Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Waiting patiently
Anaisa sighed, staring out the window. Trace had said it was his turn to create a dream tonight, and so she had no diabolical plots to design. It made the time drag while she waited for the others to get back from tea time.

Tiring of the monotony, she squinted. There would be a good hour or so before they would be back, if they followed the same schedule as every other day. Then the hour after that would be Sapphira venting about how terrible this particular suitor was, what outrageous things he’d said, and why he was the worst.

Anaisa always listened patiently, but her heart wasn’t in it. The poor princess was enduring difficulty, but Anaisa’s enthusiasm for hearing about it was beginning to wane after weeks of the same routine every day.

“Maybe…” She moved to her room and got a scarf to tie around her hair. At the princess’s vanity, she applied a pale powder to her face and smiled. Some exploration might do her good. On her way, she took the princess’s token, which should in theory allow her admittance to any part of the palace without being stopped.

Slipping out of the chambers, she made her way through the palace, taking careful note of the turns she took. Since the princess had primarily been confined to chambers, Anaisa still was not entirely familiar with the halls and doorways to various places.

Sauntering rather aimlessly, she nearly bumped into a man that looked familiar. Was he from the ball? She looked down.

“I’m so sorry,” She ducked her head like a lost maid would do.

“No, no, the fault lies with me. Are you injured?” The man smiled kindly, and Anaisa shook her head. “Where are you headed with your mind all at sea?”

“I’m…” She hesitated, having no destination in mind and not having the foresight to prepare one.

“You poor thing, come and sit while you recover your memory,” The man took her arm and led her into an office a little further down the hallway she was in. As she entered, she was able to put a name with the familiar face.

“You’re Sanders,” She declared. “The–the princess spoke with you before about getting a magic user to help with her beauty routine.”

Sanders closed the door behind himself, causing her brow to furrow. “And you’re Anaisa, Trace’s wife.”

Anaisa’s heart took off in a race, and she froze. “I beg your pardon?” She managed to keep her tone passably neutral.

“Oh, goodness, how I’ve startled you. Please do be at ease, I’m no threat to you,” Sanders assured her.

“How…” She paused, a few separate facts clicking into place in her mind. “How do you find magic users, exactly, like Deborah?”

“Would you like some tea? It seems they delivered it here while I stepped out for a moment,” Sanders invited, gesturing to a chair. Hesitantly, Anaisa sat in it as he took the other.

“Are you avoiding my question?” She prodded, and he laughed.

“Oh, no! It is no great secret in the palace. I am able to find magic users because I can see when they use magic.” He poured her some tea, and then himself. She hesitated.

“You can see everything they do while they are using magic?” Color crept into her face. What exactly had he seen?

“Please do not vex yourself,” Sanders smiled warmly. “Once I realized that you and Trace were husband and wife, I decided privacy was in everyone’s best interests in that regard.”

“Why are you telling me this? Why not tell everyone about me, about Trace? You’ve clearly known…” Anaisa gasped. “Are you helping…”

How did she ask a man if he was a traitor or not? Helping the blackmailer, or loyal to the king? They were in a room alone together. The door was closed. She could scream, but would help get here in time if he decided to–

“Please, please do not fret yourself. I understand your question, though you will not ask it.” He paused, and closed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought. When he opened them, he wore a hesitant smile and spoke slowly. “I would never willingly do anything disloyal to the kingdom or engage in immoral behavior. Much like a good husband would never willingly keep important secrets from his wife.”

Anaisa’s mind struggled to grasp the meaning behind his words. He waited patiently for her to process what he’d said, sipping his tea and staring toward the window. The truth hit her in stages, like blows.

“You’re being blackmailed.” She decided, and he glanced at her. “No. More than that. You say things too indirectly. There’s something keeping you from just saying it, isn’t there?”

Sanders put his teacup down, and Anaisa continued thinking out loud.

“The same thing that’s keeping Trace from being able to talk to me, even though he tries…” Her brow furrowed. “But how… how do I get the truth if neither of you can tell me? I’m sure, I’m positive it’s Barnabas behind this, but if he had magic, he would have used it for wealth and status long ago instead of riding my father’s coattails…”

She lifted a hand to her temple, concentrating as she tried to puzzle out loud.

“I have lived in the palace a number of years,” Sanders seemed to be changing the subject, breaking her train of thought. “I met your father several times, but it was only in more recent years that I met any of his relatives.”

The information sifted through Anaisa’s mind.

“Recent. What’s happened is recent.” She bit her lip. “And so is your meeting Barnabas…”

She paused. Sanders had referred to the man as her father’s relative, even though that wasn’t true.

“Is every word you say intentional? You only met Barnabas recently, or you met my father’s real relatives, that he was stolen from?” She squinted.

Sanders closed his eyes again for a moment and opened them with a curious expression. “Adoption is such an interesting topic of discussion,” He looked out the window again. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who was adopted.”