Page 16 of Only Hard Problems
The titters grew a little louder as I left the dance floor, but the mockery didn’t bother me. Even though I had spent my whole life around these people, none of them truly knew me. Asterin had learned more about me in the few minutes we’d been dancing than the Regal lords and ladies had in all the time I’d spent with them over the years. Just like Vesper had learned more about me during our blitzer ride back to Corios than any of the Arrows had in all the time I’d served with them—
Beatrice planted herself in my path, causing me to pull up short. “Where are you going?”
I jerked my head at the refreshment tables. “To get a drink. Something a lot stronger than lemonade.”
She let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head, making the blue opals nestled in her silver hair sway back and forth. “You need to find Asterin. Rigel told me that he hasn’t seen any gift from you this evening.”
I tapped my finger over my heart where the lunarium jewelry box was still hidden in my coat pocket. “What did you want me to do? Whip this out in the middle of the dance floor, get down on one knee, and declare my intentions?”
A thoughtful look filled my grandmother’s face. “Well, it wouldn’t have beenterrible, as far as proposals go. I’ve seen far worse at Regal balls. Singing. Poetry. Puppet shows.” She shuddered at that last one.
It took me a moment to unclench my jaw. “As I’ve told you many times, Asterin despises me, and I have the same mutual disdain for her.”
“Bah!” Beatrice flicked her fingers. “Disdain is of little importance in the grand scheme of things. Do you know whatisimportant?”
Before I could answer, she finished her own thought. “All the mineral rights on all the Frozon moons that Asterin controls. Minerals that your father needs for his inventions, that House Zimmer workers and production plants need to keep pace with the other Regals.”
A dull headache spurted to life inside my skull. Beatrice had been drilling my duty as the heir to House Zimmer into my head for as long as I could remember, but right now, everything inside me was rebelling at her words.
“So you’re going to trade my life, freedom, happiness, and future children for minerals. Charming,” I drawled. “And here I thought that familyalwayscame first. Although in this case, you are clearly putting the House Zimmer coffers first. A bit hypocritical, don’t you think?”
My grandmother flicked her fingers again, dismissing my accusations. “Sometimes sacrifices must be made, even by family, for the greater good of the House.”
“Sacrifices?Is that what you’re calling them these days?”
Her eyebrows drew together in puzzlement, but after a few seconds, her gaze slowly sharpened. She knew we weren’t talking about my giving the necklace to Asterin. Not anymore.
Beatrice opened her mouth, but I sliced my hand through the air, cutting her off. “Fine. I’ll find Asterin and deliver your precious solstice gift. After all, I’m just another one of your pawns, and it’s time for me to get into position and play my part yet again. Right?”
Before she could answer, I spun around on my heel and stalked away.
Afewfolkscalledout to me, but one look at my clenched jaw and angry scowl had them seeking more pleasant company. Even Fergus and the other House Zimmer servants steered clear of me.
My gaze snapped back and forth, but I didn’t spot Asterin anywhere on the lawn. Perhaps she had gone into the castle in search of some peace and quiet. I could certainly use some of that right now, so I slipped through the first archway I came to and moved through a shadowy courtyard, heading toward one of the castle’s entrances.
Ding!I growled with annoyance, but I stopped, pulled out my tablet, and read the latest message from Holloway.Have you discovered where they are hiding?
This time, I sent a reply.Nothing yet. I’ll keep questioning people.
I want progress, not more of your empty excuses.
I growled again and shoved the tablet back into my pocket. Everyone wanted something tonight, and nothing I did made anyone happy. Fantastic. Well, I was going to find Asterin, shove the necklace box at her, and be done with it. Then I was getting a bloody drink, Holloway’s messages and threats be damned.
I stomped toward the door, but I had only taken a few steps when two guards rounded the side of the castle. One of them took up a position beside the door, but the other man hung back, then angled his body away and discreetly pulled a tablet out of his pocket, as though he didn’t want the first man to see what he was doing.
His furtive movements struck me as extremely odd, and I slowed down, softened my angry, noisy steps, and took a closer look at him. Dark red hair, dark eyes, ruddy skin, a long, sharp nose, and a pointed chin. I frowned. I didn’t remember seeing his face among the House Rojillo guard rosters that I’d reviewed a few days ago.
As an Arrow, I’d been in a lot of bad situations over the years, and I’d learned to listen to my instincts, psionic and otherwise. Right now, all those instincts were whispering that something was wrong, so instead of barreling forward, I stopped beside a large white wooden trellis covered with honeysuckle vines and slid back into the shadows.
“Come on, Silas,” the first guard called out. “We need to get back in position.”
“Sure thing, Thompson,” the other man chirped in a voice that was dripping with fake sincerity.
My eyes narrowed. I recognized that breezy, disarming tone. I’d used it myself, usually right before I shoved my stormsword into someone’s back. Oh, yeah. This guy wasdefinitelyup to something.
Silas slid his tablet into his pocket, then plucked an object off his belt and held it down at his side. At first, I couldn’t see what it was, but then he moved forward, and a shock baton glinted a dull silver in his fingers.
Before I could shout a warning, Silas surged forward and shoved his shock baton into the first guard’s neck. Thompson never had a chance. He grunted and convulsed a few times before collapsing in a heap on the ground.