Chapter 111: Tell Me Who Hurt You

The promenade was built above the water line, creating a sea wall, and extended across a wide stretch of waterfront, including the area where some of the docks were. They had since been moved to more discreet areas to allow for a better view of the water and islands from the promenade.

The fishing dock was closer to the mouth of the river and a series of docks integrated along a pier. It was still being built in order to accommodate for fishermen to offload their hauls. The transport dock was moved to the opposite end of the promenade, where a stone walkway led to the waters’ edge.

Small and medium sized vessels could dock to transport people to and from the islands. This was where guests who came from larger vessels would be dropped off.

The sun had set, and Tori waited patiently on the promenade as she watched a ship carefully dock. She heard the familiar voices before she saw their owners and a wide smile filled her face.

“Ava, don’t run!” Aiden was shouting, but Tori doubted that would stop her little cousin. From the open gate that led down to the water’s edge, a small figure appeared with a canvas bag secured across her body. Her curly hair looked like a little lion’s mane around her head, but she had no fear when she reached street level.

Her big eyes swept across the promenade, first surprised at the paved and well-lit walkway, and then seemed to land and focus on one person.

“Cousin Tori!” Ava didn’t pay attention to the people walking around for their evening walks. She zoomed across the walkway, easily avoiding adults as they walked and prepared to launch herself into Tori’s arms, only to stumble to a stop. Her eyes widened and the excited look on her face disappeared. “Wheelchair?”

Tori gave her a weak smile. “There was a bit of an accident.”

Ava’s worried expression darkened. She stomped the rest of the way to Tori and grabbed on to her hands. “Tell me who hurt you,” the little girl said in a serious voice. “I will avenge you, cousin!”

“You’re not avenging anyone.” A hand grabbed the back of Ava’s shirt collar and pulled her away. “Cousin has crystal shock.” Aiden kept a firm grip on Ava’s shirt as Ava tried to reach out to Tori.

“Aiden, welcome to Viclya,” Tori said with a warm smile. “You’ve gotten taller.”

A slight blush reached his ruddy cheeks and he looked away. “Not much. You’re just seated right now.”

“How about me?” Maeve slid in between them and wrapped her arms around Tori’s shoulders. “I’ve also gotten taller.”

“I think so, too,” Tori said as she put an arm around Maeve and nuzzled her head. “You all look so gallant. Was the voyage good to you?”

“Of course! We’re at home on the water,” Aiden said proudly.

“Aiden, release me!” Ava was still struggling. “I haven’t hugged her yet!”

Aiden let her go and Ava pounced on Tori. She climbed up to sit on her lap and hug her. Tori chuckled. “Miss me?”

“A lot,” Ava said. She looked around and seemed to finally notice the several teenagers around Tori. She cocked her head to the side. “Are you my cousin’s friends?”

“We are. You must be Druid Ava,” Ilyana said with a warm smile. Ava immediately sat up straight, pleased she was acknowledged, and nodded.

“Yes, and you’re very pretty. You must be Ilyana,” Ava replied with a cheeky smile. Ilyana’s brows shot up, but her smile widened.

“Wait, then who am I?” Albert asked, pointing at himself.

Ava gave him a dull look. “I don’t know you.” Albert’s face fell and the others around him held back their snickers.

“Don’t you think introductions should be made when everyone is present?” a woman’s amused voice asked. Tori looked back towards the gate and saw the beautiful, tall woman with braids in her hair walking towards them.

“Cousin Bridget! Thank you for coming!”

“No, no, thank you for inviting us,” Bridget said with a warm smile. “I heard good things from Eili and Deidre.”

“Cousin Baldwin didn’t come?” Tori asked.

“He’s overseeing the poaching ring, remember? It was in Anlar Territory,” Bridget said. Tori nodded. She forgot that Bridget’s husband had taken over. “The investigation is more important than a holiday. He’ll be fine.”

“It must’ve been chaotic with these three,” Sebastian said as he looked at the children rambling about playing games and activities with Tori and the others.

“I had help.” Bridget looked over her shoulder. “We picked up someone in Tres Arcos.”

Tori and Sebastian both looked towards the gate and Tori’s brows shot up. An elegant woman with long, wavy brown hair appeared in a clean, olive colored dress and hat. A warm smile appeared on her face and Tori’s shoulders relaxed. Her eyes reddened.

