Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 67

Finding someone new
Without further delay, Sapphira knocked on the door and stepped back.

“Come in,” A voice on the other side intoned ominously.

Anaisa moved forward and opened the door, moving inside with Sapphira and Trace in her wake.

“Your Highness!” A man stood from a high-backed chair facing a window. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I have lost my hairdresser, Sanders,” Anaisa lifted her head in indignation. “I can’t face the upcoming ball without being magically beautiful.”

She tried to use the words that Sapphira had, but from the way the princess looked at her, Anaisa imagined she hadn’t gotten the tone or delivery quite right.

“Ah, yes, I heard Yemi was arrested. A terrible shame! It is hard to believe such a treasured magic user would be anything less than entirely loyal.” The man closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Do you have anyone else that can fill the position?” Anaisa asked, mimicking the princess’s demanding cadence as best she could.

“Um, of course, no two magic users are alike, Your Highness. What exactly were you thinking?” He tilted his head.

Anaisa sighed heavily and flounced over to a cushioned chair, dramatically placing her fingers against her forehead.

“I have a headache. My maid will explain what I need,” She gestured vaguely at Sapphira.

“Her Highness wishes for you to locate a magic user with a talent for beautification.” The real princess stepped in without hesitation, but did try to disguise her voice a little. Some makeup also helped dispel the similarities in their looks. “Perhaps not hair color–she is happy with her current hue–perhaps styling or something to do with fashion. She does not necessarily trust that the dressmaker will bring a gown of her exact liking.”

Anaisa cut her eyes over to the princess. The dressmaker would do whatever she was told to do on the grand gown ordered. It was more likely that the princess wanted someone who would secretly alter another gown so that she could still put Anaisa forward as her double during the ball.

A terrifying thought. To pretend to be the princess in front of the whole of nobility? Surely she would be recognized! It was one thing to have Sapphira, who looked very much like her and yet would be outraged at the accusation. It was quite another to be an imposter when you were likely to be accused of it!

Then again, not for the first time, Anaisa wondered if the ball would be a grand opportunity for gossip on the newest Count of the Realm. Barnabas had to be making either friends or enemies. His wife had died years ago. If there were some hint that the princess favored him for some reason, surely some vying gossip would reveal something awful about the man…

“I’m not sure there is anyone quite like that,” Sanders pursed his lips as he thought over Sapphira’s request. “I could do another sweep and see if there are any new magic users I missed before.”

“A sweep? How long will that take?” Anaisa spoke from her chair. She didn’t really know what the man was talking about, but felt the need to keep up appearances by acting impatient and demanding.

“Well, it takes some time, and concentration, to find the magic users. I also regret that I am tied up with other duties that command some of my power and attention,” Sanders explained.

“What duties could be more important than making me beautiful for my coming out ball?” The fake princess pouted, but the real one nodded vehemently. Apparently Anaisa was doing a good job. Trace was in the corner looking very serious.

Oddly serious, in fact.

Anaisa tore her eyes from him and focused back on Sanders. He looked nervous.

“You are already beautiful, if I may say so, Your Highness, but of course it is my honor to serve the royal family in any way I may.” He bowed his head before continuing.

“Since one magic user in the palace was bent on betraying you, I am to monitor the others to make sure no magic power is used against you. Perhaps, if there is time, I could give your personal guard some advice on how best to protect you from magic use.” Sanders smiled at Trace, but Trace did not smile back.

“That should be all right… as long as you find me somebody soon.” Anaisa replied as she rallied some semblance of the princess’s spoiled nature.

“Of course, Your Highness, I will search as soon as I am able, probably tomorrow morning. Tonight I will be rather busy.” He looked at Trace again. “Perhaps if your guard has time now…?”

“I cannot let the Princess out of my sight,” Trace’s words were harsher than Anaisa expected, and it startled her.

Did he know this man somehow? Or was he just that worried about doing his job well and avoiding the king’s ire? She watched his face carefully, trying to read it, but couldn’t quite determine the source of his emotion.

“I have an idea,” Sanders tapped his temple with one finger as he spoke. “Perhaps, tonight, after you finish your assignment,” Sanders leaned on the word so subtly that Anaisa thought she may have imagined it, “You can come visit with me. We can have a nice long talk then, without so many ears around.”

He tapped his temple twice more. The muscles in Trace’s jaw clenched, but he nodded, once.

“Of course. I’ll speak to you then.”

Trace’s face was as readable as ever; there was something going on that Anaisa didn’t understand. Perhaps in the course of Trace’s spying, he’d encountered this man?

“We’ll go, then. I have things to do,” Anaisa stood up and breezed out of the room, calling over her shoulder, “Let me know as soon as you find someone suitable!”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Sanders bowed as the trio left his workroom.

“That was good,” Sapphira whispered at Anaisa. “Too good. You act as if you were born to have servants, not be one.”