The Queen's Assassin (The Queen's Secret #1)(80)

Shadow sips her tea. “When I was at Baer,” she says, taking time with her words, “something odd happened. It happened once there, and again when I touched the floor of the great hall at Deersia.”

“When were you at Baer?” Moriah asks, almost shouting. She stops herself, takes a breath. “You know what, never mind.” She waves her hand in the air.

“What happened, child?” asks Mesha.

Shadow looks at her aunts. “I had a vision—but it was more than a vision—it seemed like I was actually transported. The first incident was at the tree . . . I went back in time and witnessed the end of the Battle of Baer.”

Cal sits back and crosses his arms. Why didn’t she tell him this before? The aunts gasp. Shadow’s mother inhales loudly, as if bracing herself.

“The second, at Deersia, wasn’t nearly as disturbing, but I saw it when it was brand-new, a thousand years ago. Omin of Oylahn appeared to me.”

Aunt Moriah turns to the sitting room and nods to Shadow’s mother, a look passing between them.

“Did the mage say anything to you?”

“‘Follow your path,’” says Shadow.

They are all silent for a moment.

Cal breaks the silence. “So the Aphrasians not only possess the scrolls, but it appears they now have a powerful magical weapon as well.”

“Exactly. It is even more vital we uncover the Montrician conspirator and eliminate the threat,” Aunt Moriah says. “What have you found so far?”

“The duke and duchess are imposters,” says Cal. “We believe that they murdered the real duke and duchess more than twenty years ago. Or at least, the duke did; the duchess is quite young . . . or merely looks it.”

The aunts nod, and Shadow’s mother leans forward. So this is the great Guild spy Shadow told him about.

“We have no evidence that the duke is working against the Renovian crown. However, we do believe the duke is a mage,” he says. “But is he Aphrasian? That we do not yet know.”

Everyone gathered at the table ruminates on this information. Shadow looks nervously at her family; Cal can tell she’s worried that they won’t allow her to help him finish their work. But her aunts only sigh, and make no move to reprimand or order her to stay.

“There is a plot to assassinate Princess Lilac,” Shadow’s mother says finally. “The princess is in Montrice with the queen, and she is not safe. The two of you must discover the truth about the duke as soon as possible. The queen herself orders this.”

“Where are the princess and the queen now?” asks Cal.

“All I can tell you is that they are safe in Montrice,” says Shadow’s mother.

Shadow perks up. “I am given this assignment as well?”

Shadow’s mother studies her for a long time, then nods.

The princess has always been a target, Cal knows. His own father told him this. The Aphrasians will stop at nothing to render her death.

Aunt Mesha bustles at the table. “Would anyone like more to eat?” They all decline. Cal wishes he could fit more away, but he just can’t. He stands and clears the table for his hostesses.

Once the table is clear and the dishes are done, Aunt Mesha takes Cal by the arm and walks with him to the front door. “Darling, would you mind terribly if we have a moment alone with Shadow?”

“Of course.” She puts him off guard by giving him a quick hug before walking back inside. He decides to admire the gardens while Shadow speaks with her aunts and mother.

Though he’s some distance from the house, he hears everyone talking before it falls eerily silent again. A minute or two later he hears stomping and shouting, then Shadow bursts out the door. Cal sees she’s changed. Agitated. She heads straight to the road without looking at him. Her aunts follow after her. Moriah’s eyes are red and puffy. She holds on to Mesha for support. Shadow’s mother does not come out of the house.

“Is everything all right?” Cal calls out. None of them pay attention to him—they seem to be lost in their own world—unaware he’s there anymore. They just walk past him, toward Shadow.

He watches them from afar as they argue, or rather, as Shadow does, her arms flailing around. The aunts seem to be trying to calm her down. Cal stands around near the house, unsure what he should do. Should he go inside, talk to Shadow’s mother maybe?

Finally, Aunt Mesha walks back toward him. “The coach will return in a little while and bring you back to the Girt estate. There is little time to spare. If the Aphrasians have a way to deflect magic and strengthen their own, then even the Guild does not stand a chance against them. We don’t know how much time we have before the enemy strikes. You must uncover the conspirator before they reach the princess. Lilac must live.”

“I understand,” Cal tells her.

“I’m not sure you do. But we believe in you. Both of you.” She smiles at him. “Find the Montrician conspirator and take care of them, by whatever means necessary.”

Cal nods.

She pauses, then continues. “There’s not a lot we can do to assist you, but we’ll do what we can. For now, we’d like to bestow a protection charm upon both of you, if you are agreeable to it. From that, we can give you each a talisman to carry.”

He’s never experienced something like that, but he doesn’t see how it can hurt. “Thank you,” he says. “I would be grateful.”