I nodded in agreement. “Tonight. I’ll lure him to the back of the property.”
Zyacus’s lips pressed together. Clearly he didn’t like that idea. “Not alone you won’t.”
“I’ll send him a note and tell him to meet me so we can talk. All of us can be there.” It would be easy.
“What if he thinks it’s a trap? Which it is. The man doesn’t strike me as stupid.”
I paced the room. “Do you have a better idea?”
“Tell him I want a one on one fight for touching my girl.” Zyacus grinned wildly, liking the idea too much. “He’ll show.”
I rolled my eyes. “You know I don’t need you to fight for me. We’ve been over this. It makes me look weak.”
He shook his head. “No, it doesn’t. But it would make me look that way if I didn’t stand up for my girlfriend. You’d do the same for me.”
He was right. I would.
∞∞∞
Zyacus set out on the task of finding a truth potion or learning a spell that would have the same effect. I went to find Taz to tell him the plan. I figured he’d be in the dining hall since it was lunchtime.
When I stepped through the entryway, I spotted Aric eating alone at our royal table. I sat beside him and scooted my chair forward. “How are you feeling?”
Although my mind flashed back to his crazed face and all the blood dripping from his mouth, I pulled a smile. It had been days since he attacked the girl and he’d been hiding out ever since. He barely looked at me, and wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“I am better.”
“If you ever feel out of control you can tell me or Zyacus.”
He nodded but kept staring at his plate, pushing food around.
“We need your help tonight with something. Are you up for it?”
“I guess that depends on what you’re doing.”
“Probably torturing and maiming.”
That got him to look me in the face. “Is that a joke? Because it’s not funny.”
I glanced around making sure no one was eavesdropping. “Unfortunately no, it wasn’t a joke. But we can’t talk here. Find Zyacus and he’ll explain everything.”
Instead of spelling straight to my room I walked the halls. Hoping I’d run into Firo. I could easily send him a note but I’d like to judge his expression when I told him Zyacus wanted to challenge him.
When I rounded a corner Bindy came out of a room and fell into step beside me. “What are you up to?”
Does she have a sixth sense for me simply wanting to cause trouble? “Why would you think I’m up to something?”
“Call it a hunch.” She tossed a handful of nuts into her mouth and chewed loudly. “You missed your first classes and met with Melody this morning.”
As much as I trusted Bindy, she wouldn’t allow us to torture Firo. She’d want Madison or someone who specialized in interrogation to do it, but I wanted it to be us. It was my suspicion and I needed to handle it.
“Nothing too bad. Zyacus and I plan on walking the property tonight and lay out under the stars… past curfew.”
Reaching into the pouch at her hip she pulled some dried meat. Before taking a bite she said, “Not that it’s any of my business, I’m not your mother, but the rules about not being with boys past curfew are there for a reason. I know how much you two like each other.”
“I’m seventeen, almost eighteen. I can make my own decisions.”
“Yes, but you’re also the Princess of Delhoon. An early pregnancy would be quite the scandal.”
I cleared my throat. “We haven’t… uh, we haven’t done that yet. We plan to wait until… I don’t know, until we decide if we’ll marry, I suppose.”
Bindy’s tense shoulders fell and she let out a breath of relief. “Oh, good. If you do change your mind I can get you some herbs to prevent pregnancy. I won’t ask questions or judge you. I was young and in love once, too.”
“But you’re not married, what happened?”
With a shrug Bindy bit into her jerky. “It wasn’t meant to be. Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
I stopped and faced her. What was she getting at? I didn’t want to give myself away but there was something specific she wanted me to say. “Since you seem so convinced I’m up to no good, you tell me.”
“What did you meet with Melody about?”
“I asked her about the Hazelvales. I don’t trust them.”
“Oh,” Bindy said and her cheeks reddened.
I couldn’t fathom why she’d be embarrassed at me mentioning the name. “What?”
“It’s funny you brought them up,” Bindy said and touched her plump cheek. “A long time ago Firo was the man I fell in love with but once he got what he was after, he broke off our relationship. I don’t trust the man either but I assume our reasons are different.”
My eyes widened. I hated him even more now. “Him? You were in love with him? He…” I almost told her he threatened me but changed my mind. She’d go after him and ruin my plans to find the truth. “He just rubs me the wrong way. And he sided with Kyria during the Queens Challenge.”
“Trust me, it’s a time I’d like to forget. And he did side against your mother.” Bindy’s stomach growled. “Enough about that. I’ll let you be on your way.”
With the famine I wondered if she’d been getting enough to eat but I didn’t ask. “See you later.” I couldn’t believe Bindy had had a relationship with Firo Hazelvale. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it but the revelation shocked me.
I found Taz and filled him in on the plan, then we waited until nightfall. To make sure Bindy thought Zyacus and I were just going out for a walk together the two of us walked out the back alone and I hoped she wouldn’t follow. Taz and Aric waited for
