Chapter 20 - The Rumors

Syra was doing her best to sit still, but even after a couple days, she still felt slightly sore. She politely sipped her tea and nodded as she pretended to be listening to Lady Kacyn’s babbling. She had visited after hearing the rumors that Syra was in trouble for trying to run away. Syra had assured her that those rumors were false, but it would likely still circulate until a new scandal took place.

“... feathers? I cannot recall anyone who has been staying in the palace that has them! So everyone is trying to figure out where they came from.” Kacyn babbled as she ate causing crumbs to fly.

“Wait, did you say feathers? What in the ocean are you talking about?” Syra felt her stomach drop and put her own fork down trying to fight the sinking sensation.

“Weren’t you listening?!” Kacyn sighed loudly, “I swear that you are never paying attention to anything, Rara. What would you do without me telling you what everyone is up to?”

“What about feathers, Kacyn?” She tried to keep her face in a curious and clueless expression.

“Oh! The maids found some sheets in the laundry that were covered in stains of various colors, feathers, and even burn marks! There were other… things on the sheets, but such things are not of your innocent ears!” Kacyn patted Syra’s hand in a patronizing way that made her want to scream out, but she kept up her innocent facade.

“My goodness! What on earth happened for sheets to be in such a state? Even burn marks?” Syra felt her face flush.

When did Eclipse burn the sheets? How did I miss that? Well… I was very distracted…

“That is what everyone is trying to guess! Whoever left the sheets were not seen and none of the maids admit to cleaning such a mess. There are various rumors going about who those sheets belong to and what caused the mess!” Kacyn grinned with crumbs across her face.

“Why is everyone talking about the private affairs of married couples?” Syra worried her innocent facade would be caught when her voice caught slightly.

“Married? No one knows if this was a married couple! Oh, Rara. You sweet innocent princess. Not everyone waits until they are married and I know I have told you about some of the affairs that have occurred among the courtiers. You are so sweetly naive.” Kacyn smirked and patted Syra’s head, but Syra pushed her fury down as she always had.

“Oh, but what about the feathers?” Syra felt acutely aware of the feathers she still had hidden in a vase sitting just a few feet away, but fought with her eyes to stay on the woman in front of her.

“Oh! Yes, no one is sure. Some think the feathers came from an illicit lover brought in secret, some think the feathers came from a pillow, and others think the feathers were for some perverse… I mean something else that you would know nothing of.” Kacyn smirked and took another bite of cake, leaving a smear of frosting by her mouth.

“If you say so.” Syra hid her own smirk behind her teacup as she was one of only four people that knew the true origins of these infamous sheets and feathers.

“Has her Majesty said when you are allowed out of your chambers? It is awfully boring to wander the castle alone.” Kacyn sighed in her over exaggerated tone again.

“I have no idea when I shall be let out, but I admit, I am enjoying being in here more than I thought I would.” Syra smiled to herself.

“What do you do to keep from being bored? I would be losing my mind by this point and jumping out that window. That is why my parents stopped trying to confine me as punishment.” Her broad smile seemed proud of that statement and only brought Syra’s attention back to the frosting around her mouth.

“I find ways to keep myself entertained. Lean forward, you have frosting all over your face again.” Syra grabbed a nearby napkin and began cleaning Kacyn’s face as she has done since they were young children.

“Well, if you get bored, maybe being bold would make Her Majesty reconsider. It would do you good to be bold occasionally. You are always the wallflower and now you are dressing as even more of a prude than before! Would it kill you to wear something slightly lower?” Kacyn used a fork to gesture towards Syra’s gown that was rather concealing, but that was simply to cover the marks from her lovers.

“I have simply been cold lately. Maybe when it is warmer I shall try something more daring, but my mother would kill me if I wore anything as low cut as you.” Syra redirected to try to stop Kacyn from rummaging in her closet and demanding she change outfits.

“I cannot help it if I am well endowed. You know you love me as I am, Rara.” Kacyn leaned forward as she smiled and Syra fought to not look at her, but she felt her face get hot.

“We are not getting into this conversation again, Kacyn.” Syra kept her gaze on her plate.

“You are far too innocent, Rara. You love when I flirt with you and I love seeing you blush so innocently.” Kacyn smirked as she leaned forward slowly and Syra fought to keep her focus on her plate.

Kacyn doesn’t actually want me. She just wants me to want her. We have spent too many years together for me to be tricked into thinking she could actually be interested. I wish she would stop calling me innocent and naive. She has no idea how wrong she is.

***

Syra slumped against her chair feeling exhausted from the two hours she listened to Kacyn gossip. She did get some valuable information at least, but now she needed to worry about something more pressing. She grabbed her journal from its hiding place and stared at the list of names she had figured out were the only possible candidates for the funeral she saw. Now she needed to try to figure out when.

Think Syra, what did you see around the funeral. Don’t focus on the people. I remember feeling raindrops. What else did I see? Grass. Leaves. The trees around them were flowering. Spring. This funeral is at least six months and at most nine months away. That gives me time to try to find any possible threats to anyone on my list.

Syra sighed and closed her journal. She had no way of trying to gather a list of threats from within this room, unless she asked for help. Syra rose and flinched slightly as she crossed the room to her bedside drawer. She unfolded the handkerchief and picked up the two summoning cards. 

One she had used many times still looked molten and the other shone with purple as she moved it in the light. It reminded her of a tiger’s eye gem. It made her think of Eclipse’s eyes and she tried to ignore the racing of her heart as she thought of his name. 

Whisper your name into this card to summon me.

The instructions were simple and she wondered about how summoning cards worked. Sirens did not use them usually and she had no idea how one even attains one. She whispered her name into the card and placed it back with the other hidden in her drawer. She sat back in her seat and hid her journal. She nearly jumped at the sudden knock as only a moment had passed. 

“Come in.” 

“How may I be of service, your Highness?” Eclipse bowed deeply and then looked up mischievously.

“It’s just us, Eclipse. No one is here to overhear us. I wanted to ask for your help actually.” His face turned serious as he sat on the table in front of her.

“What do you need from me, Syra?” 

“I am trying to figure out anyone who would have a motive to kill… certain individuals, but I cannot leave this room.” She was starting to feel like she was in a cage now that she had no distractions.

“You need me to be your eyes and ears then? What am I looking for?” He leaned forward and looked serious, which was rare since he took most opportunities to flirt.

“I need you to go to Duke Robert’s territory. I need to know how many children he has and what the state of his territory is. I can show you on a map where it is.” She moved to stand and flinched, she felt a hand push her back into her chair.

“I can grab the map. You just need to command me, Syra.” She was too flustered to answer and simply pointed to her bookshelf and her eyes were definitely not watching how good his butt looked as he leaned over to read the titles.

“I think this is the right one.” He turned and his lips curled into a smile as his eyes gave her a look of desire to match her own. “You are still in pain. It is dangerous for you to give me a look like that.” His eyes and the stirring he felt betrayed his own desires. He crossed the room placing the book on the table. He turned back and gazed at her as he brushed his fingertips against her jaw. Syra yanked him down by his shirt sleeve and kissed him.