand to her chest and held on to her seat. “Basille is married?”

“He was, but his wife came down with a fever shortly after that and never recovered. Some blamed him for her death. They claimed that her body couldn’t handle the knowledge of his affair. Others claimed that he poisoned her. No one really knows what happened.”

Cyrene was reeling. How could all of this be true about a simple peddler? But, of course, he wasn’t a simple peddler. Simple peddlers wouldn’t have adventure stories or magical books. They wouldn’t know the names of Master Domas or realize she had magic. And he had known.

“So, how did he become a peddler then?” Cyrene asked, processing all of this information.

Dean shrugged. “I’m not entirely sure. He just disappeared and returned as someone else. I’m sure that story is one he guards closely.”

They lapsed into silence as the boat progressed down the narrow waterway. They rounded a bend into a lucrative part of the Upper Sector. Towering buildings were immaculate. It looked about as opposite as was possible from the area of the First Sector where they had been last night.

“Here we are,” Dean said, signaling for the boat to come to a stop.

Cyrene admired the house before her. It was a gorgeous building set to mirror the sandstone exterior of the palace. Though it was packed into the street and wedged in between two other houses, it clearly belonged to someone with significant wealth. Much of the other buildings they had passed seemed to have split residences by stories, but this was in a neighborhood where each house was unique. Each had its own dock, and a gorgeous stone bridge arched across the water.

The gondolier docked them at the house, and Dean helped Cyrene off the boat.

“What is this place?” she asked.

“Basille’s home.”

“He owns a mansion?”

“Unless he sold it, this home in Upper belongs to him. But I doubt he did. It’s a family home.”

Dean offered Cyrene his arm, and they walked forward. He rapped on the front door. A man opened it a minute later, and Cyrene balked at the person in front of her. This was the man she had seen Basille with in Byern.

“Whaddya want?” he asked.

“Good evening. We’re here to see Master Basille Selby. Is he in for the evening?” Dean said formally.

“He’s busy. Don’ like the looks uh ya.”

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Prince Dean Ellison, and we’re here to see Master Basille Selby,” Dean said. He took a step toward the man. “Please ring him for us.”

The man stuttered before dropping into a quick bow. “Course, Majesty.”

Dean and Cyrene went into the enormous house, and Cyrene gasped at its grandeur. Intricate stonework created a mesmerizing pattern on the floor. The walls were a deep burgundy color, and the furniture was antique Eleysian craftsmanship. A large chandelier hung from the ceiling in the entryway.

They walked into a sitting room that was carpeted with deep red Aurumian rugs that must have cost a fortune. Biencan gold platters were arranged on a table beside Kelltic sculptures worked out of the precious metals from the Barren Mountains. Exotic portraits and tapestries covered the walls from Carharan work to novelties all the way from the country of Mastira. It was overdone in its lavishness but also incredible to see all the nations of Emporia together in one place.

“The Prince of the realm,” Basille said, entering the sitting room. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Hello, Master Selby,” Dean said.

Basille started when he saw Cyrene. “And with an Affiliate.”

“Hello, Basille. Good to see you again,” Cyrene said.

Basille Selby looked much the same as Cyrene remembered him. He was tall with thick dark hair slicked back. He wore traditional Eleysian garb though, switching out his traveling garments for silks. He must have recently bathed because he perfumed the room with a cloying scent. He was quite handsome, but she couldn’t imagine Princess Brigette falling into bed with him. She couldn’t picture him married either, not even in his house with all his grandiose ways.