“Mama!”

As if knowing that Tori had to greet her mother, Ava wiggled off Tori’s lap and then tried to push Tori’s wheelchair closer. Constantine smiled down at her and helped her push, but they didn’t need to go far.

Antonia reached Tori and swept down to embrace her. “My baby....” she said in a soft, pained voice. “I was so worried about you.”

“Mama....” Tori reached up to hold on to her mother tight. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“As long as you’re all right. As long as you’re safe,” Antonia’s voice rasped in her ear. She stroked Tori’s hair back and seemed to study her carefully with her eyes, as if searching for any hint of discomfort on her daughter.

“Don’t worry, Mama. She’s fine. The crystal shock is temporary,” Sebastian said with a thoughtful look on his face.

Antonia slowly released Tori and stood up straight. She turned to face Sebastian with a stern look on her face and Sebastian shrank back a bit. “You....” Antonia said in a low voice. Sebastian grimaced.

“Mama....”

“You worried me, too!” The grown man was swept into his mother’s arms, and he stood helplessly as Antonia embraced him tightly. “What were you thinking? A tiger?”

A lost, but warm smile was on Sebastian’s face as his arms rose and he gently squeezed his mother back. “Mama, it was just a flesh wound. A few scratches, really.”

“A few scratches.” Antonia pulled back and held him at arms’ length. Her sharp eyes narrowed more so. “You’re reckless!”

“I know-”

“All your training and bragging that you’re one of the best swordsmen in the empire, and you can’t even fight off a tiger!”

Sebastian’s lips tightened into a line.

“Mama, he was a bit distracted with the girl he was saving,” Idunn said, trying to help him. He threw her a thankful look. Antonia released him and went to embrace Idunn.

“If you didn’t throw the knife, who knows what would’ve happened. You also need to be more careful, Idunn. You’re a researcher first and a warrior second.” Antonia and Idunn exchanged cheek kisses.

“Mama,” Tori said from her seat. She furrowed her brows and looked up at her with confusion. “What are you doing here? Papa said that you were in Presidio.”

“He wouldn’t let me come with him to Anlar, so I came here instead,” Antonia said in a proud voice. She stood up straight and looked confident with her decision.

Sebastian and Tori exchanged silent looks. “Mama,” he said, carefully. “Does Papa know you’re here?”

Their little group was quiet for a moment, but Antonia didn’t falter. “I told him I was going out to run an errand for a few days. Since he wouldn’t let me go to the lakes to see you, I would go elsewhere by myself.”

Tori’s eyes crinkled up. “An errand...here?”

“I should tell him I arrived,” Antonia said. She reached into the satchel across her body and took out her comcry. “Call Gregorio de Guevera.” The comcry almost connected immediately and Tori heard her father’s confused voice.

“My heart, where are-”

“I’m in Viclya,” Antonia said, cutting off her husband. “I’m going to stay with Tori and go home when Sebastian does.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay in the resort tents?” Tori asked as she was pushed into her tent by Sir Lovato, one of four female knights her mother brought with her. When her father said that two female knights would be sent to her, she didn’t think her mother would come with them. Two knights were there to escort her mother and two more would stay with her.

“No, I came here to see you, not to relax by the beach,” Antonia said in a calm voice as she walked into the tent and looked around. “It’s quite large.”

“The front room is my office and where I receive people. The back room is where I sleep and there is an attached room where there is a toilet and another room where I can wash myself,” Tori said. She looked over her shoulder. “Please bring Mama’s things to the back room of my tent.”

“Mine, too!” Ava said as she jumped inside.

“No, you’ll be staying with us in the resort tents,” Bridget told her in a firm voice. “You can’t bother Tori. She still has to work.”

“But her birthday is coming. She shouldn’t work on her birthday!” Ava frowned and wrinkled her nose.

“It’s not just work for my project or my businesses, Ava, I also have to finish the plans for the celebration this weekend,” Tori told her gently. “I have activities planned for my guests who are coming to celebrate my birthday. We’re also celebrating Albert’s birthday and our friend Ewan, who was accepted into La Garda.”

Ava let out a heavy sigh. She walked forward and patted Tori’s hand with sympathy. “You’re working hard, Cousin.”

