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I watch her closely; her growing worries about the coming change have taken root in mine. But in this case, I think her confusion has more to do with being woken from a dead sleep and thrown onto a horse within minutes.
“Yes, I know of whom you speak. A soldier who was often at Prince Tyree’s side. He was respectful to the elementals. Far more than others, including the prince himself. He seemed a trusted advisor, always ready with his blade.”
“So we cannot put any hope in him.” Zander’s expression is hard.
“I did not say that, but I would be wary. He is beholden to Ybaris, but if he is at these gates now, he must have loyalty for his princess.”
“He might be looking for direction, now that Tyree is gone,” Elisaf offers, riding opposite Zander.
“Or it is a mission to gather information to feed back to Neilina,” Zander throws back without missing a beat. “Surely he would have heard what is happening within Islor.”
“It would be wise to assume so, yes. At least the rumors.”
“Of which there are many.” Zander’s gaze flitters to me, and I know what he’s worried about.
“Rumors that likely won’t point to me,” I remind him. Those in Norcaster would assume Zander controlled the ring of fire and that anything else inexplicable could be tied to the caster who travels with us. Talk of the princess’s glowing silver eyes would likely be dismissed as a fable—a way to villainize me more. The only people who could speak to my caster abilities are in Ulysede with us. “How well would Kienen know Princess Romeria?”
Gesine frowns in thought. “Not well, if I had to hazard a guess. The princess spent much of her time with Neilina, and she and her brother were not particularly close.”
“Only close enough to mastermind an attempted coup and slaughter of a royal family,” Zander says dryly.
“If he doesn’t know her well, then that works to our advantage. I say we play this carefully until we get a good read on him. As far as he’s concerned, I’m still Princess Romeria from Ybaris.” As much as I hate playing her.
“With the exiled king you plotted to kill and his Legion in tow?” Jarek raises a doubtful eyebrow. “How will you explain that?”
“I don’t know yet. I need to feel him out first.” I always do my best thinking while in the thick of trouble, and I’ve found myself in a lot of trouble over the years. It’ll come to me. It always does. It has to.
“And all this?” Zorya nods at a statue of a nymph.
“Tell him it was Mordain’s doing,” Gesine answers for me. “He is a soldier. He would not know the intricacies. It’s highly unlikely he would understand how our affinities work, and what we are and are not capable of.” Has Kienen heard about her escape? Will he see her as a traitor to his country?
Zorya grunts. “That makes at least two of us.”
“None of the Ybarisans captured with Tyree knew of Neilina’s plans, and I imagine Abarrane was quite thorough with her methods. The prince must not have divulged much,” Elisaf adds.
“So, we go in assuming he’s here to answer his princess’s call and confused as hell.” That, I may be able to work with.
“There were many in Ybaris who were tired of going hungry each winter from poor crops and welcomed an alliance between the nations. I cannot say which side this soldier is on.”
“The side that has been peddling poison,” Jarek reminds us. “And what of his affinity?”
Gesine pauses in thought. “I cannot recall, but I imagine it is not remarkable, because I cannot recall.”
“He’ll have to rely on a warrior’s skills rather than a coward’s. Good. Let me bring him in and find out what he knows.” Jarek’s toothy grin brings back thoughts of the dead keepers from Freywich.
It makes me shudder. “You can’t go around torturing people we need, and we need these Ybarisans.”
“She is right. Whether we like this or not, we need alliances, even the unsavory ones,” Zander admits, his voice heavy with reluctance. “If anyone can fool the male, it is Romeria.”
“Is that a compliment? I can’t tell.”
He smirks. “Play your role and lie about your new affinities if it comes up. Blame Mordain for chasing prophecy to Ulysede. At least that is the truth.”
“And if he is not convinced?” Elisaf asks.
“Then we kill him where he stands.” Zander’s horse speeds up, moving ahead of us.
So, if I screw this up, I get to watch this Kienen die. “No pressure.”
“You will do fine,” Gesine says.
“Will you shield us, just in case?” I’ve been practicing and I’m getting better at it, but I don’t think I’ll be able to focus on that and the lies that come out of my mouth.
Her smile is wan but authentic. “Of course, Your Highness. Always.”
