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“We followed every rumor about what really happened to his mother, and the most likely outcome is that Eryndan killed her. We’ve encouraged these rumors to spread, but we don’t have any proof until we can manage to locate Rekja’s aunt. She disappeared around the same time. If she was smart, she ran and she’s been in hiding all this time. But it’s possible that Eryndan had her killed.”
I leaned my head back, attempting to drain some of the tension in my neck. “We’re running out of time.”
“How do you want to respond?” Telean asked.
What I wanted to do and what I needed to do were two separate things.
“Can we guarantee Rekja’s lover’s protection?”
“What do you mean?”
I attempted to ignore the little voice in my head that urged me not to go down this road.
“Prisca?”
I met Telean’s eyes. “If the king was to learn that his son was fraternizing with a guard…”
Riding ahead of us, Rythos turned in his saddle, and our eyes met. “Are you sure about this?”
There was no such thing as a private conversation around the fae. A few footspans away, Lorian sat as if he’d been born on his horse, his expression distant, but I knew he was paying attention to every word.
“We’ll only do it if we can keep the guard safe. We let it leak, and then we rescue the guard directly after. We have to keep her safe.” Despite my unconcerned tone, Rekja’s face flashed in my mind, complete with the way his expression had hardened, his eyes turning to ice. “Can we do that?”
Lorian shifted on his horse. “I have a spy in Eryndan’s court. He hasn’t yet reached the inner circle, so his information hasn’t given us anything we haven’t found elsewhere. We can use him to get her out.”
My mouth went dry. These were the decisions I struggled with the most. The ones I wouldn’t feel any true repercussions from. The ones that could ruin or even end other people’s lives. Here I was, casually discussing a woman I’d never met. At the very least, her career would be over after this.
“Pris?” Rythos asked.
I just shook my head, returning my attention to the conversation.
“Eryndan could kill Rekja when he learns of the guard,” Galon mused, scratching at his beard.
“He won’t,” I said. “Rekja is his only son. His heir. He would make him suffer, but he wouldn’t kill him.” I met Lorian’s eyes. “Do it.”
Telean’s eyes sparked. “I’ll let it leak. At the very least, this will prove a distraction for Eryndan.”
We fell silent after that, all of us quiet as we traveled east toward Lesdryn.
Our horses’ hooves clopped a steady rhythm on the leaf-strewn trail—the only sound as we plowed onward. When the sun began to sink toward the horizon, sunbeams slanted through the trees, bathing our trail in a golden light.
We stopped for a brief break to water the horses and stretch our legs, and I refilled my waterskin in a nearby stream.
A shrill cry pierced the stillness, and I jolted, spilling the water. Above us, a hawk was circling high overhead, gliding on outstretched wings. With a few lazy sweeps, it spiraled lower. I’d expected it to settle onto Lorian’s shoulder. But it wasn’t Aquilus.
Instead, it fluttered down to settle onto my shoulder. I tensed, but it held steady, its talons flexing. My heart pounded at the damage those talons could do. I could feel the strength in them as it regarded me with inscrutable onyx eyes.
With delicate precision, the hawk extended its leg, offering a small piece of parchment. Placing my waterskin on the closest rock, I unfurled the tiny scroll, scanning its contents.
* * *
Nelayra,
Remember our little deal? The hour has come for you to settle your debt. Don’t keep me waiting.
—Daharak
“The pirate queen is calling in her favor,” I announced.
