Page 171 of The Crown’s Temptation

"Thrykis, then."

And so we began.

CHAPTER 36

The Unclear Plan

When the ship docked in Thrykis, I turned to Eravic. "Are you sure no one can see it?"

"No, princess. I am not sure about the capabilities of the ship I sail."

"It was not an entirely unreasonable question," I said.

"These pants are far too big," I said, adjusting the rope he had given me.

"If they fall off I will be available to laugh," he said.

I glared at him.

"I will be back," I said.

"You cannot be serious."

"What?"

"I am not letting you go there by yourself. I just spent a year getting you this fucking Arrolyn so you could live, only for you to die because you are a poor planner with anger issues."

"My anger is completely justifiable," I said. "Avaneer tried to kill me. And he stabbed Sevrin."

"It is unclear to me if you like Sevrin."

I sighed. "It is unclear to me too. But nonetheless, Avaneer should certainly die." I smiled. "Besides, I have an even better plan."

"What might that be?"

My smile widened. Wait and see. I pulled the hooded cloak he had given me more firmly over my head.

"You may come," I said. "But do not slow me down."

He barked a laugh.

We stepped off the ship and I put my glamour on, my eyes and hair now the same brown they had when I snuck out to the tavern back in Veynar.

"You should not bother. Conserve your energy."

"This will not take much," I said calmly.

"You are naive," he said. "The Threns will smell you the instant you enter the palace, and from there it will be chaos and I will get blood on my new jacket."

I glanced at him. "Since when do you care about clothing?"

"I do not. But this one is gray and the blood will show and as you know there are buxom beauties and cross redheads that await."

I punched him in the arm. "In that case I hope you fall into a barrel of blood."

I stepped into the castle. Several guards approached immediately, likely noting the human smell.

"State your business."