Novels2Search
The Princess Exile
Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

One rule of her life, as a princess, was that Anastasia was not allowed to go to parties. She was the Crown Princess, and to attend a party – or to accept a dinner invitation – was to show favour to one person and offer offense to countless others, or so she’d been told. She’d never had a real friend, never had someone she could just be herself with … she’d never had a social equal, not even a whipping girl. Her kingdom was too progressive to have someone raised to be her friend, so she could be punished for the princess’s misdeeds, but she would almost have welcomed at least one friend. Yet it was not to be. She could never be herself with anyone.

She felt a twinge of delight as they made their way towards the great hall, decked out as merchant daughters, combined with a grim awareness she wasn’t sure how to handle herself. Formal functions back home had been little more than her chairing the gatherings, acting like a middle-aged woman even though she’d been a child. They’d been stiff boring affairs, the guests paying homage to their princess in a manner designed to drill the social hierarchy home. Here … she wasn’t sure how to act. Charlotte had given her some instructions, but she wasn’t sure how to put them into practice.

The hall belonged to Boss Hank, a railway tycoon who had made his fortune buying up the remains of Vesperian’s business empire and somehow leveraging them into a network that stretched all the way across Zangaria and into the neighbouring kingdoms. Anastasia had read copies of his broadsheets, newspapers owned and operated by his family, and they’d talked about his accomplishments in terms so glowing a courtier would be shamed. They made it sound as though he’d done everything single-handedly, crafting locomotives with his bare hands and bringing railway lines into existence through the sheer power of his will. The fact he had a large and growing workforce was never mentioned, to the point the broadsheets seemed to skip over the purpose of the gathering. Charlotte had rolled her eyes when Anastasia had pointed it out.

“They will always kiss the ass of the person who pays them,” she’d said. “And that means crediting him with everything, even if he just sat on his rear and did nothing.”

Anastasia snorted at the thought, then looked around with interest. The mansion was larger than any she’d seen back home, surprisingly large for a railway tycoon of little noble blood. She guessed the original owners had been so desperate for money that they’d sold it to Boss Hank even though it might well be entailed, or made some other deal with the common-born merchant that allowed him to use the mansion as his own. Such deals weren’t uncommon in Rockfall, where the merchants were a large and growing political power base, but she had no idea how well they worked in the free city. Boss Hank didn’t seem inclined to embrace the aristocratic ideal, judging by the gathering throng. She had a nasty feeling that her parents would never have allowed her to attend such a party, if she’d been back home.

Her eyes widened as she studied the guests. Some were clearly nobles, decked out in their finery; others were clearly common-born, not even trying to look fit for polite society. A handful of men were covered in soot, their wives looking torn between pride at being invited and embarrassment at being seen in such company. Others looked more like sober businessmen than anything else; others were magicians, soldiers, or even sailors. A handful of food carts were doing a roaring trade, offering burgers, pizzas and other newfangled meals. Her lips twisted as she heard the music from inside. It wasn’t dance music. At least, it wasn’t the dance music she knew.

Charlotte nudged her. “Never seen anything like this before?”

Anastasia shook her head. “Where’s the dignity?”

“Darling, what does dignity have to do with anything?” Charlotte snorted. “Boss Hank does it because he thinks it’s funny, and to hell with dignity. The man is a commoner at heart and always will be.”

Anastasia couldn’t disagree as they wandered into the ballroom. The dancers weren’t moving in the patterns she knew, but random swaying that had no rhyme or reason. The lightglobes appeared to be flickering on and off, casting shadows that swept over the dance floor and then vanished as quickly as they’d come, making it hard to see anything clearly. A number of wallflowers, clearly men and women of quality, looked uncomfortable, absurdly out of place as they stood by the wall, drank their wines and waited for an opportunity to slip out. She spotted a handful of faces she’d seen in Who is Who, aristocrats who were rich in property but poor in money. She supposed the only reason they were kissing up to Boss Hank was that they needed his money. They’d wind up paying a steep price for it.

“The official reason for this gathering is to celebrate the new agreement between Boss Hank and the Railway Guild,” Charlotte said. “We’re here to see who is talking to who. Go see what you can hear.”

“I’ll try,” Anastasia said, doubtfully. The music was growing louder, the drums pounding against her sanity. She promised herself she’d never allow such music at any party she ever held. “Good luck.”

She forced herself to circulate, trying to see what she could see. It was easy to spot a handful of familiar faces talking in low voices, their words impossible to make out even with the spells she’d been taught, but harder to spot anything that might be useful. Strange men hurried around, a number asking her to dance; she shook her head, quietly dismissing them, as she spotted a handful of hardscrabble faces gathered around a man she knew from the books. The Railway Guild Chairman was speaking to a group of workers, both male and female. There was something about him that reminded her of Caster.

