“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.”
I haven’t stepped inside this tunnel since we arrived in Ulysede, a rivulet of blood dripping from my hand and an unknown world ahead. Now as we move along it again, the lanterns flicker and ominous shadows crawl over the arched ceiling.
Six legionaries stand before the closed gate, their arrows nocked and aimed outward into the darkness.
And on the other side waits a single form.
Zander sidles his horse next to mine. “Are you ready for this?”
I swallow my nerves. “Yes. Why?”
“Because I can practically see your pulse in your throat.”
My heart is racing. And his uncanny—and sometimes annoying—ability to sense it has only grown stronger since we arrived here, rather than vanishing along with his need for mortal blood. “I’m remembering what happened the last time I played Princess Romeria with a guy on the other side of iron bars.” Tyree did not care that I was his sister by blood when he smashed my face into them.
“That will not happen this time.” He nods toward Gesine, whose green eyes cast a dull glow. The shield is already up, and it takes almost none of her power.
I can’t wait to have that kind of control.
“Remember, you are in command here. I am just a fleeing, enamored king, bending to your will.”
“As if you can handle not saying something. I give you two minutes.”