Into His Command by Angel Payne Read Free Book Online Page A

there was the impressive Librante
     Villa. But in Tahreuse, the breathtaking scenery demanded payback in architectural
     challenges. Sprawling buildings? Utterly impossible. Most structures, literally built
     into the sides of cliffs, had to be constructed with creative usage of space. Very creative.
    That truth bore just as much weight inside the mayor’s house—though I had to convince
     my plummeting jaw and popping eyes of it.
    “Wow.” Lame, lame, lame. But what else fit? As I followed Mayor Trieste’s magistrate
     down each level of the Residence Rigale Tahreuse—all twelve of them—it was the only
     word that surged to mind then lips, over and over. Okay, so the man and his family
     had twelve levels as compared to the two of a normal family on the mountain, all furnished
     in an elegant palette of crimson and gold with astounding views of the lake, but everyone
     in town knew all that already. My astonishment sprang from something deeper. A sensation
     at the center of my chest, awing me but warming me at once. I couldn’t describe it
     further, except that for the first time, I thought about the day Rune Kavill would
     finally be caught, and we’d be able to go home to Vermont—and violently fought the
     pull of sad tears.
    “Miss Valen?”
    I jerked around. The magistrate waited, impatient scowl on his face. He stood next
     to the fireplace on what was called the ML level, standing for “main living”. It was
     almost midnight. Right now, Mayor Trieste would likely be sitting at the big desk
     in the corner, or reading documents next to the fire. His wife might be in the opposite
     chair, or saying goodnight to their two teenage boys. They were all out of sight tonight,
     perhaps preparing for their very VIP visitors.
    “Sorry.” I blinked and sniffed, wishing the stuffy little man would stop scrutinizing
     every move I made. “It’s been a long day. What was the question?”
    The magistrate rolled his doughy eyes. “The staff shall need to know if you will be
     staying here each night during your duties of watching over Lady Camellia and her
     retinue, or departing for your own residence.”
    “She shall remain here.” Syn stepped over, eyeing the man with undisguised defensiveness.
     “Was there a question of that?”
    The magistrate harrumped. “Of course not, Highness. My intention was merely that—”
    “You would have some inside details about our operations to share with your ‘friends’
     at the Heron tonight?”
    Syn’s reference to the little tavern, purported as the place where many Puras met
     to exchange information and gossip, turned the magistrate bright purple. I chewed
     the inside of my cheek to keep from giggling. Syn didn’t share my mirth. “Go ahead,
     magistrate. Share your little tidbits. His Majesty Evrest has nothing to hide about
     his hopes for the future of Arcadia, instead of desires to keep her mired in the past.”
    Part of me longed to whoop for him. A bigger part wanted to elbow him in the chin
     again. I was all for calling an opponent into the open—when the timing was right. This timing didn’t feel right.
    In the end, I refrained. Perhaps Syn had a higher plan. During one of our afternoon
     briefings, the necessity of a scout inside the Heron had been discussed. Perhaps Syn
     was goading the magistrate on purpose, hoping the man would spill information in the
     heat of emotion.
    “Prince Samsyn—I assure you—”
    “I am sure you do.” Syn arched his brows and jerked his head toward the stairs we’d
     entered from. “But you are still dismissed, magistrate.”
    “But there are four more levels after this. The private residence and bedrooms—”
    “I will make sure Miss Valen sees them.”
    “But—”
    “That is all, magistrate. Good night.”
    The man stormed out, accompanied by his own rapid-fire mutterings in Arcadian. As
     soon as he was out of earshot, I went ahead and indulged a small snicker. “Sorry.”
     I darted a sheepish