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Nerissa glanced over her shoulder. “Princess?”
“Help me get ready,” Cleo said, pushing off her blankets and climbing out of bed. “We need to get to Black Harbor before dawn.”
• • •
Black Harbor was located at the bottom of the high cliffs, below the castle grounds. A snaking road allowed travel by cart and carriage, but that route would make for a long journey, so Cleo and Nerissa decided instead to take the steps chiseled into the side of the cliff.
The treacherous, icy steps chiseled into the side of the cliff.
Finally, they reached the docks.
“Perhaps this was a foolish idea,” Cleo whispered, her cheeks stinging from the frigid wind.
“Not at all,” Nerissa assured her. “I admire you. You’re standing up for yourself. You’re not letting others make decisions that affect you. However . . .”
“Yes?”
“I wish we were still in Auranos. This cold is unbearable, and I miss the warmth of home.”
Cleo couldn’t help but laugh. “Agreed.”
The small harbor was used only for docking ships visiting the palace, and for import and export. Today there were three large ships docked: two bearing the Auranian crest that carried imported goods such as vegetables, fruits, grains, and live animals—crates of chickens, pigs, and sheep—and one black ship with red sails bearing the Limerian cobra signet. Painted on the side of the ship were the words Strength, Faith, and Wisdom.
Dozens of sailors, servants, and other crew were moving about the docks, which was laden down with supplies. Cleo and Nerissa stayed back, watching the organized chaos.
“Princess.” Nerissa took her gloved hand and squeezed it to get her attention.
And then she saw it, a sight she never would have believed possible.
Jonas Agallon and Magnus Damora, walking side by side along the dock.
“All right,” she whispered. “That proves it. I’m still asleep and dreaming.”
Nerissa smiled. “Or it’s proof that miracles are possible.”
Cleo couldn’t tear her gaze away from the prince and the rebel. “Is Magnus smiling or clenching his teeth? Did Jonas just tell him a joke?”
“He’s definitely clenching his teeth. I have a feeling Jonas won’t be telling any jokes for a while.”
“What do you mean?”
Nerissa shook her head. “I thought it best that Nic tell you.”
Now Cleo was worried. Something must have gone terribly wrong in Paelsia. “Nerissa, Nic’s not here. Clearly there’s something I need to know, and you need to tell me.”
Nerissa met Cleo’s gaze with dark, troubled eyes. “Lysandra’s dead.”
Cleo gasped. “What?”
“During their journey they came across Princess Lucia and another man and . . . it didn’t go well. I don’t know much more than that, princess. I’m sorry.”
“No. Oh, no!” Cleo gasped.
Lucia and another man. It had to be the companion who came to the palace, looking for the stone wheel. This was his doing. She knew it to be true, without a single doubt.
“I didn’t know Lysandra was a friend of yours,” Nerissa said.
“She wasn’t. But this is still a great loss to us all. Lysandra was a skilled and passionate fighter.” Cleo forced herself to breathe deeply, to compose herself and focus on the task at hand. Lysandra had never said a kind word to Cleo, but she knew how close she’d been to Jonas. Cleo had admired Lysandra for her strength and her ability to blend in and fight as fiercely as one of the boys.
