The party progressively became louder as I watch the guests overindulge in wine. A few couples I notice, disappear together which was unsuprising given that parties hosted by the Torres, often seem to take on a scandalous turn.
Since arriving, I have done my best to avoid Aerin, Brycen, and dancing. I successfully managed to avoid the dancing part of the evening, claiming I feel light headed whenever invited. Eventually, I disappear to the gardens which has turned into a haven for those who wish to escape the loudness of the party.
The wound on my arm still aches and I certainly did not wish to dance or even accidentally brush my arm up against anyone, fearful it might start bleeding through the sleeve.
I continue to keep a watchful eye on Weylan for when he decides to take up the meeting he had planned. I watch as he makes his way through the gardens and towards the main gates where drivers wait with the carriages.
Thankfully, many people walk about, getting ready to leave as it is nearly midnight. My brother disappears to the back of what seems like a fully black carriage and waits there for a minute, and then an arm comes out from the carriage door, pulling Weylan in.
To my relief, the carriage beside the black one is empty and the driver was no where in sight. I hurry to into the carriage, lock the door and draw the curtain that covered the window, praying whoever the carriage belonged to will not be back anytime soon. I cover the curtain facing the carriage Weylan is in and listen as best I can.
"I'm surprised you showed up. I was told the instructions sent to meet me here were compromised." Said a deep voice from inside the carriage and I bite back my gasp at the recognition. Of all the damned people in the world who could've been my brother s scheming accomplice, it had to be him.
"If I had known whom I was meeting, I wouldn't have showed up at all" Weylan replied.
"Oh come now Weylan, you once welcomed the idea of me as your brother in law."
"Well, that was before I got to know the traitorous slimy bastard you are."
"Traitorous? That is ironic given the nature of this meeting is it not?" the other voice said.
"What do you have for me" Weylan asked, sounding indifferent, almost bored.
"We have begun gathering supporters, here in Korinth. Noblemen who do not support King Damien's rule"
Weylan scoffs. "Not supporting a ruler and taking part in a siege are two very different things"
"Our spies are thorough."The other voice says confidently. " We have also received information that the queen has been keeping to her quarters. She has not visited his chambers in months."
"Is she already with child?" Weylan asks.
"No. Our spies planted amongst the servants have confirmed it."
At that Weylan releases a breath. "That is good news"
"We are trying to learn the cause of the king and queen's estrangement. Perhaps we may use it to our advantage. King Damien's rule is unstable unless he produces an heir and many already do not approve of decisions he has made in the short period of his rulership. Some say he is too young and immature to rule"
"We have had younger rulers."Weylan says dismissively.
"Maybe, but they probably had qualities that made up for their inexperience. As far as I can tell, the king is no scholar nor soldier. He seems more suited to be a farm boy or something that does not require any form of analytical skill."
"This is all just gossip. Do you have any useful information for me or not?"
"Only that we are still gathering supporters and I suggest you do too. Though we have not yet divulged our candidate for king to them. We do not think the timing appropriate as of yet. Mazzenik will send military support once we feel the time is right."
" 'We?'" Weylan asks. "You are no more Mazzenikian than I am"
"You know what I mean"
"Actually, I am curious. Why would you, Aerin Patterson choose to betray your king and country? Are not the Pattersons highly favored by the King? Is it not enough that Korinth is practically dependant on your supply of grain. Your family's power and wealth makes you nearly untouchable by event he King."
"I could ask the same of you" Aerin points out.
"I have my reasons"
"As do I." Aerin goes on. "Now listen. We are currently still having our men locate the exact whereabouts of other members of the royal household who have a direct claim to the throne." His younger brother, prince Frederick is in the Kennyians with relatives of the queen mother. His sisters have not yet been located but we will get the news to you when they are. "
"How old is prince Frederick now?"
Aerin sighs exasperated. You cannot allow guilt to play on your emotions, now Weylan. We've come too far. If you want the throne, you must do what must be done. We will arrange another meeting with you next month once we have worked out a better mode of sending information to you."
I realize with no small amount of horror that for a new king to ascend the throne, King Damien's line must be wiped clean in order to ensure stability and minimalize unrest amongst the privy council and the House of Lords.
Engrossed in the treachery lain before me, I do not realize the figure that has slipped in the carriage, silent as a wraith, until a hand comes over my mouth to muffle my shriek and hauls me out of the carriage by my wounded arm.
The figure maintains a hand over my mouth as his other hand goes to pin my hands behind my back and practically sweep me from the carriage to the other side of the stone arch that connected to the garden gate.
The figure shifts so that he is infront of me. A flush rises to my cheeks, embarrassed as I realize it is Brycen who caught me. He then unpins my hands, keeping his other hand still pressed to my mouth. With his free hand, he presses a finger to his lips and then points to wear Weylan is now leaving the carriage. We watch through vines and bushes as Weylan makes his way back into the hall.
"And here I thought I was the only other person who knew about this so called 'secret' meeting." Brycen says coyly. "So, what's the deal Jyn? Why are you out here spying on your own brother, didn't he already tell you of his schemes?"
Of course Brycen would know before me, he was more family to Weylan than we ever were. But it didn't make sense. Why ask me to steal the letters back from Brycen if he already knew?
Brycen leans against the stone arch casually, eyeing the wound on my arm. He did not miss my wince when he first grabbed me.
"What do you know?" I ask
"Enough" Brycen says, wining a loose tendril from the vines crawling up the stone arch around his finger.
"Are you all working together?" I ask
"In a way." Brycen says. I notice the way he fixes his eyes on the his fingers, refusing to meet my gaze. Even before, at the party, Brycen seemed distracted.
He doesn't know everything about what Weylan is planning, I realize. These were all half formed plans that Weylan hadn't yet put together.
"Let me guess, you found out on your own and wanted in on his plans so in exchange, Weylan's been using you to clean up his little messes?"
"It's really none of yor business"
"Oh?" He says, lightly brushing a finger down my arm. I flinch without thinking at the sting of the pressure against the still sore spot.
"So it was you?" He says, smiling vaguely. "You crept into my rooms and stole them back."
I shake off his hand off and turn to walk away but he blocks my path, towering over me.
"Jyn, don't get involved." He says looking down at me. "You don't understand how incredibly messy things can get" I expect a harshness in his tone, I expect a threat, not a plea.
"Since when do you care what happens to me?" I challenge, looking up to meet his eyes. Somethings different about him today. He may have thrown a party but he looks more miserable then I've ever seen him. Not a hint of that cocky charm that plagued me for years, but instead, he looked beaten, anguished.
He looks down at me softly, as though a million thoughts crossing his mind. Eyes shifting from my eyes to my mouth. "I" he starts "don't"
He closes his eyes briefly and then turns away, leaving me standing alone by the arch.