“How could you tell it was a wizard and not just some shifty mundane human?”
She just gave him a sour look. “The same way I can tell a lion from a shar pei. They’ve got a different look, a different attitude about them.” She smiled. “And the guy showed up instantly from some sort of magical transport spell. And then he did some spells for appearance, set himself up in an alley, the whole nine yards. He looked like he was up to something so I set Red and Blue to watch him for awhile.”
Aeron frowned. “Why did you send them? Those two aren’t particularly sharp.”
She shrugged again. “I was following my assignment to search for Alyss. They didn’t have any particular orders at the time.”
He grumbled. “I like to see you taking initiative for my benefit. This isn’t what we were here to talk about though and I shouldn’t have let myself get distracted. I’m still mad at you. You are also supposed to facilitate an environment that can help me make her remember. You know that requires some trust on her part to be able to work at all.”
“I can`t help how she acts, Aeron,” she said exasperatedly. At his cold look she repeated, “Aeron. I`m certainly not calling you any titles, and I think I should get some leeway after doing so much, even if I didn`t technically finish the whole job.”
His fists smashed into the wall on either side of her, so close to her shoulders, pinning her with his predator`s gaze. “What trick did you think you were pulling?” She flinched as he leaned in staring at her shoes. His very breath stirring her bangs. “One more false move…”
“I haven’t done anything wrong or worked against you at all master,” she protested.
“Regardless of what you`ve done so far,” he growled, “If you can`t complete your job properly now, I may have to ask your sister to. I could also help those fans of hers spend a bit more time with her free from your guard dog tendencies, or I could allow the council to do some more investigation,” he added.
“I won`t tell her anything, I swear! Her body shook, a tear slowly rolling down her face. “She just wouldn`t stop asking questions, so I just said she shouldn`t annoy you! Really that`s all,” she gasped, her voice strained and squeaky.
“You`ve upset me, Jackie.” She blanched, looking at the sides for an opening with abrupt, rabbity motions. He looked at her, weighing the truth in her traitorous words.
“I told her to lay off, and to be nice, and, um, stop. Really!” She started panting, he breaths coming short. “Just please, Aeron,” she gasped, “Don`t take Priscilla.”
He sighed and leaned back. “I am not a monster. I only punish people after they have failed me. I still have faith that you will prove to be loyal.” He thought in silence for a moment. “She needs you. Needs a friend. She won`t like me if she`s alone and stressed but for me breathing down her back. It will help my cause if you can stage the setting well to predispose her to like me. Besides, she will be happier if she has a friend, and I want her to be happy.” She breathed deeply, slowly slipping under his caging arms.
He yanked her pony tail up so that she faced him, the motion sharply cutting off her air. “Do not cross me. You are not my first servant, and you will not be the first underling to betray me,” colorful fires danced along his arms and crept up her skin. “Just one more failure, and you`re done for,” he dropped her and the fire abruptly disappeared as he strode away.
She desperately wanted to run away, now, while he was already out of her hair. She managed to restrain the instinct however and sighed audibly. “Look, I can`t change who she is. If you try to do too much behind the scenes, she`ll just be ostracized and depressed. I assume you don`t want to have gone through all this work to restore her, only to break what`s left of her?”
They stared at each other, a silent battle of wills. He pursed his lips and looked away. “You`re right. It makes sense she`d be a little weird after all this time.” He released her. She started to slowly creep away. He lifted one finger, and she instantly stood stock still. “Bring her to that party this weekend. Talk to her, make her laugh. And more importantly,” he leaned in threateningly, “Make sure that at some point she talks to me when she’s feeling happy or comfortable, I don’t much care which one it is. You know us monarchs are so particular about the people we care about” He smiled. “Speaking of, this is Priscilla`s last chance. I’ve sponsored the two of you when you were up for the death penalty and I will not tolerate yet another failure after all these years I’ve championed you both.” She soured but still bowed to him in acknowledgment of the order.
He strode away.
Exhausted, weak, she wilted, doubled over and gulping in desperate breaths. How did he know I told her? Who told him? The thoughts swirled around in her head, but it didn`t seem like she`s be getting an answer anytime soon.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Dreams
Aeron`s words tumbled through her mind over and over. “You should have remembered your past, should have remembered me.” She’d ignored it during the day, but somehow in the hours since she couldn’t forget about it. There was some importance to the words; but the meaning escaped her, haunted her. Alyss spent