Tori smiled.

“Cousin Tori, is this your cat?” Tori turned her head and saw Maeve and Aiden circling a wooden bench with cushions. On the drab colored cushions was a fluffy gray ball, who looked up with big golden eyes.

“Yes, he’s one of the cats from the accidental litters at Lycée,” Tori said. “We couldn’t find a home for him, so I brought him with us. His name is Alexander Hamilton de Guevera. The First.”

Aiden looked over his shoulder at her with a confused expression. “That’s...a long name.”

“We call him Alexander,” Tori said. “He’s very well adjusted to people and is very smart. Alexander! Come here!”

The several month-old kitten lifted his head and the maroon-colored leather collar around his neck peeked out from his thick gray fur. A flat, oval piece of metal hung from his collar with his name engraved on it, as well as Tori’s name on the back. Embedded in the metal name tag were six tiny crystals that changed color depending on the light.

In her original world, they were alexandrite; here, they were summerset crystals. They were good for luck and intellect, according to Instructor Ignatius.

Alexander let out a yawn and stretched as he stood up. He hopped off the bench and trotted past everyone to get to Tori, before jumping onto her lap. He sat down and looked up at her, then meowed.

“So smart!” Ava said with wide eyes. “We call our cat, and he does nothing. He only sits there.” She narrowed her eyes. “Judging you.”

“He is very cute.” Antonia leaned down and gently stroked the kitten’s head. “But pets are not allowed in Lycée. What will you do when school starts? Nanny Rey has a mild cat allergy; don’t force him on her.”

Tori smiled. “I’m still working on that. Don’t worry, I will make sure he’s taken care of.”

Her mother gave her a small hum as Alexander nudged her hand. “Then, has he eaten yet?”

“Yes, he has designated feeding times,” Tori told her before looking up and furrowing her brows. “Have you eaten yet?”

“No, we were hoping to get settled first and then eat,” Bridget replied. She looked at her niece, nephew, and daughter. “Come on, you three. We should see our tents.”

“Ilyana will take you,” Tori said. “It’s difficult for me to get down the stairs to the beach on a wheelchair.” She gave them a helpless smile as she motioned to her chair. She could see Bridget knit her brows and frown a bit.

“Then we will return as soon as our things are put away,” Bridget told her.

“Meet us at Bluewater on the promenade,” Tori said as her cousin herded the three younger ones out. “It’s Henrik’s restaurant. Ilyana, tell them what activities we’ve scheduled for them.”

“Okay!” Ilyana nodded with a smile and walked out with the family. Constantine was overseeing the meals and lodgings of any sailors and knights who accompanied the family and remained by the dock with JP and Sonia helping him. Henrik went to his restaurant to reserve a table.

Antonia picked up the kitten and held him in her arms as she looked around. Albert had returned to Tori’s desk, where he had been working on stuffing envelopes for the game. Antonia blinked as she noticed the man seated at her daughter’s desk, quietly folding cards across from Albert. He had been almost unnoticed.

“Your Highness Prince Piers.” His name drew his attention away from his meticulous folding and he looked up. He stopped folding and stood up to greet her.

“Good evening, Marquess Guevera,” he said in a quiet voice. After he met her gaze for a moment, his eyes dropped, and he returned to his seat. Without a word, he continued folding.

Antonia looked down at her daughter, silently asking what he was doing in her tent.

“I made up a game for the weekend and Albert and Piers are helping me prepare the pieces,” Tori said.

Antonia raised a brow. She looked towards Piers and then back at her daughter. “I see.”

“He has his own tent, Mama. Once they’re done, they’ll leave.”

“We’re almost done!” Albert said with a smile. “How many people did you invite?” He looked at the neat piles of envelopes and cards around her desk. “Did you really need this many?”

“I doubt everyone is going to play, but just in case, I wanted to be prepared,” Tori replied. “We have several people who helped with the logistical work on the delta, business associates, our various families and friends, and the Sword Association.”

“The entire Sword Association?” Albert lamented.

“Just the people I’m close to.”

“Aside from von Dorn, you’re close to everyone in the Sword Association,” Albert said. “That’s at least fifty people.”

