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“Only if the King told anyone. And it happened rather recently.”
“Why would he keep it a secret?”
“To stem panic. I’m thinking he might know what’s going on. And if he has a plan, I want to help.”
I blinked. “Since when are you self-sacrificing?” Heroics were for the elite and financially stable.
He offered a sheepish shrug. “I became a grandfather and had my perspective changed. I want her to have a chance to grow up.”
He must be getting old since I’d never known him to be sentimental.
“Aim your sights on someone more accessible. I can talk to Grof, the head of his guard, or even Kiol, the councilor in charge of taxes.”
“I have a feeling the King isn’t telling anyone much. It’s why I need it asked directly of him.”
“And I’m telling you getting close to the King is next to impossible.”
“Ah. I see the problem. You can’t do it.” Jrijori stood. “I’ll speak with someone else, then.”
I understood he pricked my vanity. I still fell for it. “There is no one better than me.”
“Qynn might disagree.”
I didn’t say that Qynn had lost her nerve. It was why she retired. Decades of using her potions and she’d never come across anyone who’d had an opposite reaction to calm until Freydo. The man went berserk when he realized Qynn had no intention of seducing him. Qynn had bruises on her neck for weeks after he almost choked her to death. Kya had rushed in to defend her and won but took heavy injury.
“If Qynn thinks she can do it, then let her. I’d prefer to still have a head when I retire.”
“If you change your mind, let Qynn know. She can get a message to me.”
Jrijori left, and Palla scoffed. “Go after the king. As if we’d take that kind of chance. We’re not stupid.”
“Too dangerous,” I agreed. A good spy only ever took jobs they knew they could actually complete without getting caught. Nothing worse than having to move because of a mistake.
CHAPTERFOUR
About a decade ago…
The first timeI royally messed up, I almost got hung for it. After my initial success with the duke, I insisted on more tasks. Mistress started me out slow, giving me easy targets that spilled their secrets with only a touch of my hand on their arm. No potions, no secret messages for them to hate themselves. Just me being charming.
A waste of my talent given my capabilities. What would it take for her to trust me with a real task? Maybe she needed proof.
On a night where Qynn dined at the house of a client, a different one came calling. I took matters into my own hands. I invited Councilor Blato into the boudoir, pretending a confidence I didn’t have.
“You’re not Tizana Scarlet.”
“I’m afraid she’s unavailable, but I would be happy to take her place.” Since only my eyes showed via the gap in my headdress, I had to use them to full effect, batting those lashes while over cocking a still rather unimpressive hip.
“And you are?”
I lied. “Her daughter. And she’s been teaching me everything she knows.”
Wrong answer. Blato grimaced. “I think I should leave.”
“No. Stay.” In my rush to keep him, I threw myself at his chest.
He didn’t immediately push me away, but his body remained tense. “I’m not interested in children.”
“I’m not a child,” I insisted. Not exactly a lie. I was a slow bloomer.
