Fresh Air

  Chapter Six

  Part One

  The tea room was cosy.

  A small round table, some half-full bookcases, and green potted plants filled the room. The air smelled like various strains of tea and sweet desserts, and the only sounds were hushed voices. But as the door behind her closed, the room fell into silence.

  This was The Four Seasons. A large tea house, with the upstairs consisting of private rooms. Line had found out that this place was Vax’dian’s favourite place to spend his free time with, and she could understand that. Vax’dian and Hyde were both sitting at the table, it looked like they were deep in conversation before Line and Ali walked through the door.

  Ali skipped on over and claimed a seat opposite Hyde, leaving the one opposite Vax’dian open for Line. Line had hoped that she could’ve spent some time alone with Vax’dian, but she wasn’t surprised Ali had followed her either. Ali hated being alone. But at least Vax’dian also assumed Ali would come.

  Vax’dian reached across the table and poured freshly brewed tea into each porcelain cup “won’t you sit, my good Inspector?”

  Line gave a small bow and followed his instructions.

  “hey. Since we’re all here, and not in the middle of a case. We should get to know each other a little more” Ali said enthusiastically.

  “what do you have in mind?” Vax’dian was humouring her. Right?

  Ali beamed “how about we all say one fact about ourselves? We can go in a circle. I’ll go first” before Line could stop her Ali continued speaking “I grew up on a dairy farm”

  “An assassin grew up on a dairy farm? How did a young farmer end up joining The Sect?”

  “it’s a long story, one I doubt we have time for” she smiled “it’s your turn Prince Vax’dian”

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  “of course, let’s see... Since birth, I have been betrothed to the Duke General’s daughter”

  Ali frowned “which Duke”

  Line brought the smooth porcelain tea cup to her lips, but underneath the table her fingers twitched.

  Vax’dian smiled “Duke General Martagon. His daughter is Liliene”

  “lady Liliene... isn’t she missing?”

  “Missing, perhaps” he looked at Line “but I’m sure she’s alive”

  Line placed her cup on the matching saucer “Hyde, what’s your fact?”

  “my fact is that I am adept at needle work”

  Ali laughed “you can do something so delicate? I’m impressed”

  Hyde glared at her but switched his focus to Line “what about you?”

  Line though for a moment “I have a tattoo”

  Ali immediately stopped laughing “Line? The aloof Line? Our Line? Has a tattoo?”

  “I do”

  Ali’s eyes lit up “when? Where?”

  “five years ago, when I first joined Candour Monastery. It’s on the back of my neck”

  Ali practically jumped out of her chair and rushed behind Line to pull down her turtle neck “Line! You really do have a tattoo!”

  “Ali... you’re chocking me”

  “sorry” Ali pulled back and allowed Line to breathe in the sweet air again “why do you hide it?”

  “Tattoos aren’t allowed in Candour Monastery”

  “what is it?” Vax’dian asked.

  “it’s a lily” Ali responded.

  “Interesting”

  Line poured the group another cup of tea “don’t let anyone from Candour Monastery here of this, I would probably get a lot beatings for it”

  “well, we can’t have that can we” Vax’dian gave her one of his charming smiles. She hated it when he did that “I also wanted to say, that if you ever need any help in the future or have need of me, don’t go to the palace again. Come here instead. I own this tea house”

  Line gave a nod “it’s probably best if I don’t run into your brother again. I don’t think he likes me”

  “He doesn’t like anyone” Hyde spoke up.

  Vax’dian sighed, as if to say he agreed with Hyde but couldn’t actually say it out loud “we’ll be leaving tomorrow morning and won’t be back for a few weeks. So you two better stay out of trouble while I’m gone”

  “for the entire time you’ve known us have we ever caused any trouble?”

  “Just be careful”

  There it was again, the tone that told Line he was truly concerned. She gave a reassuring smile “don’t worry about us, we’ll be alright. So you better not cause trouble either”

  “I’ll be with my family the entire time. What trouble could I possibly make”