The crowd surged around her. She let it push her towards the group. The young women appeared to be equals, something she’d never seen before, chatting to their peers as if they were men. That was odd, outside the magical community … they were talking and gesturing, with none of the deference she’d seen elsewhere. Or unspoken fear. She wondered, just for a moment, if Charlotte had been wrong. But a woman who worked on the railway would be stronger, more able to defend herself, than other women. The cut of their shirts revealed muscles that wouldn’t have shamed a soldier. They made Anastasia feel like a wimp.

“… The talks were held in public,” the Chairman was saying. “All the terms have been agreed.”

He didn’t look too pleased, Anastasia noted, although he hid it well. Her instincts were telling her to pay close attention, to keep an eye on him as he spoke to his followers. She wasn’t quite sure what it meant, but …

A line of people broke up the gathering, the commoners scattering in all directions. The dance music grew louder. Anastasia blinked, then tried to keep her face blank as the Chairman hurried over to her. Up close, he looked … she couldn’t put her finger on it, but it was there. He wore a simple outfit, yet he carried himself like a officer who’d reached high rank without ever seeing any actual combat. Or danger.

“I saw you watching,” he said, taking her hand. “Would you like to dance?”

You don’t seem to be giving me much choice, Anastasia thought, coldly. She could pull free, but not without making a scene. Charming, aren’t you?

“You’re a merchant, aren’t you?” His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it she didn’t like. “Looking for contacts?”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“One or two,” Anastasia confirmed. Charlotte had explained that the gatherings served as cover for business meetings that couldn’t be held elsewhere, often between people who were supposed to be sworn enemies. They were good places to make contacts, particularly if you were a merchant who was new to the city. “You have much to offer?”

She forced herself to keep smiling as the Chairman whirled her around the dance floor. It wasn’t easy. The dances she’d been taught had predicable steps, these dances appeared to be little more than shuffling and swinging around at random. The Chairman tossed a bunch of probing questions at her which she deflected with vague answers, his face suggesting he had something else on his mind. She half-expected an obscene suggestion – Charlotte had warned her – but none came. Instead, the Chairman simply nodded and let go, turning and walking away as if she was meaningless to him. Anastasia blinked, unsure if she should be relieved or deeply insulted.

There were more people on the dance floor now, a dazzling collection of guests from all walks of life. Anastasia hesitated and then followed the Chairman, keeping her distance as he stepped through a half-hidden door – as if he were going to the washroom – and then through another door that led to a staircase. She inched up onto the balcony, watching him as he slipped into a side door and into a smaller chamber. There was nowhere to hide inside, no way she could follow him further.

She turned, just in time to see Boss Hank coming up the stairs. He looked an absurd parody of a nobleman, his clothes made from the finest and most expensive of materials and yet cut in a manner that was decidedly common. Up close, his face was rough-hewn and formidable, his eyes cold and hard. He might look like a commoner – she couldn’t help noticing he was huge, more muscular than most other men – but that didn’t make him any less dangerous. It was hard to stand her ground.

His voice was rough too. “Enjoying the party?”

“It’s just a little overwhelming,” Anastasia said, truthfully. “How soon can I leave?”

Boss Hank smiled, as if he understood exactly what she meant. “Go whenever you like,” he said, dryly. “I don’t care and it’s my party. No one else gets to care.”

He stepped past her, moving with surprising grace for a man of his size, and walked into a room – the same room as the Chairman. Anastasia stared after him, her thoughts churning. The two men weren’t meant to talk alone, were they? She risked an eavesdropping spell, but the chamber was too heavily warded for the magic to work. The music from below got louder … she turned and hurried back downstairs, unsure if she’d seen something important or not. It could be nothing …

“Ah, there you are,” Charlotte boomed. She caught Anastasia’s arm and led her away, acting like a protective older sister. “What have you been doing with yourself?”

“Boss Hank is just having a private meeting with the Railway Guild Chairman,” Anastasia muttered. “It could be nothing …”

Charlotte snorted. “Beginner’s luck,” she said. “Old Grimy isn’t exactly trustworthy.”

Anastasia blinked. “What?”

“Follow me,” Charlotte said. “Let me show you a mistress at work.”

She walked around the room, speaking to a handful of railway workers and asking them a handful of questions. None were given precisely the same question … it took Anastasia a moment to work out that Charlotte was using the lie detection spell, to make sure that what she heard was actually the truth. She had to admire how easily she could cosy up to someone and make them feel important, without actually crossing the line into compromising herself. Charlotte could even talk to a worker with his wife right next to him, without a single problem. She was astonishing.

“I think I see the problem,” Charlotte said. “Do you?”

Anastasia shook her head. The questions had made some sense, she thought, but she didn’t understand the answers. She kicked herself, mentally, for not learning more about the merchant trade. The kingdom depended on its merchants … how could she rule if she didn’t understand how their trade actually worked?

“You need to learn,” Charlotte said. “Come on. It’s time to leave.”