“Not everyone can make it. Several students went home for the summer and aren’t local,” Tori reminded him.

“Do you have enough lodgings for all your guests?” Antonia asked. Tori nodded, enthusiastic.

“Yes, we’ve more than doubled the amount of resort tents on the beach. Some of us are going to stay in our usual tents in the encampment, too,” Tori told her with pride. “Several more shops have opened on the promenade, as well.”

“What about the tourists?” Antonia asked. “Will your staff be able to manage both your personal guests and the tourists?”

“I made a point to block this weekend, so we won’t have unfamiliar tourists,” Tori answered. “Don’t worry, Mama. We’ve planned properly.”

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Antonia gave her a small, approving nod. “Then, I will lay down for a moment. Wake me when it’s time to go to dinner.” She stroked her daughter’s hair back with one hand and then walked towards the back room with Alexander still in her arm.

“Sir Lovato, please follow Sir Olmeda, Sir Pinzon, and Sir Bazan outside. The tent beside mine is Nanny Rey’s when she’s here and it will be your lodging for the duration of your stay,” Tori said.

“Do you require me to push you, my lady?” the female knight asked. Tori shook her head.

“I can get around my tent without much assistance. If I need help, I will call. Thank you. We will call for you when we go to dinner,” Tori said. The knight stepped back and bowed before walking outside of the tent. Tori rolled her wheelchair towards the desk. “How is it?”

“Explain to me again what is going on and why you made us stuff all these cards into envelopes,” Albert said as he took one of the folded cards from Piers’ stack and put three cards half its size, from three different piles, into it before sliding them into an envelope.

“It is a combination treasure hunt and puzzle game. Each person will get one envelope. In the cards Piers folded are their game roles: agent or spy. Almost everyone will be an agent and their goal is to find a secret message hidden somewhere on the west shore. This includes the promenade, Turtle Run Cove, the resort tents, the beaches, and docks. To get the message, they must solve puzzles and do challenges.

“When they get the secret message, they must hold on to it until dinner on the last night. It can be taken from them if another player issues a challenge. The agent holding the message can use a ‘pass’ card. If they use up their pass card, they must accept the challenge. Winner gets the secret message. However, there are also three spies playing. If the spy manages to take it or if players lose track of the message, a player can challenge anyone they suspect of being the spy. The spy cannot admit to being the spy and must pretend they are an agent.

“The spy doesn’t have any pass cards and must take the challenge. Each envelope will also have three cards: the first one is the clue to the first puzzle, then a challenge card, and a pass card. Once they’re used up, they can no longer issue challenges or passes. However, the challenges offer more cards to use, and players can win them if they tell the attendant they’re playing for a challenge card. They will be instructed on the rules then.

At the celebratory dinner, whoever has the secret message at the end of the main course wins. If the person is an agent, then not only do they get a large prize, but all the agents get smaller prizes. The spies do not. If the person who has the secret message is the spy, only that spy gets the prize. High risk, high reward. It is in the best interest of the agents to work together in the end to make sure the secret message doesn’t get into the hands of a spy.”

Albert nodded. “Are the envelopes going to be distributed at random?”

“Yes,” Tori said. “You can’t show your role to anyone, but you can tell them. However, I doubt the spy will actually tell you they’re a spy.”

“I want to be a spy,” Piers told her as he finished folding the cards.

“It’s random, Piers.”

“I’d be a good spy.”

Tori rolled her eyes and went to find the basket to put the envelopes in. All of them were identical. Tori had the spy envelopes already made and planned to mix them into the basket later.

Henrik arrived to tell them that dinner was ready. Tori went to call for her mother. Once Antonia got up, she left Alexander sleeping on the bed, and followed everyone down the wooden walkway to the promenade.

“Our remaining tourist guests will leave mid-morning,” Henrik said. “We expect our personal guests to arrive in the early afternoon to early evening on the expected day. The resort tents will be ready by then.”

“Good, are the meal plans and activity brochures prepared?” Tori asked. Piers rolled her down the wooden path with Albert ahead of them and Henrik to the side. Her mother followed with her two knights.

“Yes, they’re ready. The instructions for the spy game are also prepared. The puzzles and challenge areas will be set up tomorrow in preparation for the game to start the morning after,” Henrik told her. He paused and frowned. “I don’t see why I can’t play.”

