“How lovely,” Eli said, pushing harder. “Did she also order that we were to be starved to death?”
“No, sir!” the servant said, horrified.
Eli flashed him a winning smile. “Well, then, since I am perfectly capable of dressing myself, why don’t you go above and beyond the call of duty and find me some breakfast before I eat one of your fancy end tables? Could you do that for me?”
The young man frowned. “I suppose I could, sir, but—”
“You are a prince among men, Stefan,” Eli said, giving him a final push out the door. “Of course, considering the princes I’ve met, that might not be a compliment, but it was meant in good faith.”
The servant stumbled into the hallway. “Are you sure you do not wish my help, sir?” he said one last time. “I could ask one of the others to fetch your breakfast.”
“I trust no one but you,” Eli said, slamming the door behind him. “Don’t let me down!” he shouted through the wood.
If Stefan answered, Eli didn’t hear. He was already across the room, digging through his bag. He pulled the wig off his head and brushed it out with his fingers before placing it on the washstand. Using hot water from the shaving tray, he washed his face and then wet his real hair, combing it back slick before pressing it dry with one of the hot towels. Next, he picked his shirt and breeches from last night up off the floor and, as they were far and away the nicest clothes he had, put them back on. When he was dressed and his hair was mostly dry, he pinned his wig back in place. He was adjusting the fall of the blond hair across his shoulders when he heard the lock turn again.
Eli glanced up, expecting the servant, or at least a breakfast tray. Instead, Josef marched into the room. The swordsman was also dressed in the same clothes from yesterday, but the fine shirt and trousers were wrinkled as though he’d slept in them. His knives, all of them, were belted on and the Heart was across his back, ready to go. For one soaring moment, Eli thought Josef had changed his mind about staying, but then he saw the pair of guards hot on Josef’s heels and a servant hovering with lather bowl and razor in hand, and his spirits dropped.
“Have you seen Nico?” Josef said.
“Good morning to you, too,” Eli said. “And no.”
Josef grimaced. “I was sure she would come back, but she never did. I waited all night.” He scrubbed his hands through his short blond hair. “Something’s wrong, Eli. It’s not like her to be gone this long without a reason.”
Eli turned back to the mirror to contemplate his position. His swordsman could be unusually insightful about some things, but he was thick as a wagon of bricks about others. There was no easy way of explaining to him that, underneath the semisentient coat, monstrous strength, and shadowy past, Nico was a girl as well as a demonseed. Her relationship with Josef might be a nebulous, nameless sort of thing, but hearing that the man she trusted more than anything in the world, the man she followed with unquestioning loyalty, was married, had been married for a year, and never even thought to mention it… well, that had to sting, and Nico didn’t exactly talk about her problems.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Eli said, glancing at Josef and then pointedly flicking his eyes to the guards and the servant hovering behind him.
That, at least, Josef got. “Get out,” he growled.
“But, my lord,” said the guard at his left. “Your lady mother was very specific—”
“Where do you think I’m going to run?” Josef said. “This cell is the same as the one you just let me out of. I need to talk to my friend in private, so shove off. Now.”
The guards backed off as one, bowing their way out the door. The servant, however, stayed, heated towel ready. Josef stared at him a moment, and then grabbed the man’s shoulder. The servant made a sort of squeaking sound as Josef shoved him into the hall, closing the heavy door in his face.
“I can see why you had problems being a prince,” Eli said, leaning on the washstand. “Not exactly the genteel epitome of magnanimity and tact, are you?”
“Shut up,” Josef said, but there was no venom in it. He walked across the room and sat down on Eli’s bed, putting his head in his hands with a deep breath. “I can’t believe she’d leave without telling me.”
“She didn’t leave, Josef,” Eli said with a long sigh. “She probably just needs some time to work things through. It’s been a pretty dramatic week.”
“But she’s never done that before,” Josef said. “Vanished like that, in front of everyone.” He glanced up. “You’re the wizard. You would have heard if something happened to her, right? With the demon?”