It was darker outside, the lights of the mansion fading as they walked past a line of carriages and headed onto the streets. Anastasia couldn’t help feeling nervous at how poorly lit the streets were, with pools of shadow surrounding high walls and alleyways that lead into the darkness. They might be in the richest part of the city, but that didn’t mean it was safe. She clutched her magic as Charlotte led her onwards, into the very heart of the city. There were more people here – the city never slept – but it still bothered her. Charlotte never slowed as they walked into the town hall. The giant building was still open.

Anastasia found her voice. “Why are we here?”

“By law, every contract has to be signed, sealed, and placed on display in the town hall,” Charlotte said. “The town hall also has to be open at all hours of the day. You never know who’ll want to inspect a contract at three in the morning.”

“You, apparently,” Anastasia muttered. The hall was brightly lit, but oddly empty – and eerie. There was no one on duty in the records hall and their voices echoed strangely in the chamber. “Do we have to be here?”

“Looks like it,” Charlotte said. She ran through a giant records book. “I wonder if … hah!”

“Hah, what?” Anastasia was starting to get annoyed. “What have you found?”

“Tell you and Perry tomorrow,” Charlotte said. “Let’s go home.”

She ignored any further questions as they walked back to the apartment and went to bed, despite Anastasia’s obvious irritation. She’d spotted something, but what? Anastasia replayed everything she’d seen, from the meeting to the questions and their answers, yet … she shook her head in frustration as she undressed and went to sleep. She wasn’t sure she’d seen anything and yet, Charlotte certainly seemed sure she had …

You can’t trust anyone, Maurice whispered in her ear as she drifted off to sleep. Everyone is out for themselves.

Charlotte woke her, what felt like seconds later. Anastasia would have believed it if she hadn’t seen sunlight streaming in the windows. “Get up, get dressed,” Charlotte said. “Perry’s already waiting.”

Anastasia gritted her teeth and dressed as slowly as she dared. She hadn’t had anything like enough sleep and her stomach was growling, reminding her she’d had nothing to eat for hours. Charlotte paid no heed as she encouraged Anastasia to hurry up, to get down the stairs and along the road as if something horrible were snapping at their heels. The office was as busy as ever, no one looking up from their work as Charlotte walked through the chamber into Peregrine’s office. The man himself nodded politely as they entered.

“I take it you found something?”

“Yes,” Charlotte said. She was grinning from ear to ear as she closed the door. “Something interesting happened last night, Old Grimy and Boss Hank had a private meeting. It looks like we were the only ones to notice.”

“Good place to have a private meeting,” Peregrine agreed. “Did they have a cover story?”

“Not as far as I know.” Charlotte was still grinning. “But it started me thinking and I asked around. The gathering was to celebrate the new agreement between the guild and the company, right? But I saw the contract. It was surprisingly generous to Boss Hank and nowhere near generous enough to the guild.”

Peregrine held up a hand. “In what way?”

“The workers asked for a great deal more,” Charlotte said. “Why didn’t they get it?”

Anastasia blinked in surprise. “They asked for too much?”

“I don’t think so.” Charlotte didn’t look at her. “On paper, the negotiations were conducted in the open. Boss Hank and two of his men, Old Grimy and a handful of witnesses from the guild. No secrets, everything above board. But if Boss Hank and Old Grimy were secretly in touch all the time, the negotiations could have been rigged without making it obvious. The workers would be screwed, all the while convinced they got the best deal they could.”

“Too thin,” Peregrine said. “It isn’t proof of anything.”

“They certainly shouldn’t be talking,” Charlotte said. “I think we should investigate further. If this is actually true, the guild needs to know.”

“If,” Peregrine said. “Very well. You may keep investigating. But watch yourself.”

His eyes flickered to Anastasia. “You too.”

“Yes, sir,” Anastasia managed.

She kept her temper under control until they returned to Charlotte’s office. “Why didn’t you tell him that I saw the meeting?”

“Because I was the one who realised what it meant,” Charlotte said. “What it might mean. We don’t know for sure. Not yet.”

“I spotted them,” Anastasia said. It had started because of her! “If it wasn’t for me …”

“Right now, you are my apprentice,” Charlotte said. “You work for me. That makes me responsible for you. It also gives you a certain degree of protection, because I assure you Perry won’t hesitate to kick you out if we wind up with egg on our faces because of you. You spotted the thread and well done, but I took it and ran to work out what was really going on.”

“Really.” Anastasia wasn’t impressed. “Should I take it as you protecting me or you stealing the credit?”

Charlotte met her eyes. “Take it in whatever way you like, as long as you go fetch us both something to drink” she said. Her tone was dismissive, as if she didn’t care about anyone’s feelings. “Right now, we have a lot of work to do.”

Anastasia swallowed several nasty responses. “How do you intend to prove your case?”

“Good question,” Charlotte said. Her lips twisted into a predator’s smile. “I have a very cunning plan.”