Gabriel already regretted his plan as he took a seat next to Rufus at the table. “Hey Rufus, nice to see you outside of the training yard.” He forced a smile.
Rufus sat there in shock, mouth gaping, probably struggling to comprehend why the boy he bullied would willingly choose to sit next to him.
Gabriel continued, “I'm sure you know Jessinta. I've been telling her all about how you've been teaching me in the yard.” He discreetly placed his hand on her leg and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained her composure, playing her part.
Gabriel had informed Jessinta of almost everything he had discovered as soon as he entered the hall.
He watched her plaster on a fake smile. “Nice to see you again, Rufus. Thank you for teaching Gabriel. I'm sure he will repay the favor someday.”
Dammit, I tipped my hand to Ash. realizing her words were far from subtle. He doubted Rufus possessed much wisdom, but even he could decipher the hidden meaning behind Jessinta's words. That much is clear. Rufus paused as he was sipping his mead.
Gabriel looked across the table and locked eyes with Lord Loftus. Realization struck him—So that’s where Rufus get’s his size.
Seated next to Lord Loftus was his wife, whose name Gabriel couldn't recall. She donned attire that rivaled even the queen's, her locks braided into an elaborate hairstyle that resembled a crown. Gabriel wondered how long it had taken her maids to prepare her for tonight's supper. For nobles who had supposedly suffered large financial losses recently, they didn’t show it.
Gabriel addressed Lord Loftus and his wife, “Evening, Lord and Lady. I came over to thank Rufus for his teachings in the yard.”
The lady seemed pleased with the acknowledgment, but the lord looked at Rufus inquisitively. The lady spoke first, “Evening, Prince. Welcome to our table. I'm glad to hear that Rufus has been teaching you.”
Gabriel simply nodded kindly and replied, “Yes, my lady. He has certainly taught me some lessons I won't soon forget.” He paused for a moment, as if recalling a joke, and added with a laugh, “One of those lessons involved a rather unfortunate hit on the head. He was terribly sorry; I had to tell him I was fine over and over again.”
Jessinta joined in the laughter, following Gabriel's lead. The lady's smile widened, but the lord merely grunted, clearly unimpressed.
Gabriel needed Lord Loftus to engage in conversation. It was part of the plan he had concocted; they would sit with Rufus and his family, and subtly probe for information to aid the investigation.
“My lord, Rufus will undoubtedly grow into a fine warrior. I'm sure you must be proud,” Gabriel said, hoping to elicit a response from the stern lord.
However, it seemed Lord Loftus did not share the sentiments, because he replied with an indifferent, “We'll see.”
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
It became apparent to Gabriel that Lord Loftus and the king shared similar approaches in their treatment of their children. He wondered. What other similarities did they possess? Would Lord Loftus resort to theft for power? Would he go as far as murder to climb the throne?
Sensing a moment of silence, Jessinta decided to change the topic. “My lady, it's so lovely to see you again. My mother told me about your beautiful garden when she visited in the spring. She spoke highly of it.”
The lady was evidently pleased. “Your mother is much too kind, but I'm glad to hear she enjoyed it.”
Jessinta veered off script, relying on her natural ability to diffuse tense situations. “She mentioned you have the most exquisite floral arrangements, Lady Isa.” Gabriel was thankful she remembered the lady's name—Isa.
Lady Isa responded warmly, “Well, you'll have to come visit our garden with your mother next time.”
Jessinta played her role perfectly, “It would be my pleasure, my lady.”
“You're growing into a beautiful young lady, Jessinta,” Lady Isa complimented. Gabriel couldn't help but glance at Jessinta, catching her eye for a brief moment.
“Thank you, my lady,” Jessinta replied sweetly. The light was dim, but Gabriel swore he saw her cheeks flush with a rosy hue.
Gabriel saw an opportunity to redirect the conversation toward his desired path. “Lady Isa, I understand that your lands are located north near the borders. I hope you haven't encountered too many Galatian soldiers.”
Gabriel was well aware of the gender-specific expectations surrounding discussions of war in Accamania. He knew it wasn't proper for him to broach this topic with a female. However, he hoped Lady Isa might reveal more than her husband. The lord himself stared at Gabriel with narrowed eyes. Meanwhile, Rufus, seated right beside Gabriel, remained silent throughout the meal, his every movement hinting at a brewing storm of retribution.
“It has been a terrible ordeal. They may be finely dressed soldiers, but they are savages. They trample through our lands, burning our crops. Just a few weeks ago, they attempted to invade our territory. Thankfully, my husband was there to protect us,” Lady Isa replied, glancing affectionately toward her husband.
Lord Loftus had finally reached his limit. “No need to upset the ladies with talk of war during supper, my prince,” he said, shutting down the conversation. His final words carried a venomous undertone.
However, Gabriel had one last piece of the puzzle to uncover. “Apologies, ladies. I shouldn't have broached the subject,” he said, feigning remorse. “My etiquette tutors would scold me if they saw me now. It’s just—well, everyone knows how I abhor violence and death. I'm always concerned for our soldiers' wellbeing.” Gabriel's hands were sweaty, and his legs trembled with nerves; he hoped his face didn't betray him too. “Please indulge me in one final question, Lord Loftus. Did any of your soldiers perish?”
Lord Loftus appeared on the verge of snapping, ready to lash out at any moment. However, Gabriel's question must have seemed innocent enough. And after all, he was a prince, therefore outranking Lord Loftus in this antiquated hierarchical system.
“No, none were killed on this occasion,” he grumbled, stabbing his fork into the potatoes.
“That comforts my heart. Again, my apologies for my tactless questions,” Gabriel said, bowing his head in a show of contrition.
Jessinta, always knowing when to interject, redirected their attention. “Ah, it seems dessert is arriving.”
They filled the rest of the time with polite conversation that held little interest for Gabriel. Rufus had uttered only a few words during the entire meal, his tone stilted. His eyes still indicated a deep anger. There would be no way that he could explain his actions to Rufus, and Gabriel knew he would pay a price for his actions—but the pain would be worth it to unravel the secrets.
As supper concluded, Gabriel and Jessinta said their farewells and left the hall together. Just as they slipped out the main door, she asked in a hushed voice, “Did you get what we need?”
Gabriel smiled at her. “Yes, exactly what we need.”
Neither knew that they would be unleashing chaos in the kingdom—setting in motion a chain of events that would shatter the fragile peace and plunge their world into a storm of uncertainty and danger.