Dinner was held an hour earlier at the request of their royal guests. A private dining hall was arranged where Cassandra could not help but notice that only the royalty and the Heroes of Tethia would be in attendance. Both Maximus and Alois were already there when she arrived and were conversing in hushed whispers. Why not use the jabber jewels for a private conversation? They looked up as Cassandra entered and whatever conversation they had been having came to an immediate halt.
“Cassandra,” Alois greeted, “Are the others almost here? We have something we need to say and the jabber jewels might not be safe.”
“They should be on their way, but I can’t guarantee they will arrive before the royals who summoned us here,” Cassandra replied, immediately concerned, “Why are the jewels not safe?”
“That’s exactly what we need to talk about,” Maximus answered, looking a bit frustrated, “but mostly it is because I told Nero about them.”
“Why would the new king knowing be a problem?” Keane asked as he entered the room, “More importantly, why are you discussing this in a place anyone can listen?”
“That’s true,” Cassandra agreed, “Even if the jabber jewels are compromised, they are still more secure than nothing at all.”
“I was planning to cast a privacy barrier once everyone arrived,” Alois clarified, “But it may have to wait until after dinner.”
As Cassandra was trying to figure out what could possibly be so important for them to try to warn everyone so urgently, she noticed an odd ripple in the air towards the head of the table.
“Someone is here,” she warned.
The ripple became more obvious as it expanded outward to reveal Nero himself sitting there. “It took you long enough to notice my presence,” he scoffed, “No wonder one of the traitors was able to get away. Since you seem busy discussing how suspicious I am, by all means, continue.”
Cassandra winced, but noticed that neither Maximus nor Alois seemed surprised by this revelation.
“This is a bit harsh for a test,” Keane noted, “The headmaster must not be involved.”
“Correct,” Nero confirmed, “I did not need Osmond to tell me that I cannot treat the future Heroes of Tethia as ordinary students. You should hold yourselves to a higher standard as well. At least things aren’t completely hopeless since I was noticed before anything of actual importance was said.”
“Since you find us valuable enough to test us, is there a special reason you have called us here?” Cassandra demanded, a bit frustrated despite herself. If this was what working with King Nero would be like on a daily basis, she had a hard road ahead of her. Then again, he might not still be king by the time she was crowned.
“There is,” Nero answered, glancing between Cassandra’s face and the agitated flicking of Yuki’s tail on her shoulders, “but those reasons must wait until the rest of your companions arrive.”
Cassandra snapped her thoughts back into the present. This was no time to be trying to start a fight with the new king of Tethia. They had just met, and he had invited them to dinner. For now, she needed to be patient and hear him out. She uttered a quick apology for her hastiness and took a seat.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
The others arrived shortly after, with Rosalind being the last right behind Caleb. Cassandra did not miss the way Caleb now eyed Yuki with the same eyes the others had and glanced back at the seventh princess. She felt a sharp pang of betrayal. Why was Caleb allowed to know the truth, but not her? Was she not Rosalind’s apprentice?
“Now that everyone is here I will explain what this is all about,” Nero announced, ignoring the various nonverbal interactions as he erected one of the most impressive privacy barriers Cassandra had ever seen. Everyone found their seat and turned their focus to the king who suddenly seemed a lot more kingly.
“King Ryne of Beraud has asked me to help him test his heir and firstborn to prove Tethia’s alliance with them,” Nero explained, “He had some rather specific requests as well. The favor shown to your faction, and most especially to your close knit group of friends, has not gone unnoticed. Beraud believes you to be the future leaders of Tethia, which is why you will be greatly involved with this test.”
“Will I have to be involved too?” Autumn asked nervously, “Prince Lann isn’t particularly fond of my kind.”
“Prince Lann believes he will be here as an official negotiator of Beraud,” Nero pointed out, “If he cannot curb his personal feelings for something so important, I will personally inform King Ryne his son has no business sitting on the throne.”
“So I will be part of it,” Autumn concluded bitterly.
“Beraud will not just be taking our word for any events that may occur,” Rosalind warned, “The king will be sending his trusted aide along with the prince. We can only hope this aide shares his king’s views.”
“Do we have any clues as to the identity of this aide?” Alois asked, “Any information we can find ahead of time would be beneficial.”
Nero shook his head. “Only that he has plentiful experience in dealing with Prince Lann.”
==========
Prince Lann El Beraud, the firstborn son of King Ryne of Beraud reclined smugly in his room at the borderland villa. Everything had finally turned around once he conquered Gaia. Even that stubborn father of his had acknowledged him and given him an important task. At least, Lann assumed it was meant to be important.
With the vast lands belonging to the Empire of Gaia, why was he wasting time allying with a puny nation like Tethia. Sure, Beraud was technically smaller in landmass, but their population far surpassed the self proclaimed kingdom of magic. Not only that, the kingdom practiced some kind of obnoxious equality of all races. Even beastkin.
No matter. He needed to enjoy his newfound freedom from his devil of a tutor. That was the one reward he had asked for after he conquered Gaia. That horrible man had first shown up on his twelfth birthday as some twisted form of present and had tormented him every day since. No matter what Lann had done, or tantrums he had thrown, there was no getting rid of him. No one in Beraud could see what hid under his perfect mask.
A knock sounded and Lann lazily called them in. To his horror the one who stepped in was the very man he had just been thinking about. Rather than his usual scholarly robes he wore a suit that would be far more fitting on a butler.
“Lann,” the man spoke, his tone already showing the usual notes of disapproval, “It has only been a few weeks yet you have already become a slob in my absence. Perhaps I should speak with your father.”
“Why are you here, Alvis,” Lann spat.
“I have been assigned to be your butler and assist you during your mission,” Alvis replied with his perfect smile, brushing back his straight black hair that had slipped over his shoulder despite being tied back, “I assure you that I can fulfill my role as a butler perfectly as well.”
“You can even follow my orders?” Lann asked in disbelief. As the man nodded, an evil idea entered his mind. Who cared about some nonsense alliance? This would be the perfect, and perhaps the only, opportunity he would get to humiliate the man before him. “Then prepare for departure immediately. I can’t wait at the beck and call for some newbie king to invite me over. I am a prince, and a hero of war.”
“As you wish,” Alvis answered.
Despite being obedient, that knowing smile still gave Lann chills. He couldn’t allow himself to get discouraged, though. He had won a war against the largest empire on the continent. One man, especially a butler, would not shake him.