“I need you to help me oversee the logistics while I’m overseeing the food,” Tori said. “As well as help answer questions.”

“Tori, if you need help, allow me to assist you,” Antonia said behind her. “Let Henrik play.”

“Mama, I thought you’d want to play, too.”

“I don’t need to play,” Antonia told her gently. “I can help. Sir Lovato and Sir Olmeda will also assist you, as well.”

Tori sighed and gave Henrik a small glare. “Looks like you’re free to play. Let’s see how you do.” He held back a small grin as they reached the promenade. A small crowd had already gathered by the entrance for dinner.

Her little cousins insisted on sitting with her at her table as Tori told them about the spy game. Her mother sat further down the table with her cousin, brother, and Idunn.

“What’s the prize for the agents?” Aiden asked with a glint of excitement. At his question, his sister and cousin both looked at Tori expectantly.

“The winning agent gets fifty silver coins to spend anywhere on the promenade-”

“Even the food stalls?” Maeve asked as her eyes went wide. The children had seen the various food stalls when they passed, and Ilyana told them about the assorted sweets, fried foods, and drinks that were sold.

Tori nodded. “Yes, even the food stalls. The other agents will get a treat voucher good for one treat at any of the food stalls. I would personally recommend the funnel cake, which is fried dough topped with sugar, cream, and fruit of your choice.”

Ava lifted her hand to wipe at her drooling mouth. “But what if I’m a spy?”

“Seventy-five silver coins to spend, a wicker hanging basket swing that can fit two people, a crystal safety talisman I personally made, and one complete outfit from Lions Gate’s delta collection,” Tori said.

“A swing?” Maeve scrunched her face in disappointment. “What’s so good about a swing?”

“The prize will be on display at the resort tents meal deck in the morning. You’ll see,” Tori told her.

“I suppose that’s still a bonus. What’s important are the silver coins to spend,” Maeve told her siblings. “That can last me the entire trip.”

“You’re not going to share if you win?” Aiden asked, raising a brow.

“Why would I share? This is a competition!”

“All right, but don’t come crying to me to share if I win,” Aiden said in a calm, confident voice.

“Cousin Tori, the challenges sound hard,” Ava said, inching forward with a despondent look on her face. “If I play, I may lose the challenges and I don’t have a chance of winning....” She pouted and looked down.

“Oh, baby, it’s all right,” Tori said as she reached over and stroked Ava’s hair back. “If you don’t win, I’ll buy you food.”

“Really?” Ava looked up at her with glistening eyes and her cousins looked at her with disgust. “You'll buy me all the food?”

“Auntie Bridget, do you see your daughter begging?” Aiden said, looking towards the other end of the table.

“Don’t fall into her trap, Tori,” Bridget said distractedly. “She’s cute, but she’s greedy.”

“Mom!” Ava gasped and looked at her mother with betrayal.

“Ava, just try your best,” Tori said, still petting her head. “Look, Riri said he’s going to play.” She motioned her hand to the next table over, where Ilyana’s family was seated and chatting. Riri looked up when he heard his name and smiled.

“Lady Tori, did you call for me?”

“Are you still playing the spy game tomorrow, Riri?”

Riri looked excited and nodded. “Yes! I’m going with my sister and mother!”

“Oh, playing as a team is a good idea.” Tori gave him a nod of approval. She looked back at Ava. “See, Ava? You can play on a team and then split the prize if you win.”

Ava furrowed her little brows and thought for a moment. She looked at Tori hesitantly. “Are you going to play?”

“No, I have to do some work that day,” she said.

Ava looked at her two cousins. Both seemed to expect her to ask, but she shook her head and snorted. “I need someone who’ll win....”

“What?” Maeve jerked her head back.

“Excuse me....” Aiden rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry we’re not good enough for you.”

Ava ignored them and continued to look around. As her eyes settled on a person, she seemed to think about their odds of winning. She wiggled out of her seat.

“Where are you going?” Bridget asked as soon as she saw her daughter begin to move.

“I need to find a partner,” Ava said. She slid off her booster seat and onto the ground. She then went to the next table where Ilyana sat. “You’re smart, but you’re already teaming up with your family, so my share of the winnings won’t be much.”

