The tabby shook his head. “No, I have not, Princess.”
Hmmm, his disappearance was troubling.
“Are there any documents or books on the Hazelvale family from Delhoon?” Taz asked.
His tail flicked back and forth. “I do not believe so. If this is for a report I would suggest choosing a warlord or a family connected to the royal line. There are plenty of documents and books on them. Perhaps there would be information on the Hazelvales in the Delhoon library, but we are somewhat limited here.”
“Thank you,” I said and nudged Taz’s arm to leave. Halfway down the hallway I turned to Taz. “I’ll contact my great grandmother Melody, you know Madison’s mother, and set up a meeting for tomorrow.”
When I got to my room Sir Gideon, one of my favorite cats from back home was asleep on my pillow. Ugh, now I’d have to be spitting cat hair when I woke up in the morning. Legacy wasn’t in her bed. I guessed she was with Lora or her new boy toy.
Picking up Sir Gideon’s striped fluffy body I moved him to the end of the bed. He stretched and yawned. “Oh hello, Princess. I tried to wait up for you but alas I fell asleep.”
I smiled and stroked his head. “What are you doing here, Sir Gideon? I thought you had a grudge against the outsiders and didn’t want to come to this academy.”
“My opinions on the matter have not changed in the slightest,” he said walking in a circle. “But I need to tell you something. My grandson Atticus contacted me with the task you had given him. When I had no new information he said he would keep searching. That was a week ago.”
“I know I haven’t seen him either.”
“So I came to look for him and while I was meandering the halls, you know how I do, I overheard someone talking about your Prince Zyacus.” He paused and yawned again.
“Well,” I pressed. “Were they saying anything important?”
“Oh I think so.” A second yawn and lazy blinking followed his comment.
I tapped my foot waiting for him to go on.
“He said, ‘soon Prince Zyacus’s bloodline trait will manifest itself.”
That did sound important and also odd. What was a bloodline trait? “Did this man say what the trait was? And who was he?”
Sir Gideon licked his paw as he spoke in my mind. “Unfortunately they saw me and quit talking. I am not sure who they were. Two men. Both light-haired. I do not believe they were students, as they did not wear uniforms.”
If I had to bet, I’d say the men were the Hazelvales. How did they know so much about us? I thought about writing to Zyacus but after he’d treated me with such disrespect I wouldn’t be contacting him first. He needed to come to me with his tail between his legs.
“I may have scratched and hissed at them. I got one on the arm, and there should be a few scratches.”
“Sir Gideon,” I chided. “You can’t scratch people for no reason.”
He stopped licking his paw and his big eyes went straight to mine. “I most certainly can if I do not like them. Something about those two bothered me.”
I tried not to laugh. I didn’t want to encourage his behavior. “Well, thank you for the information. If you hear anymore, please inform me. And if you see Atticus tell him to quit messing around and come back.”
He lowered his head onto his paws. “Certainly, your highness.”
When Sir Gideon went to sleep. I wrote to my long-time wealthy great grandmother and set up a meeting for the next day. She was all too delighted to go to the castle to see my mother who would open the portal to bring her here.
∞∞∞
The next morning I bounded down the steps expecting Zyacus would be there waiting as he was every morning before breakfast. When I hit the bottom step and didn’t find him, my heart fell a little. Could he still be angry about losing? And why would he take it out on me?
I wanted him to join Taz and me to meet with Melody before our first class. Taz gave me a small wave. Slightly dejected, I made my way over and forced a smile. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, and I already saw your mother on the way over here. The Queen is escorting Melody to the royal meeting room.”
On the way I explained a few things to Taz. I didn’t want him to be put off meeting my great grandmother without some warning. “First off, Melody is—how do I put this—forward and acts superior. I’m also not entirely sure she is capable of feeling remorse or cares for anyone other than herself. You’ll see what I mean.”
Taz raked his fingers through his hair. “She sounds wonderful.”
Upon seeing me, the guards standing to the side of the royal meeting room opened the doors to allow us entrance. My mother paced the room while Melody sat in one of the high backed chairs with her hands folded on her lap. Her brown hair was braided into a crown on top of her head. She wore a midnight blue dress fit for a royal festival and her lavender, hawkish gaze traveled down my frame. Inspecting for flaws no doubt.
Mother pulled me into an embrace. “Hello, my darling.” She smiled but I knew she thought I was up to something. “Melody wouldn’t say why you wanted to meet with her but that it was pressing.”
I grinned, patting my mother’s arm. “Oh it’s nothing to worry about. The only thing pressing is my project due soon, about the Hazelvales. We had to pick an affluent family and obviously it would be off-putting to choose my own. And who better to know the good gossip and facts than great grandmother Melody.”
I would tell her the truth later but I didn’t want my