Tori squinted her eyes and watched Ava carefully approach her friends. Her little cousin was daring, she’d give Ava that. Ilyana laughed and the others seemed to wait for Ava to inspect them and make her decision. She deduced that Marco and Mateo were going to work together, and Henrik said he planned to play with the Vissage twins. For anyone who already had a partner, Ava was reluctant to team up with them.

She didn’t want less than half of the winnings.

“Ava, I’ll partner with you,” Albert said with a gentle smile. Ava looked at him and then shook her head.

“I heard your grandma is coming, so you will play with your grandma,” Ava replied with confidence. “If my grandfather was here, I would play with him.”

Albert sighed. “Why does everyone think I’m going to play with my grandma?”

“Because you will,” Sonia said, ruthlessly.

Ava stood by the table and looked from Piers to Constantine. She looked torn and frowned. Constantine leaned down to speak to her.

“Do you want to be my partner?” he asked in a gentle voice. “I can do all the challenges quite well and I’m in the top tier in Lycée, so I will be able to do the puzzles.”

Ava pursed her lips, but didn’t decide. She stared at Piers, as if waiting for him to offer.

Piers reached across the table and picked up his wine glass. He said nothing as he brought it to his lips and took a sip, as if Ava wasn’t looking at him expectantly. She frowned when she didn’t get a response and looked at Tori.

“He doesn’t play well with others,” Tori told her with a smile.

Ava huffed and looked down, disappointed. “He’d make a good partner....” She dared to take a step closer to Piers. “Excuse me, sir? Do you want to be partners?”

Tori raised a brow. “This is the first time I’ve seen her so respectful to a stranger.”

“She has some manners,” Bridget said with a grin.

Piers glanced at Ava and then looked away. “No.”

A shocked look filled Ava’s face and her mother turned her head and muffled her laughter. The rest of their table tried not to laugh as Ava looked stunned by the clear rejection.

“Why not?” she asked.

“I don’t play well with others,” Piers said, repeating Tori’s explanation without looking at the child.

“But you’re the best looking one!” Ava cried out, indignant. At the other table, Albert spit out his water. Everyone looked at the little girl who had protest all over her face.

“Well, she’s definitely Tori’s cousin,” JP said as Sonia bit her lip to keep from laughing. Tori shot him a look.

“Shut up, JP.”

“Ava, if His Highness doesn’t want to be partners, you can’t force him,” Bridget told her in a stern voice.

Ava tilted her head back and swung her arms dramatically around her. She took a moment to grumble before turning to Constantine. “You’re the next best looking one. Will you be my partner?”

“Ava, what are you basing your partner requirements on?” Sebastian asked with a furrowed brow.

“Face value,” Tori answered for the child.

“Why didn’t she ask me?” Sebastian said, frowning. “My face value is high, isn’t it?” He turned to Idunn, who nodded and patted his hand.

“Cousin Sebastian, you will partner with your fiancée,” Ava replied, as if it were obvious. “I’m not going to be the three...third....” She looked at Aiden and Maeve.

“Third wheel,” Aiden told her.

“Yes, the third wheel!” Ava nodded her head. “Also, I’d only get a third of the prize.”

“Constantine, can you be Ava’s partner for the spy game?” Tori asked.

“Of course,” he said with a nod. “We’ll work hard, won’t we, Ava?”

She nodded. “And...and it’s fifty-fifty?”

“I don’t eat that much. If we win, I’ll give you seventy-five percent,” Constantine told her with an amused smile.

The child’s face lit up. She scrambled over and hooked her little pinky with his. “We have an accord! You can’t break it!”

“I won’t.”

“Everyone heard it!”

“We heard....” Bridget sighed. She looked at her daughter with a mixture of frustration and exhaustion as Ava returned to her seat. She got help climbing back onto her booster chair.

“Of course, Ava, that’s only if you’re both agents and if you win,” Aiden reminded her with a smug look. “That’s not guaranteed.”

Ava’s face turned red, and Tori sighed. “Don’t upset her. Let her have fun.”

“She’ll be disappointed if she loses,” Maeve pointed out. She looked at Ava. “I’m just saying, you should be prepared.”

“Of course, I’m going to be prepared! I’m an O’Tuagh! Observe. Advance. Conquer!”

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